Finland English Teachers Experience and Plan to Use Debating

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From Mirja Hämäläinen:

UniTIE: Curriculum Planning in the Language Centres -> Forums -> News and
announcements -> FYI:7th International Debate Academy
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FYI:7th International Debate Academy
by Mirja Hämäläinen - Friday, 4 December 2009, 02:51 PM
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Hello all,

I attended the 7th International Debate Academy, IDAS 2009, training
programme in Slovenia from 21 to 29 November. It was the most challenging,
intensive and rewarding training that I have ever participated in during my
longish career. Our Language Centre paid the flights and I paid the
participation fee. It was worth every euro! Here’s a link to the site
where you can also find the daily programme:
http://internationaldebateacademy.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html [1]
(I'm the 3rd on the left behind the podium in the first picture.)

I heartily recommend this training. It gives a perspective on
international communication that is something we need to be aware of.
Times are hard but language and communication skills are a necessity if
our university students want to be successful in their working life in
this global world. We are not talking about “everybody knows English”
or you can learn a language wherever. We are talking about professional
language competence. Quality language centres provide the best instruction
for developing that competence.

We all need debating skills!

Related to this training, there is training for us university language
centre teachers funded by the LAAKEA project next April: Professor Alfred
Snider from the University of Vermont, World Debate Institute, will come
to train us on how to use debating in teaching. As he is an extremely
experienced debate trainer we will get to know what debating looks like
all around the world. It is not only interesting but also very relevant
for us!

This is what Professor Snider says about debating on a YouTube video:
“Studies show that it is the success skill of the 21st century, being
willing to speak, not afraid to speak, being able to speak well, but also
the aspects of critical thinking, how to determine what’s wrong with
ideas, what’s right with them, how to think on your feet, how to deal
with difficult rhetorical situations [...] It’s a global world.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXlgVsd6Ie4 [2] (0:19-0:50)

He also explains the BP (British Parliamentary) debate format on the
video. I witnessed and judged debates by university students from 28
countries using this format, at the International Debate Academy in
Slovenia. Only a small minority spoke English as their native language. I
was impressed by their language skills combined with great wit and
knowledge. I would want our students to have the same opportunities to be
challenged in this. I trust (and I know from experience) they would be up
to it!



Links:
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[1] http://internationaldebateacademy.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html
[2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXlgVsd6Ie4