(teach) debate, university, and FLTRP cup

[Dave-208]

Hi all,

one thing that some students like is debating. Some unis run a strong
debate club and some don't.

The FLTRP cup is a week long funfair/struggle/entertainment/weep in
Beijing in May holiday, at FLTRP's Int'l Convention Centre.
2007, 128 teams entered and there was talk of regional qualifying, because
of time pressure on fitting in 64 debates for the first 6 rounds, spread
over 3 days.

Teams of 2, six 7 and 8 minute speeches for/against, 30 minutes after the
topic is given. The govt. defines the topic so the opposition has to
listen and argue against. Each team has a coach (you :-) ) and the coaches
act as judges for other team's debates. There's judging training...

It's great for those who want to be lawyers, and those who simply want to
practise speaking, listening, arguing, researching. The demo debate at
2007 cup was that prostitution should be legalised in China. I could see
some of the local teachers bristling....

Great unis don't necessarily win :-) though BFSU does well because it runs
its own events and there's a separate competition in Beijing.

If you want to see a different side of your students, ask who
organises/offer to organise/find the students who are interested. They may
not be English majors either.

Try IDEA website, it may have more data.
And if you do go as coach, take your own instant coffee cos the dining
room was distinctly 'a la Chinois'. Internet in each room.

Dave Nevin

[karenstanleyma-3]

Dave,

Related to your announcement about the debate competition, what preparation do you normally organize for students?  

In other words, even for teachers who can't get to the competition, what kinds of activities help prepare students to be good debaters in English?

Karen
http://karen.stanley.people.cpcc.edu

[Russ Taylor-2]

Everything Dave said was spot on for the FLTRP Cups up to 2009 but the organisers are ambitious and are planning big changes for the competition in 2010. For the past 5 or 6 years the FLTRP Cup adopted the American style of Pariamentary debate, 2 teams debate each other with 2 members per team, but they are looking now to adopt the British style, 4 teams of 2 people 2 teams v 2 teams with the second teams on each side not able to repeat the arguments that have already been used but instead are expected to develop the debate with fresh arguments. This means that Points of Information become more important, as does quick thinking and the ability to think on your feet as there's a greater need to absorb what the debater is saying and attack it, hopefully wittily. This is tougher than the American style where students in previous years have been able to memorise big chunks of info for the debate, in British parliamentary style, rhetorical style is key.
As well as the International Debate Education Association (IDEA)website that Dave mentioned, which is a very useful website indeed at

http://www.idebate.org

Here they are still talking about American Parliamentary style for the 2010 competition because H1N1 fears forced the cancellation of pre-contest adjudicator training in the British Parliamnetary style

those interested should look at the FLTRP Cup's own now bi-lingual website at


htp//www/chinadebate.org

for pertinent competition info, especially about which style will be used in 2010, and info about previous competitions, including video of last year's semis and final.

Russ Taylor