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Practice Debates

Practice Debates

  • Experienced Students
  • 2 - 3 Days
  • Years 7 - 10

A fun and interactive workshop that combines multiple practice debates and a range of theoretical sessions to help high school students further flourish as debaters.

Student to Teacher Ratio 9:1
Course Objectives
  • Allow experienced students to practice their skills in debates on a range of topics.

  • Provide theory sessions on multiple topics, tailored to the interests and needs of the particular group.

  • Give students plenty of opportunities to present and receive individualised feedback.

View Our Coaches
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Bookings Close 5 April!

3 Spots Left!
Location Camberwell Girls Grammar School, Canterbury
Dates

4th April

5th April

Time

9:15AM - 3:15PM

Length

2 Days

Price

$270

Bookings Close 9 April!

5 Spots Left!
Location Online Program
Dates

8th April

9th April

10th April

Time

9:30AM - 1:30PM

Length

3 Days

Price

$230

Bookings Close 16 April!

3 Spots Left!
Location The King's School, North Parramatta
Dates

15th April

16th April

Time

9:15AM - 3:15PM

Length

2 Days

Price

$270

Bookings Close 19 April!

4 Spots Left!
Location The Shore School, North Sydney
Dates

18th April

19th April

Time

9:15AM - 3:15PM

Length

2 Days

Price

$270

Bookings Close 16 April!

Location Online Program
Dates

15th April

16th April

17th April

Time

9:30AM - 1:30PM

Length

3 Days

Price

$230

Sold Out

0 Spots Left!
Location Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga
Dates

23rd April

24th April

Time

9:15AM - 3:15PM

Length

2 Days

Price

$270

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Course Overview

Book in quick before our April School Holiday programs sell out! 

Formerly Experienced Debating

 

Debating is one of those skills that is genuinely hard to master.  A lot is happening in any debate – meeting burdens, keeping to a team strategy, tackling the other side’s arguments – and it takes lots of training and practice to really get your head around it all.

Our Practice Debates program seeks to help students grapple with all these concepts and more.

Taking a student-centric approach to learning, our coaches are given a wide repository of material, and are able to pick and choose which lessons and activities will best suit the students.  When combined with several practice debates on a range of different topics, students are able to start piecing together the enigmatic puzzle that is high school debating.

Importantly, we make sure that all classes are kept small, light-hearted and non-competitive – we want to ensure that all students feel welcome and can develop as a debater at their own pace.

 

More Information

Our Practice Debates workshop is an experienced-level program.

Designed for students with formal coaching in debating, we recommend that students only enrol if they have:

  • completed either our Debating Hawks or Debating Pandas programs, and feel comfortable with their debating skills;
  • previously attended our Practice Debates program, and are interested in further developing their skills (noting the program changes every holiday!);
  • given our Debating Club program a go during the term;
  • they’ve received formal training with another provider; or
  • they attend a school with a comprehensive debating training program, and competed in a number of interschool debates.

If you’re not sure whether your child would be better suited for our Speak Out Hummingbirds, Debating Hawks or Practice Debates workshop, please get in touch and we would be more than happy to discuss it with you!

 

Check out our video on what to expect at our in-person holiday workshops below!

Over the duration of the Practice Debates program, students will:

  • be given various opportunities to present in practice debates, taking on different roles each time;
  • receive personal feedback from an experienced and enthusiastic coach, which can then be practiced in the following debates; and
  • have exposure to a range of important concepts, that will help them develop a more holistic understanding of debating.

Given the modular nature of the Practice Debates program, there is no strict timetable that coaches are required to follow – that said, students can generally expect to:

  • participate in at least 3-4 debates over the workshop, each on a different topic;
  • have time set aside for personal feedback which they can implement in the following practice debate; and
  • at least one theory session each day, focusing on a topic the coach believes will best benefit the group as a whole.

Students will also be exposed to a range of debating related activities.  These will help them develop their confidence and impromptu speaking skills, whilst at the same time ensuring that they have an enjoyable experience at the program!

Our classes vary in size every holiday depending on how many bookings we receive – however, the maximum size of our Practice Debates classes is 9 students with one coach, and 16 students with two coaches.

If there aren’t any spots left, it’s usually because we’ve hit capacity – please get in touch with us and we’ll see what we can do about either opening an extra class, fitting your child into the existing class, or putting you on a waitlist in case any students pull out!

After each Practice Debates program (which can be repeated indefinitely), students will go home with:

  • a feedback sheet prepared by their coach, which outlines what they’ve improved on during the course, and what they could continue to work on in the future;
  • a certificate recognising that they have completed the Practice Debates workshop;
  • a workbook containing any notes that the students wrote down during the course; and
  • a more holistic understanding of debating!

If you’re interested in doing another holiday workshop, we would recommend that students move on to either:

  • our Practice Debates program again – the program changes every holiday, so students will learn something new every time they complete it; or
  • if your child is looking for something different, our Public Speaking Polar Bears workshop for Years 6 – 8 would provide a new challenge!

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a weekly term program, we offer:

  • Public Speaking Penguins, which takes Year 5 – 7 students through various different public speaking skills each term; or
  • Debating Club, a modular class for Year 7 – 10 students to practice their skills each and every week.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or get in touch using our contact form to learn more!

Course Reviews

My daughter had a brilliant time - partly due to the rapport with the fabulous staff - and it is a great concept for kids to develop their skills!

Practice Debates
Maria, Parent Practice Debates

The teacher made sure every student felt encouraged and everyone participated equally, she asked questions and split roles for the debates equally!

Practice Debates
Venus, Parent Practice Debates
  • According to 150+ high school debating students surveyed in 2023...

  • 99%

    had fun!

  • 99%

    felt more confident in their ability!

  • 94%

    improved their speaking manner!

  • 99%

    noticed they could make stronger arguments!

  • 94%

    could better structure their speeches!

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