Debating Parrots

Like many sports and other activities, debating is won or lost as a team. Whilst individual performances can be important, it’s the teamwork element that really defines whether a team is successful in any given debate.

Our Term #1 program focuses on Policy Cases. This focus builds on the essential skills students learn in the beginner Debating Wallabies program and adds to their developing understanding of what debating involves, taking them through how policy cases are formed and linked to other essential elements of debating (such as practical arguments and rebuttal) to improve their chances of success in any given debate.

These are then tied into a range of speaking activities and debates, all with plenty of personalised feedback, to help them put these concepts into practice.

Over the course of the term, students will have the opportunity to:

• learn core ideas that relate to ‘Policy’ debates;

• explore case development, argument structure and rebuttal strategies, and how these all link to the burdens they need to prove to win debates;

• deploy what they have learned in at least three in-class debates across the term;

• practice different speaking roles and argue from both affirmative and negative sides of a debate; and

• learn how to work effectively in a team environment!

Our Debating Parrots program is a mixed-level class for students in Years 5 – 7 designed for students starting out in the world of public speaking as well as those with some speaking experience.

Debating Parrots caters for:

• Students who have no (or little) debating experience and/or no (or little) public speaking experience;
• All students in Year 5 & 6 who are interested in learning debating (as the intermediate Debating Pandas program only accepts students from Year 7 onwards);
• Students who have already completed one or more terms of Debating Parrots, but aren’t ready to move up to Debating Pandas (the focus changes every term, students can continue the program for two years with no repetition);
• Students who have done one or more terms of Debating Wallabies, which looks at different types of topics (and so builds a different, if complementary, set of debating skills); and
• Students who have public speaking, but no debating experience (such as completing Public Speaking Penguins, Public Speaking Wombats or Speaking Camp Kangaroos).

We usually recommend that students do at least four terms of Debating Parrots, especially those in Year 5 & 6, before moving up to Debating Pandas to ensure that they cover all the essential concepts inherent to debating and feel comfortable with older students!

Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss what’s best for your child!

Fostering a Nurturing Class Environment

Each program commences with the coach creating a welcoming class environment and ensuring that all students grasp the fundamental rules and concepts of debating – ensuring everyone, regardless of experience, is on the same page.

The initial sessions also incorporate various speaking activities to aid students in honing their debating skills.

Developing Policy Debate Cases

In the first few sessions, students will cover the fundamentals of debating, including learning how to construct both affirmative and negative cases, how to structure practical points, and how to identify burdens. These concepts will be supplemented regularly with activities so that students can put what they’ve learned into practice.

Throughout the term, students will also learn about rebuttal fundamentals with a focus on rebuttal types, rebuttal structure, and how rebuttals can be used to either bring down your opposition or defend your case.

Practice Debates

In addition to all the theory, students will have the opportunity to participate in multiple practice debates and speaking activities during the term.  Each debate will be on a different topic, and students will have the opportunity to speak in different roles each time.

End of Term Presentation

Each term ends with a presentation, either to peers or parents (depending on the venue). This is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned over the course of the term and continue their confidence-building journey.

Students generally spend the last session or two preparing and practising their debating speeches for the presentation.

Coaches will also provide an update to parents on what was covered during the term, as well as what comes next for the students’ debating journeys.

As a mixed-experience program, our Debating Parrots program is designed to be completed multiple times – with a different focus every term, there’s always something new for students to take away from the program!

Alternatively, if your child wants to try public speaking, our Public Speaking Penguins program teaches students all the essential skills they need to become great public speakers!

Once they feel comfortable with debating, coaches may recommend students in Years 6 or 7 (but not students in Year 5) move up to the Intermediate Debating Pandas program, which will help more advanced students engage with more complex concepts alongside older and more experienced debaters.

However, if you’re looking for something during a school break, you may want to try one of our holiday workshops, such as Debating Hawks or Public Speaking Polar Bears (for Year 6 & 7 students), which builds on the skills learned during the term.

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