TAKAYAMA NISHI HIGH SCHOOL
English debate
- What is English debate?
- You may have the experience a little. Image a trial, it's easy to understand what debate is. You separate into public prosecutor (affirmation) and lawyer (negation) and jury judges.
For example, if you become a lawyer, you have to defend any kind of person. You don't argue your opinion. In debate, you claim that one is innocent to judges, summarizing the logic based on data.
- Does debating have any advantages?
- You can acquire the logicality needed as an adult.
Now we have citizen judge system, so knowledge of debate will be very useful. Some universities impose debate or discussion as an entrance examination in faculty of medicine.
- Dose debating have any advantages?
- English conversation is more difficult than English debate. We have set phrases in English debate. If you master them, you can debate in English.
- What is the All Japan High School English Debate?
- Debaters who won the preliminaries come together. Many of them are from high-ranked schools and they arouse us. (Last year's champion school was Nada Senior High School!)
- What kind of activity do they do?
- We have English debate in Advanced Ⅰ Class. We master how to debate in English class for four months from September to December. Seniors who won the third prize in the national tournament of last year also teach us how to debate.
- Tell us about IDEA Youth Forum
- Debaters from all over the world come together and have plays a team competition by country (It was held in Turkey last year and it was held in Mexico this year). Of course English is common language. Despite its inconveniences, students from all over the world inspired us and we were able to deepen our friendship. There are little competition that will lead to participate in the world championship, it was a valuable experience. Then, let us report how things went in IDEA Youth Forum.
Album
Interview from students
- QDo you have a hard time as a captain?
- Ans.A Team Captain and attack speaker, Kosuke Arai (from Asahi Junior High School)
- I don't have a hard time as a captain. Instead my team mates help me. Mr. Takayama, a constructive speaker, enhances the mood and make an argument fluently. Ms. Yokoyama, a defense speaker, has a steadiness. She is reliable. Ms. Sugiyama, a summary speaker, helps us with an accurate advice when we are in clutch situation. She has a wide perspective.
- QWhat's your resolution for the national tournament?
- Ans.Kosuke Arai
- We want to make everything well prepared. We have a lot of challenges but we believe if we overcome them, they will become our force. Each of us will do our best on each game and we will win a ticket to the national tournament.
- QLet's hear what you think about your captain?
- Ans.A defense speaker, Mikuho Yokoyama (from Hie Junior High School)
- He is kind and a little bit indecisive, but in debate, he shows leadership and leads the team. He unite us. He is a reliable captain.
- QDo you have any messages for your class mates?
- Ans.A constructive speaker, Mao Takayama (from Kamioka Junior High School)
- They are really helpful even when they are very busy. They search materials and provide ideas. I'm so appreciate that. Thank you for your support!
- QWhat about the mood of your team?
- Ans.Mao Takayama
- My team has a good atmosphere. We have a relationship of trust, so we can talk to each other about things we should correct. Our cooperation gets better. I think we are uniting.
- QWhat is the interest of English debate?
- Ans.A summary speaker, Chiho Sugiyama (from Higasiyama Junior High School)
- We don't know which will win until the end. It's very interesting. Doing preparation and research is hard, but I'm very happy when I say something that can turn the tide.
- Ans．Mikuho Yokoyama
- I like aiming for a victory with 4 of us. Each member has a different part, but I'm pleasant when we cooperate together.
- QDid you grow up through English debate?
- Ans.Mao Takayama
- I learned that thinking logically is important. I became to speech thinking to be understand. Also I learned seeing a thing from different view is important. Every opinion has advantages and disadvantages. Seeing my opinion with objective view and understand it well, it deepen my opinion more.
- QGive your messages to your junior who want to do English debate.
- Ans.Mao Takayama
- You might think it's difficult at first, but through repeated practice, you will be good at English debate. It improves your English ability and there are lots of things you can gain. I hope those who want to try English debate will enjoy it.
- Ans.Chiho Sugiyama
- When you debate, you have to know various people's opinion to one theme. So you can know what they think. We have a tour and we can have a relationship with students from other school. It's very exciting.
- Ans.Mikuho Yokoyama
- Mr. Horio's class is very high-level, but your knowledge will widen and you can learn how to debate. So don't worry if it's difficult. Just do it. Only those who try know the fun.
