Greenoak International has been known for creating an environment that fosters healthy competition and growth amongst its pupils. We provide students with meaningful educational tools targeted at their overall development.
We pride ourselves on using debate as a platform to nurture and grow the skills of our young learners.
What is a Debate?
The art of debating involves a structured form of discussion where participants present and defend their viewpoints on a given topic. Through this process, students learn to articulate their thoughts, listen actively to others, and engage in respectful discourse.
What Are the Key Benefits of Debating?
Debates offer numerous benefits for primary school students that extend beyond the classroom.
They include:
– Improves critical thinking skills. Debating helps children develop essential, necessary thinking skills, which allows them to reason and think through arguments.
– Enhances communication skills. Debating trains students to talk confidently and also deliver public speeches in a bold and persuasive manner.
– Fosters Leadership Skills. Debating builds skills like strategic thinking, teamwork, and resilience, all crucial qualities for leading teams, and inspiring others to action.
– Builds Self-Confidence: Debating helps students build their self-esteem as it encourages them to proudly share their ideas on different topics.
How Does Greenoak Support Debates at the Primary Level?
Our most recent debate competition was held on the 14th and 15th of February 2024. Two topics were prepared for the debate. The first topic was for the lower grade (1-3) – “If children from age 5 should be made to do house chores”. The second topic for the upper grade(4-6) – “Is it possible to preserve culture while embracing globalization”
There was a careful selection/training process which included:
- Pupils being asked to conduct research and write their findings.
- Students auditioning and presenting their findings.
- The top 6 for each division being selected to participate in the final debate competition.
The entire exercise was truly empowering for ours students as each child was able to participate actively, receive guidance and build key cognitive and leadership skills.
In conclusion, debating is an important part of our teaching approach at Greenoak International. Through debate competitions, we empower our students to think critically, communicate effectively, and lead confidently from an early age. As they grow and develop, we are confident that they will emerge as capable, articulate, and empathetic leaders ready to make a positive impact in their local communities and the world at large.