Mind Against Mind
School Debates
The Ultimate Challenge for Foreign Language Learners
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Presenter : Asimenia Featham, QLS, Greece

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Learners engage in a ‘verbal battle’ using words and
logic as their ‘weapons’.

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CRITERIA FOR SPEAKING TASKS
SCOTT THORNBURY
How to Teach Speaking, 2007
Debates fulfil all the above criteria and lead to learner
autonomy

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✓ Autonomy
✓ Critical Thinking
✓ Creativity
✓ Collaboration
✓ Communication
✓ Presentation skills
✓ Speaking – reading – writing –
listening skills
✓ Research skills
✓ Data analysis and evaluation
✓ Organization of ideas
✓ Note taking skills
The Benefits of Debating
Debating helps students develop:

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What is a debate?
A debate is a public discussion.
(e.g. in Parliament to decide on new
laws, or on TV)
A School debate is organized
according to specific rules:
➢ time limit for each speaker
➢ number and order of speakers
➢ no interruptions allowed
➢ voting or panel of judges to
decide the winner
What is a motion?
All debates start with a motion.
Motions are statements proposed for discussion in a
debate and can refer to : local, national or
international affairs, social, cultural, environmental, or
educational issues.
(Avoid political or religious issues)
Examples of motions:
➢ This House believes all people should be
vegetarians.
➢ This House believes the internet does more harm
than good.

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People involved in debates
The speakers:
• A team FOR the motion - A team AGAINST the motion
Each team comprises 3 speakers
The Co-ordinator:
• can be a teacher or a student responsible for the smooth running of the debate -
timekeeping, etc.
A panel of judges :
• they assess the performance of the debaters
The Audience :
• they participate actively at the end by asking questions and voting
Research teams :
• students who help their team by finding facts and information before the debate

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The Co-ordinator introduces the teams, the speakers, the motion and explains the rules.
Team FOR Team AGAINST
1.The FIRST SPEAKER FOR THE
MOTION introduces the topic and
states 2-3 strong arguments FOR
3 minutes
2. The FIRST SPEAKER AGAINST THE
MOTION states 2-3 strong
arguments AGAINST.
3 minutes
3. The SECOND SPEAKER FOR
THE MOTION states 2-3
supplementary arguments FOR
3 minutes
4. The SECOND SPEAKER
AGAINST THE MOTION
introduces 2-3 supplementary
arguments AGAINST. 3 minutes
A ten - minute break is allowed for teams to prepare their rebuttals
5. The THIRD SPEAKER FOR THE
MOTION states their rebuttals for
the AGAINST team’s arguments and
summarizes their own reasons FOR
the motion 3 minutes
6. The THIRD SPEAKER AGAINST
THE MOTION states their rebuttals
for the FOR team’s arguments and
summarizes their own reasons
AGAINST the motion3 minutes
Finally, the Co-ordinator thanks all the participants and states that the results will be announced in a week.
Debate Procedure

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TYPES OF SCHOOL DEBATES
Debates
between
classes
In-school
debates
Inter-school
debates
online
International
debate
tournament
Informal
in-class
debates

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The QLS Online School Debate Festival in Numbers
QLS ONLINE SCHOOL DEBATE FESTIVALS IN NUMBERS
Participating
Countries /
Schools
GREECE GREECE GREECE
GREECE (18)
BULGARIA (3)
GREECE (20)
BULGARIA (5)
TURKEY (4) SERBIA
(2) SPAIN (1)
GREECE (24)
TURKEY (1)
Years 2016 2017 2018 2019 *2020 2022
Number of
Schools
3 12 18 21 32 25
Teams 3 24 36 42 64 54
Debaters 9 72 108 126 192 162
Levels (CEFR) C2
B1, B2,
C1, C2
B1, B2, C1,
C2
B1, B2, C1,
C2
B1, B2, C1, C2
B1, B2, C1, C2
* The QLS Online School Debate Festival in 2020 was cancelled due to Covid-19 lockdown

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The QLS Online School Debate Festival
• Age of participants : 11-17
• CEFR Levels : B1 – B2 – C1/C2
• Teams per school : 1 team of three speakers per level, per school
• Panel of Judges : oral examiners from Cambridge, Michigan,
LanguageCert, Examination Boards
• Winners : Best three teams and best three speakers per level
• Prizes : Cups for the winning schools, medals with prizes for the
winners, certificates of attendance for all participants
❖ QLS provides : The QLS Debate Guide, training webinars for teachers
and participants, posters, worksheets, cups, medals, prizes, trial
debates, T-shirts, GDPR forms

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POSTERS

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The QLS Online School Debate Festival has won a
national award for Excellent Learning Experience

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Good Luck with your Debate Club!
Presenter: Asimenia Featham MIL., Dip.Trans., MSc in TE, Aston UK.
School Owner, DoS, Trainer, Member of the QLS Debate co-ordination team.
Contact mail: asimeniaqls@gmail.com