Free Debate and the Monash Association of Debaters worked with the Monash University International Students Service to present an introductory public speaking and presentation skills workshop.
The course was targeted at international students for whom English is a second language, and was held over three Monday lunchtimes. Over 20 students participated.
In the first two sessions, we worked on speaking skills and structure and participants presented 2-3 minute speeches on issues of significance in their home country.
In the third session, we focused on answering questions in a tutorial setting – an area where many participants told us they have difficulty. We provided practical advice on how to manage unclear or complicated questions, and followed this up with a mock tutorial to put these tips into action.
The programme was a great success and we have been asked to present another series in the second half of the year.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Youth Leadership Course with Drummond Street Relationship Centre and Victorian Arabic Social Services
Free Debate volunteers participated in another excellent youth leadership program developed by Victorian Arabic Social Services (VASS), in conjunction with the Drummond Street Relationship Centre.
We worked with 10 young women and 10 young men on developing a confident speaking style. Each of the participants wrote and delivered a short speech on a topic that they felt passionate about. The range of topics was impressive - from concerns about animal rights, the environment, and knife crime, to a passionately argued case to allow 16 year olds with good school attendance records to begin driving.
Free Debate volunteers also assisted the participants to provide feedback to their peers, with a focus on bolstering the speaker's confidence.
In one of the two sessions we were lucky enough to have in the audience a lawyer from Youthlaw. This meant the young people were able to deliver their speeches to a (very impressed) representative from an advocacy body.
About VASS: One of Free Debate's strongest partners, VASS is a state-wide key service provider with specialist expertise and knowledge in working with Arabic-speaking-background communities.
We worked with 10 young women and 10 young men on developing a confident speaking style. Each of the participants wrote and delivered a short speech on a topic that they felt passionate about. The range of topics was impressive - from concerns about animal rights, the environment, and knife crime, to a passionately argued case to allow 16 year olds with good school attendance records to begin driving.
Free Debate volunteers also assisted the participants to provide feedback to their peers, with a focus on bolstering the speaker's confidence.
In one of the two sessions we were lucky enough to have in the audience a lawyer from Youthlaw. This meant the young people were able to deliver their speeches to a (very impressed) representative from an advocacy body.
About VASS: One of Free Debate's strongest partners, VASS is a state-wide key service provider with specialist expertise and knowledge in working with Arabic-speaking-background communities.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Melton Secondary College
Free Debate trainer Anthony Kung conducted 4 sessions of debating training for 16 Year 10 students at Melton Secondary College.
The students who participated were reserved at first but seemed to revel in the opportunity to express and discuss opinions. The practice debate about the ethics of animal testing showcased a range of views and honed their ability to refine an argument, while the forum about bushfire policy highlighted their improved knowledge of current affairs and government policies.
The improvements in engagement and confidence were obvious!
Free Debate thanks Margaret Canaway at Melton SC for the opportunity to work with the students.
The students who participated were reserved at first but seemed to revel in the opportunity to express and discuss opinions. The practice debate about the ethics of animal testing showcased a range of views and honed their ability to refine an argument, while the forum about bushfire policy highlighted their improved knowledge of current affairs and government policies.
The improvements in engagement and confidence were obvious!
Free Debate thanks Margaret Canaway at Melton SC for the opportunity to work with the students.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Free Debate Pre-Australs 2009!
The tournament involved 5 rounds, semi and grand finals, a fun-filled championship dinner as well as two training forums - focusing on debating skills, strategies, tips and tactics.
Congratulations to the winning team from the University of Tokyo comprised of Dai Oba, Ryotaro Tanaka and Atsushi Inatsuka. Congratulations also to the best speaker of the tournament, Alex Keen from MMU Melaka.
Thanks to all the tournament participants for making this such an enjoyable and high quality event. Particular thanks to our amazing collection of trainers. These trainers included: Kim Little, Liz Sheargold, Rob Koh, Lynne Featonby, Lucia Pietropaoli, Tim Sonnreich, Kylie Lane, Melany Tejda, Logandran Balavijendran, Sharmilla Parmanand, Tim Jeffrie and Julia Bowes!
And special thanks to the Monash Australs team who helped us out with logistics!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Refugee Week Exhibition Debate
Free Debate was once again pleased to help out with the annual Great Refugee Week Debate.This year's debate was held on 17 June at Whitten Oval and coincided with the launch of Maribrynong Council's Building Bridges - Cultural Games booklet. The booklet contains lots of fun games from different cultures and is part of a programme designed to bring people together through playing games.
This year's debate topic was That It's Better to Make Music than Kick Goals a spirited and entertaining debate about the merits of Music vs. Sports. Once again the debate featured a team from Braybrook Secondary College (on the affirmative side) against a team of adults (on the negative).
Free Debate's Roland Dillon and Rob Koh helped coach the adult team (Duku, Claudia and Deng), but once again the students proved victorious on the night due to their imagination, humour, logic and Chris Judd.
Thanks again to Kiemi Lai, Engaged Communities Coordinator of the Western Bulldogs and Vanessa Korfiatis of Maribyrnong Council.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
DAV Development Squad 2009
Free Debate's Liz Sheargold and Rob Koh were invited to help out with the Debaters Association of Victoria's 2009 Development Squad. Each year the DAV selects a Development Squad, a group of specially selected promising debaters from various secondary schools throughout Victoria, and provides intensive debating training.
Rob presented an interactive lecture on economics and Liz facilitated a British Parliamentary style debate on the topic That We Should Radically Increase Taxation on Alcohol Consumption.
We'd like to wish the Development Squad all the best and we hope to see you again soon! (And not just on facebook).
Rob presented an interactive lecture on economics and Liz facilitated a British Parliamentary style debate on the topic That We Should Radically Increase Taxation on Alcohol Consumption.
We'd like to wish the Development Squad all the best and we hope to see you again soon! (And not just on facebook).
Thursday, April 30, 2009
St Albans Secondary College
Free Debate trainer Anthony Kung conducted debating training for some year 8 and 9 students at St Albans Secondary College.
After outlining the fundamentals of argument, persuasion and presentation the students put their skills to excellent use in the DAV Schools Debating Competition. They displayed improved argument formulation, greater confidence and a real enthusiasm for debating!
Free Debate thanks Fiona Taylor for her eagerness and for allowing Free Debate to facilitate this introduction to debating.
After outlining the fundamentals of argument, persuasion and presentation the students put their skills to excellent use in the DAV Schools Debating Competition. They displayed improved argument formulation, greater confidence and a real enthusiasm for debating!
Free Debate thanks Fiona Taylor for her eagerness and for allowing Free Debate to facilitate this introduction to debating.
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