FreeDebate Enabling Day 2013

FD held its Annual Enabling Day, drawing participants from a diverse range of backgrounds including those with teaching, coaching, public speaking, debating, volunteer and partnership interests.

Experienced FD and guest speakers covered topics such as advanced manner tactics, how to introduce novices to debating and activities to encourage public speaking.  The session concluded with a group challenge activity addressing team dynamics as well as a Q&A session with 2013 Worlds Universities Debating Championships winner, Nita Rao.

Public Speaking with Rotary and Foundation Boroondara

The people of Foundation Boroondara enlisted FD to help some local students prepare for the Rotary 4 Way Test Speaking Competition.  The initial session with around 8 students late in 2012 produced a significant improvement in the confidence and presentation ability of the participants, which flowed through to a real improvement in their results at the competition.

Many of the participants were keen to build on that training beyond the competition so they attended a further 2 sessions with FD trainers in March 2013.  The training focused on confidence, speech structure and argument development.  When asked to make a persuasive speech highlighting a problem and proposing a solution at their schools they displayed enthusiasm and creativity, while identifying a range of issues impacting on both students and the community.   They very convincingly put their new skills to good use.  They showed a real commitment to improving their public speaking and to using their talents in the classroom.

Teach for Australia

In December 2012, with a follow-up in January 2013, around 25 of the most recent TfA associates were introduced to the FD public speaking training model with a view to improving their speaking skills and confidence in advance of their arrival in classrooms.  They practised and honed their new learning in an invigorating and fascinating debate about the effects of standardised testing on students and the quality of education.  Even after 24 speakers the debate raged!

The training also encouraged and prepared them to use debating as a learning tool in the classroom, to encourage analytical thinking, clear expression and argument presentation.  Some of the associates were also keen to learn how to prepare students for competitive debating, with a view to introducing debating to their schools.

We wish the associates all the best for the teaching year.

TEST POLL

That Debate Is Essential For Democracy

Fairhills High and World Vision in Partnership

Recently, FD worked with students from Fairhills High School who are partnering with World Vision to raise funds for and visit a disadvantaged Vietnamese community later this year.

FD's mission was to equip the students with confident speaking skills they could then use to persuade others to give generously in sponsorship of the overseas community, and to provide students with tips and skills for interacting with members of that community when they visit!

Students developed the art of engaging others using appealing verbal and non-verbal communication techniques and learned how to weave persuasive arguments. The sessions were highly interactive and hands-on, with voice modulation and projection exercises  integrated into speeches and debating on topics ranging from feminism in pop culture to children's health issues.

Annual General Meeting

Free Debate held its AGM today, reviewing its activities over the last twelve months and electing a new committee including Fiona Prowse (Immediate Past President), Ajay Kevat (President), Jacqueline Duong (Vice President), Lynne Featonby (Secretary), Nicole Franklin (Treasurer) and Rob Koh, Sam Greenland and Carmel Wallis in committee member positions.  Special congratulations to Sam and Carmel who are joining the committee for the first time.

AMES Students build speaking confidence and debate gay marriage

Over three workshops in September, FD worked with Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) students to develop their confidence and public speaking skills.

The first session focused on a number of techniques for delivering speeches, including how to build confidence and improve clarity. To consolidate these skills, students spoke about a topic of their choice, with topics ranging from arranged marriages, children on social networking websites, public transport concession cards for international students to how the government can do more to address environmental issues.

The second session on the following Saturday refreshed past learning and finished with a 3-on-3 debate about whether job opportunities were limited for migrants in Australia.

The final session adopted the same approach, with a fiery and exciting debate on gay marriage that considered all sides of the debate in a fair and even manner.

All students improved immeasurably over the three weeks, and FD is looking forward to further involvement with AMES students in the future.