P.5 debaters in a training session
[15 June] CONGRATULATIONS to Nicholas Tam (5C), Aurelius Wong (5C) and Aden Su (5E) for coming SECOND in their category in a territory-wide English debating competition run by the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (HKPTU).
With the coronavirus hampering all chances of debating face-to-face, the HKPTU offered teams the opportunity to continue competing under a revised format. Based on the topic, “That private cars should be banned in Hong Kong” each team was allowed to choose which stance to take, and the organizer provided each debater with pre-determined rebuttals to which they needed to address. Teams were given time to research and prepare speeches, with final speeches recorded and sent to the organizer for adjudication.
Since all schools were shut throughout this period, our team meetings and discussions were conducted using online platforms. While we all felt that this format was not ideal for us to learn the art of debating live against an opponent, we all agreed that we were able to develop some of the more vital skills necessary of becoming successful as a debater.
Thanks must go to our three P.5 students for showing their maturity and determination to complete this task with such wonderful results; to their parents for facilitating and accommodating our schedules; and to Miss Vera Fung for providing our P.5 students with a good foundation to becoming a better debater next year!
Mr Ching
Debate Coach
With the coronavirus hampering all chances of debating face-to-face, the HKPTU offered teams the opportunity to continue competing under a revised format. Based on the topic, “That private cars should be banned in Hong Kong” each team was allowed to choose which stance to take, and the organizer provided each debater with pre-determined rebuttals to which they needed to address. Teams were given time to research and prepare speeches, with final speeches recorded and sent to the organizer for adjudication.
Since all schools were shut throughout this period, our team meetings and discussions were conducted using online platforms. While we all felt that this format was not ideal for us to learn the art of debating live against an opponent, we all agreed that we were able to develop some of the more vital skills necessary of becoming successful as a debater.
Thanks must go to our three P.5 students for showing their maturity and determination to complete this task with such wonderful results; to their parents for facilitating and accommodating our schedules; and to Miss Vera Fung for providing our P.5 students with a good foundation to becoming a better debater next year!
Mr Ching
Debate Coach
