This writing is an additional writing for my last critical writing titled “Debating Practice Gives Us More Benefits”. As in that writing I showed many benefits of debating practice according to my opinion (from my observation and self-experiences), in this writing I will show many benefits according to some research findings (I got from several books and articles). As I said in my last writing that you can ask the researcher or the expert ones in language skill and they will agree with me.
First benefit, when debating is conducting in English (and also in another language); it opens opportunities to share views on a global basis. To share views on a global basis is not by showing it in news or TV show, writing it into newspapers or books, but also need to be shared by speaking. Debating is a kind of speaking skill that opens the way to share views with the real expressions and live style or argumentation.
Second, as a kind of speaking skill, we need language to speak. Debating practice in English (and also in another language) helps us to develop our language skills of efficient listening, convincing public speaking, and debate for sharing our argumentations in relation to extensive reading and follow-up writing. How it could be?
In debating practice usually there are two teams. When the two teams are debating, each member of each team is not just using the speaking skill. At the same time they are also using their listening skill. They have to listen all of the details of the opponent team’s argument. This activity automatically trains their listening skill.
Then, before the debate, each member of the team should prepare the material of debate one by one then put it together as one. In preparing the material of debate they often have to search many information related to the topic. They may search many motions in the internet or other sources. This activity also automatically trains their reading skill as well.
After listening skill and reading skill are trained automatically, we also develop our writing skill. In preparing the material of debate, after searching for information we also need to write down all information we got and arrange it as well. We need to make the information arranged into the most suitable way that can persuade and can be easily understood by the audience and the adjudicators (the judges or the juries). This activity trains our writing skill too.
Third, by practicing debating, we will not only face the situation and condition in which we have to use our language skill such as speaking, listening, reading and writing at the same time; but also need to use our thinking skills. These are such as logical thinking, argumentation and critical thinking. Debating improves our argumentation skill (Snowball, 1994; Quinn, 2005; Freely, 2009).
In this way, the one who practice debating will be a persuasive speaker that can prove his/her argument. That one will acquire the ability to see the lie and to analyze the speech of his/her opponent. In general that one will be perfect at developing arguments, finding conclusions, and presenting his/her speech persuasively to the audience.
Moreover, that one will be trained to analyze every national and international issue around the world in critical way and logical way of thinking. The issue is not only in social area but also in politics, economics, cultures, law and justice, war issues, global warming issues, natural environment issues, etc. Once these skills be improved, the one will also changed automatically to be a person that more aware on every issue, problem, or conflict that happen in the national or international region.
Above those benefits, the debating activities stimulate our intellectual capacity to solve various problems that we may encounter in life. By developing our debating attitude, we also learn to be open-minded while simultaneously being critical in acknowledging a variety of perspectives. At last but not least, practice makes perfect. So, keep practicing!
References :
Fisher, A. 2001. Critical Thinking: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Freely, A.J. and D.L. Steinberg. 2009. Argumentation and Debate: Critical Thinking for Reasoned Decision Making. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Snowball, D. 1994. Theory and Practice in Academic Debate. Illinois: Augustana College.
Quinn, S. 2005. Debating. Brisbane: Australian Electronic Publisher.
Unknown. My language training notes years ago.
Denpasar, july 20th 2011
First benefit, when debating is conducting in English (and also in another language); it opens opportunities to share views on a global basis. To share views on a global basis is not by showing it in news or TV show, writing it into newspapers or books, but also need to be shared by speaking. Debating is a kind of speaking skill that opens the way to share views with the real expressions and live style or argumentation.
Second, as a kind of speaking skill, we need language to speak. Debating practice in English (and also in another language) helps us to develop our language skills of efficient listening, convincing public speaking, and debate for sharing our argumentations in relation to extensive reading and follow-up writing. How it could be?
In debating practice usually there are two teams. When the two teams are debating, each member of each team is not just using the speaking skill. At the same time they are also using their listening skill. They have to listen all of the details of the opponent team’s argument. This activity automatically trains their listening skill.
Then, before the debate, each member of the team should prepare the material of debate one by one then put it together as one. In preparing the material of debate they often have to search many information related to the topic. They may search many motions in the internet or other sources. This activity also automatically trains their reading skill as well.
After listening skill and reading skill are trained automatically, we also develop our writing skill. In preparing the material of debate, after searching for information we also need to write down all information we got and arrange it as well. We need to make the information arranged into the most suitable way that can persuade and can be easily understood by the audience and the adjudicators (the judges or the juries). This activity trains our writing skill too.
Third, by practicing debating, we will not only face the situation and condition in which we have to use our language skill such as speaking, listening, reading and writing at the same time; but also need to use our thinking skills. These are such as logical thinking, argumentation and critical thinking. Debating improves our argumentation skill (Snowball, 1994; Quinn, 2005; Freely, 2009).
In this way, the one who practice debating will be a persuasive speaker that can prove his/her argument. That one will acquire the ability to see the lie and to analyze the speech of his/her opponent. In general that one will be perfect at developing arguments, finding conclusions, and presenting his/her speech persuasively to the audience.
Moreover, that one will be trained to analyze every national and international issue around the world in critical way and logical way of thinking. The issue is not only in social area but also in politics, economics, cultures, law and justice, war issues, global warming issues, natural environment issues, etc. Once these skills be improved, the one will also changed automatically to be a person that more aware on every issue, problem, or conflict that happen in the national or international region.
Above those benefits, the debating activities stimulate our intellectual capacity to solve various problems that we may encounter in life. By developing our debating attitude, we also learn to be open-minded while simultaneously being critical in acknowledging a variety of perspectives. At last but not least, practice makes perfect. So, keep practicing!
References :
Fisher, A. 2001. Critical Thinking: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Freely, A.J. and D.L. Steinberg. 2009. Argumentation and Debate: Critical Thinking for Reasoned Decision Making. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Snowball, D. 1994. Theory and Practice in Academic Debate. Illinois: Augustana College.
Quinn, S. 2005. Debating. Brisbane: Australian Electronic Publisher.
Unknown. My language training notes years ago.
Denpasar, july 20th 2011
