What can my child learn in public speaking and debate?

Our public speaking programs at our camps and in-school programs can develop several skills and qualities, such as:

1. Confidence: Speaking in front of a group can help children develop self-assurance and self-esteem.

2. Communication skills: Children learn to express their ideas and thoughts clearly and effectively.

3. Leadership qualities: Public speaking gives children the opportunity to practice taking charge and leading a group.

4. Critical thinking: Preparing for a speech can help children learn to analyze information, organize their thoughts and form arguments.

5. Presentation skills: Children learn how to use gestures, tone, and body language to enhance their speeches.

6. Adaptability: Children learn how to adjust their speeches to fit the audience and the situation.

Overall, public speaking classes can help children become better communicators and leaders and equip them with valuable life skills.

In CASMA public speaking and debate programs, students are introduced to British parliamentary style debate (BP debate). British parliamentary style debate is a type of argument or discussion where two teams of people compete against each other. They present their ideas and try to persuade others to agree with them. The teams are made up of two people each and they take turns speaking. One team is called the "government" and the other team is called the "opposition". The government team tries to convince the audience that their ideas are the best, while the opposition team tries to argue that the government's ideas are not good. They use facts, examples, and logic to support their opinions. The debate is like a game, where the team that does the best job of convincing the audience wins.

Each speaker has a specific amount of time to speak, usually around 7 minutes. The debate usually lasts for about 1 hour and 30 minutes in total.

1. Points of Information (POIs): During the speech, the other team can ask questions or make comments to try to challenge the speaker. These are called Points of Information (POIs). The speaker can choose to accept or decline the POI.

2. Rebuttal: After each speaker finishes, the next speaker from the other team has the opportunity to reply and "rebut" the arguments made by the previous speaker. This is called a "rebuttal."

3. Motion: The topic or "motion" for the debate is usually a statement or question that both teams will discuss and argue about. For example, the motion could be "This House believes that school uniforms should be abolished."

4. Judging: At the end of the debate, the audience or a panel of judges will decide which team did a better job of convincing them. They will take into account the quality of the arguments, the speaking skills of the debaters, and how well they answered the other team's questions.

5. Formalities: British parliamentary style debates are usually very formal. The debaters wear business attire, use formal language, and address each other as "honorable members" or "honorable opponents".

By participating in a British parliamentary style debate, kids can develop their critical thinking skills, public speaking abilities, and learn how to express their opinions in a respectful and convincing manner. All programs are adapted to meet the age and level of the students in CASMA programs.