Club Profile: ISA Debate
By Laura Galbes and Elle Hangartner
The ISA debate club welcomes both middle and high schoolers to improve their public speaking skills, engage their critical thinking, and explore diverse perspectives in a safe environment.
Debate Club is one of the most vibrant and popular clubs at ISA.
Q: What is Debate Club?
A: Every Thursday from 15:45 to 17:00 in the Grade 7 area the debate club opens its doors for students eager to participate in friendly debate and improve their public speaking skills. Whether you are an experienced debater, or joining them for the first time, the leadership team led by 12th Graders Matthew McCartney, Eda Kural, and Jose Castillo, and 10th graders Yash Suri Aviv Weiss, and Isabel Jose will ensure that everyone receives all the support they need in order to become the best debaters possible.
We talked to Eda, one of the club leaders, and she discussed how members “are able to improve in all areas, such as their classes, and critical thinking, not only debate.” The club is driven to help students develop all sets of skills.
Throughout the year they focus on three main structures, “First one is called World Scholars Cup, then we move into British Parliamentary which is used for competitions and finally we do Lincoln Douglas which is one-on-one debate.” Matthew (12)
Debate club is about public speaking, but it’s also about developing argumentation, meeting other people and being able to think on your feet, developing the intellectual stamina to keep going.
Q: What Opportunities are Offered in the Club?
A: The debate club doesn’t only offer opportunities to improve your skills, but they also participate in various competitions. A great opportunity for debate club members this year is “The Oxford competition in Rotterdam, this February.” Eda (12)
ISA also planned their first in-house competition, in 2023, where ISA students could compete against each other. This year they are planning to host another competition, but this time invite other schools. They are expecting around 80 to 150 people.
In addition to competitions, they also offer a number of student leadership opportunities, as this is mainly a student-led club.
Q: What makes Debate club unique?
A: The most unique part about the debate club is that it is a student-led club. All leaders are hands-on when providing assistance to the members. The debate club provides various competition opportunities for their members, which helps to apply the skills they learn in real debate.
When talking to Eda, she mentioned that “Debate club is not only a place where students come to develop their debating skills, but also a place they come to connect with their peers.”
This is a club where there are students from all age ranges, it allows them to work together and learn from one another
The members have grown the club from 25 members during COVID time, to 30+ members this year, between middle school and high school.
We also talked individually with some debate club members to ask about their experiences in the club and their thoughts about it.
Q: What skills have you improved through this club?
A: Many members of the debate club said that it has been a great way to improve lots of very helpful skills in everyday life. When asked this question, 10th grader Marina Lenzi Briski listed skills such as “communications, critical thinking, research, interpersonal skills, and confidence” that were all improved through her experiences in the debate club since 8th grade.
These kinds of skills that require active listening, quick thinking, and confidence are developed through debating but are also extremely important and applicable to all aspects of life. Some students who joined because they found public speaking very difficult, said it has really improved their ability to present in front of groups, helping them excel in areas outside of debate club.
Q: Would you recommend this club to other students? Is it beginner-friendly?
A: All members we interviewed enthusiastically said they would recommend the debate club to others because of how it is a great opportunity for students to improve many useful skills and meet new people.
A task like debating and presenting in front of others can seem very daunting to many, but luckily this club works to make everyone as comfortable as they can be. Sana explained how “There are multiple groups and they put you in the one that best suits your skills.” This is a great way the club can help members of all levels increase their skills and confidence in a safe environment. This makes the club suitable and accessible for people of all different levels, making it very easy to stop in and try it out.
Many young children and people are friendly (Mikael)
Q: How do I join Debate Club?
If the debate club piqued your interest and you would like to join, you can attend their meetings every Thursday from 15:45 - 17:00 in the grade 7 area. Everyone is welcome!
You can also email them at debateclub@isa.nl for any extra questions you might have.
