Hello, I'm Jodai, in charge of Toyonaka Senior High School's Global Studies (Gurosuta) and SGS.
Finally, the impromptu (parliamentary) debates in English have started.
Four staff members came to our School from HUMAN-BRAIN Co., Ltd., which is specialized for "impromptu (parliamentary)" debates in English.
Furthermore this time, Ms. Chihiro Nakagawa of Osaka Prefecture University, who is a pioneer in this kind of impromptu debate in English, joined us via the internet.
Thank you Ms. Nakagawa for participating in spite of your busy schedule!
Now, let me introduce the content of this session's debates.
First of all, there was a model debate performance demonstrated for students so that they could have concrete idea of what an actual impromptu debate looks like.
The debate was done in fluent English with which the class room was filled. This demonstration was more than sufficient to motivate the students very well .
"That is what I want to be!" "I will work harder!" I found that they're getting excited seeing students' facial expressions.
Then, the overview, benefit, and rules of the impromptu debates were explained.
And finally,
the debates started!
Unlike a prepared debate, an impromptu debate requires discussions relying upon just simple memos on site.
It is such an urgent situation that evokes "practical English ability."
Those who impressed me most were the 11th graders.
They gave excellent debates from the beginning. Why?
Actually, most of the 11th graders attending Global Studies experienced this type of impromptu debate through a hands-on lesson when they were in the 10th grade.
At that time, they couldn't speak much and really felt disappointed, which motivated them to improve their debating skills.
But, I'm still amazed by the improvement they made because this is only the second year to them.
Some students couldn't say anything for the last one minute of the given time last year, but this year, they could keep speaking until the time was up, in a loud voice as well (thanks to SGS?).
I'm really impressed with the growth potential of senior high school students!
After the debates, when the winners were announced, I heard cheers from each table.
And at each table, the teacher who judged the debates gave comments to every student individually.
(I really appreciate their comments indeed!)
Of course, the students listened to the teacher's feedback with intense concentration.
Then, the best debater was selected from each table, all the participants gave a comment, and
the debates of the day were finished.
Then,
it was the next day of the debate when some 11th graders came to the preparation room for English studies and said to me "Mr. Jodai, may we ask you to judge our debates since we have been practicing debating today?"
I was so surprised to hear that.
As they were so disappointed since they couldn't do well as they'd like in the previous debate, they voluntarily practiced as early as the next day.
They seem to be completely motivated now.
I'm looking forward to seeing how much they can grow through this Global Studies.
Although I had many difficulties to launch Global Studies, I sincerely thought that it was a nice decision.