Life skills are essential for the development and long-term success of children. Yet, these core 21st century skills continue to rank as the widest gaps by top universities and employers. The traditional education system built in the 1800s evolved with a focus on academics, but as our world has rapidly evolved, there is a larger than ever need to supplement academics with key soft skills. These skills for success are often much more difficult to learn later as an adult.
Fortunately, we don’t need to choose between academics and soft skills development – one unique holistic developmental pedagogy that has been brought to India earlier this year by Speech and Debate India, is a rigorous U.S. Debate format with courses and tournaments to help students in Grades 1-12 build both academic and critical life skills.
Academic Boost: Research has proven that U.S. Debate is unsurpassed as a rigorous and highly respected academic activity that stimulates and supports a child’s development across so many core academic skills. This includes writing speed, reading comprehension level, listening, note-taking, research, data analysis, evidence-based reasoning, test taking, grades, and overall school performance.
Essential Life Skills: Equally important benefits of U.S. Debate are that it prepares our kids for the future. U.S. Debate uniquely empowers students with 21st century skills that employers view as the widest gaps, such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and persuasive communication. Studies have found that many debaters value their experience as the highlight of their educational years, and that the time invested pays dividends in both academic efficiency gained and in life skills gained. Debate thus supports intellectual growth, while helping to shape the personality of children by polishing both their collaboration and leadership skills, while providing unique opportunities to grow critical thinking and creativity skills.
Collaboration & Leadership Skills: Students in U.S. Debate gain valuable real-world lessons by working together efficiently with their peers. Collaboration, leadership, and persuasion start to develop long before the debate round as students prepare with teammates by dividing tasks, researching, and negotiating how they will consolidate their findings collectively as a unified team. Collaboration is a critical judging factor during a U.S. Debate round and an integral aspect of winning as teammates closely support one another while racing against the clock to persuasively communicate for a positive ballot. Moreover, each student takes ownership and leadership before and during particular stages of the debate.
Critical Thinking Skills: U.S. Debate raises deep thinking and self-awareness as students learn to recognize and articulate their viewpoints, using evidence and logic, rather than simply expressing opinions. Students learn patience and the importance of listening attentively to the opposing team, while thinking critically to define questions that will challenge assumptions. These are life skills that help both in the classroom, as well as in developing a life long attitude of respect and openness to other viewpoints that are important in entrepreneurship and in organizations.
Creativity Skills: Creativity is a skill kids are born with but see significant declines as they become teenagers. Creativity is another key judging standard in debate that students employ in formulating out of the box policy proposals and innovative solutions to real-world issues, whether in healthcare, education, climate change, technology, business and entrepreneurship, government, or other social impact areas. Students are encouraged to think expansively and U.S. debate serves as a helpful outlet to retain and channel the natural creativity that kids tend to lose otherwise over time.
U.S. Debate is uniquely formulated to be highly rigorous and developed for the brightest students to boost academic and 21st century life skills. All courses offered in Speech and Debate India’s Debate Academy are taught through interactive, hands-on debates that are challenging and thrilling. Speech and Debate India equips students with tools for becoming confident, life-long learners, and essential skills like collaboration, leadership, critical thinking, and creativity, that they will leverage for success through the rest of their lives.
– The author Mr. Rajiv Kacholia, is a Former U.S. State Debate Champion, an alumnus of Stanford University, and Founder of Speech and Debate India, empowering students across India with rigorous U.S. Debate training and tournaments.
