[Call for Participants / Next Session July 23] Debate Club

Challenge yourself without pressure! Enjoy debating while honing foundational argumentation and diverse perspectives.

Overview

This peer-teaching workshop is proposed by international students from ToTAL and led by students. Faculty members provide guidance as needed while ensuring smooth facilitation.

The first three “Theory” sessions introduce the basics of debate, its benefits, and the workshop’s structure, followed by an icebreaker game or a debate skill-building activity. Afterward, in the “Debate” sessions, participants will engage in debates on specific topics.

📂 Category	Initiative
📌 Keywords	Debate, Logical Thinking, Public Speaking, Persuasion, Critical Thinking, Diverse Perspectives
🎯 Objectives	– Overcome the fear of public speaking and build confidence in delivering arguments. – Develop logical structuring skills and persuasive argumentation. – Improve clarity and effectiveness in communication.
🌐 Language	English and Japanese sessions will be held on separate days.
👥 Target Participants	Graduate & Undergraduate Students
🗓 Format	Multiple sessions (2-hour in-person) Recommended: Attend the full series, especially the first session. Single-session participation is also welcome. If you are participating in the Debate Club for credit, please take on the debater’s role for at least one session.
✅ Past & Upcoming Sessions	Theory sessions: Tuesday, October 28, 18:00-20:00 Tuesday, November 4, 18:00-20:00 Tuesday, November 11, 18:00-20:00 Joint session with Tsutaeru Lounge Wednesday, November 19, 18:00-20:00 Debate sessions: Tuesday, December 9, 18:00-20:00 Tuesday, December 16, 18:00-20:00 Tuesday, December 23, 18:00-20:00 Held every semester since FY2023
📍 Venue	S6-309A, Ookayama
🌟 Recommended for	– Those who want to enhance logical thinking and persuasive speaking skills. – Those who feel uneasy about public speaking and want to gain confidence in expressing themselves. – Those who want to strengthen their critical thinking through practical debate.
📊 Points	2 points for each session, total 12 points (Points to be awarded to students enrolled in the courses for credits. Please refer to the syllabus for details.)
🎟️ Capacity	20 participants

Past Debate Topics

• Democracy is the best form of governance.
• The death penalty should be banned.
• The state should pay the salary of pregnant women, not the company.
• Transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in the Olympic games.
• AI should replace human decision-making in law and international politics.
• Japanese Universities should be tuition-free for all students (including international students).
• Countries should use more nuclear energy.
• New technologies are making us dumber.

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Facilitator – ToTAL TA Team

Past Event Records

Event Report

Contact Faculty

Yuri Matsuzaki, Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Academy for Leadership
📩 matsuzaki.y.77a9 [at] m.isct.ac.jp