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 session introduces the basics of debate, its benefits, and how the workshop is structured, followed by an icebreaker game. Afterward, participants can join any session freely, where they will engage in debate skill-building games and 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)
✅ Past & Upcoming Sessions	AY2025 Wednesday, May 7, 18:00-20:00 Wednesday, May 21, 18:00-20:00 Wednesday, June 11, 18:00-20:00 Wednesday, June 25, 18:00-20:00 Wednesday, July 9, 18:00-20:00 Wednesday, July 23, 18:00-20:00 Held annually since AY2023
📍 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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TA Team Leader

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.

Past Event Records

Voices from Participants

Event Report

Contact Faculty

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