The Standing Committee on Language Education & Research invites entries to its debating competition for junior secondary students. Deadline is November 7. The competition takes place February to July.

The competition will boost students' motivation for language learning, train their language skills, sharpen their logical thinking and organisational skills, and build their self-confidence and team spirit.

Different from conventional debates, two special sessions of 'Q&A by Designated Positions' and 'Think-tank Challenge' will be added. This will better train students' logical thinking and responsiveness, as they need to provide immediate responses to the arguments and rebuttals raised by their opponents. It will also encourage more interaction between the affirmative and negative sides.

Team tactics

Secondary 1 to 3 students should form teams on a school basis under four districts, namely Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories East and New Territories West. Participating teams will go through three rounds of preliminary contest within districts. Two winning teams in each district will enter the inter-district competition in the quarter-finals. The grand final will be held in July.

Debating workshops for teachers of participating schools will be organised to strengthen their training skills in debating and using debating in language teaching. Other debating training sessions for teachers will be held jointly with the Education & Manpower Bureau's Task Force of Language Support.

The competition will be conducted in Cantonese. For enrolment forms and competition guidelines click here. For enquiries call 2892 5902.