Four Ways Debating Helps Improve Foreign Language Skills
The more you speak the better you perform across multiple languages
As the cultural makeup of the United States continues to diversify, and companies increasingly go global in their operations, many organizations are hiring workers that are fluent in more than one language. Being bilingual can boost a candidate’s appeal over those with similar education but no knowledge of a foreign language. So it stands to reason that a growing number of schools are beginning to teach foreign language from kindergarten through high school.
Whether a student hopes to master a foreign language or improve their English language skills – especially those who learned English as a second language – practicing debate can help them achieve their goals. Both middle school and high school debate programs offer numerous benefits and advantages to students, especially as they progress through their academic careers.
Here are five debating skills that translate to foreign language proficiency, potentially making students more attractive to both colleges and future hiring managers.
Public speaking
Gaining confidence in public speaking is one of the primary goals and outcomes of debate – and this skill can help students become more comfortable when speaking a second or foreign language. Those who become proficient in a foreign language are able to not only read and write, but also converse in that language. A solid base in public speaking through debate will help them overcome barriers in learning to speak the new language.
Written Communication
While many think of debating as a test of oratory skills, writing is a primary component of solid debating. Students who participate in debate learn to develop written outlines and flesh them out with engaging content. From theory and hypotheses to argumentation and conclusion, they develop standards for written communication, which can help them immensely as they develop foreign language skills. Communication – both oral and written – is considered one of the 5 “C”s that make up the Standards for Foreign Language Learning, a rulebook that national educators, business leaders and the government follow to determine foreign language proficiency.
Critical thinking
Beginner foreign language courses focus on memorization of key nouns and formation of simple subject-verb agreement, however, more advanced classes require a higher level of thinking in order to read, write and understand the non-native language. Those students with critical thinking skills tend to surpass their peers by gaining a more complete understanding of the language and how to use it in various situations.
Social & Non-Verbal Cues
We learn social skills and how to interpret and utilize non-verbal forms of language beginning at a very young age. And when it comes to debating, learning to hone these skills can make the difference when it comes to both winning tournaments and winning over friends and colleagues. These “soft” skills come into play in nearly every face-to-face encounter, whether personal or professional. Similarly, it’s important for foreign language learners to know the best ways to interact with their audience; understanding cultural norms and being able to truly communicate in a foreign language to native speakers of that language is a critical skill in business and in life.
Using debate to learn a second or foreign language is becoming increasing popular among academic institutions and students. Those interested in teaching or learning debate to complement foreign language learning may want to consider this resource to aid in their training.
What Do You Think?
Does debating help students advanced in their comprehension of foreign languages?
