Strengthening your already fluent oral proficiency in English by thinking about complex questions, expressing your thoughts, and – above all – responding to the arguments of others cogently and in the appropriate register: that is the point of this tutorial. It should strengthen your ability to participate in academic discussions as well. In keeping with these purposes, we will not emphasize debating formats where rhetorical flourish with a view to winning a persuasion game is the chief goal; we will debate to get clearer and deeper on the substance of the debates. Not speed and superficial point-scoring, but intelligent defense and respectful criticism of substantial arguments in clear language will be our focus.

To improve proficiency in a language at advanced levels is a challenge; by performing complex thinking and speaking tasks that you perhaps have never done in your native language, we hope that English will become a deeper part of your mind.