Student writer: Miles Huang Yipu (S4F)
Instructor: Rachel Tou Wing Sze
Secondary school students of eight schools across the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau gathered in Pui Ching Middle School Macau to vie for top honours in the first Secondary School Debate Challenge from April 25 to 26.
The two-day event, which was conducted completely in English, was organised by the English panel of Pui Ching Middle School Macau.
“In recent years, our school has worked hard on STEAM* education, but we also care deeply about students’ reasoning, communication and critical thinking skills – because they are what make us human,” Kou Kam Fai, Principal of Pui Ching Middle School Macau said in his speech during the opening ceremony of the debate.
Choi Man Chi, Chief of the Government’s Education and Youth Development Bureau’s Non-Tertiary Education Department, also attended the opening ceremony.
In addition to improving students’ English public speaking ability and strengthening their logical thinking skills, the organiser also hoped the event could encourage tighter cooperation between schools through high-level academic discussions.
Joel Ng, Panel Chair of Secondary English Section, Pui Ching Middle School Macau, said his school organised this activity to bring students from different regions together to exchange ideas and provide them with an opportunity to learn more from the others and broaden their world vision.
Schools participating in the event included Suzhou Foreign Language School, Zhuhai Yifu Experimental Secondary School, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lui Yun Choy Memorial College, HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No.3 Secondary School, Sacred Heart Canossian College (English Section), St Joseph Diocesan College (The Fifth School) (English Section), Santa Rosa de Lima (Chinese Section), Pui Ching Middle School Macau (Horta e Costa Campus), Pui Ching Middle School Macau (Coloane Campus).
By following the British Parliamentary (BP) debate format, the debate requires the students to finish the preparation within 15 minutes without any help from their coaches or technology after the motion is announced. Each contestant then has to deliver a 5-minute speech.
Fatima Mariam, a student from HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No.3 Secondary School in Hong Kong, said the BP debate format was a bit complicated for them and 15 minutes was too short for their preparation.
“You only have 15 minutes. It is actually trying to test your scope of knowledge, how much you understand the world…and your responsiveness.” said Archie Wang Sizhe, who was one of the instructors and adjudicators in the event. Wang, who is also the captain of the Debate Team of the University of Macau, said that the BP format is one of the most common types of debate format in universities.
Zhao Ruohan, a student from Suzhou Foreign Language School in the Chinese mainland, pointed out that listening was the most important part of a debate. She said active listening is the only way to find the arguments to counter the opponent’s ideas. “In the past, I used to listen in a passive way. Now I listen to every part of the speeches and summarise the main points.” Zhao’s team was awarded the first runner-up in the competition.
Following several rounds of intense debate, the winners have been announced. Awards were presented for Champions, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up, and Best Speaker to recognise the students’ outstanding performances.
Champions:
St. Joseph Diocesan College (The Fifth School) (English Section) (Loi Ally, Ho Meng Hin)
First Runners-up:
Suzhou Foreign Language School (Chen Ziyou, Zhao Ruohan)
Second Runners-up:
Sacred Heart Canossian College (English Section) (Sara Win Sandar Maung, Chio Chi Ian);
Pui Ching Middle School Macau (Horta e Costa Campus) (Si U Hin, Ana Guo)
Best Speakers:
Ana Guo, Si U Hin, Sara Win Sandar Maung, Chio Chi Ian, Loi Ally, Zhao Ruohan
Grand Final Best Speaker:
Si U Hin
*STEAM is an educational acronym that represents five key disciplines used together to guide student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. The acronym stands for: S – Science; T – Technology; E – Engineering; A – Arts; M – Mathematics. – Gemini
The guests and participants pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony last Saturday.
Students are debating in the final round.
A guest and the top three contestants pose for a photo at the closing ceremony. (From the second on the left to the right) Chio Chi Ian, Sara Win Sandar Maung, Ho Meng Hin, Loi Ally, Chen Ziyou, Zhao Ruohan, Si U Hin, Ana Guo.
A guest and the best speakers pose for a photo at the closing ceremony. (From the second on the left to the right) Ana Guo, Zhao Ruohan, Loi Ally, Chio Chi Ian, Sara Win Sandar Maung, Si U Hin.
Students are preparing for their debate.
Fatima Mariam, a student from HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No.3 Secondary School, speaks during the debate.
Students from Pui Ching Middle School speak during the debate.
