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SSIS Debate Teams Make Their Mark at Taiwan Invitational

SSIS Debate Teams Make Their Mark at Taiwan Invitational
Tanya Olander

Leading into last week’s Fall break, our Middle and High School Debate teams took the stage at the Taiwan Speech and Debate Invitational, and what a mark they made! Competing in the Public Forum Debate category, our students embraced the challenge, showing not just skill but also the heart and dedication that define our SSIS debate program.

Facing off against debaters of varying experience levels, from first-year high school participants to seasoned competitors, the SSIS debate teams showed great courage and skill at the recent Taiwan Speech and Debate Invitational.

“All of our debaters performed exceptionally well, and for the novices in particular, these are outstanding results,” shared Diana Sorobey, SSIS High School Debate Coach, who has played a key role in shaping our debate program. “Lili Dubois, Middle School Debate Coach, is dedicated to ensuring our middle schoolers flourish, and they are thriving under her guidance.” With no separate middle school division, our eight middle schoolers stood their ground against high school students—an impressive feat for students so early in their debate journey. Joe and Bill took home a well-deserved 3rd place in the Novice division. 

SSIS debaters pose for a group photo upon arrival to Taipei. Coaches Diana Sorobey and Lili Dubois, also pictured.

“In those 5 days of debating, winning and losing, meeting new people, and preparing late, this experience turned us into better debaters,” shared Aesun, Grade 9. “The Taiwan Invitational created new friendship bonds and the trip let us know how big and universal the debate community is.”

Also earning places in the top quarter of the Novice bracket, were Bee and Katherin, both in Grade 8 demonstrating their growing expertise. Meanwhile, Apolline and Bella faced tough competition in the Open Varsity division, securing two key victories.

Why Debate Matters at SSIS

If you’re new to the world of competitive debate, you might wonder: what is Public Forum Debate? This is the format we focus on at SSIS, and it’s part of the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA), the largest interscholastic debate organization in the United States. Public Forum asks teams of two to tackle timely, often controversial topics, preparing them to argue both sides of an issue. By arguing both sides of a topic, even those they may not personally agree with, students develop empathy and a deeper understanding of multiple perspectives. 

During a session last Spring, high school debaters showed Grade 3 students how debate works. Cross-divisional collaborations like these help to build curiosity and interest.

We’re proud to see our students debating with respect, engaging with issues that matter, and learning to think on their feet. These experiences, which are true for all formats of debate, help build confident communicators for life.

Building a Thriving Debate Culture

Since first introducing NSDA to Vietnam in 2018, SSIS has worked hard to continue creating opportunities for our students to grow through debate. Under the guidance of coaches Diana Sorobey, Lili Dubois, and Jamie Brown, it’s been a journey of passion and commitment, one that saw SSIS earn charter status in 2023—the highest membership honor offered by the NSDA, making our school the only international school on that year’s list. 

Mr. Arnett, one of the most influential figures in debate in the US, has worked with SSIS students on multiple occassions.

To further enrich our program, we invite guest speakers like Dave Arnett, Director of Debate at the University of Kentucky—one of the most influential figures in U.S. debate. Mr. Arnett, who has visited our campus several times, returned this semester to conduct demo debates with both our middle and high school debate teams. His guidance helps inspire our students to think big and prepares them to compete confidently internationally.

“Our students’ performance at the Taiwan Invitational shows just how much they can achieve when they’re given the right tools and opportunities,” Ms. Sorobey reflected. “I’m excited to see how far this talented group will go.”
 

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