ESL Blogs

I am a fourty-five-year-old housewife.  Up until this week , I had never learned how to debate. In school, even at university, often at work, definitely in parent meetings, to say "no" and "disagree" was clearly a big no-no. I think this sad custom derived from the ignorance of debate. It looks to me that debate allows people to exchange their opinions without being emotional. I think this is really great.

I have learned how to debate in English for the first time at university. I took a short debate course. It was only five days. And it was so much fun. What I really liked was to listen carefly each other and quickly make refutation. Japanese young students must learn how to debate. This would enrich their lives. The good thing is that, in that course, I learned with a boy who is fifteen years old. He was intelligent, calm and very nice. He was actully a great debater. He said the he wants to become a doctor and save people as a member of Doctors Without Borders. I was so impressed with this.

I think I am a very emotional person. However, now that I have learned how to debate, I will change. I am going to enjoy exchange opinions without being emotional. Debate is so much fun!