DEBATING IN RIGA, LATVIA
Students from Turkey, Spain, Portugal,
Czechia, Italy gathered in Riga, Latvia for the LTT
Activity, Debating. Before coming to Latvia two
students from each country read the classic novel
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and they put forward
different ideas and we inspired from these ideas and
chose the topic "People who are thinking logically
are happier than the people who are thinking
sensually" So two groups competed in a
multicultural
area. Each group
contained six
students (each
one from six
p a r t n e r
countries) Each
contestant
made 4 minutes
speech to persuade the juries and ask opponent
team several questions to defend their ideas. The
idea "People who are thinking sensually go on a
happier life than logical people" won Debating and
all students were awarded with certificates.
I understood that debating is very
important acivity. Yes, very Important because it
helps us to improve our speaking skills, talking
effectively in front of people.
To be honest , I thought at first to persuade
viewers and the juries is not easy for a 17-year-old
student and also the idea of competition always
makes me nervous but when I learnt it would be a
team-work I felt myself more comfortable and my
thoughts changed to some extent.
After coordinator teacher announced the
topic “ People who are thinking logically/sensually
go on a happier life” each group started reading and
searching a lot to gather adeguate information and
the questions for the debating.
Zeynep and I were the leaders of two
opponent debating groups. We were two teams and
team-mates shared their knowledge with each
other through whatsapp groups that's why we lived
a very busy preparation process in our countries
before the real performance in Latvia, and also we
gave detailed information about debating to the
students from Italy, Portugal, Spain,Czechia and
Latvia we would compete together for the same
idea. In addition we informed each other to prepare
pictures and different texts and power point
presentations to support our ideas and to be more
persuasive in front of the juries.
Finally we gathered in Riga from six
countries and it was the time for Debating. I was
excited while I was making my speech and all
contestants,either. But soon after I felt relaxed
when I finished my speech. I asked several questions
to the other group. Question part was so fun that I
enjoyed arguing with my friends. When debating
ended I didn't even think about who would win. I
was just happy because I realised these moments
were so precious in my life that I may not live again.
Can you imagine Yes I am 17-year-old-student and I
managed a difficult activity in a foreign country in a
mulcultural area. The other important thing to me
was, of course, friendship. I made friends from
different cultures. When the jury announced us the
winner group we applauded and congratulated
each other. The juries congratulated us, either with
certificates and then shared the price together, the
cake.
-17-
Sena TOPALAK
12-F