Dear
Sir or Madam,
I
would like to invite students of your school to participate in the
1st
edition of the International Oxford-Style Debating Competition
(IOSDC). Oxford-Style debating has been growing in popularity in
Poland over the last few years and especially Krakow has become the
capital of this form of debating for high school students in our
country. Although the city openly, and somewhat rightly, claims to be
a multicultural community, we have noticed a jarring lack of debates
held in English for students who communicate in this language. With
that in mind, we decided to create an opportunity for such students –
as well as for other students from international and multicultural
schools from both Poland and abroad – to take part in an event
during which they could practice Oxford-Style debating in English.
Oxford-Style
debating is a highly sophisticated form of debating in which a team
of students argues for or against a given statement and contends with
the other team using well-balanced and well-thought arguments. In
such a debate, students practice and demonstrate their ability to use
skilful rhetoric and public speaking. An additional benefit of such
an event is that the participants learn about important social
issues, understanding and perception of which may differ around the
world. It is imperative for young people to be able to speak their
mind and to confront what they know and think in the proper manner,
and I truly believe that Oxford-Style debating is an excellent way to
give them opportunity to do so.
Apart
from the above-mentioned benefits, participating in an Oxford-Style
debate helps students develop invaluable soft skills such as public
speaking, cooperation, and supporting their opinions with strong
arguments and it also fosters well-mannered discussion. Due to the
strict rules of the debate and its time constraints, students are
also expected to do thorough research into the given topics and to be
precise and concise in their speeches.
In
order to ensure the proper conduct of the debates, both in terms of
the rules and in terms of the content area, we have contacted
Krakowskie Stowarzyszenie Mówców (Krakow Speakers Association),
which co-organised National Oxford-Style Debating Competition in
Poland among other such events.
I
believe that taking part in the International Oxford-Style Debating
Competition will be an unforgettable experience both for the students
and for us all, and that through debating the most crucial of issues
we can help prepare young people to be responsible and informed
citizens.
Together
we can build a better tomorrow.
Agnieszka
Sańka,
Headteacher
of Kolegium Europejskie (The College of Europe)