Developing Communication Skills through Debate: How to Engage Students Emotionally, Imaginatively, Intellectually and Playfully

Letizia Cinganotto and Manuela Kelly Calzini presented on 'Developing Communication Skills through Debate: How to Engage Students Emotionally, Imaginatively, Intellectually and Playfully' at the 7th online Future of English Language Teaching Conference.

See the video recording below:

Abstract

The main focus for students to learn English is to be able to use English in oral communication. Debate is an excellent activity for language learning because it engages students in a variety of cognitive and linguistic ways and is a potentially effective speaking pedagogical tool that can scaffold learning processes in ways that can lead to language development. Furthermore, in addition to providing meaningful listening, speaking and writing practice, debate is also highly effective for developing argumentation skills for persuasive speech and writing.

This highly interactive session aims to offer insights into the essential elements of debate and how the practice of debating can encourage creativity and thinking skills whilst offering motivating contexts for learners to communicate with one another, developing their ability to think critically, build cohesive arguments, and improving their delivery, listening and response skills.
The speakers will also introduce participants to key debating techniques and strategies that can inspire teachers in organising language classes where learners assume active roles in the contemporary classroom.

Examples of techniques and strategies for integrating debates and classroom discussions into your practice will be demonstrated. Web tools and digital repositories to support debating skills within international communities will also be highlighted.

Finally, the speakers will consider the implications of using debate with reference to assessment and national and international tests because assessment is a key component of learning and if students are able to see how they are progressing, they are also able to determine their next learning goals.

About the presenters

Letizia Cinganotto

Letizia is a full time Senior Researcher at INDIRE (National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research), Italy. She holds a PhD in synchronic, diachronic and applied Linguistics. She has far-reaching experience in continuous professional development for teachers, teacher trainers, head teachers.

She is a member of different working groups and scientific committees on CLIL and language learning both at national and international level.

She has presented papers at national and international conferences and published articles and chapters in peer-reviewed journals and recently five volumes on CLIL.

Manuela Kelly Calzini

Manuela Kelly Calzini is an experienced teacher and teacher trainer working mainly in EFL Education and Continuing Professional Development Programmes. She is lecturer at the University of Florence (Primary Education Sciences), an ELT author and regularly contributes articles in teacher publications. Manuela is currently Senior Academic for Trinity College London in Italy.

Her main research interests are Very Young and Young Learners, Manuela is also a member of the Society for Storytelling.