Professional Development Program

Profiles

Webber's Debate Academy

THE DEBATE ADVANTAGE:

In addition to the exciting competitive opportunities that the academic debate affords our students, the activity of debate itself provides several educational advantages to the students that participate. Besides the obvious advantage of being able to give fantastic speeches under pressure, debate also teaches reading comprehension, high-level research, strong critical thinking skills, global and cultural awareness, a sharpened sense of social justice, well honed writing and communication skills, a true understanding of teamwork, strong work ethic, goal setting, increased self-confidence, higher academic involvement, healthy sportsmanship as well as the opportunity to make life-long, like-minded friends and to get accepted into the most competitive international universities.

English Language Acquisition:

Debate is also an exciting and fun way for students to practice their English with native and non-native English speakers. Debaters are reading, writing and preparing debates in English as well as speaking in English with an effort to persuade judges who will give them instant feedback immediately after each round. There is a strong desire for students to perfect their English so as to earn more victories in the debate. Students also take on the use of phrases and words that they are reading in their debate research as well as emulating their peers, coaches and judges whose English they admire. This rapidly accelerates a student’s comprehension, reading and speaking levels in a short period of time.

Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Debaters are WELCOME!

Debaters will have a choice to be trained after school from 3:30 to 5:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays OR Tuesdays and Thursdays (2 days a week) OR they may also choose the later sessions from 6:30 to 8:30 pm Mondays and Wednesdays OR Tuesdays and Thursdays (2 days a week). You may also select from Semester 1 (mid-August through mid-December) AND/OR Semester 2 (mid-January through mid-May).

Flipped Classroom/Blended Learning:

All debaters will have access to asynchronous modules that explain the basics of debate, recorded mostly in 5 to 8 minute videos with short questions to check for understanding. At the beginning of each session they will be allowed to ask questions and comment on the modules they have watched before engaging in a practice debate round to hone the skills which they are learning. Debaters will then be observed and side coached by world class debate coaches who will give them immediate feedback as a group and individually during and after each debate round.

EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:

Webber’s Academy coaches and students will always demonstrate the highest ethical behavior when participating in classes or competition.

Students may attend the classes and choose not to participate in the competitions if they desire. The class is designed for debaters to be prepared for competition, however competition is not our primary goal.Education will always be placed at the forefront as our core value.Debaters should show up on time to class with all the necessary materials and prepared to begin immediately.Debaters are required to provide their own materials for all participation.Whenever possible, debaters will be expected to compete on their local circuit under the name and supervision of their own school whenever possible. However, they may participate under Webber’s Academy for regional and international competitions or under Webber’s Debate Academy when their home school does not afford them this opportunity.While we could make a list of rules for the conduct that we expect of our debaters, we think that our expectations are embodied in the following three phases: Respect yourself. Respect each other. Respect the process.We feel that this is sufficient for the type of student that we accept into our Academy and they type of students who would take advantage of this opportunity to develop themselves.

Mark Webber - Director and Head Coach

Mark Webber has taught and coached debate in many countries around the world as an international educator as well as a consultant. He has founded debate leagues in Venezuela, Sudan, as well as supporting the SEA Forensics League in Malaysia and the IASAS Debate League in Southeast Asia. He was the coach for Team Sudan in their first appearance at the World Schools Debating Championships in 2010. In Mexico, Mark founded the Mexican Debating League, which has included over 40 schools and thousands of students participating during its 11 year existence. He has served as the English Speaking Union - Mexico's coach 7 times for Team Mexico at the World Schools Debating Championships, with his team winning many top accolades, as well currently serving as President of the Board to the Asociación Mexicana de Debate A.C. that hosted the World Universities Debate Championships in Mexico City in 2018 and the World Schools Debating Championships in August of 2020. Mark is also the Director of Debate and Speech to ROGA Academy in Singapore, Webber’s Debate Academy, as well as the Extra and Co-Curricular Activity Expert for Great Place to Study – Latin America. Mark has also provided consulting to the USA’s National Speech and Debate Association, the Qatar Foundation and many organizations and teams worldwide for World Schools Debate.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjosephwebber/ Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions: markwebber@webbersed.com

WEBBER’S ONLINE DEBATE ACADEMY MISSION AND OBJECTIVES:

The overall goal of Webber’s Online Debate Academy is to provide world class quality debate and public speaking training for students who are interested in these activities and /or skills that are acquired through these activities.

Webber’s Debate Academy will facilitate training for debaters to be able to participate in local, regional and international debate competitions to encourage students to learn the skills mentioned above.Webber’s Debate Academy will never place the value of competition above the value of education for the student.Debaters will be trained online by Mark Webber and other experienced debate coaches who have practiced the art of debate as well as the teaching of debate.Debaters will be trained using planned lesson plans that are pedagogically appropriate for their age, ability and the goals for which they have set for themselves.Debaters will be trained using the most current methods and practices that are used globally such as “flipped classroom/blended learning” model.Debaters will be trained using the language designated for the class by a Trainer who speaks that language on a professional level.The majority of classes will be in English.Webber’s Academy coaches and students will always demonstrate the highest ethical behavior when participating in classes or competition.