How we teach debate at Telecom ParisTech

How we teach debate at Telecom ParisTech

Debate class at Telecom ParisTech is a thematic course that runs through both semesters.
One class for the first year students and another for second, third and even fourth year students.

As you can see from the photograph on the left, if convincing people to do something or change their opinion was purely dialectic (an examination and discussion about an opponent's ideas in order to get to the truth), these two gentlemen would not need to be wearing such sharp suits, pointing at each other or even be in the same room with the audience at the same time.

Debate can be an excellent tool for getting to the bottom of the ethical values of a law (Lincoln Douglas debate), comparing evidence on a policy (Policy Debate or High School Debate) or even recreating a government in order to argue a motion, (British Parliamentary debate).

However, none of the above formats address the vital elements of wit, humour and charisma. The three strings to a debater's bow that can not only be used to fire arrows of pithy come-backs towards the opposition in a formal debate, but be used in everyday life to seduce, succeed and persuade your way to the top!

This is why, in debate class at Telecom, we pay as much attention to refining our dialectic skills as we do to learning to persuade, entertain and charm our audience.