oben v. links: Roman Kelsch, Yazan Al-Maki, Baljot Kaur, Ana Dutra, Lina Woike, Luis Birnstiel, Margarethe Ackermann, Alireza Khodabakhshian, Frau Anna Henneke
Unsere Schülerinnen und Schüler aus dem "English Debating Club" unter Leitung von Frau Costa Thiele (Englischlehrkraft) haben kürzlich mit großem Erfolg am English International Debating Tournament in Zagreb teilgenommen. Zwei Teams, phronesis (Luis Birnstiel-E1f, Ana Dutra-10c, Pietro Mazza-E1b, Alireza Khodabakshian-E1a, Baljot Kaur Girdhar-E1c) und verbum liberum ( Margerethe Ackermann-10b, Lina Woike-10b, Roman Kelsch-10b, Yazan Al-Maki-10b) , traten dort gegen internationale Konkurrenz an und konnten jeweils drei von sechs Debattenrunden gewinnen. Damit verpassten sie den Einzug ins Achtelfinale nur knapp, ein bemerkenswerter Erfolg, insbesondere angesichts der kurzen Vorbereitungszeit von lediglich fünf Wochen im Rahmen des schulischen Debating Clubs.
Debattiert wurden anspruchsvolle und gesellschaftlich hoch relevante Motions, darunter:
“This House, as a global community, believes in the pursuit of communism rather than capitalism” sowie
“This House supports the unification of Korea under the DPRK leadership”.
Darüber hinaus stellten sich die Teams mehreren spontanen Motions (impromptus), die sie mit Souveränität und argumentativer Tiefe bearbeiteten.
Unsere Teams fielen durch ihr hohes sprachliches Niveau und ihre überzeugende Debattenkultur positiv auf.
Als direkte Anerkennung dieser Leistungen wurde unsere Schule eingeladen, an einem renommierten English Debating Tournament am Robert College in Istanbul teilzunehmen. Vier unserer Schülerinnen und Schüler, Baljot Girdhar, Luis Birnstiel, Margarethe Ackermann und Lina Woike, erhielten die besondere Chance, an der Euroasian Debating Championship am Robert College in Istanbul mit dabei zu sein.
Debating gilt in der Fremdsprachendidaktik als besonders wirksam zur Förderung von kritischem Denken, sprachlicher Flüssigkeit und demokratischer Diskussionskultur. Die Erfolge in Zagreb zeigen eindrucksvoll, welches Potenzial in dieser Arbeit steckt – selbst bei vergleichsweise kurzer Vorbereitungszeit.
Wir sind sehr stolz auf unsere Debating-Teams und freuen uns auf die nächsten nationalen und/oder internationalen Herausforderungen.
Testimonials der Schüler*innen und Lehrkräfte
"The Engish debating club at the JBS was more than just a club. I made many new international friends from around the world, learned how to debate, and observed experienced debaters, how they structure and sometimes twist arguments to thier advantage, even when they disagreed with the position. This experience expanded my vocabulary, raised my English to a proficient level, and taught me how to speak confidently and deliver effective speeches. Joining the debating club here at school was one of the best choices I made."
Alireza Khodabakhshian (E1a)
"My time in Zagreb with the Engish Debating Club was an incredibly enriching experience. The preparation phase already taught me a lot, especially in terms of speaking English more confidently and learning how to argue in a clear and convincing way. Once in Zagreb, the progress was remarkable. Within just one or two days, my Engish and debating skills improve noticeably. At the same time, I was able to learn so much by obeserving and exchanging ideas with other participants. Beyond debating, it was deeply fulfilling to meet peopke from different cultures and countries, build new connections and experience such an inspiring international environment. I can highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to grow both linguistically and personally."
Luis Birnstiel (E1f)
"During the Winter Holiday Open competition, I had an amazing experience that I will always remember. I was able to improve my Engish by speaking every day and communicating with many different people. Stepping out of my comfort zone was challenging at first, but it gave me confidence and a lot of fun. At the club, I met many new, friendly and inspiring people, and I also got to know kind locals in Zagreb. Sharing moments, training and conversations made the trip special. Overall, it was a beautiful, motivating, and unforgettable experience."
Yazan Al-Maki (10b)
"The debating tournament changed everything for me. I knew I liked debating. I knew I was good at that. But in English? Holding an eight minute speech in a foreign language? I was not sure how this would go. The tournament showed me so much strategy and so much speaking style, which helps me even now in my daily life with my structure and understandability. I would tell every person to do the same if they have this chance".
Gretel Ackermann (10b)
"Accompanying the debating teams at the Winter Holiday Open in Zagreb was a truly enriching experience. The atmosphere at the tournament was lively and engaging, welcoming people from all over the world. Watching the students compete in debates was an authentic experience that broadened my horizon to skills that are not only school-related. Witnessing how students overcame difficulties and improved their competencies in such a short amount of time while simultaneously growing together as a team was an eye-opening experience".
Anna Henneke (English and Geography Teacher)
"As the debating coach for the past two years, I have personally witnessed how profoundly my students grow when they step out of their comfort zones—often far beyond what they could have imagined at the beginning of the Debating Club. Debating not only strengthens their confidence, English fluency, and speaking skills, but also challenges them to engage deeply with global issues and critical thinking. Seeing students overcome fear, speak under pressure, and express themselves clearly and thoughtfully on an international level has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work".
Cristina Costa Thiele (English and German Teacher and English Debating Coach)
Unsere Schülerinnen und Schüler bei der "Opening Ceremony WHO 2025"
Alle internationalen Schülerinnen und Schüler während der "Break Announcements"
Unsere Schülerinnen und Schüler mit den türkischen Kooperationspartnern
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