Debate Class
Debate Classes for Kids and Teens in Singapore
Speech Academy Asia runs debate classes for primary and secondary school students in Singapore. Students learn to build a strong argument, back it with evidence, rebut the other side and deliver their case with confidence. Our debate classes suit complete beginners as well as students preparing for their school debate team.
- Who: primary and secondary school students
- Levels: beginner to competition-ready, grouped by age and experience
- Format: small groups with mock debates and personal feedback from our trainers
- Focus: argument building, rebuttal, teamwork and confident delivery
- How to join: new classes open based on demand, so register your interest below
Register your interest or ask about a trial class →
What Will Your Child Learn in Our Debate Classes?
| Skill | What your child practises |
|---|---|
| Understanding the motion | Breaking down a topic, defining key terms and deciding what the debate is really about |
| Building an argument | Claim, evidence and reasoning, and telling facts apart from opinions |
| Research and evidence | Finding reliable facts, statistics and examples to support a point |
| Rebuttal | Spotting weak points in the other side and answering them with logic and evidence |
| Speaker roles | The jobs of the first, second and third speaker, from setting up the case to the final summary |
| Thinking on your feet | Responding to new arguments and unexpected questions without a script |
| Teamwork | Planning a case together and making sure every speaker supports the team line |
| Delivery | Voice, eye contact, gestures and structure that make an argument believable |
How Are Our Debate Classes Run?
Every lesson is practical. Students spend most of their time debating, not listening to lectures. A typical lesson includes:
- Warm-up motions: quick, fun topics that get everyone thinking and speaking
- Skill focus: one technique per lesson, such as rebuttal, signposting or using evidence
- Team preparation: students build a case together under time limits
- Mock debates: timed rounds in the three-speaker team format used in most school debates
- Feedback: trainers point out what worked and what to fix, so every student knows their next step
Which Students Are Our Debate Classes For?
- Beginners who are curious about debate and want to speak up with more confidence
- Upper primary students who want to sharpen their thinking before secondary school
- Secondary students trying out for, or already on, their school debate team
- Students preparing for oral exams or interviews who want practice giving clear, well-reasoned answers under pressure
What Makes Our Debate Coaching Different?
Speech Academy Asia has trained students in communication since 2012, teaching more than 10,000 students and working with over 300 MOE schools. Our trainers coach debaters with our own methods, so students improve both what they argue and how they come across:
- I.P.A.D and PREP: I.P.A.D (Intrigue, Problem, Address, Delight) for prepared speeches and PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point) for quick, structured replies.
- The B.E.S.T Model™: Body language, Emotions, Sentence structure and Tonality, the four parts of persuasive delivery.
- Neuro Somatics™: breathing, posture and power poses that keep debaters calm under pressure.
- Language Memory Programming Semantics™ (LMPS): memory techniques that help students recall their points without reading from notes.
- DISC audience styles: adapting arguments to convince different listeners and adjudicators.
- Speech Linguistic Patterns™ (SLP): language techniques that make arguments sharper and more memorable.
Why Should Children Learn Debate?
- Critical thinking: students learn to look at both sides of an issue before deciding what they believe.
- Confidence under pressure: answering an opponent on the spot makes everyday speaking feel easy.
- Exam results: the PSLE and O-Level oral exams reward clear opinions with reasons and examples. See our oral classes.
- Interviews: calm, structured answers help in DSA interviews, scholarship interviews and beyond.
- Respect and teamwork: students learn to listen, disagree politely and work as a team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Debate Classes
Does my child need debate experience to join?
No. Our debate classes welcome complete beginners as well as students who already debate for their school. We group students by age and experience so everyone is challenged at the right level.
What age are your debate classes for?
Our debate classes are for primary and secondary school students. Younger students start with fun, everyday motions, while older students work on competition-style debates.
When do debate classes run?
We open debate classes based on demand at each branch. Register your interest using the form on this page and our team will contact you with the next available class.
Do you prepare students for school debate teams and competitions?
Yes. Older students practise the three-speaker team format used in most school debates, including case building, rebuttals and timed mock rounds with feedback.
Will debate help with oral exams and DSA interviews?
Yes. Debate trains students to give a clear opinion, support it with reasons and examples, and answer follow-up questions calmly. These are the same skills tested in the PSLE and O-Level oral exams and in DSA interviews.
Can my child try a class first?
Yes. Fill in the form on this page or WhatsApp us at +65 9061 1715 to ask about a trial class.
Featured On
Register Your Interest in Debate Classes
We open new debate classes based on demand. Fill in the form and our team will contact you about the next class or a trial, or WhatsApp us at +65 9061 1715.
Students learn to build a clear argument with a claim, evidence and reasoning. They weigh advantages and disadvantages, tell facts apart from opinions and explain why their side should win.
Students learn to spot weak points in the other side’s case and answer every point head on, because an unanswered point can cost the debate. Timed mock debates train them to respond calmly without a script.
Students learn to research a motion, find reliable facts, statistics and real examples, and check their sources, so every point they make can stand up to tough questions.
Debate is a team sport. Students plan a case together, agree on a team line and learn the role of each speaker, from setting up the case to the final summary.
Success Testimonial
