Spanish debating success for Perse pupils

22 Nov 2018

Tingkai Huang and Nikhil Gorantla displayed their linguistic skills to win the Eastern Region Schools Spanish Debating Competition.

The Year 11 Perse pupils came out on top in the event in a joint win with the King’s Ely team, having defeated a pair from The Leys in an earlier round. The Perse were also represented by the pairings of Sofia Dawoodbhoy and Anamta Ali (both Year 11) and Henry Howarth and Jani Santarius (both Year 11).

Debates were adjudicated by teachers from participating schools, with motions including such topics as the impact of tourism in Cambridge, the positive and negative influences of sportspeople, the disadvantages of smartphones and whether Mandarin should be made an obligatory subject in schools.

The competition allowed students to refine their debating skills and extend their research of IGCSE topics and beyond. Lessons were learned not only on how to improvise with confidence and conviction, but also the ability to listen and respond to the opposing side’s arguments.