OUR CLASSES
Advanced CLASSES
Advanced Class Schedule and Basics
Our Advanced Classes are for students grades 7 and above. Each week, the class meets on Sunday from 2:00-3:45 P.M. (EST). The Advanced Class focuses on learning more complex debate topics while still polishing up the basics. Through interactive lessons and full-length practice debates, students get to explore every aspect of parliamentary debate.
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The class puts a heavy emphasis on constructive criticism, ensuring no student leaves a class without first getting feedback on their content, style, and strategy. The fall session for Advanced Classes begins on October 15th.
Classroom
Resources
Our Discord server is the hub for all SpeakUp communication, which you can join after registering for class. Lesson plans, resources, zoom links, and more can all be accessed through our server. After registering, you will receive an email with all other relevant information and links.
YOUTh CLASSES
Youth Class Schedule and Basics
SpeakUp's Youth Class is designed for students in 6th grade or below with little to no experience with debate. The Youth Class meets every Sunday from 7:30-8:45 P.M. (EST).
These 45 minute online synchronized classes will increase younger students’ confidence in public speaking, familiarize them with the format of parliamentary debate, and teach them skills like argument construction, refutations, and weighing. Through a blend of lectures, debate games, and practice debate rounds, we provide a friendly and comprehensive introduction to debating.
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Our Youth Class is divided into seasonal sessions. The Fall Session began on September 24th, but you can still register!
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Classroom
Resources
Unlike the Senior Class, the Youth Class will use email as the primary form of communication. Once parents register their students, they will be added to an email list where they will receive all future announcements, Zoom links, and resources.
WHAT DO WE TALK ABOUT IN CLASS?
The motions our students discuss cover a wide range of topics, from economics to medicine to philosophy and morality. The vast subjects our students debate force them to develop wide breadths of knowledge and skills they can apply to any conversation, not just specialized topics. Click to look at some of the motions we've recently discussed and the insights we've made.
The Criminal Justice System
The Organ
Transplant Scenario
The Role Of Higher Education
Testimonials
MARGUERITE, STUDENT
SpeakUp has helped me a lot! I really enjoy their lessons because they help me learn new aspects about debate. Practice debates in SpeakUp allow us to work on feedback and practice! The balance of these two topics can make anyone better in debate :)
CHLOE, STUDENT
I'm so grateful for the opportunities SpeakUp has provided me with! The accessibility and high level debating it offers makes Speak Up so unique. The feedback and lessons have helped me grow so much as a debater, I'm excited to see where it goes :)
LINDA, STUDENT
SpeakUp is truly a phenomenal program for all - beginners, intermediates, and advanced. Adam and Andrew are not only patient instructors, but instructors who tailor each course to their students' needs for maximum growth and development. As a student who has participated in many other debate programs, I am confident that the unique course Speak Up provides will definitely teach anyone who participates something new!