Beta II Debate Camp Highlights | Taipei Branch

We just wrapped up an intensive 5-day debate camp packed with lectures, drills, practice rounds, and a mini-tournament.

Each morning started with focused lectures and drills led by our coaches (Jeff, Emily, and Enzo), covering everything from motion analysis, modelling, and super responses to social justice and state intervention. These sessions gave debaters the tools to refine their argumentation and sharpen their delivery.

Afternoons were dedicated to practice rounds, where students immediately put their skills into action. Motions ranged from abolishing patents in green technology to rewarding citizens for good deeds. With coaches stepping in as adjudicators, debaters received direct feedback to improve both strategy and style.

The highlight of the camp was the mini-tournament on Days 4 and 5, where participants clashed over thought-provoking motions like:

• Subsidizing medical treatments to extend fertility
• Making drug tests a prerequisite for welfare
• Breaking up ethnic enclaves
• Choosing between a stable autocracy and an unstable democracy

The mix of lectures, hands-on rounds, and real competitive debates made the camp a challenging but rewarding experience. Not only did debaters push their skills to the next level, but they also built bonds, shared laughs in icebreakers, and learned from each other in an environment designed to stretch their limits.

Reflections

Over the course of our 5-day debate camp, students weren’t just learning motions — they were learning how to think critically, argue strategically, and support one another.

Our coaches gave individualized feedback after every lecture, drill, and round. Here are some themes that emerged:

Confidence in Delivery
Many students started out hesitant, but by the end, they were speaking longer, more fluently, and with stronger presence.
Strategic Thinking
Students learned that it’s not enough to just have good points — arguments need mechanisms, context, and clear prioritization in order to win a round.
Teamwork & Prep
We saw quieter students opening up during prep, contributing sharp “one-liners,” and learning how to build full cases with their teammates.
Resilience
Even when debates got tough, students showed persistence. They took feedback, adjusted in real time, and came back stronger in the next round.

We’re proud of how far everyone came in just a few days. Some are learning to slow down and structure, others to take more risks with their arguments, and others to trust themselves to speak up. What’s clear is that each student left camp a better, braver debater.

A huge thank-you to our coaching team — Jeff, Emily, and Enzo — for pushing every participant to think harder, argue smarter, and grow beyond their comfort zones.