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Activity: Debate on “Indoor vs. Outdoor Activities”
Objective: To practice expressing opinions, using persuasive language, and developing argumentation skills in English.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Materials Needed:
- Virtual or physical breakout rooms (for online or face-to-face classes)
- Debate preparation handouts (optional: pros and cons lists for each side)
- Timer
- Notepad or document for each student (for note-taking)
Instructions
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Introduction (5-10 minutes):
- Begin with a brief discussion on indoor and outdoor activities. Ask students for examples of each type and any personal preferences.
- Explain that they’ll be having a structured debate, where they’ll share opinions and argue either for indoor or outdoor activities.
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Divide into Teams (5 minutes):
- Split the class into two teams: Team Indoor and Team Outdoor.
- For larger classes, create multiple smaller teams, assigning each to either indoor or outdoor arguments.
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Preparation (10-15 minutes):
- Each team brainstorms reasons supporting their position. Encourage them to consider:
- Health benefits
- Social interaction opportunities
- Learning or skill-building potential
- Accessibility and convenience
- Provide handouts or prompts, if needed, to help each side brainstorm and organize their arguments.
- Each team brainstorms reasons supporting their position. Encourage them to consider:
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Debate Structure:
- Opening Statements: Each team has 2-3 minutes to present their main arguments.
- Rebuttal Round: Each team has 2-3 minutes to respond to the other side’s points.
- Free Debate: Open the floor for a few minutes for teams to ask questions or counter arguments from the opposing team.
- Closing Statements: Each team has 1 minute to summarize their points and make a final case.
(Note: Modify times based on class size and level.)
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Debrief and Discussion (10-15 minutes):
- After the debate, discuss as a class which arguments were the most persuasive and why.
- Ask students to reflect on which activities they might choose and how their thinking may have changed after the debate.
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Reflection Activity (Optional):
- Assign a short reflective writing task: students write a paragraph about what they learned from the debate, using specific language expressions for opinion (e.g., “In my opinion,” “I believe that…”).
Language Support
Provide students with useful phrases and vocabulary to express opinions, agree/disagree, and counter arguments:
- Expressing Opinions: “I believe that…,” “In my opinion…,” “From my perspective…”
- Agreeing/Disagreeing: “I agree with that point because…,” “I see your point, but I think…”
- Countering Arguments: “However, on the other hand…,” “That may be true, but…,” “While that’s a good point, consider that…”
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