Education
Argumentation should be a tool in every student’s toolkit. For 30 years, the Estonian Debating Society has been working in the field of education to bring this vision closer to reality.
-
Subject Teachers
According to the 2019 PISA study, only one in seven Estonian students is able to distinguish between fact and opinion. Yet, the ability to process information is one of the most essential skills of the 21st century.
Debate is not only a competitive intellectual sport — its methods and elements can also be used as an educational tool to develop students’ critical thinking, analytical abilities, and communication skills. Argumentation and reasoning are relevant in all subject areas, from the humanities and social sciences to STEM and natural sciences.
With this in mind, the Estonian Debating Society offers a training program for subject teachers: “How to Use Argumentation in the Classroom?” This training provides teachers with practical guidance on how to integrate debate-based methods into their own subject areas. The training can be tailored to specific needs, depending on the subjects taught, the age of students, and the school’s educational context.
If you are interested, please contact us at aurelia@argument.ee. You are also welcome to share your school’s specific training requests, and we will design a program to match your needs.
-
Debate Instructors
Debating is at once an enjoyable pastime, a valuable extracurricular activity, and an engaging intellectual sport. Debate is not about twisting the truth, but about learning to see both sides of an issue, to defend oneself against demagogy, and to treat one’s discussion partner with respect.
The Debate Instructor Training is designed for anyone working with young people who is interested in teaching debate at their school or youth center — whether as a course, an elective, a club, or in another format. The training provides a solid foundation of practical knowledge and skills necessary for guiding debate activities. It also supports teachers who have already started debate programs but wish to deepen their content, improve structure, or find new ways to inspire and motivate their students. Each training can be customized to meet specific needs and goals.
If you are interested, please contact us at aurelia@argument.ee. You are also welcome to share your school’s particular training requests, and we will design a program tailored to your needs.
I urge teachers to boldly practice debate as a method in their lessons and to involve young people more actively in the discussion. By starting, you have already won half the battle.
Marit Tarkin, Kuressaare Nooruse Kool
Väga huvitav ja vajalik koolitus. Ka reaalainete õpetajana sain olulisi mõtteid, kuidas siduda matemaatilised definitsioonide tõestused ja argumendi esitamine ning õpilastele rõhutada põhjendamise/tõestamise olulisust.