John R. Park Debate Society Members Teach Debate in China with WeSchool Speech & Debate Association
This summer, Averie Vockel, Assistant Director of Forensics, and Aubrie Powers, a returning senior member and the team's outreach intern, traveled to China to teach debate for the Weschool Speech & Debate Association’s (WSDA) summer programs. WSDA is an organization that promotes educational speech and debate competition for students in China through summer camps, winter camps, and online courses. This trip follows the John R. Park Debate Society’s partnership with WeSchool Speech & Debate Association, which began in November of 2024. This partnership and outreach are part of the John R. Park Debate Society’s commitment to expanding speech and debate access and opportunities to undergraduate students through unique internship opportunities. WSDA’s Southwest Regional Director, Gordon Peer, had the following to say about partnership with the U:
“Weschool Speech & Debate Association was pleased to host two amazing ambassadors from the University of Utah John R. Park Debate Society this past summer. As the exclusive partner of the National Speech & Debate Association in China, we have been consistently impressed with the U of U's excellence and adaptability as they assist in Debate outreach throughout the world. They truly are one of the special collegiate organizations that gives back to international debate communities. We are forever grateful for their willingness to visit and serve in China, and we are excited about future possibilities in further cementing the U of U as a preeminent leader in International Debate.”
Aubrie and Averie spent the month of July in Wuxi and Hangzhou, two cities near Shanghai in eastern China. Each camp lasted ten days, where students from all around China, surrounding countries, and even as far as the United States participated. Averie Vockel taught middle school and high school students Public Forum (PF) debate, a two-on-two, evidence-based debate format. Besides speech and debate techniques, Public Forum also teaches students research skills on a range of topics. Aubrie Powers taught elementary and middle school students Junior Debate, a debate format unique to WSDA, meant to give students an introduction to debate fundamentals. Peer explained that:
“With Averie's years of debate experience and Aubrie's recent competitive success, the students of China received some the finest instruction possible. Their pedagogical flexibility and prowess allowed our instruction to change the lives of many English Language Learners.”
On the last two days of each camp, the students participated in a mock tournament, where they were able to apply the skills that they learned in the classroom through competition. Besides learning debate, preparing for nationals or even international competition, many students take advantage of WSDA’s programs to practice English speaking and public speaking skills.
Outside of teaching, Averie Vockel and Aubrie Powers had the opportunity to travel to the capital of China, Beijing via the high-speed train. During their time there, they saw the Great Wall, a jade factory, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. This experience emphasizes the global reach of speech and debate as well as the opportunities the activity can provide its participants. Aubrie Powers had the following to say about her experience:
“My experience working with WSDA and the JRP in China was meaningful and impactful because it changed my perspective on how fun, challenging, and rewarding educating can be. I never truly realized how much effort, planning, and last-minute changes go into teaching. I was most impacted by the success and skills of the students at the camps. Not only were students debating at such a young age, but they were also doing so in their second or even third language. It was inspiring to see them never give up, even if things became challenging for them. It cemented the power of debate education, for me.”
Outside of teaching, Averie Vockel and Aubrie Powers had the opportunity to travel to the capital of China, Beijing via the high-speed train. During their time there, they saw the Great Wall, a jade factory, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. This experience emphasizes the global reach of speech and debate as well as the opportunities the activity can provide its participants.
