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Harvard Public Forum Debate

A delegation of Ashton students participated in the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament-Public Forum Debate Competition.

They prepared to debate on the topic: The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics. Our teams were registered as Junior Varsity, debating 6 rounds during the weekend. It was a very challenging experience, where only 12% of the participants pass to the quarter finals.

How this event becomes such an enriching experience regardless of the results:

Forensics (speech & debate) offers a unique and rewarding mix of academic and extracurricular opportunities that provide a wide range of benefits to students, whether they learn the basics and are occasional competitors or become experts in an event and compete in a tournament.  No matter their level of involvement and commitment, there is a format of debate beneficial for every student. Students who participate in speech & debate learn a variety of skills that are directly transferable to a wide range of academic and real-world situations.  For starters, all formats of speech & debate teach the vital skill of public speaking, useful to a student for the confidence to speak up to answer a question or in making a presentation in front of a class, or later in life as a professional who has a busy slate of meetings, press releases and pitches. 

Debater students met every week for one hour or two hours.  Sometimes our students find themselves being overwhelmed with school work and extracurricular activities (clubs, sports, etc.) To be part of the debate program requires discipline,  debate is an extremely rigorous activity, demanding near-endless amounts of time and energy from its participants. Our debate coaches are Leyti De Los Santos, Alexia Pimentel, María José Brea, and Laura Vásquez.

“My Harvard experience was pretty good! I knew it would be a challenge yet my partner and I tried our best. It was interesting to see how different every judge is and how you have to adapt to their likings. Along with the learning I gained from the debate, I also appreciate the international friends I made throughout the debates.”  -María Andrea Herrera

Harvard Public Forum Debate

A delegation of Ashton students participated in the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament-Public Forum Debate Competition.

They prepared to debate on the topic: The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics. Our teams were registered as Junior Varsity, debating 6 rounds during the weekend. It was a very challenging experience, where only 12% of the participants pass to the quarter finals.

How this event becomes such an enriching experience regardless of the results:

Forensics (speech & debate) offers a unique and rewarding mix of academic and extracurricular opportunities that provide a wide range of benefits to students, whether they learn the basics and are occasional competitors or become experts in an event and compete in a tournament.  No matter their level of involvement and commitment, there is a format of debate beneficial for every student. Students who participate in speech & debate learn a variety of skills that are directly transferable to a wide range of academic and real-world situations.  For starters, all formats of speech & debate teach the vital skill of public speaking, useful to a student for the confidence to speak up to answer a question or in making a presentation in front of a class, or later in life as a professional who has a busy slate of meetings, press releases and pitches. 

Debater students met every week for one hour or two hours.  Sometimes our students find themselves being overwhelmed with school work and extracurricular activities (clubs, sports, etc.) To be part of the debate program requires discipline,  debate is an extremely rigorous activity, demanding near-endless amounts of time and energy from its participants. Our debate coaches are Leyti De Los Santos, Alexia Pimentel, María José Brea, and Laura Vásquez.

“My Harvard experience was pretty good! I knew it would be a challenge yet my partner and I tried our best. It was interesting to see how different every judge is and how you have to adapt to their likings. Along with the learning I gained from the debate, I also appreciate the international friends I made throughout the debates.”  -María Andrea Herrera

Students attended the 47TH Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament

Ashton represented at the 47TH Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament

This past weekend, starting on Friday 12th, our Debate students took on a big challenge by participating in the 47th Harvard Debate. It took them a lot of preparation, investigation and team collaboration, but it definitely paid off since they did a tremendous job, and represented the Ashton School with honor. They made us all proud of them. 

The debaters’ teams were:

Team 1: Alexia Pimentel and Maria Jose Brea

Team 2: Ana Isabella Peña and Marco Arosemena

Team 3: Christine Reynoso and Eduardo Sanz

Below, their responses after we interviewed a member from each team, narrating their experience and the process to the Debate:

What was it like preparing for a debate online, was it any different than the other ones?

Christine: It was like preparing for a normal one, we worked hard to get our speeches right in regards to timing and its impact. The only difference was that this time we had to do every meeting through zoom or just talk through chat with our partners, teammates and coaches.

What was the most challenging aspect of it and why?

Christine: The most challenging aspect of the Harvard debate would have to have been the time difference. It definitely took a while for us to adjust to the hours they provided but eventually we got the hang of it. Another thing that made it more of a challenge, in comparison to debates before COVID, was the stress of needing the internet in order for the Judd Fe and opposing teams to hear us. We were constantly asking “Can you hear me clearly?”. It was different from the Thai debate where the internet was vital. Before COVID we couldn’t even have our computers connected to the internet, if we did we could even lose a match.

Christine Reynoso and Eduardo Sanz

Based on this experience and previous comments would you like to have the full experience in Harvard when the time is possible? Yes or why not?

Alexia: Absolutely, I found that this online debate is a way to prepare for the full experience once deemed possible. I love how we got to represent the school in this prestigious tournament, and the way it was prepared gave me a sense of security and confidence. I have not gone to Harvard before, but from previous comments I have heard that it’s very fun and completely worth it. 

What things did you have to prepare in order to have a successful debate?

Alexia: First and most foremost, the speeches, with both pros and cons, our prepared responses to the arguments also known as blocks, the evidence and credentials of our information and lastly, the total mastery of mastery of the topic. 

How did it feel to represent your school in another country and above all at the 47th Annual Harvard Debate Competition? 

Marco: Although the competition was online, representing the school gave me a sense of pride and it pushed me to give it my all during the competition.

How would you describe the Harvard Debate competition with one word and why?

Marco: Exhilarating. There was never a dull moment. There was always the expectancy of getting to the next competition, and the expectancy that comes from waiting for the results from the last one. Each time we heard feedback, we rushed to improve on what more we could say or how we could say it better.

All three teams as mentioned before did an astounding performance, they debated their resolution with a solid evidence base, hard work, dedication and passion. They got amazing feedback, high punctuations and overall had a great experience. I think I can speak  for Ms. Leyti, the coaches, the parents of the students, the Ashton School community and myself, that we are all extremely proud of all the enthusiasm they displayed, and mostly because of the fact that all in all we are still in the midst of a pandemic and that that didn’t stop them.

Keep up the hard work, because it definitely is worth it!
-Maria Jose Caminero 10th A

Students attended the 47TH Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament

Ashton represented at the 47TH Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament

This past weekend, starting on Friday 12th, our Debate students took on a big challenge by participating in the 47th Harvard Debate. It took them a lot of preparation, investigation and team collaboration, but it definitely paid off since they did a tremendous job, and represented the Ashton School with honor. They made us all proud of them. 

The debaters’ teams were:

Team 1: Alexia Pimentel and Maria Jose Brea

Team 2: Ana Isabella Peña and Marco Arosemena

Team 3: Christine Reynoso and Eduardo Sanz

Below, their responses after we interviewed a member from each team, narrating their experience and the process to the Debate:

What was it like preparing for a debate online, was it any different than the other ones?

Christine: It was like preparing for a normal one, we worked hard to get our speeches right in regards to timing and its impact. The only difference was that this time we had to do every meeting through zoom or just talk through chat with our partners, teammates and coaches.

What was the most challenging aspect of it and why?

Christine: The most challenging aspect of the Harvard debate would have to have been the time difference. It definitely took a while for us to adjust to the hours they provided but eventually we got the hang of it. Another thing that made it more of a challenge, in comparison to debates before COVID, was the stress of needing the internet in order for the Judd Fe and opposing teams to hear us. We were constantly asking “Can you hear me clearly?”. It was different from the Thai debate where the internet was vital. Before COVID we couldn’t even have our computers connected to the internet, if we did we could even lose a match.

Christine Reynoso and Eduardo Sanz

Based on this experience and previous comments would you like to have the full experience in Harvard when the time is possible? Yes or why not?

Alexia: Absolutely, I found that this online debate is a way to prepare for the full experience once deemed possible. I love how we got to represent the school in this prestigious tournament, and the way it was prepared gave me a sense of security and confidence. I have not gone to Harvard before, but from previous comments I have heard that it’s very fun and completely worth it. 

What things did you have to prepare in order to have a successful debate?

Alexia: First and most foremost, the speeches, with both pros and cons, our prepared responses to the arguments also known as blocks, the evidence and credentials of our information and lastly, the total mastery of mastery of the topic. 

How did it feel to represent your school in another country and above all at the 47th Annual Harvard Debate Competition? 

Marco: Although the competition was online, representing the school gave me a sense of pride and it pushed me to give it my all during the competition.

How would you describe the Harvard Debate competition with one word and why?

Marco: Exhilarating. There was never a dull moment. There was always the expectancy of getting to the next competition, and the expectancy that comes from waiting for the results from the last one. Each time we heard feedback, we rushed to improve on what more we could say or how we could say it better.

All three teams as mentioned before did an astounding performance, they debated their resolution with a solid evidence base, hard work, dedication and passion. They got amazing feedback, high punctuations and overall had a great experience. I think I can speak  for Ms. Leyti, the coaches, the parents of the students, the Ashton School community and myself, that we are all extremely proud of all the enthusiasm they displayed, and mostly because of the fact that all in all we are still in the midst of a pandemic and that that didn’t stop them.

Keep up the hard work, because it definitely is worth it!
-Maria Jose Caminero 10th A

Alumni talks about the pandemic and gives advice to our Seniors

These times have been really rough and challenging but we need to stick to it and as we go through the process make adjustments to be able to continue with our lives. Jean Marco Pou, a past student from The Ashton School, currently studying in Unibe, shares his experience on the pandemic during his last year of college, which we hope may help our seniors in some way. It has been hard, but not impossible to deal with. (more…)

Alumni talks about the pandemic and gives advice to our Seniors

These times have been really rough and challenging but we need to stick to it and as we go through the process make adjustments to be able to continue with our lives. Jean Marco Pou, a past student from The Ashton School, currently studying in Unibe, shares his experience on the pandemic during his last year of college, which we hope may help our seniors in some way. It has been hard, but not impossible to deal with. (more…)

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