Sunday, 10 May 2026On 26 March 2026, our school’s debate team achieved a remarkable victory. However, the true win of the day went far beyond the final score; it was the profound insights and personal growth we gained throughout the journey.
The competition centred on a challenging motion: “This House believes that as Hong Kong develops its unique identity in Asia, strong reading and written English are sufficient, and the importance of spoken English is declining.”
As the opposing team, we were tasked with defending the relevance of oral communication in a digital age. This required us to dive deep into the heart of Hong Kong’s identity to create a strong argument. We explored our city’s role as ‘Asia’s World City’ under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework, reflecting on our role of bridging between East and West. Our research highlighted that as Hong Kong integrates further with the mainland while maintaining global ties, the ability to speak English remains a cornerstone of our cultural and economic identity.
Through our preparation sessions, we discovered that effective communication is the heart of teamwork, a lesson as valuable as the victory itself. While the team felt a natural touch of anxiety before the round, our thorough preparation gave us the confidence to channel that energy into sharp focus. Once the debate began, we were fully immersed in the exchange, learning to listen critically and respond to complex counter-arguments with precision. Ultimately, we walked away with more than just a trophy; we sharpened our critical thinking skills and gained a deeper appreciation for the art of persuasion.
This success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our debate coaches and teachers. Their guidance in refining our scripts and their insightful critiques were instrumental to our growth.
As we look ahead, the team remains committed to the journey of self-improvement, continuing to sharpen our English proficiency and debate skills. We look forward to many more successes to come!