Classroom Debate as a Systematic Teaching/Learning Approach

Abstract

Research studies show that students learn through different ways and approaches. For that reason, instructors need to employ various instructional techniques to accommodate students with differing learning styles. Studies also suggest that learners make improvements when teachers make use of techniques that get students involved actively in learning. Classroom debate is a systematic instructional approach which has the potential to nurture the active engagement of students. Using classroom debate as a teaching/learning approach brings many advantages to learners, which include promotion of critical thinking skills, mastering the course content and improving the speaking abilities. However, classroom debate carries its own limitations, challenges and even opponents, too. This article makes an attempt to introduce classroom debate as an instructional strategy, review earlier research studies on it and discuss its limitations and challenges as well as its benefits to students in general and ESL/EFL learners in particular.