Meet Our Schools: Speech & Debate at CMHS

The Speech & Debate Team has come up in our review of Cardinal Mooney’s opportunities for academic excellence as well as their extracurricular opportunities. Members of Mooney’s Speech & Debate Team regularly place well, often sending students to state and national levels of competition.

CMHS boasts over 50 top ten state finishes, over 30 top five state finishes, and 2 state championships. Members of this year’s team recently qualified to compete at the national level. ASG students compete on the team every year.

But why does this matter for international studentsattending high school in America?

A Chance to Improve Their English:

Even native speakers of English must up their game to compete with spoken language.

This can involve things such as:

• Giving a previously published speech
• Writing and delivering a story
• Being able to put to an answer to a question or discuss a topic given to them after less than an hour to prepare
• Dramatic presentation of part of a play

Students need to practice their grammar and vocabulary, which is also something critical for the success of international students, especially those international students wishing to go on to top national universities or liberal arts colleges.

A Chance To Improve Their Public Speaking:

Many people from around the world are nervous about public speaking, yet this is a valuable skill. The tasks involved in Speech & Debate require not only grammar skills and vocabulary, but also the proper demeanor, tone of speech, expressiveness, and more.

Learning how to properly convey what you are trying to say when learning and improving a second language makes a difference in how well the speaker is seen as interesting and credible.

A Chance To Compete:

Not all student wish to compete in athletics (or not only in athletics). Speech & Debate offers another avenue for them to test themselves in a friendly tournament. Their scores give students a measuring stick for improvement and a guide to success, which encourages continued progress in improving their speech and placing higher in future competitions.

A Chance To Improve Their Confidence:

Improving ones English and public speaking skills through competition breeds confidence. A student gains or reinforces their belief in their ability to effectively communicate with others, and success in one area leads people to believe they have a chance to succeed more in that same area and also in other areas as well.

In English, this idea is the basis of the expression, “Success breeds success.” Confidence is the key!

A Chance To Impress Universities:

U.S. colleges and universities wonder if international students from countries where English isn’t one of the main languages will be able to succeed at their institutions. This is why these schools require tests like the TOEFL and IELTS. Success on a Speech & Debate Team at an American high school gives admissions departments at universities more evidence of English proficiency

It also suggests that such students are able and willing to take on challenges even when there are barriers to be overcome. ASG students have joined and benefited from the Speech & Debate Team at Cardinal Mooney. Are you up to the challenge?