THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DEBATES IN ENGLISH SPEAKING DEVELOPMENT

Developing speaking skills remains one of the most complex aspects of English language learning, especially in contexts where learners have limited exposure to authentic communication. In many classrooms, students possess sufficient grammatical knowledge but struggle to express their ideas fluently and confidently. This situation highlights the need for interactive and learner-centered teaching methods. Debate is considered one of the most effective communicative activities that encourages active participation, critical thinking, and meaningful language use. This article explores the effectiveness of debates in developing English speaking skills by analyzing their impact on fluency, accuracy, confidence, vocabulary expansion, and communicative competence. The study also discusses the pedagogical value of debates in creating a motivating learning environment and promoting learner autonomy. The findings indicate that debates significantly enhance students’ speaking performance and help them become more confident and competent English speakers.