The Role of Competitive Debating in Skills and Knowledge Building Among ESL Learners in Tunisia

This paper investigates a case study of 18 Tunisian ESL learners aged 15-18 who participated in a local school tournament in December 2017. This one-day tournament consisted of two rounds before the finale where debaters spoke for 8 minutes and received feedback from 6 adjudicators. I base my paper on empirical evidence to showcase the efficacy of competitive debating, as a pedagogical tool, in supporting students in acquiring the methodology that would enable them, as speakers, to better formulate arguments and express opinions. A survey was also used to gather data from a larger group of 56 Tunisian ESL learners aged 14-25 who attended debate training sessions and/or partook in local and/or national competitions. In my paper, I tackle the importance of debate in bolstering learners’ confidence as non-native speakers, enhancing their critical thinking skills and widening their knowledge. Among others, the results reveal that there is a significant improvement in the aforementioned areas, especially among more experienced debaters.