Debate Coaching
Private Debate Lessons
Debate - what is it?
Debate is an intellectual sport where people compete for the ability to persuade on a particular topic and position. Debate is an old academic tradition with roots in Cambridge, England, in the 18th century. Within it, topics such as economics, philosophy, politics, law, art, gender, sports, international relations, and more are discussed.
Worldwide debating experience is an excellent springboard for public service, academia, the justice system, and private sector careers. It is no wonder, then, that prominent public figures (Barack Obama, Henry Kissinger, Margaret Thatcher, and others), Supreme Court justices (Alito, Sotomayor, Brown Jackson), novelists (Sally Rooney), and entertainers (Stephen Colbert, Oprah Winfrey) are all debate alums.
The game is a fascinating and effective platform for developing skills such as public speaking, logical thinking, separating the wheat from the chaff, etc. It combines logic, language, and ideas. By practicing it, you will become sharp and persuasive in any real-life situation: at work, in your studies, arguing with your partner and friends, and even in daily conversations.
Table of contents:
It's a one-on-one
CrossFit training for the brain
A personal training program designed to provide access to the secrets of the world's best debaters and to adapt them into practical tools for better communication and persuasion.
In a series of weekly meetings (or at another frequency that works for you), we will learn and practice persuasion, communication, and public speaking. As a first step, we’ll establish a common language. We will learn universal techniques and templates for a variety of situations. Using all of these, we will gradually develop more advanced skills tailored to your specific requirements. Throughout the process, you will receive sharp, clear, and immediate feedback from me.
If you wish, we can work together on various projects you face. These may include writing a speech, giving a lecture or presentation, preparing for an important meeting or interview, drawing specific conclusions from how you communicated during meetings and events you attended, etc.
Lesson plan
Each session consists of two parts:
Lesson
Practice
Feedback
"An individual seeking professionalism, listening skills, and a solid understanding of what a presentation and debate are, will find it in Monica. "
(Shai Adonia)
Lesson topics
- Persuasion fundamentals, speech structure, and style
- Burdenas of proof and argument selection.
- Rebuttal.
- Argument building and logical explanation.
- Advanced argument-building workshop
- Summary
- Criteria building and principled cases
- Wordsmithing and semantics
- Objection handling and dealing with questions
- Logical fallacies and cognitive biases
- Debating in everyday situations (aka how to argue and stay friends)
"Adapting the content to my needs, Monica made debate an effective learning tool. Throughout, she adhered to a high professional standard and quality - in her requirements, materials, attention given, and preparation for each meeting. "
(Omer, Educator, Director of a Scientific Education Center)
Ideal for
- Individuals who wish to learn at their own pace, without having to depend on a group.
- Individuals who value personal attention and progress monitoring.
- Those who wish to combine debate classes with discussion on topics they are interested in.
- People who are a little hesitant about speaking in front of an entire class.
- For those with busy schedules who prefer coordinating meetings at convenient times for them.
- Employees who want to utilize their personal development funds from work effectively.
Logistics
- Meetings will be conducted online via Zoom or physically (by prior arrangement).
- The dates and times of the meetings will be coordinated with you.
- Free of charge, you can invite a friend to join the lessons.
As a personal note
Whatever your starting point, I guarantee you will benefit and improve. In my decade of experience, I have transformed speakers who started off insecure - running off the stage after a minute of speech - into speakers who held an audience's attention and delivered impressive speeches. At the same time, I helped speakers with raw talent become true champions. Everyone has the potential to become charismatic and persuasive.
Interested in coordinating a first lesson?
Do you have some debate experience and want to continue practicing for fun?<span style="font-weight: 800;
No problem! Feel free to contact me about setting a meeting to get into debate shape. You can schedule it for yourself or for a small group. Receive direct feedback from me.