Debate sharpens nonnative speaking skills

English is the second language for students Helen Fita and Misheel Ildbaatar, members of the UW Bothell Debate Team. Both say debate has prompted new ways to think about language and culture — and has been a way to make friends during remote operations.

According to IAS faculty member and director of forensics Denise Vaughan, students improve their literacy by capitalizing on storytelling and speaking about what they’re interested in. “They can find their strength in speaking and connect it back to their academic work in terms of writing.”