Irving ISD’s Department of World Languages will host the second annual Independent English District-Wide Debate. English Language Learner (ELL) students who have been in the country a year or less will debate what they feel is the largest challenge facing high school freshmen today.
In the first round, teams from Irving, MacArthur and Nimitz High Schools will present their problem with two examples. In the next round, students will pitch their data with explanations, followed by a presentation of solutions in the third round. There will be a 15-minute intermission for fourth-round speakers to prepare their rebuttals. The debate will end with closing arguments in the fifth round.
The teams will be judged on the messages and the supporting evidence they present, as well as their personal impression and language skills. The goal of the debate is to promote English fluency in ELL students.
Irving ISD students represent 97 countries and 53 languages. Limited English proficiency students make up 38 percent of the student population.
