On May 16, 2016, a debate was held between English Foundation 2 classes. This event was part of an ongoing series of debates: during the spring 2016 semester, Foundation 2 English classes have been giving students the opportunity to practice their English skills with live debates every Wednesday and Friday at Khazar University. First, classes pick a topic and prepare their arguments. Some of the topics that have been debated include “Money is the root of all evil,” “It’s good to be your own boss,” and “Hollywood movies have a bad influence on children’s behavior.”  Then during lessons, classrooms compete against each other in debate format.

The purpose of the debates is to improve students’ oral skills in the English language, because during the debate students communicate only in English. The debates also develop their critical thinking skills on crucial issues occurring in modern society. Working in teams during the debate helps students develop teamwork skills. Finally, debates help students gain a better understanding of themselves. They allow students to gain a more accurate picture of how others see them. The feedback that they receive may help them better evaluate their interpersonal behavior.