2025 Fall Classes

• Public Speech I (Grade K-2) - In person only

  09/17 to 12/10  12 Classes Thursday 3:45pm-4:45pm $255/term No classes on Nov. 26Location: 16100 NW Cornell Road Suite 210 Room 8

  Course Description

  This class is all about building confidence. Your child will learn to confidently discuss opinions and describe the world around them. 

  Participants build their confidence speaking in front of others and completing speech-skill achievements. Your child will give impromptu speeches and planned speeches. He or she will also learn how to critique the speeches of others in a helpful and positive manner. Participants are also encouraged to take active roles such as comedian, timer, and canvasser.

  Instructor: Merveille Musangu
  
  

• Public Speech II (Grade 3-5) - In person only

  09/19 to 12/12  12 Classes Friday 3:45pm-4:45pm $255/term No classes on Nov. 28Location: 16100 NW Cornell Road Suite 210 Room 4

  Course Description

  Speech: Participants build their confidence speaking in front of others and completing skill achievements.

  Students will write a prepared speech with guidance from the instructor. Students have the freedom to pick any topic for their prepared speech as long as it falls within the category decided by the instructor. The categories include informative, persuasive, storytelling, and demonstrative. 

  Students will also learn how to critique the speeches of others in a helpful and positive manner. Roles include timer, listener, librarian, counter, comedian, and recorder.

  Debate: This class will integrate a portion of debate in it. Debate is a valuable activity for students of all skill levels.  Debate teaches useful skills for other academic pursuits and life more generally.   Most obviously, debaters build confidence speaking in public and expressing their ideas eloquently. 

  Instructor: Javid Solan
  
  

• Model United Nations Program - MUN for Grade 6-9 - In-person only

  09/19 to 12/12  12 Classes Friday 6:00pm-8:30pm $495/term In-person only; No classes on Nov. 28Location: 16100 NW Cornell Road Suite 210 Room 6

  Course Description

  Model United Nations (MUN) is a powerful way for middle school students to build confidence, develop critical thinking, and strengthen public speaking skills. By representing different countries and debating global issues, students learn to organize their thoughts, present arguments clearly, and collaborate with others in a supportive environment. These experiences help them grow into stronger communicators and problem-solvers. Beyond debate, MUN fosters global awareness, leadership, and teamwork. Students practice research and writing as they prepare for discussions, then apply negotiation and diplomacy to find solutions during conferences. Starting MUN in middle school gives students a head start for high school debate, mock trial, and advanced MUN programs and equipping them with skills that last far beyond the classroom. 
  
  This MUN for Grade 6-9 is designed as a full year program with increasing difficulty from Term 1 basics, Term 2 advanced MUN, and Term 3 full simulations, shown as below:
  

  Term 1: Foundations of MUN (12 Weeks)
  Focus: Building confidence in public speaking, understanding MUN basics, and learning research/writing skills. Milestone: By the end of Term 1, students can deliver an opening speech, write a position paper, and participate in a structured mock caucus.

  • Week 1: Introduction to MUN – What is MUN? Roles, procedures, and fun icebreaker debate
  • Week 2: Researching Countries & Global Issues – Building a country profile
  • Week3: Writing Position Papers – Structure and practice drafting one
  • Week 4: Rules of Procedure I – Motions, points, and parliamentary language
  • Week 5: Resolution Writing Basics – Clauses and structure
  • Week 6: Persuasive Speaking – Using ethos, pathos, logos effectively
  • Week7: Active Listening & Debate Etiquette – Respectful diplomacy
  • Week 8: Rhetorical Devices – Repetition, analogies, and powerful word choice
  • Week 9: Rules of Procedure II – Moderated vs. unmoderated caucus
  • Week 10: Mini-Simulation – Simple global issue (e.g., clean water access)
  • Week 11: Mock MUN (Part 1 & 2) – Opening speeches, caucus, drafting resolutions
  • Week 12: Reflection & Showcase – Sharing skills learned

  Term 2: Expanding MUN Skills (10 Weeks)
  Focus: Advanced research, negotiation, resolution drafting, and real-world topics. Milestone: By the end of Term 2, students can lead blocs, negotiate resolutions, and manage complex topics with confidence.

  • Week 1: Advanced Argument Construction – Building multi-point cases
  • Week 2: Diplomacy & Negotiation Skills – Lobbying and coalition-building
  • Week 3: Resolution Writing II – Stronger operative clauses, amendments
  • Week 4: Rules of Procedure III – Voting, amendments, yielding
  • Week 5: Research on the Fly – Using facts, examples, and general knowledge
  • Week 6: Voice & Presence – Strong delivery and debate style
  • Week 7: Crisis Committees – Quick thinking under pressure
  • Week 8: Current Events in MUN – Applying today’s news to debate
  • Week 9: Practice Simulation – More complex issue (e.g., climate change policy)
  • Week 10: Mock MUN Conference – Multi-day style with blocs, caucus, and resolution drafting

  Term 3: Refinement & Performance (10 Weeks)
  Focus: Tournament-style simulations, advanced debate strategy, and leadership. Milestone: By the end of Term 3, students perform in a full-length mock MUN conference with advanced strategy and polished delivery, preparing them for real conferences.

  • Week 1: Advanced Framing & Strategy – Big-picture framing and weighing impacts
  • Week 2: Polishing Style – Eliminating filler words, refining rhetoric
  • Week 3: Adaptability & Thinking on Feet – Responding to surprises, switching positions
  • Week 4: Evidence & Data Integrity – Using credible sources, avoiding bias
  • Week 5–7: In-Class MUN Tournament – Multiple rounds with increasing difficulty
  • Week 8: Specialized Committees – Security Council, WHO, or Crisis
  • Week 9: Final MUN Showcase – Full simulation with parents/guests invited
  • Week 10: Reflection & Future Pathways – Debrief, how to join high school MUN clubs, preparing for conferences

  Program Outcomes
  By completing the three-term sequence, students will:

  • Speak confidently in formal debate and diplomatic settings
  • Research global issues and write strong position papers and resolutions
  • Apply negotiation, leadership, and coalition-building skills
  • Participate in structured MUN simulations with advanced strategies
  • Be fully prepared to join high school MUN clubs and attend official conferences

  Note: Since the course builds progressively, it is best for students to start from Term 1.
  
  Instructor: Alvin Liu
  
  

2025 Summer Camps

Note: Half-day camps can be combined as full-day camps from 8:30am-5pm.

• Week 2 (07/14-07/18)

  Public Speech/Debate Camp 1 for Grade 3-5

  07/14 to 07/18  5 half day Monday-Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm $250/camp Location: 16100 NW Cornell Road Suite 210 Room 5

  Course Description

  This is the 1st out of 2 Speech camps for Grade 3-5.

  Public Speech/Debate Camp

  This camp focuses on public speech and oral communication. Students will build up confidence and learn communication skills in the camp. We will go through following 5 units

  Unit 1: Introduction to Speech
  Students will learn essential speech techniques that they will be developing over the course of the class. They will learn the process of writing and prepare a speech and set goals for their learning.

  Unit 2: Informative 
  Students will learn the effective public speaking skills through 4 types of informative speeches by practice. The 4 types of informative speeches we will learn and practice in this unit are: Definition Speech, Explanatory Speech, Descriptive Speech and Demonstrative Speech.

  Unit 3: Persuade 
  Students will learn the value of and techniques to speak persuasively. They will be able to determine the difference between fact and opinion based argument, and effectively persuade an identified audience using sound reasoning and relevant evidence.

  Unit 4: Entertain 
  Students will learn the value of and ways to speak to entertain a specific audience, practising with both ideas of their own and others’. Students will work through the process of developing a speech to inform and presenting with appropriate tone and body language for the audience and purpose.

  Unit 5: Introduction to Debate
  Students will be able to understand opposing viewpoints then choose and defend one viewpoint or the other, using logical reasoning and relevant evidence in the appropriate debate format.

  Instructor: Javid Solan
  
  

• Week 3 (07/21-07/25)

  Public Speech Camp 2 for Grade K-2

  07/21 to 07/25  5 half day Monday-Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm $250/camp Location: 16100 NW Cornell Road Suite 210 Room 2

  Course Description

  This is the 2nd out of 2 Speech camps for Grade k-2. The camp is different from the 1st camp, and will continue to build up students' confidence and speech skills by practice more with different topics and different strategies. Students can still join this camp even if they miss the first camp.

  This camp is all about building confidence. Your child will learn to confidently discuss opinions and describe the world around them. Participants will get a head start speaking in front of others. We will introuduce the basic speech skills such as eye contacts or voice etc and practice those skills in the camp via different topics.  

  Instructor: Merveille Musangu
  
  

• Week 4 (07/28-08/01)

  Public Speech/Debate Camp 2 for Grade 3-5

  07/28 to 08/01  5 half day Monday-Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm $250/camp Location: 16100 NW Cornell Road Suite 210 Room 8

  Course Description

  This is the Speech/Debate camp for Grade 3-5. It helps to build up students' confidence and speech skills by practice with different topics and different strategies.

  Public Speech/Debate Camp

  This camp focuses on public speech and oral communication. Students will build up confidence and learn communication skills in the camp. We will go through following 5 units

  Unit 1: Introduction to Speech
  Students will learn essential speech techniques that they will be developing over the course of the class. They will learn the process of writing and prepare a speech and set goals for their learning.

  Unit 2: Informative 
  Students will learn the effective public speaking skills through 4 types of informative speeches by practice. The 4 types of informative speeches we will learn and practice in this unit are: Definition Speech, Explanatory Speech, Descriptive Speech and Demonstrative Speech.

  Unit 3: Persuade 
  Students will learn the value of and techniques to speak persuasively. They will be able to determine the difference between fact and opinion based argument, and effectively persuade an identified audience using sound reasoning and relevant evidence.

  Unit 4: Entertain 
  Students will learn the value of and ways to speak to entertain a specific audience, practising with both ideas of their own and others’. Students will work through the process of developing a speech to inform and presenting with appropriate tone and body language for the audience and purpose.

  Unit 5: Introduction to Debate
  Students will be able to understand opposing viewpoints then choose and defend one viewpoint or the other, using logical reasoning and relevant evidence in the appropriate debate format.

  Instructor: Merveille Musangu
  
  

• Week 6 (08/11-08/15)

  Middle School Speech/Debate Camp

  08/11 to 08/15  5 half day Monday-Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm $250/camp Location: 16100 NW Cornell Road Suite 210 Room 4

  Course Description

  This camp is designed to prepare students to compete in interscholastic debate competitions.  Units will cover common formats of individual and partnered debate.  Building on fundamental skills introduced in earlier speech and debate courses, this camp introduces students to the research, preparation, and strategy requirements of competitive debate.

  Unit 1: Introduction to Debate
  1. Introduce students to some basic concepts and terms. 
  2. Involve students in an informal debate.

  Unit 2: Expanding on the concept of debate 
  1. Observe a live or videotaped debate. 
  2. Take part in an informal debate.

  Unit 3: Affirmative Structure
  1. Gain an understanding of the Affirmative philosophy.
  2. Examine the speech of the first Affirmative.

  Unit 4: Overview of Negative Strategy
  1. Understand negative strategy. 
  2. understand the job of the first Negative speaker

  Unit 5: Overview of Debate
  1. Second Affirmative Constructive Speech 
  2. Second Negative Constructive Speech
  3. The Break 
  4. Rebuttal by First Negative 
  5. Rebuttal by First Affirmative

  Unit 6: The Great debate (Discussion, Preparation, Presentation)

  Provide students an opportunity to prepare and debate in a formal style.

  Debate is an excellent way to develop critical thinking skills. The process of researching a debate is one of examining the pros and cons of an issue, determining what the problems are and considering alternative solutions. The research and presentation of a debate is clearly a team effort, and participation in activities like debate explicitly develops the skills needed to work in teams.

  Instructor: Alvin Liu