探索英语辩论的奥妙

Debating seems common in our daily lives – you discuss social issues with friends, argue about an NBA game, and haggle to get a good deal on your new laptop. But when it comes to English debating, things are different.

日常生活中争论似乎每天都在上演。和朋友们探讨社会热点、争论NBA球赛、为买到优惠的笔记本电脑讨价还价。可要说到英语辩论，情况则完全不同。

The Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press launched the 16th national English debating competition this year, attracting over 10,000 students.

今年，外语教学与研究出版社举办了第十六届全国大学生英语辩论赛，吸引了逾万学生。

Experts say that debating is good for developing logical thinking。

有关专家表示，辩论有助于培养逻辑思维。

"In an era of entertainment culture, we need debating competitions to help more students pay attention to social issues," said Du Huiliang, deputy director of the college department in the Central Committee of the Young Communist League.

共青团中央学校部副部长杜汇良表示："在这个娱乐文化时代，我们需要这样一项辩论赛，来帮助更多学生去关注社会热点问题。"

"By debating, students learn the truth about society and the right social and personal values."

"通过辩论，学生们能够认清真实的社会，树立起正确的社会观和价值观。"

Logical thinking and presenting arguments are more important than a beautiful accent when speaking English. So students have created ways to practice their powers of analysis and logical thinking.

英语辩论中，逻辑清楚、论点鲜明比优美的发音更为重要。因此，同学们便可以创造多种方式来锻炼自己的分析能力和逻辑思维。

Fang Shuqiong, 22, a senior majoring in English at Xiamen University, likes role playing while practicing her debating skills with teammates.

22岁的方舒琼是厦门大学英语专业三年级学生，她喜欢和队友们通过角色扮演的方式来练习自己的辩论技能。

"We play different roles including Prime Minister and Deputy PM every night. We select subjects for debate from past competitions and TOEFL compositions," said Fang.

方舒琼说："每天晚上我们都会扮演不同的角色，包括总理和副总理。我们从以往的辩论赛还有托福作文题目中挑选辩题。"

Apart from inviting a foreign tutor, the team enjoys brainstorming various issues from loser culture to dating shows. Everyone tries to make impromptu speeches about these topics, which Fang says is helpful and fun.

除了邀请外教指导之外，方舒琼的团队还喜欢就各类议题展开头脑风暴，题目从"失败者文化"到相亲节目各异。每个人都试着就这些话题展开即兴演讲，方舒琼认为这样做可以即有效又很好玩。

"It really improved my logical thinking," said Fang.

她还说："这种方式真的使我的逻辑思维能力得到了提升。"

To expand your mind it is good to communicate with more people. Rao Qionglei, 20, set up a QQ group named "central China debating elites club", which has attracted over 50 debaters in different universities.

要拓展思维，就要多跟人去交流。20岁的饶琼蕾创建了一个名叫"华中地区辩论精英俱乐部"的QQ群，吸引了来自多所高校的50多名辩手。

"In the past three months preparing for the debating competition, we have discussed topics and shared experiencs," said Rao.

饶琼蕾说："过去的三个月，我们一边准备辩论赛，一边讨论辩题、分享经验。"

Teachers also like to organize face-to-face discussion. The English debating club holds a competition every week, attracting nearly 100 students.

老师们也喜欢组织面对面的讨论。华中地区辩论精英俱乐部每周都会举行一场辩论赛，吸引了近百名学生。

"The impromptu discussion and speeches inspire people to view a subject from a different angle," said Yang Rui, leader of the English debating team at China Foreign Affairs University.

外交学院英语辩论队领队杨锐表示："即兴讨论和即兴演讲可以启发人们从不同角度来看待相同议题。"

Someone might think debating is like quarreling but in Zheng Bo's eyes, debating seeks a compromise.

有的人觉得辩论就好比是吵架，但在郑博看来，辩论寻求的是和解。

Zheng, 26, China Representative to World University Debating Council, is the judge for the national debating competition.

26岁的郑博是世界大学辩论协会中国代表，担任本届全国辩论赛的评委。

Zheng says that in most debating competitions, it is hard to decide who is right and who is wrong, but you can find what both sides agree on.

郑博表示，大多数辩论赛中，很难决定谁对谁错，但你能够找到双方达成一致的点。

"Debating isn't a quarrel. Students should know that the criteria for deciding the winner is reasoned argument," said Zheng.

郑博说："辩论不同于争吵。学生应该知道——合乎逻辑的论证才是决定胜负的标准。"

"The great thing about debating is not reaching a conclusion, but understanding that certain compromises are valid; that stories always have two sides; and that we need to learn and tolerate both of them."

"辩论的重要一点不在于得出结论，而是要明白可以进行一定的妥协；凡事都有两面，我们应该去了解并包容它们。"