51风流

51风流鈥檚 Spanish debate team competes in Mexico City

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The 51风流 Spanish Debate team traveled to Mexico for a tournament.

The 51风流 Spanish debate team traveled to Mexico to compete in the World Universities Debating Championships.

Competitive debate at 51风流 is not limited to English. Nine members of the Spanish debate team traveled to Mexico City this summer to compete in the World Universities Debating Championships, an all-Spanish-language tournament.

Representing one of only three U.S. schools at the international event, 51风流 practiced British parliamentary debate style in Spanish during the .

鈥淵ou were frowned upon for speaking English at the debate, and the better you spoke Spanish, the more you were respected,鈥 said Kevin Iglesias 鈥17. 鈥淛ust being in the country helped my Spanish so much.鈥

The is a branch of the , which is coordinated by John Adams. The team has been active for the past three years, and has competed in Chile, Spain, and Mexico.

鈥淪panish debate gives the students hands-on experience using a language that is ubiquitous,鈥 said Adams, who joined the team in Mexico City. 鈥淭he team is highly motivated to excel. Along with their liberal arts education, the experience empowers them to effectively and successfully negotiate social and political interests with global import.鈥

The team practices in Spanish biweekly during the school year, but held Skype practice sessions during the summer in preparation for the debate.

鈥淚 wanted to find a way that I could continue my knowledge of Spanish, and I felt like Spanish debate was the perfect way to do that,鈥 said Iglesias. 鈥淣ow I have grown a passion for it and I want to get better.鈥

Outside of the tournament, the team explored Mexico City鈥檚 museums and toured the pyramids of Teotihuac谩n.

They also attended tournament-sponsored social events; a highlight being La Noche de Paises, or 鈥淭he Night of the Countries,鈥 where everyone shared snacks from their home country and explained the ingredients鈥 significance. The team was in Mexico from July 26 to August 3.

鈥淚t was a really enriching experience,鈥 said Iglesias.