I DON'T like debate class, but I think it is very important,” a first-year high school student said in faltering English. Asked by an assistant language teacher (ALT) why she thought so during a recent debate class at Maibara High School in Maiharacho, northern Shiga Prefecture, she replied immediately, “It is very difficult but we can learn a lot of vocabulary.”
Although the conversations were simple, students stated their opinions in English without any hesitation. “It is the fruit of having the debate class twice a week since April last year,” said Kenji Yamaoka, a Japanese teacher of English at the school.