Bangka Belitung University’s Debate Community Finally Formed

Bangka Belitung University’s Debate Community Finally Formed

by Willia 

Balunijuk- Bangka Belitung University presents a new community for students who are passionate and interested in debating, either in Indonesian or English. This community was formed by looking at the students' enthusiasm in the last debate competition, KDMI (Kompetisi Debat Mahasiswa Indonesia) 2022 and NUDC (National University Debating Championship) 2022. On Friday (18/11/2022), the first meeting was held in the hall of Babel IV, Bangka Belitung University and was attended by 163 students from 5 faculties and various majors.

This meeting was held to introduce and explain the main purpose of this debate community. Four English Literature lecturers and one lecturer from Political Science attended this meeting as the key speakers. Sandy Ferianda, M.Hum., Dian Fitri K, M.A., Donal Fernando Lubis, M.A., attended this meeting as the coaches and judges  team for NUDC, debating in English language. Lili Liana, S.Pd., M.Pd., with one of the lecturers in Political Science attended this meeting as the coaches and judges team KDMI, debating in Indonesian language. 

Sandy Ferianda, M.Hum., talking about how students are terrified by NUDC because it is using English  in debating. “Although NUDC is debating in English, you do not need to be afraid because we, the judges, will not focus on your language skills. The most important thing is, how you can pour your thoughts and opinions related to the motion given,” he said.

“Actually, with joining this community, you will get a lot of advantages. First thing first, you can practice your speaking skills in English if you decide to join the NUDC team. Your public speaking and critical thinking skills will also improve because you need to be critical about the motion given and you must express your thoughts. By joining NUDC and KDMI you may get a lot more advantages, especially if you made it to national competition,” Sandy said.

“We are all learning here, so don't worry. One of the students who competed in the national competition in 2018 and 2019 started from zero not knowing anything about debate, but they made it because of process,” Sandy said and concluded the talks about NUDC.

The meetings continue with the talks about KDMI. At the end of the session, one of the students from accounting majors asked about how students increase their interest in reading because as the KDMI judges team said that we must read a lot in order to gain information and references needed. This question was answered by the lecturer of Political Science, “It begins with ourselves, we must have the awareness and the interest in reading. I’m sure you all, young people have social media, that is one of the ways you can get information nowadays which makes it easier for you. Simply, you can find the latest news or what is viral this month on twitter, instagram, tiktok, or other platforms,” he said.

The students who joined this community will be taught, trained, and prioritized in the future debate competition, NUDC and KDMI. They will learn and improve their public speaking, critical thinking skills, and also how to express their ideas and opinions systematically.