Course Overview

This comprehensive program provides students with a structured, five-level debate training system, designed to guide them from complete beginners to internationally competitive debaters. Each level features clear learning objectives and a defined advancement pathway, combining classroom instruction with real-world tournament experience. Students will develop essential skills in communication, critical thinking, and leadership throughout their debate journey.

Foundations Course: Designed for students new to debate, this level builds a strong base in public speaking, argument structure, refutation, and note-taking. Students gain essential skills to construct and explain arguments, setting the stage for future growth.

Intermediate Course: This level deepens core debate skills with a focus on strategic argument selection, multi-level analysis, structured refutation, and debate style development. Students begin to compete in local tournaments to strengthen their practical experience.

Pre Advanced: Serving as a transition to advanced debate, this stage prepares students for Novice-level international tournaments. Training emphasizes advanced structures, delivery style, competition formats, and real-time argumentation, while students choose a debate focus like Public Forum or Impromptu.

Advanced Course: Tailored for students with Novice experience, the Advanced level targets higher-level competition readiness. Students refine strategic thinking, engage in meta-debate, and develop personalized styles through intensive practice and simulation.

Competitive: The highest tier of VDA’s program, this level equips students to excel in top international divisions. With customized coaching, students master complex frameworks, rapid argument generation, and elite-level strategy to compete at the highest level and boost university credentials.

Why Choose This Course?

Outstanding Performance by VDA
Over the past 9 years, VDA has successfully taught more than 10,000 of students, winning over 300 competition awards, including 67 championships. We have made history with Canadian championship titles, and won multiple UBC three-peat championships, as well as Harvard and Stanford top-tier event victories. VDA consistently ranks in the top ten in the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association), the most authoritative global organization for youth speech and debate, which is widely recognized by Ivy League schools and is a key indicator of debate strength.

Champion Coaching Team
Our coaching team is composed of world-class competition winners, former national team coaches, and debate club leaders, each with over 10 years of teaching and judging experience. They are committed to providing high-quality training for every student.

Targeted Training
Each class includes specific debate training, with coaches providing one-on-one feedback based on each student’s performance to ensure personalized learning.

Skill-Focused Training
Our foundation and intermediate courses focus on developing debate skills, rather than just the debate format. As students master these skills, they will be capable of competing in a variety of debate formats.

High-Level Debate Experience
Students will have opportunities to participate in international and high-level debate competitions, developing their debate skills on a global scale and enhancing their college applications.

Comprehensive Skill Enhancement
Through intensive debate training, students will improve public speaking, argumentation, quick thinking, critical analysis, and strategic planning skills—abilities that will significantly benefit their academic and professional careers.

Competitive Advantage
The skills and experience students gain from VDA’s debate courses will set them apart in future debate competitions and other fields, helping them stand out in the college application process.

BC Ministry of Education Certified Course
Since 2020, VDA’s debate courses have been accredited by the BC Ministry of Education and officially integrated into the high school elective credit system in collaboration with HCOS. VDA is the first local debate school to establish a systematic course structure.