VDA is proud to announce that students in Grades 9 and above who enroll in our debate classes can now receive high school elective credits towards their B.C. graduation requirements!
B.C. High School Elective Course Credit
According to the British Columbia Ministry of Education, in order to graduate from high school, all students are required to have a minimum of 80 credits, within which, at least 28 credits are elective courses.
In partner with Heritage Christian Online School, VDA is now offering our debate courses approved for BC Ministry of Education credit. We provide three credit elective courses (10A Foundation, 11A Intermediate, and 12A Pre-advance). Each passed course provides 2 credits. A total (and maximum) of 6 credits can be obtained through our credit elective debate classes.*
*Passing the same level credit course which you get credit before would not gives credits again.
Why should I choose the for-credit debate class?
Benefit College Application
Colleges today pay close attention to high-calibre activities. Having debate on your official transcript shows your speech, critical thinking, research, organization, teamwork, and leadership skills. It makes you stand out from other candidates and increases your university acceptance rate!
Get Elective Credits
Every high school student, either if you are in a private school or a public school, has to fulfill the elective credits requirement to graduate from secondary school. So get your elective credits with us!
Frequently Asked Questions
Students must be in grade 9 or above and be attending an accredited BC school.
The following courses are available and each is worth 2 credits, completed in a single term:
- 10A – Foundations Debate
- 11A – Intermediate Debate
- 12A – Advanced Debate
To excel in the debate credit class and achieve a good grade, students should adhere to the following guidelines:
- Punctuality and Attendance: Consistent punctuality and full attendance at all class sessions are essential.
- Diligence in Assessments: Students should diligently complete all required assessments. Each term includes 2 spoken assignments, 2 written assignments, a final exam, and a final debate.
- Active Learning: Continuous learning and active engagement in class are crucial. Students should attentively participate in discussions and actively absorb the material presented.
Your evaluation will be based on both spoken and written assignments, as well as your performance and knowledge demonstrated throughout the term.
Each term of debate is worth 2 credits. Students can take 3 terms of non-repeating credit-bearing debate classes for a maximum of 6 elective credits.
To sign up, please reach out to our office directly:
Email: info@vancouverdebate.ca
Phone: 604-366-6269
Currently, enrollment is open to students in grades 9 or above only. However, feel free to contact us for further information.
Yes, ESL students are welcome to sign up! However, please note that debate requires a certain level of fluency and vocabulary. Significant ESL challenges may impact student grades.
Students may retake the same course as many times as desired; however, each retake will incur a fee of $300 CAD. It’s important to note that retaking the same course will NOT result in additional credits.
While this is an elective class and not an academic one, students will be required to complete written assessments for homework, as well as spoken assessments such as in-class debates. It’s imperative for students to take this program seriously, meet the requirements, and diligently complete the assignments to achieve high scores. And complete the work to attain high scores.
Yes. Students have the option to withdraw from the course at any point during the term and are welcome to re-enroll in the course at any time without the need to wait for subsequent terms.
Refunds are available under certain circumstances:
- For international students, the $300 fee for credit application is non-refundable after term starts.
- For local students:
- If you drop both the debate class and the credit course, refunds will follow our regular policy.
- If you decide to continue attending the debate class without applying for credit:
- You can receive a 50% refund of the $300 credit application fee if you drop within the first two weeks of classes. No refunds will be issued after this period.
Yes, starting from September 2024, there will be an additional fee of $300 CAD to apply for credit courses. This fee will cover the following:
- Additional Coaching and Assessment: Credit courses require more rigorous assessment and feedback, thus your assignments may require extra time and effort from our coaches for evaluation and feedback.
- Credit Course Management and Record-Keeping: We need to maintain systems for managing credit courses and ensure accurate record-keeping of your credits.