Debate: Should College Be Free?
A real debate has structure: claim, evidence, rebuttal, concession, closing. Lena argues FOR free college; Marcus argues AGAINST. Listen for how they attack ideas — never each other — and how the moderator keeps the floor moving. · C1 · Debate
How to practice: listen to the whole discussion first. Notice how the speakers agree, disagree, hedge and interrupt politely. Then take one role and speak it out loud; finally, record your OWN opinion on the same topic for one full minute.
Moderator Tonight's motion: college should be free for everyone. Lena, you open — two minutes.
Lena Thank you. Education is not a luxury product; it's infrastructure, like roads. When we charge students a fortune for it, we don't select the most talented — we select the most wealthy. Free college means the nurse, the engineer, the teacher come from everywhere, not just from rich zip codes.
Marcus If I may — roads analogy aside, 'free' college isn't free. It's paid for by taxpayers, including millions who never went to college. Why should a truck driver fund someone else's philosophy degree?
Lena Because that truck driver's kids might want to study engineering — and because the same argument would cancel public high schools. We fund what benefits everyone.
Marcus But here's my concern: when something costs nothing, people value it less. Dropout rates—
Lena —actually, the evidence from countries with free tuition shows completion rates are comparable. The price isn't what makes students finish; support is.
Marcus Fair point — I'll concede support matters. But I'd rather spend the money on exactly that: advising, childcare, living costs. Tuition is only part of the bill.
Lena On that, we agree. Free tuition plus support — that's the full policy. My opponent has just designed it for me.
Moderator And on that rare note of agreement — we'll take closing statements.
Marcus My closing is simple: 'free' is a slogan; funding is a budget. Spend where it changes lives.
Lena And mine: a society that prices out its own future talent isn't saving money. It's spending its potential.
The full dialogue with real voices. Listen first, then take your role.
Record yourself, play it back, and compare with the model. Recordings stay in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Your task
Choose a side — FOR or AGAINST free college — and record a 2-minute case: one opening claim, two supporting points, one rebuttal of the other side ('My opponent might say…, but…'), one concession, and a one-sentence closing. Then, if you're brave, record the OTHER side.
Coach tips
- Attack ideas, credit people: 'Fair point — I'll concede…'.
- Interrupt like a professional: 'If I may—', never by shouting.
- End every debate with ONE sentence a listener can repeat in the elevator.
Self-Assessment — Your Honest Checklist
There is no automated speaking score here — and we will not fake one. Play your recording, judge these five areas honestly, and tick what you truly did. Next session, pick ONE unticked box to fix.
Fluency
Grammar
Vocabulary
Pronunciation
Organization
Speaking connects to everything
🗣️ Pronunciation Lab — train the sounds in this lesson🎧 Listening Lab — hear these patterns in real dialogues🌱 Vocabulary Builder — grow the words you reached for📘 Grammar Course — fix the pattern you noticed🩺 Say It Right — Real-Life English, mistake by mistakeKeep going
Explaining the Abstract: What Does 'Success' Even Mean?
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OpenPresenting with Confidence: Open, Signpost, Land
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