Congratulations to MIS students for winning the second and third places in the 2024 "Zongheng Cup" International School Mandarin Debate Competition. MIS Team One and Team Two emerged as group champions, advancing through the preliminary, quarter-final, semi-final, and final rounds to stand out among 28 debate teams nationwide and achieve outstanding results!

MIS Team One 

MIS Team Two

We would also like to extend our special congratulations to Max, Bill, and Lareina for being awarded the title of Overall Outstanding Debater, and to Max, Bill, Lareina, Stephen, and Katerina for the honor of Best Debater of a Single Round. Additionally, Ms. May and Ms. Amily have been recognized with the Best Instructor Award for their exceptional guidance.

Overview of the Competition

Since its inception in 2017, the "Zongheng Cup" International School Mandarin Debate Competition has become a significant event in the international school community. This year, the competition attracted 136 teams from over 100 schools across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, covering four age groups. The debate topics included hot issues such as financial literacy education and the fan culture in sports, which became the focus of the debates. Under the guidance of Ms. May and Ms. Amily from the Chinese Teaching Center, MIS students demonstrated extraordinary talent throughout the competition.

How does MIS cultivate students' critical thinking skills?

In the IB education system, we focus on fostering students' debate and critical thinking skills. We encourage students to develop their innate curiosity, learn the necessary skills to conduct exploration and research, and exhibit independence during the learning process.

In MIS's subject teaching, students are encouraged to apply critical and creative thinking skills to analyze complex issues and take responsible actions. They are constantly trying to make well-reasoned, ethical decisions proactively.

We encourage students to establish their own worldview and the ability to clearly express arguments, make sound judgments, and evaluate complex issues. At the same time, we emphasize respect and understanding for cross-cultural differences, which requires students to consider perspectives and values from different cultural backgrounds during debates and discussions.

We aim to foster independent thinkers who can research, reflect, and take action on issues.

The excellent performance in the debate competition is inseparable from MIS's focus on cultivating students' comprehensive Chinese abilities, humanistic literacy, and aesthetic taste, as well as the teaching philosophy of constructing dialectical thinking. 

MIS's Chinese teaching emphasizes literary appreciation and reading, encouraging students to actively participate in public speaking and debates to enhance their confidence. The Mandarin Debate Club allows students to apply knowledge to real-world issues, fostering independent thinking skills, logical thinking, and communication skills through discussion, writing, and group collaboration. The students' active participation in the course and their outstanding performance in the competition are not only the best testament to MIS's teaching philosophy but also an affirmation of the students' personal efforts and team spirit. MIS students learn to think critically about issues, find balance among diverse viewpoints, and maintain their own positions while respecting others.

MIS will continue to be committed to providing a vibrant and challenging learning environment, encouraging students to explore, question, and innovate continuously. We are proud of the students' excellent performance in the debate competition and look forward to them continuing to showcase the demeanor of MIS students, influencing the world with their knowledge, wisdom, and passion.