400 Students from 17 Schools Develop Confidence in Communicating Ideas and Points of View

ACS Athens is proud to host the 2010 Pan-Hellenic Association Forensics Tournament, March 4-7, 2010 in which over 400 students from 17 participating schools in Greece will compete.  

Forensics, in the formal sense of the word, refers to public debates or formal argumentation suitable for a court of law. For the school’s purposes, Forensics provides an opportunity for students to be involved in various forms of public speaking. Debate, Oral Interpretation of Literature, Original Oratory, Group Discussion, Duet Acting and Impromptu Speaking are included in the competition. During the tournament, students have the chance to display a number of skills acquired over a long period of training and preparation.  They gain experience from performing in front of peers, visitors and guests and are judged by independent judges. Students also learn through research in libraries and on the Internet, practice their English (since the working language of the tournament is English) and most of all are exposed to and able to discuss and debate current issues. In addition to the enhancement of public speaking skills, students sharpen their research skills, writing skills, and their ability to work in cooperation with others through discussion and debate. The ultimate intent of forensic events is to provide students with an opportunity to develop confidence in their ability to communicate ideas and points of view. ACS Athens, a student-centered international school, supports and embraces the philosophy of forensics as a way to challenge all students to realize their potentials and become responsible citizens.   

The Pan-Hellenic Forensics Association Tournament includes the following events: 

Duet Acting involves two students who work together to choose and perform a short comic or dramatic scene with no props, costumes or make-up. Just two chairs and their acting talent are used to bring their scene to life.   

In Oral Interpretation of Literature a student animates a short piece of literature of his/her choice, either comic or dramatic from a short story, novel or poetry using different voices, accents, facial expressions and hand gestures, while seated on a stool.   

For Original Oratory a student chooses a topic he/she feels strongly about and writes a six to eight minute speech to persuade the audience that his/her point of view is the correct one.   Topics range from environmental issues to the virtues of chocolate! 

Impromptu Speaking is a challenging event in which participants are given a choice of three topics: a single word, the beginning of a sentence, or a quotation.  Once the topic is chosen, the speaker has one minute to prepare to speak on that topic for two to three minutes.  The ability to express oneself well through expression of ideas, coherence and connection to the topic, as well as originality are the basis for being successful at this event. 

Group Discussion gives a group of 6-8 participants a problem to solve.  Using polite conversational skills, the participants express their ideas on the problem at hand, make suggestions and attempt to help the group resolve the problem.  Becoming a leader of the group without being too forceful or argumentative is the key to success in this event. 

Debate is an event of verbal conflict, and is one of the most intense Forensics events. The debaters speak ‘for’ or ‘against’ a controversial issue, regardless of their true personal beliefs on the issue. Debaters are called upon both to support their thesis convincingly with arguments and to refute their opponents’ argumentation. 

This year’s 400+ participants will come from the following 17 schools: American Community Schools of Athens (ACS), Anatolia College, Byron College, Campion School, Ekpaideftiki Anagenisi, Geitonas School, Hellenic American Educational Foundation (HAEF), Costeas Geitonas School, Mandoulides Schools, Moraitis School, Paidagogiki Protoporia, Pierce College, Pinewood-The American International School of Thessaloniki, St. Catherine’s British Embassy School, St. Lawrence College, S. Avgoulea-Linardatou, Nea Genia Ziridis School.

For more information on the tournament’s schedule, click here or contact Ms. Anna Makris, Tournament Coordinator, at forensics@acs.gr or at 210 6393200 ext. 271.