Over the last few weeks we discussed a method for teaching debate to English learners.
过去的几周来，我们讨论了教英语学习者辩论的一个方法。
Debate is a valuable way to practice communicating.
辩论是练习沟通的有效方法。
It can also bring long-lasting rewards outside the classroom, especially for people working with Western businesses.
它也可以在教室外带来长期回报，尤其是对那些同西方企业合作的人。
Communicating Western-style
西式沟通
The main activity of debate is presenting one's opinion and supporting it with evidence, such as statistics or facts.
辩论活动的主要内容是陈述观点，用数据或事实类的论据支持观点。
It is a way of persuasive communication – of making someone believe what you are saying.
这是一种说服性沟通方式--使某人信服你所说的。
Charles Lebeau helped create the "Discover Debate" method.
查尔斯·勒博帮助建立了“探索辩论”的方法。
He says debate is important to understanding how people communicate in Western business.
他表示辩论在西方企业中理解人们如何沟通具有重要意义。
Successful debaters learn how to give their opinion, reasons and support.
成功的辩手学习如何表达观点，陈述理由和论证观点。
"What we are trying to do is to develop a kind of thinking or approach to discussion and how to interact with someone else's opinion, rather than brush their opinion aside and say, "well yes, but this is what I think."
我们正尝试做的是培养一种思维或讨论方法，以及如何同他人交流观点，而不是漠视他人观点，然后说：“是的，这就是我的想法。”
Debate skills are also important in selling a product, he says.
他说在销售产品上，辩论技能也很重要。
In that situation, the judges are the customers.
在那种情况下，客户就是评委。
"So on Monday, for example, one company may come in and present their case to the customer and they'll make as strong a case as they can.
“所以比如周一，一家公司可能会过来向客户展示他们的方案，他们会尽可能展示一个强有力的方案”。
On Tuesday, the next day, another company will come in and present their case to the customer.
第二天，即周二，另一家公司会过来，向客户展示他们的方案。
Usually the party that can present the strongest case wins."
通常能拿出最强的方案的一方便能取胜。
He adds that people use persuasive communication in meetings, too.
他补充说人们在会议中也使用说服性沟通。
Three or four people may present ideas.
3或4个人陈述观点。
Then, they attack or support each other's arguments.
然后，他们对对方观点进行反驳或者支持。
"I think this way of approaching presenting opinions and responding to opinions, is very important for English speaking.
我认为就讲英语而言，这种给出观点和回应观点的方法是非常重要的。
In Japan, we don't really do that, we don't respond to a person point by point.
在日本，我们并不这样做，我们不会逐点回应一个人。
In English-style meetings, we do do that and Japanese participants need to do that in an English style meeting in order to be successful."
在英式会议上，我们会这样做，而日本与会方要成功也得这样做。
Critical thinking
批判性思维
Debate also strengthens critical thinking.
辩论也能强化批判性思维。
In other words, it helps students learn to ask questions and try to understand someone's reasons and evidence.
换句话说，它帮助学生学会提问和理解某个人的理由和论据。
Mr. Lebeau points out that successful debaters learn to listen carefully to what other people are saying.
勒博指出成功的辩手懂得在他人发言时，认真聆听。
Then, they look for the weak points in someone else's opinion or argument.
接着，他们寻找他人观点或论点中的不足。
He says debate teaches a systematic way of questioning.
他说辩论教授的是一种有条理的提问方法。
Broadening one's perspective
拓宽视角
Successful debaters also learn to think from someone else's point of view.
成功的辩手也学会才他人的角度思考。
Mr. Lebeau says debate can help broaden the mind.
勒博表示辩论有助于开拓思维。
"There's an expression in English: don't criticize another person before you have walked in their shoes. I think the wonderful thing about debate is, it puts us in another person's shoes."
英语中有句话：没有站在他人角度，就不要随意批评他人。我认为辩论的美妙之处就在于辩论让我们站在他人的立场。
For example, students in a debate might argue the topic "soccer is a better sport than baseball."
比如，辩论中学生们可能会就“足球是个比棒球更好的运动”这一话题进行辩论。
A student may have to argue in favor of soccer, even if he or she does not really think soccer is better than baseball.
尽管一个学生并不认为足球比棒球好，但他或她可能不得不为支持足球而辩论。
But the student will have to explain why soccer is an interesting sport and present the viewpoint of soccer fans.
但是该学生必须解释为什么足球是项有趣的运动，表达出球迷的观点。
The exercise will offer a way of thinking the student may not have normally had.
这一练习给学生提供了一种通常情况下不会有的思维方式。
Debate can improve one's thinking and language so much that it brings benefits to a student's life and career.
辩论可以大大提升思维和语言，使学生在人生和事业中受益。
Professor Lebeau tells a story about teaching debate to new employees at Toshiba.
勒博教授讲述了一个关于日本东芝公司教新员工辩论的故事。
One young woman came up and asked, "Do you remember me?"
一名年轻女子站起来，问道：“你还记得我吗？”
She had been his student in a Debate and Presentation class at her university.
她是勒博在她大学里辩论和演讲课上的一名学生。
She said the class improved her English skills so much that she had been able to get a good job in the company.
她说这门课大大提高了她的英语技能，因而她得以在公司中谋得一份不错的工作。
She is living evidence of the benefits of learning to debate.
学习辩论有多大好处，她就是活生生的例子。
I'm Jill Robbins.
我是吉尔·罗宾斯

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