Student Classes
Overview
The Toronto Debate Academy offers weekly classes for students across a wide range of experience levels. Our in-person programs run in exclusive partnership with Meritus Academy in North York, and Meritus also hosts our online classes.
Classes include speaking drills, practice debates, and short seminars that build both core debating technique and topic knowledge. Free trial classes are available through Meritus, and our instructors can help place students in the level that fits best.
To enrol, please visit the Meritus website for current course levels, schedules, pricing, and registration.
British Parliamentary Debate
Our BP program is designed for students who want to learn and advance in the world’s most common competitive debate format. BP emphasizes fast thinking, strategic clash, and persuasive speaking across a wide range of real-world topics.
Who BP is for
Beginner BP (Levels 1–2) is the best fit for students in Grade 7 and up who are brand new to debating or brand new to BP. Students who previously completed TDA Junior Debate (JD) may be eligible to join BP earlier; otherwise, Grade 7+ is a firm requirement.
Beginner BP (Level 1 and Level 2)
Beginner classes teach students the fundamentals of BP structure and strategy, including how to build clear arguments, respond to other teams, and deliver organized speeches under time pressure. Older beginners are welcome and can often move through these levels quickly; instructors will help place students in the right starting level and stream them upward as they develop.
- Level 1: For students who are new to BP and want a structured introduction to the format and core skills. (Click for a detailed breakdown of Level 1)
- Level 2: For students who have completed Level 1 (or have comparable experience) and are ready to work on stronger case construction, clearer refutation, and more strategic debating. (Click for a detailed breakdown of Level 1)
Intermediate BP (Levels 3–4 at Meritus)
Intermediate classes are designed for high school students who already have a solid grasp of BP basics and some competitive or coached experience. The focus shifts from “how BP works” to “how to win BP rounds,” including deeper strategy, clash management, and more advanced comparative analysis.
Advanced BP (Levels 5–6 at Meritus)
Advanced classes are for students who have demonstrated strong competitive ability—typically by breaking or advancing to elimination rounds at major tournaments. Admission is at the instructor’s discretion to ensure the group is appropriately paced and challenging.
Enrolment and current schedule
To enrol, please visit the Meritus website for up-to-date course levels, schedules, pricing, and registration.
Junior Debate
Junior Debate 1 (JD LV1) is the ideal entry point for students in Grades 5–6 who want to build confidence in public speaking and learn how to think clearly under pressure—without jumping straight into high school-style competitive debate. Designed specifically for elementary learners, JD LV1 introduces the fundamentals of argumentation, structure, and respectful disagreement using the Junior World Schools format.
Across 16 lessons, students learn how to build persuasive arguments, respond to opposing ideas, and speak with clarity and confidence. Classes combine team debates (Jr. 3×3) and one-on-one debates (Jr. 1×1) so students practice both collaboration and individual speaking. Motions are engaging and age-appropriate—covering topics like sports, technology, school rules, and fairness—so students stay motivated while developing real skills.
What JD LV1 focuses on:
• Age-appropriate structure: lessons, topics, and expectations are built for Grades 5–6, with pacing that helps students succeed early.
• High-support instruction: instructors actively coach students during drills, model strong speeches, and teach practical note-taking and organization.
• Core debate skills: students learn how to build arguments, take notes during speeches, respond directly to what the other side says, and improve through feedback.
• A pathway forward: JD LV1 prepares students for Junior competitions and gives them the foundation to transition into more advanced formats, including British Parliamentary, when ready.
Parents can expect regular homework to reinforce class skills through short readings, simple research, and topic exploration. By the end of the course, students will have completed multiple structured debates and developed the confidence and tools they need for future academic and extracurricular success.
Junior Debate 2 (JD LV2) is the next step for Grades 5–6 students who have completed JD LV1 (or have equivalent experience) and are ready for more structured strategy and higher expectations. JD LV2 deepens students’ ability to organize speeches, build stronger cases, and engage more directly with opposing arguments within the Junior World Schools format.
Over 16 lessons, students debate weekly, sharpen rebuttal and rebuilding skills, and learn to make their speeches more persuasive through structured feedback. Motions are more challenging and imaginative—ranging from school policy questions (like open-book testing) to big ideas (like digital immortality)—while remaining accessible for younger debaters.
What JD LV2 adds:
• Stronger speech structure: students learn clearer signposting, better prioritization, and more strategic speech planning.
• Advanced Junior WSDC skills: students practice rebuilding, Points of Information (POIs), and stronger third speeches.
• Consistent coaching and feedback: instructors continue to actively support students with real-time coaching, note-taking systems, and targeted feedback (using the TDA Note Taking Guide).
• Preparation for the next level: JD LV2 positions students to excel in Junior competitions (Grades 4–9) and transition smoothly into British Parliamentary—often even before Grade 7.
Homework in JD LV2 focuses on building background knowledge for topics and learning to prep efficiently, while class time prioritizes execution: speaking reps, structured debates, and measurable improvement week to week.