Calling all Debaters!
We're hosting an online tournament!
Calling all rising 5th to 9th graders! We have a parliamentary debate style tournament for you and your team to compete against other student debaters for CASH PRIZES taking place August 14th. There is a $60 registration fee per team.
DATE: August 14th, 2021
TIME: 9 AM - 4 PM
WHO: Rising 5th-9th graders in teams of 2-3 with previous parliamentary experience
This tournament supports The Innocence Project. Since we're donating to the The Innocence Project, this tournament's topics are related to the legal system.
*If there are not enough participants we will refund your registration fee*
Debate Classes 2021
At Nation's Capital Academy we will teach our students how to do research, case constructions, analytical thinking, and persuasive techniques. Debate strengthens fundamental skills such as collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking. Debate greatly improves public speaking and research skills.
SUMMER SESSION 1 (FOUNDATIONS): June 14th to June 25th
The online foundations session is a 2 week-long session which runs from 7 PM to 9 PM EST, Monday through Friday. The price to enroll in the summer session is $200.
This session covers the fundamentals of debate, speech, and presentation. We will also be discussing many current event issues. This class prepares students to participate in our upcoming debate tournament on August 14th.
SUMMER SESSION 2 & 3 (ADVANCED): June 28 to July 9 & July 12 to July 23
The online advanced session is a 2 week-long session which runs from 7 PM to 9 PM EST, Monday through Friday. The price to enroll in the summer session is $200.
This camp will cover complex debate topics, debating strategies, and further develop students' skills in becoming a well researched and persuasive speaker, debater, and leader. Taught by experienced TJ students, our fun curriculum takes a hands on approach and elevates students to the next level of debate. Students who have taken our classes before or are signed up for Session 1 (foundations) are qualified to take the advanced sessions. This class prepares students to participate in our upcoming debate tournament on August 14th.
HYBRID SESSION (FOUNDATIONS + ADVANCED): July 5th to July 23rd
The online advanced session is a 3 week-long session which runs from 7 PM to 9 PM EST, Monday through Friday. The price to enroll in the hybrid session is $300.
This camp will cover ALL of foundations and advanced material. No previous experience is required to take this session.
Meet Our Debate Instructors!
Alice Ji - Cofounder
Hello, my name is Alice Ji. I was on the very competitive Rachel Carson Debate Team for two years and part of public forum debate at Thomas Jefferson for two years. I have developed immense public speaking skills, logical thinking, and researching ability. After I joined debate I promptly found presentations effortless and persuasive essays could be written in the blink of an eye. I did parliamentary debate for the Nation's Capitol Debate League. My team placed at the City Championships tournament and I placed twice as a speaker and with my team in the ESU-MSPDP Debate Program. I look forward to sharing my debate experience with everybody!
Ramya Griddaluri - Cofounder
Hi, my name is Ramya Griddaluri. I have been a member of the RCMS Debate Team since 7th grade, and I have been a part of the TJ Debate team for two years. I am a confident and hardworking person. Debate has helped me analyze complex topics and do in-depth research. After I joined the debate team, my public speaking got a lot better and presentations became so much easier for me. In City Championships, my team placed, and before that, in the East Coast Regional Tournament, my team placed and I placed individually. In my first high school debate tournament, my partner and I placed first in the JV division, getting full qualifications to JV Metrofinals and Varsity debate. I’m really excited to work with all the future debaters this summer!
Julia Lamy - Instructor
Hi, my name’s Julia Lamy. I was a member of the RCMS debate team for two years. In school I have participated in PF debate as well as Forensics/Speech. Debate has greatly improved my public speaking, research, and critical thinking skills. I have placed individually at an invitational tournament and at the 2019 regional tournament I placed as the top fourth speaker and my team placed first overall. I look forward to working with and educating future debaters this summer!
Refund Policy
We offer full refunds for our debate classes if the cancellation occurs one week before the first day of class. We cannot offer a refund to cancellations occuring seven days before the first day or after classes have begun.