During the Spring Festival holiday, a group of 69 students and 14 faculty from BASIS International & Bilingual Schools China made the journey to the United States to attend the 49th Annual Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. This trip, the first of its type for the network, brought together students from our Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Huizhou, Nanjing, and Shenzhen campuses, uniting them with a singular purpose—to compete against the best of the best.
Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament
The prestigious Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament, held in Cambridge, Massachusetts and coinciding with Presidents’ Day weekend, is the world’s largest and most prestigious high school speech and debate event. This year, it drew approximately 5,000 students globally, with both in-person and online divisions.
“This tournament was excellent. We witnessed excellent speakers, visited excellent schools, and, most importantly, had an excellent experience. All of us tried our best and gained precious experience, and that was what mattered the most and what we valued the most in this tournament,” said Kevin S., a Grade 8 student at BASIS International School Hangzhou.
Throughout the weekend, there were countless debates and performances spanning dozens of buildings across Boston and on the internet as students competed both in-person and virtually.
Angelina A., a Grade 10 student at BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour, was one of the students who, along with her partner Kevin Zhang, advanced to the semifinals in the Online Public Forum category. Despite the 13-hour time difference, she said she was “incredibly glad” to have signed up for the tournament. “Through competing in rounds with debaters from Canada, the US, Japan, and India, I learned the importance of style in debating as opposed to pure content.”
The tournament marked a significant milestone for many BASIS International & Bilingual Schools students, with only four of the 69 students having attended the competition the previous year. In 2023, BASIS International School Shenzhen made the maiden voyage to this prestigious competition with just 12 students. In 2024, we grew into a 69-member team of students representing six campuses. Each of the four returning students demonstrated growth and success above and beyond what they accomplished last year, with two advancing beyond preliminary rounds.
Charles X., a Grade 11 student from BASIS International School Shenzhen, returning for his second year, commented, “Having gone to the tournament now two years in a row, I have been inspired by the continued growth and commitment of the community. I was able to take my experience from last year and invest in my development, and I was able to advance to the quarterfinals in a completely new format of debate. This would not have been possible if I hadn’t continued to pursue debate at a much higher level than exists in China.”
For most of the group, this trip was an introduction to the world of competitive speech and debate beyond China and a “trial by fire” opportunity to experience growth and gain valuable experience.
Jessica W., a Grade 10 student at BASIS International School Nanjing, shared, “I am really happy because I made new friends and opened my horizons. I am also thankful to be able to reflect on my flaws in debate and to have the courage to face them and improve.”
Ryan X., a Grade 9 student at BASIS International School Shenzhen, echoed this sentiment, “Harvard was a great opportunity. I learned a lot not only from my teammates and my coaches but also from my opponents in the tournament. I made many new friends, and this experience was really worth it.”
After the event, Colin Malinak, Network Director of Speech & Debate, took a moment to reflect with his students: “At the beginning of the trip, I said that we could shift our mindset and that I thought we were ready to think of ourselves as competitors. You proved yourselves in spectacular fashion. Throughout the week, I’ve heard you express incredulity at the high quality of the competition and, more than anything, the overwhelming sense of community that exists in the American speech and debate community. Each of these is something you can bring back to our own community in China. I see you pushing yourselves, striving, and wanting to be more. That desire to grow is admirable, and we are here to help you find the path to support that growth and give you opportunities to become more than you are.”
Boston Learning Opportunities
“The experience was enjoyable and memorable. I visited many well-known schools and made many new friends along the way. Boston was a fun place, and it is a trip I will remember for a long time to come,” said May L., a Grade 9 student at BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour.
During the trip, students had the opportunity to interact with current students at prestigious institutions of higher learning through officially sanctioned tours. Moreover, they met with BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour alumni Isabella Z. and Anna Z., both Harvard Class of 2027, who took time out of their schedules to meet and talk to the students.
In addition to the tournament, students explored Boston and experienced the city’s rich cultural and historical landscape. Some visited museums and sports landmarks, while others went ice-skating on Frog Pond in the Boston Commons or explored Copley Square and the Boston Public Library. “I learned so much and had so much fun. I’ll come back next year for sure,” said Mona W., a Grade 9 student at BASIS International School Guangzhou.
_________
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools China Tournament Results
We are very excited to announce that students from multiple BASIS International & Bilingual Schools China campuses experienced success at both the online and in-person tournaments.
ONLINE PUBLIC FORUM (67 ENTRIES)
Semifinals
Angelina A., Grade 10 & Kevin Z., Grade 10
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE (463 ENTRIES)
Quarterfinals
Charles X., Grade 11
BASIS International School Shenzhen
MIDDLE SCHOOL PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE (199 ENTRIES)
Octofinals
Emma L., Grade 8 & Ava T., Grade 8
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Triple Octofinals
Angel Q., Grade 8 & Alice W., Grade 8
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fred Z., Grade 8 & Alex R., Grade 8
BASIS International School Hangzhou
MIDDLE SCHOOL PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE TOP SPEAKERS (398 COMPETITORS)
27th Place
Emma L., Grade 8
BASIS International School Shenzhen
31st Place
Della W., Grade 6
BASIS International School Hangzhou
34th Place
Alice W., Grade 8
BASIS International School Shenzhen
41st Place
Ava T., Grade 8
BASIS International School Shenzhen
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING (181 ENTRIES)
Octofinals
Lucy W., Grade 9
BASIS International School Shenzhen
HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR VARSITY PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE (230 ENTRIES)
Triple Octofinals
Max L., Grade 9 & Edric W., Grade 9
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Linda X., Grade 11 & Jessica W., Grade 10
BASIS International School Nanjing
HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR VARSITY PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE TOP SPEAKERS (460 COMPETITORS)
41st Place
Edric W., Grade 9
BASIS International School Shenzhen
INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE BREAKOUT*
Quarterfinals
Sissi C., Grade 10 & Terry W., Grade 8
BASIS International School Nanjing
*The tournament offers an International Public Forum Debate breakout for the top teams that compete but do not break into the main tournament. This year, we had one team advance in this division.
Learn more about teaching abroad with BASIS International Schools on our careers website.
