Debating Techniques in Language Learning to Trigger Students’ Communication in English and Critical Thinking

Being communicative has always been the crucial matter in anylanguages. People cannot be saidbeing able to use a language unless theycan produce it. Some approaches of learning have also been raised all thetime but the purpose of language forcommunication is hardly achievedby the foreign language learners. One of the problems is that students aretoo afraid in giving their opinions. Debating is one way to force ourstudents to interact by using English and think critically. In a debate,students are divided into PRO and CON sides to criticize the issue given.By having a debate students can convey their ideas in certain issues alongside with building their critical thinking. The idea of having a debate inthe classroom is surely one of techniques in the teaching of English. Thisstudy tries to elaborate how some debate activities might be brought intoclassroom by always considering the varieties of Englishes that Indonesiabelongs to. According to Kachru (1988:5), Indonesia is grouped into theexpanding circle of World Englishes. Thus, the modified version ofBritish, Australian, and Asian Parliamentary systems of debate areintroduced for the sake of enhancing students’ speaking skills by alwaystolerating and exploiting the uniqueness of Indonesian Englishes.