B1 pre-teens can do more than shout opinions. They can give reasons, consider fairness, and understand that different people see things differently. These 75 motions tap into that growing sophistication: 'Zoos are good for animals,' 'Children should choose their own bedtime,' 'It is better to live in a city than in the countryside.' These motions are simple enough for pre-teens to engage with but complex enough that there is no obvious right answer.
At B1, pre-teen debate starts developing the reasoning structures that will serve students throughout their education. A child who learns to say 'I think zoos are bad because animals should be free, but some people say zoos help endangered animals' is practising concession, which is a discourse skill that many adult learners have not mastered.
Reasoning skills through debate
Extend speeches to 45-60 seconds and ask each speaker to include at least one 'because.' This simple requirement transforms debate from opinion-shouting into reasoned argument. The team preparation time (2 minutes) is when students negotiate their 'because' reasons, which produces genuine collaborative English use.
Building both sides of an argument
Try assigning teams randomly and then switching sides for a second round. This teaches pre-teens that arguments exist independently of personal opinion, which is a cognitively advanced concept that debate makes concrete and accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
A2 motions are simple preferences (cats vs dogs). B1 motions introduce fairness, consequences, and perspectives (should zoos exist, should children choose their bedtime). The language is still accessible but the reasoning required is more sophisticated.
In English as much as possible. Team preparation is where much of the language practice happens. If students use their first language to brainstorm ideas, ask them to translate their arguments into English before the debate begins.
Yes. Debate is particularly popular in after-school settings because the competitive format feels more like a game than a lesson. B1 pre-teens often request debate sessions once they have experienced the format.