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Frequently Asked Questions
How does YDL seek to create a unique difference?
YDL doesn't aim to be a local debate organization, but a global coalition of clubs, debaters, and non-profits. Our goal is to unite as many passionate students as possible to share resources, coaches, and provide education for everyone. We seek to differentiate by offering debate coaching to students in remote and rural areas of the world - we do this by reaching out to individuals, schools, and groups in regions and training our coaches to become leaders in their communities.
What is the YDL curriculum?
The YDL curriculum is developed by competitive debaters, coaches, and advised by professionals. Over the years, we have collected information on best practices, teaching strategies, and training tips that work best for fundamental-level debaters. Our competitive curriculum is directly informed by professional coaches and private academies. The curriculum is not unalterable, we encourage coaches to adapt our resources to the unique context of each class. Each coach will teach differently based on their own experiences, the curriculum is a tool in their unique skillset.
What is it like to coach?
Firsthand, coaching is not stressful unless you make it difficult. At YDL we offer training, lesson plans, curriculum, and resources to every coach so that they can make the best of their time and energy. As a coach, expect to spend 15-20 minutes a week on lesson planning and 1 hour on teaching. Class times are flexible, and we have substitutes in case you can't make a class - just let us know beforehand. Our students are passionate, engaged, and eager to learn - be expected to answer questions, lead fun activities, and deliver lectures.
Coach training is done remotely, beginner coaches can schedule a few sessions with our senior staff to get prepared for teaching quickly. Reach out to us for more information.
Will students repeat classes?
The debate progression requires students to fully understand each class and its content in order to move forward. Coaches will privately reach out to recommend repeating a class, or offer extra help during the semester. Our coaches stay with classes as they progress, meaning that students who repeat classes will change instructors, we understand this is a last resort and aim to keep classes together by providing resources to stay ahead.
How do YDL classes work?
Classes at YDL are different from traditional programs. Our coaches stay with a class for the entire competitive pipeline, building relationships with their students over the course of months or years. This system allows our program to better adapt to the needs of a specific class and its debaters, rather than following a strict and set lesson plan. We pride ourselves on this unique approach that combines our experience-based curriculum with the context of each class.
There is a debate organisation in my area already, can I still start a branch?
That's not an issue! YDL is always happy to co-exist, even partner or merge with other organisations. We often share similar goals and approaches, but that doesn't automatically make us competitors. YDL is an international coalition, we welcome any group or club who has the same values.
We encourage you apply for a regional branch/school club regardless.
How are classes distributed?
Students will be able to select classes at their level based on their time zones and availability, most often, students will enter a class that is taught by a coach in their region. This often enhances things like out-of-class communication, classroom performance, and language/cultural understanding.
Students can only join classes at their designated level: Foundations, Intermediate, Advanced, or Competitive. Recognizing that these categories are not all encompassing, we invite anyone who find their class too easy/too hard to contact us and request a course change.
How do I submit homework/projects?
Coaches will assign some tasks for students throughout all classes. These should be submitted before the next class by email. Contact your coach for class-specific inquiries. YDL does not "grade" students based on homework, rather it contributes to a formative assessment of a classes progress.
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