Head's Newsletter 11 February 2022

On the day, we left for St Paul ’ s Girls ’ School after a final practice ahead of the debate. Armed with a few pages of notes, we entered our first debate ready to face our opponents. My partner and I channelled our inner revolutionaries, arguing against the notion of a monarchy - an apt topic for a French debating competition. Secondly, we immersed ourselves in K - Pop, explaining why the genre ’ s success had caused more good than harm to society. Lastly, we moved on to our final debate of the evening, in which we emphasised our moral responsibility towards the environment. Refreshments followed, during which the results were announced: despite the vehement arguments of all three Tiffin teams, we unfortunately were unable to secure a place in the next round. Nevertheless, the competition was both enriching and entertaining, and it was undoubtedly an evening well spent! James Maloney 12MB. BREAKING NEWS! Tiffin Dance Company won the London Youth Games Dance competition yesterday. Here is the winning team.

FRENCH DEBATING TRIP

Not since the fiery debates of France ’ s 18th century revolutionaries has the French language been wielded with such zeal as during a recent French debating competition. Now, whilst this may be a slight exaggeration, it does give a fitting image of the competition ( Les Joutes Oratoires ) in which six Tiffin French students participated, on Tuesday 1 February. Translated into English as ‘ The Oratory Jousts ’, the debates comprised four initial speeches followed by four minutes of lutte acharnée (literally ‘ fierce combat ’ during which the two teams lock horns) and were concluded by a short summary speech from each side. The debating competition takes place each year, pitting sixth form students from across the UK against each other in topical debates, to provide an excellent opportunity to engage with other Francophile students but also to improve French fluency and spontaneity. Having formed three pairs to take part in the competition, we prepared and practised our arguments for the motions we were to debate on 1 February.