Débat Franco-américain Debate at Columbia University in Paris 
(français)
This past month, a new event was organized with the International Club and their partner, Columbia University in Paris: a Franco-American debate. The topic of the debate is university education in France and in the United States. It was the opportunity for the American students and the members of the International Club to confront each other in a friendly way with precise questions. It was also an opportunity to learn a little more on the two education systems and make an interesting meeting.
It is in Reid Hall, the Parisian center which welcomes the students of Columbia University in New York City, where the debate took place. When the members of the International Club arrive in the large room around seven o'clock, the American students are already ready and waiting for the debate to begin. Marie-Madeleine, a volunteer for the International Club, seems motivated and anxious to start since her role is the mediator of the debate. She passes by each group and announces their composition, table by table. A little bit, everywhere in the room, the presentations begin and are done in the two languages. The one rule is that the French express themselves in English and the Americans express themselves in French. The groups must argue on precise problems, for example "for or against" professional education, extra-curricular activities, equal opportunities or affirmative action
A good humored atmospherene |
| The serious reign |
Preparing for the argument
As soon as the subjects are distributed among each table, the participants start to seek for the best possible ideas. At the first table, Julien (the volunteer who leads the Franco-English theatre workshop each Thursday) tries with his partners to find arguments for equal-opportunity and against friendly professor-student relationships. At the same table with him is Lisa, a recently new member of the Club, who seems motivated but intimidated by the atmosphere of Reid Hall. They listen to each other and take notes in the serious atmosphere of this evening. At the same moment, Marie-Madeleine and Eve, who is responsible for the student life at the Columbia University, distribute magazines, press reviews and articles which are supplied to the participants in the debate. At another table, Fabrice, a member of the International Club, delivers his opinion on what could be the educated citizen : he proposes an idea for a class on the Republic to train good citizens. Sometimes the debates are established within the same groups.
A little further, two members of the Club find one another: Sabine and Magdalena, who traveled to Burgundy, recognize each other. They are happy to note that they are on the same team. In their group, Sonya and Emily, both American students are smiling: "It is our first debate. We did not prepare a lot for our arguments but we hope that it will go okay!”
The debate begins!
All the groups are suddenly stopped by Marie-Madeleine who explains the principle of the debate before they finally start. Olivier, the only man in Sonya, Emily, Sabine, and Magdalena's group, offers to discuss first. He presents his ideas clearly thanks to his very well spoken English which even seemed to astonish Eve. When he returns to the table, Olivier seems very confident: "Okay. I feel that we gained the victory... ". There are a series of themes and eventually it is Lisa's turn to speak. She expresses in French, but Marie-Madeleine immediately interrupts and corrects her. After her presentation, she seems helpless "I stuttered a little... I was stressed... it was not my best performance.” The French and American university systems are developed and compared, and all of the students defend their topics that they were given with much conviction. Everyone takes each other's remarks and rebuttals and tries to answer it in front of the attentive public.
| In full debate... |
A wonderful night
When the debate is completed, everyone exchanges their impressions. Katy, an American student, is rather timid: "I do not like doing the debates. It is difficult to be under the projectors. But what is interesting, is that with all the arguments, it is possible to find a balance for each idea. "At the same table is, Chris, also an American. He seems content: "It was very interesting. As one discusses, according to the unfavorable positions, new ideas appear ". The large room slowly empties, and Fabrice, a member of the International Club, is charmed: "It is a very nice concept; it is the first time that I have seen this. The level of the argumentation was raised, especially the side of the American students: they have a very good knowledge of the two university worlds. "
The discovery of other ideas and exchanges made tonight a wonderful and successful first debate.