A Playbook for Using Conexiones para la Acción Diplomática (CAD) Debates to Engage Middle School Language Students

Dual language programs benefit a wide range of students and share three key goals: developing bilingualism and biliteracy, achieving academic success, and building global awareness. Exposing students to meaningful learning experiences that allow them to use their language skills in authentic, real-world scenarios is essential to achieving these goals.

Imagine your dual language students debating global challenges in their target language from the perspective of nations around the world. This experience not only provides an engaging language opportunity but also helps students develop critical skills necessary for their academic and personal growth.

Participate Learning partner schools have embraced this vision through their participation in the annual Conexiones para la Acción Diplomática (CAD) event. This year’s CAD brought together nine Conexiones classes to address the global challenge of fast fashion. Creating an event like this for your students is more achievable than you might think.

Let’s explore how you can host a CAD-inspired event and the benefits it provides for your students.

Decide on a Structure for Your Event

The first step is determining the format of your debate. Will it be collaborative or competitive? Will it take place in person or virtually?

For CAD, we chose a collaborative structure to reflect the spirit of the event. This approach also allowed for differentiation based on students’ varying proficiency levels in Spanish. Hosting the event on Zoom enabled students to connect with peers beyond their individual schools and discuss potential solutions to the global issue of fast fashion.

Choose a Topic Carefully

The success of your CAD-inspired debate depends on selecting a topic that is both engaging and manageable for students. An ideal topic strikes a balance between being narrow enough to guide discussions and broad enough to allow for a variety of solutions and lively debate.

When choosing a topic, consider the following:

• The topic should be something students are passionate about.
• It should be relevant to their lives, offering opportunities to explore actionable change.
• It should challenge students to expand their vocabulary while incorporating familiar terms.

In our case, we began by identifying topics commonly explored in Conexiones classes. Teachers suggested potential issues, and we brainstormed resources and vocabulary to support students in discussing these topics. Once a topic was chosen, we audited existing lesson plans to ensure students had the necessary tools to craft complex arguments.

Decide on Delegations

Another important decision is selecting the countries that students will represent. For CAD, we identified countries frequently mentioned in discussions about fast fashion. We provided resources—such as articles and videos—from or about each country, ensuring students could develop informed arguments.

For our event, delegations included Germany, Chile, India, Bangladesh, Italy, Mexico, Spain, China, and the United States. Students learned about their assigned country’s unique perspectives and challenges, expanding their cultural knowledge while preparing for the debate.

Coordinate and Schedule the Event

Scheduling an event like CAD requires careful planning, especially when coordinating multiple schools. Here’s what we learned:

1. Start early: Begin planning months in advance. Communicate with participants to determine dates and times that work for everyone.
2. Narrow the time frame: Limit the event to a specific time during the school day to reduce conflicts.
3. Communicate frequently: Keep teachers, administrators, and students informed throughout the planning process. Share the purpose and goals of the event, and encourage administrators to support scheduling flexibility.

Practice Debating Within the CAD Format

For many students, CAD is their first experience with formal debate. Provide opportunities for practice to ensure they understand the structure and flow.

Our event began with a student introduction of the topic, followed by formal arguments presented by each delegation. A student “president” moderated the discussion, transitioning between speakers and guiding the informal debate session. This structure helped students develop public speaking, active listening, and critical thinking skills.

Learning Outcomes

Integrating global topics into secondary language classes enhances learning by contextualizing vocabulary and introducing students to different perspectives. CAD debates align with standards that prepare students for real-world language use, including exams like the AAPPL.

Students develop key skills throughout the process:

• Researching global issues and their assigned country’s stance
• Writing and presenting opening arguments
• Engaging in debates using formal and informal language

These debates boost students’ confidence in using their target language beyond the classroom, preparing them for success in their professional and personal lives.

Participating in programs like Conexiones equips students with the tools to become thoughtful, informed leaders who are ready to contribute to a global community.

Learn More

Participate Learning’s dual language programs provide immersive, meaningful learning experiences for students. Learn more about our K-5 and middle school programs by contacting us today!