Cambodia English-Language Debate Competition 2007

Dear all,

U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, Joseph A. Mussomeli, and his counterparts Canadian Ambassador Donica Pottie and Australian Ambassador Margaret Adamson recently served as judges for an English-language debate competition at the Don Bosco Technical School Phnom Penh for 34 female students in the school's vocational training program. The students, ranging in age from 18-23, were divided into groups of six.

Motions
That Television Does More Harm Than Good
That Computer Games are Bad for Kids
That Over Population is the Problem

Half of each group was assigned to argue for the group's debate statement, while the other half argued against. The competition was organized by Mrs. Sharon F. Mussomeli and Mrs. Chona Correa, who volunteer as English teachers at the school.
After the completion of the presentations, the judges praised the participants for both the high level of their English skills as well as their debating ability.

The scores were remarkably close for all the teams, with just a few points determining the winning teams. The judges complimented the first place team for good eye contact and for interacting with the audience, while the second place team was singled out for not revealing personal feelings on the debate topic. The winners and the topics they debated were:

First Place
Topic - "That Education is the Key to Success"
Team Members - Hong Kungkear, Chun Channa, Sem Chandany, San Kimheng, Neang Sopheap, and Teuk Kimkhun

Second Place
Topic - "That Women's Place is in the Home"
Team Members - Tith Sreyno, Eng Rotha, Svath Phalla, Lanh Phally, Sek Chanleakena, and Sim Sokkhim

Third Place
Topic - "That the Rich are Very Different from Ourselves"
Team Members - Oeun Dany, Sok Sileang, Phalla Chenda, Chet Namonynith, Yean Kethya, and Khom Sodavy

Regards,
Rashedul Hasan Stalin

Source: http://phnompenh.usembassy.gov/don_bosco.html