[originaltext] Good evening, everyone. Over the last few weeks we discussed

Good evening, everyone. Over the last few weeks we discussed a method for teaching debate to English learners. Debate is a valuable way to practice communicating. It can also bring long-lasting rewards outside the classroom, especially for people working with Western businesses.
    The main activity of debate is presenting one’s opinion and supporting it with evidence, such as statistics or facts. It is a way of persuasive communication—of making someone believe what you are saying. Charles Lebeau helped create the "Discover Debate" method. He says debate is important to understand how people communicate in Western business. Successful debaters learn how to give their opinions, reasons and support.
    He adds that people use persuasive communication in meetings too. Three or four people may present ideas. Then, they attack or support each other’s arguments. This way of approaching presenting opinions and responding to opinions is very important for English speakers. In Japan, people don’t really do that. In English-style meetings, people do that and Japanese participants need to do that in an English style meeting in order to be successful.
    Debate also strengthens critical thinking. In other words, it helps students learn to ask questions and try to understand someone’s reasons and evidence. Mr. Lebeau points out that successful debaters learn to listen carefully to what other people are saying. Then, they look for the weak points in someone else’s opinion or argument. He says debate teaches a systematic way of questioning.
    Successful debaters also learn to think from someone else’s point of view. Mr. Lebeau says debate can help broaden the mind. There’s an expression in English; Don’t criticize another person before you have walked in their shoes. The wonderful thing about debate is that it puts us in another person’s shoes. For example, students in a debate might argue the topic "soccer is a better sport than baseball. " A student may have to argue in favor of soccer, even if he or she does not really think soccer is better than baseball. But the student will have to explain why soccer is an interesting sport and present the viewpoint of soccer fans. The exercise will offer a way of thinking the student may not have normally had.
    OK, thank you very much for listening.
    Questions 23 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.
    23. According to the speaker, who can particularly benefit from debate?
    24. What do we learn about successful debaters from Charles Lebeau?
    25. What does the speaker say about debate?