Faced with hate, wise words are the weapon of choice

Expressing opinions

Amid anti-Asian discrimination, Kansen Chu, a former member of the California State Assembly, says learning debating skills can give young Asians the confidence to express their opinions and the ability to express dissatisfaction in the face of discrimination.

When applying for college admission, an applicant's participation in public service and their understanding of society are also valued. Taking part in debate competitions can also help students absorb knowledge related to society and history, Chu says.

Helen Wang says learning how to debate also aids in communication within families. "Many Asian children face difficulties in communicating with their families. Some children are American-born Chinese, but their parents' English isn't that good, so they have no way of communicating."

Chu says, "Public speaking ability can enhance children's ability to express themselves, and I think this is very important training."

When you open Helen Wang's social media account you can see that she has documented much of her daughter's journey in learning debate. After about three years of learning, Karen Wang has won several awards in debating competitions.

By the time she reached fifth grade, Karen Wang, once weaker in reading than her peers, was two levels above them, her teacher said.

"It's a good thing we insisted on her studying debate," Helen Wang says.

minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com