It’s Monday morning at assembly and Mrs Mthembu has got the principal to agree to starting a debating club, if enough learners are interested. The principal invites Thembi to share her idea. As she goes up on the stage her heart is hammering in her chest. Then she looks down and sees Cindy smiling up at her and it gives her courage.

“Good morning fellow schoolmates, principal and teachers, or, as we say in debates – to the house at large.” Everyone just stares, except for Cindy who claps enthusiastically and gives her a thumbs-up. “My friend Cindy and I have decided to form a debating club at the school.” Everyone turns to Cindy in disbelief. Cindy nods.

“That’s right,” Cindy says loudly, challenging some of the girls who are giggling.

“Everyone is invited to join the club. If you are interested join us at lunchtime in Room 11. Debating can help you with lots of things – like gaining confidence, structuring arguments, being persuasive.”

“Will it help me persuade Cindy to be my girlfriend?” one of the boys teases Thembi, as she takes her place back amongst her grade. His friends all burst out laughing.

At lunchtime Thembi and Cindy are waiting in Room 11, wondering if anyone will come. “Don’t look so worried,” Cindy says. “Looks like we already have someone. Siya, are you having your lunch in class today?” Cindy asks a shy looking boy with glasses, who is sitting at the back of the class.

“I want to join the club,” he says softly, looking at the floor.

“Welcome Siya. We are pleased you decided to join us.” Thembi smiles at him when he looks up quickly and his eyes meet hers for a second. Then he quickly looks down at his books as three girls and three guys come rushing in to join them.

“So what do we do now?” says one boy, chewing gum loudly as he sits up on a desk. “Persuade us why we should be here, Thembi.” He winks and blows a bubble. They aren’t taking this seriously, thinks Thembi, but one of the girls smiles encouragingly. Having Cindy next to her helps.

“I think you need to come to our first training session to see if debating is something you enjoy. You won’t know until you try,” Thembi says.

“We are going to train on Wednesday after school with Mrs Mthembu and she says she can organise a practice debate at Litha school next Saturday,” Cindy adds.

“Mmm, Saturday?” Thembi can see the boy blowing bubbles and one of the girls are already looking like they won’t commit.

“During the week we won’t have enough time to have a proper practice. On a Saturday we will have enough time and we can do more debates.”

“Guys, this is simple. It’s like in sport: you train during the week and have games on weekends,” says Cindy. “Now, put your hands up if you are coming on Wednesday.”

Siya’s hand shoots up, together with two of the other boys and all the girls. Great, they have enough for a team, Thembi sighs with relief.

* * * * *

Siya had listened to Thembi with every fibre of his being when she talked in assembly and when she invited him to join the debating club. On the way home from school he feels dizzy with something new. Is it the debating, or Thembi? He has never seen a girl so beautiful – and she actually listened to him and looked interested. Girls were never interested in him.

If you asked Siya what he had learned that day he wouldn’t be able to tell you; all he could tell you was that he couldn’t wait for Wednesday.

By the time he gets home the reality has hit him that if he is too shy to even answer questions in class, debating is the last thing he should be doing. The thought suddenly fills him with terror.

But what had Thembi said, in that sweet but firm voice? He closes his eyes and remembers how she had stood on the stage – fearless – and he had stared in admiration. “… debating can help you to gain confidence…” That’s what everyone always told him. He should be more confident… if only he was more confident…

***

Tell us: Do you agree with Thembi that practice with speaking publicly can make you more confident, just like training for a sport can make you better at it?