Beyond Words: Spanish for Debating and Critical Thinking

75 Controversial Topics for Advanced Learners

De: José Gregorio PARADA

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Spanish is not just a language; it is a vehicle for thought, argumentation, and cultural exchange. In an increasingly globalized world, the ability to debate in a foreign language not only improves fluency and linguistic accuracy but also allows speakers to participate in meaningful discussions on social, political, economic, and philosophical issues.
This book is specifically designed for advanced learners of Spanish as a foreign language, with the goal of developing oral and written expression skills in contexts of debate and critical analysis. Through 75 carefully selected topics, students will have the opportunity to explore complex arguments, understand different perspectives, and learn the vocabulary necessary to articulate ideas with clarity and precision.
Each topic is structured to facilitate learning dynamically and progressively:

1. Brief opinions from various voices on the topic, introducing different perspectives.
2. Two opposing positions, where two speakers defend their viewpoints, allowing students to familiarize themselves with arguments for and against.
3. Discussion questions, designed to stimulate classroom debates and guide conversations in a structured way.
4. List of vocabulary and useful expressions, offering key linguistic tools so that students can formulate their own arguments with greater confidence. Each term or expression not only includes its English equivalent but also a simple definition to enrich vocabulary within each topic.

This book does not seek to impose a single perspective on the topics discussed, but rather to provide a platform for critical analysis, respectful dialogue, and the development of argumentative competence in Spanish. By the end of this journey, students will not only have refined their command of the language but will also have acquired valuable tools for debating and reflecting on contemporary challenges. Additionally, they will have shared quality time in the classroom through meaningful discussions where they can test their argumentative skills and apply all the knowledge they have acquired throughout their Spanish language learning experience, using that magical vehicle of communication called language.
Furthermore, the opinions expressed —diverse in nature— do not reflect the personal views of the author but have been formulated to spark students' interest, with the goal of generating healthy debate. The conciliatory tone present in many opinions aims to elevate human dignity rather than promote positions that degrade, harm, or demean others.