ICLP: How did you decide to attend the 17 May 2009 debates between students of ICLP and undergraduates of National Taiwan University (NTU) and National Chengchi University (NCCU)?

Mr. Philip Zheng: Curiosity drove me to the debates. In four separate contests, the students deliberated over the topic "corporations should value talent over the character of employees in their human resource practices."

ICLP: What did you find unique about the debates?

Mr. Philip Zheng: Before the debates started, I assumed that NCCU undergraduates would be gentle on ICLP students. After all, the former are native speakers of Chinese, but this turned out not to be the case at all. ICLP students' diction was both elegant and appropriate. I was impressed with their use of phrases like 「剖析」 and 「奉陪」. It is rare to find second language learners who have only spent nine months at ICLP and are willing to challenge elite native undergraduates to a debate.

During the English language round, ICLP's second team advocated in favor of the assigned position; however, they switched to the con side during the Chinese language round. In both rounds, ICLP students displayed remarkably clear logic and excellent poise. What impressed me the most was how during the English language round, ICLP students actually blurted out a few Chinese phrases - a clear indication of the depth of their commitment to the total immersion method of language acquisition.
The English ability of NTU undergraduates was also outstanding: Their ability to quote from the classics with eloquence left me thinking that they lived up to their reputation as students of elite Taiwan Universities.

ICLP: What was your impression of the debates themselves?

Mr. Philip Zheng: The debates are a "best practice" worth replicating among language programs. ICLP students demonstrated how with highly effective pedagogy, excellent teachers, and the right attitude from students, attaining native fluency in Chinese is not as difficult as one imagines