Testimonials
Our coaching has a national reputation for excellence. Check out our students’ testimonies!
“DFWSD’s Intermediate/Advanced LD camp and private coaching made a substantial impact on my career in debate. To learn and make progress you need skillful instruction, dedicated encouragement, and, most importantly, you need to be challenged. DFWSD, and Mrs. Nasser specifically, has provided all of these in a professional yet caring manner that reflects their deep knowledge and experience in teaching critical thinking. The instruction and coaching helped me to truly enjoy speech and debate, conquer an initial fear of public speaking, and get the most out of my experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone.”
Jozef Soja (3rd place LD, 2015 National Championship)
“DFWSD private coaching sessions have been a powerful tool in preparing our team for the competitive season. The specifically tailored feedback, high academic standards, and challenging drills have been invaluable for building up our case and refining delivery and argumentation. DFWSD coaches understand what it takes to compete effectively on a national level, and have the experience and knowledge to take students to the highest level in meeting their goals.”
Hannah D.
“OUTSTANDING!”
“Private coaching with James Russell has made our entire school year a success! Learning how to think and analyze is vital for learning and integrating knowledge in debate and in life. My son looks forward to every coaching session and always is happy after each coaching time because he has spent time learning how to think and being challenged. Thanks, James!!”
Kara F. (Parent)
“Private coaching with Matt Rosa has helped me tremendously! I had no idea what was going on at the beginning and was really overwhelmed. Coaching has helped me understand LD and has helped me to prepare for the competition season. It has definitely given me a leg up on this year’s resolution.”
Shelby B. (2016 2nd place Lincoln Douglas champion)
“DFWSD Intermediate/Advanced Team Policy debate camp was 100% without a doubt completely worth my time and money! I enjoyed every minute of it, and learned so much! All of the instructors were extremely helpful and really seemed to care about making us better debaters and critical thinkers. This camp was a new challenge to me to think more deeply than I have had to in debate rounds before. The instructors made themselves very available to us, which was one of the most helpful parts of the camp. Each instructor, whether lecturing or discussing something one-on-one made me think, instead of thinking for me. They were able to tell us when we were on the right track in our thinking, and they were able to lead us to the right answer if we weren’t, without simply spelling it out to us. They gave us plenty of opportunity for questions, and they made sure we understood before teaching us something new. This camp has really inspired me to take my debating to a whole new level, and put even more time and effort into preparation for the competition season. This camp has inspired me beyond the bounds of competition season; it has made me want to strive for excellence in thinking and speaking outside of debate rounds as well!”
Blythe Landon (1st place Team Policy, 2016 Region V Championship)
“helpful, succinct, and on-point!”
“I attended Intermediate/Advanced LD camp at the beginning of the season where the coaches equipped me with the tools and processes to establish sound principles and logic for my cases. The cases I ran at nationals rested on the affirmative and negative principles I learned at camp. Without the analytic aid provided by DFWSD, I doubt I could have experienced such a successful season!”
Grayson Logue (2nd place LD, 2015 National Championship)
“The NJ Intermediate Team Policy camp was excellent! The speakers were all helpful, succinct, and on-point. The breakout sessions and drills were very useful for building skills. And, the debate rounds were an awesome experience. I would definitely attend any other programs organized by DFWSD, and would highly recommend this camp for anyone looking for a great foundation in Team Policy Debate. ”
A. Black (NJ)
“My children received excellent training at your Intermediate/Advanced Team Policy and Apologetics camps, and are much more confident and ready to begin the 2017-18 speech & debate season! The first aspect of your camp which I appreciate most is the level of professionalism projected by the leaders and expected of the students. The second aspect I appreciate is the lack of childish, time-filler games. I like your approach of giving them instruction and immediately allowing them to demonstrate what they are learning by putting them into tournament-like competitions. Your staff did an excellent job of integrating two leagues’ topics and yet specializing the training for their differing resolutions. We would definitely attend another camp offered by DFW Speech & Debate!”
D. Jarboe (TX)
“dfw set the bar high!”
“I got an excellent start on the season at the Intermediate/Advanced Team Policy camp, thanks to James Russell! He is an amazing debater and an even better coach. I learned the techniques necessary to have a successful year in debate!”
Anna D. (TX)
“OUTSTANDING! You know how to do it. You set the bar high, but you gave both the Intro Team Policy and Advanced Team Policy students the tools to meet and even exceed the bar. I look forward to having my students do these camps again, and hopefully the Extemp camp as well!”
J. Wolfe (PA)
“I had such an amazing time at the Intermediate/Advanced Team Policy debate camp and learned a lot! I feel like I now know what a strong affirmative case needs. I also learned how to find assumptions in the affirmative teams case as the negative, and how to debate with a strong thesis! I’m glad I attended the camp!! It definitely exceeded my expectations! Thanks!!”
Aley O. (TX)
“I loved Intermediate/Advanced LD camp! It was very well run, and had the perfect mix of debate theory and application of that theory. The leaders were extremely helpful, and created an atmosphere that encouraged discussion, focused on critical thinking, and changed how we thought about the resolution and Lincoln Douglas in general. I would like to thank everyone who was involved for all of their hard work. This camp was an incredible way to kick-start this upcoming competitive season!”
M. Chapman (TX)