Our curriculum focuses on real competitive skills, not memorized scripts.
We don’t train students to memorize—we train them to think.
Our curriculum emphasizes strategy, reasoning, and adaptability under pressure.
Students learn how to analyze topics, build arguments, and make decisions on their own.
This creates a deeper level of understanding than scripted coaching ever could.
As a result, they perform more confidently in real debates and are well prepared for college and beyond!
The Benefits of Speech & Debate.
Valuable Skills
Speech and debate teaches valuable leadership skills, such as researching, writing, argumentation, and persuasion.
Complex Social Issues
Regardless of age, learners deal with complex social issues, helping students broaden their knowledge outside what is taught in your school’s regular curriculum. Our expert instructors help students digest and discuss the most relevant topics to the world of today.
National Speech & Debate Association
All of our students debate at topics and at competitions governed by the National Speech and Debate Association, which is the leading speech and debate organization in the world.
Research & Knowledge
By conducting reseearch into their chosen/given topic, our students build real life knowledge and critical thinking skills in fields that most students aren’t exposed to until graduate school. Subjects include: philosophy, political science, current events, and science.
Academic Success
We provide our students with skills (critical thinking, larger vocabularies, research, analysis, reading and writing skills) that will lead to increased academic success. These are dynamic skills that will help your student succeed no matter what program or profession they pursue.
Self Confidence
Speech and debate competitors continuously improve their self confidence in public speaking through hundreds of speeches over years of participation.
Time Management & Multitasking Skills
The time constraints and fluid argumentation of debate rounds teach students valuable time management and multitasking skills that translate into every academic and professional environment.
Preparation for the Future
Universities and employers value the rigor of speech and debate. Studies have conclusively shown that speech and debate competitors perform better on standardized tests and have higher acceptance rates by top colleges. Most colleges have their own clubs and teams, where students can continue their speech and debate careers along with the opportunity to earn scholarships.
Life-long Benefits
Success in speech and debate is not exclusively for those who are naturally gifted and comfortable with public speaking. Anyone can master and learn the tools and techniques to become a successful debater/speaker. Our expert coaches will help your student prepare for and participate in tournaments against the top competitors in the nation. Success requires preparation and dedication, but the life-long benefits will far exceed the time and cost.
Our Students Participate in a Variety of Speech & Debate Events, and the following are some of the most popular styles.
Public Forum Debate
Honor Academy offers structured Public Forum (PF) debate classes in Cerritos, California and online, designed to prepare students for real tournament competition.
Public Forum debate is one of the most popular debate formats in the U.S., focusing on current events, logic, evidence, and persuasive speaking.
## What Students Learn in PF Debate
- Case construction (affirmative & negative)
- Evidence analysis and research skills
- Crossfire questioning strategies
- Rebuttal and summary speeches
- Final focus and round strategy
Students participate in live practice rounds and receive detailed feedback each session.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Honor Academy provides Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate coaching in Cerritos and online, focused on developing advanced argumentation, philosophy, and one-on-one debate skills.
## What Students Learn in LD Debate
- Value and criterion framework construction
- Philosophical argumentation (ethics, justice, morality)
- Advanced rebuttal techniques
- Cross-examination strategy
- Case writing and refinement
Students are trained to analyze complex topics and respond under pressure.
Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking
Honor Academy provides Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speaking coaching in Cerritos and online, focused on developing students’ ability to think critically and speak effectively on the spot.
Impromptu and Extemporaneous speaking emphasizes structure, creativity, and real-time reasoning—skills essential for both competition and academic success.
## What Students Learn in Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speaking
- Rapid idea organization and speech structuring
- Clear and confident delivery under time pressure
- Use of examples, analogies, and storytelling
- Logical flow and transitions without preparation
- Adaptability in unfamiliar topics
Original Oratory and Informative Speaking
Develop Powerful, Structured, and Impactful Speeches
Honor Academy provides coaching in Informative Speaking and Original Oratory (OO), focused on building strong research, writing, and presentation skills.
Platform speeches emphasize depth, organization, and purposeful communication—helping students deliver meaningful and engaging messages.
##What Students Learn in Platform Speeches
- Topic selection and audience-centered messaging
- Research and evidence integration
- Speech writing and structural organization
- Persuasive techniques and rhetorical strategies
- Vocal delivery, tone, and stage presence
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is competitive speech and debate?
-Competitive speech and debate is an academic activity where students research real-world topics, build arguments, and present them in structured rounds judged by trained evaluators. Students compete locally, regionally, and at state and national tournaments governed by the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA).
2. What events does Honor Academy offer?
-We offer coaching in Public Forum (PF) debate, Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, and Informative Speaking — for elementary, middle school, and high school students.
3. What is the difference between Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas debate?
-Public Forum (PF) is a two-person team event focused on current events and evidence-based persuasion. Lincoln-Douglas (LD) is a solo event focused on philosophical and ethical reasoning. Both are excellent formats — the right choice depends on your child's strengths and interests.
4. What age or grade level can start speech and debate?
-We welcome students from elementary school through high school. Many of our most successful competitors started as beginners with no prior experience. Our coaches tailor instruction to each student's level.
5. Does my child need prior experience to join?
-No experience is needed. We start from the basics — research, argument structure, and delivery — and build from there. Many Honor Academy students have gone on to compete at state and national levels starting from zero.
6. How does speech and debate help with SAT scores and college readiness?
-Speech and debate builds advanced vocabulary, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and evidence analysis — skills directly tested on the SAT Reading and Writing section. Students who participate in debate consistently perform better on standardized tests, score higher in AP English, and arrive at college better prepared to write, argue, and lead.
7. Do you offer online speech and debate coaching?
-Yes. Honor Academy offers both in-person coaching at our Cerritos, CA location and online sessions for students across Los Angeles County and Orange County, and throughout California.
8. How often do students compete in tournaments?
-Tournament frequency varies by season and level. Most students compete in several local and regional tournaments per year, with top competitors advancing to state and national championships. We guide families through the full tournament schedule.
9. What tournaments do your students compete in?
-Our students compete in tournaments governed by the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA), including local invitationals, regional qualifiers, California State Championships (CHSSA), Tournament of Champions (TOC), and NSDA Nationals. We have coaches with experience at the highest levels of competition.
10. Do students who participated in speech and debate go to prestigious colleges?
Yes — and the results speak for themselves. A number of Honor Academy students have been accepted to top colleges each year. Our alumni have gone on to attend Harvard, Stanford, Yale, MIT, UCLA, Princeton, UC Berkeley, Wellesley, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Brown, Rice, Emory, West Point, Williams, Claremont McKenna, and many other top colleges. Colleges actively seek students with competitive debate experience because it signals advanced critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills. Many debate alumni also continue competing in college and earn academic scholarships through their programs.
11. How do I enroll my child in speech and debate at Honor Academy?
-Contact us through our website at honoracademy.com or click the Enroll Now button to get started. We serve students in Cerritos, Cypress, Fullerton, Brea, Yorba Linda, Los Alamitos, Irvine, Artesia, Norwalk, Lakewood, La Palma, Buena Park, Los Angeles, and all of Los Angeles and Orange County.
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