Sompoom Sunpaweravong, Chulalongkorn Medical Student, Up and Coming English Debater

English debate competitions, both national and international, provide a challenge to Chulalongkorn students in Chula English Debate Society, who have competed against debaters from other universities in and outside Thailand. Their efforts in various English debate competitions have consistently earned fame and reputation for the university.

One of Chulalongkorn’s English debaters with remarkable achievements is “Sompoom Sunpaweravong,” a 2^nd year student from the Faculty of Medicine. Sompoom performed spectacularly in Uhuru Worlds 2023, an international English debate competition organized by Think Uhuru Foundation, South Africa, by earning the 3^rd highest score out of 504 competitors from around the world. He also acted as a judge in the 15^th EU in Thailand National Inter-Varsity Debating Championship that Chula English Debate Society hosted in January.

Sompoom Sunpaweravong (Sam), a debater to watch from Chula Med, revealed that he has been interested in English debate since he was in grade 11 at Triam Udom Suksa School. English debate competitions provide an opportunity to express his opinions in various topics and on many interesting events around the world. He has participated in over 20 international English debate championships, both on site and online.

The “Uhuru Worlds 2023” was one where Sompoom clearly shone. Out of 252 competing teams from every continent, Sompoom and other students from the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University, led a team of Chulalongkorn’s debaters to the quarterfinals. Sompoom himself ranked 3^rd for the individual scores from all the previous rounds out of 504 participants.

Sompoom was the only second year student from the Faculty of Medicine to join the English debate activities. His secret to success lies in the pre-debate preparation by doing research from various sources, including YouTube and the Internet. Participating in English debate competitions brings valuable experience, especially new friends who are in Chula English Debate Society and foreign debaters from other regions.

“The most important aspect of being a good debater is being a good listener. In order to convince people who have different opinions than ours during a debate starts with understanding what they think and why they hold such notions. In addition, we must be good communicators who can simplify difficult and distant matters. A good debater must be a quick learner and always accepting of change,” Sompoom concluded. He invites all Chulalongkorn University students who are interested in English debate to join the club at Chula Chakrabongse Building, 2^nd floor. The club welcomes new members all year round and provides debate training, as well as occasionally invites professional debaters who are national coaches or the club’s alumni to give tips on debate.

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