Confidence Debate Discussion

This discussion guide is designed to facilitate a deeper conversation about the nature of confidence and whether it can be taught. As you lead the conversation, encourage students to provide personal insights and consider multiple perspectives to build critical thinking skills.

Discussion Prompts

1. What is Confidence?
   
   
   
   
   
   

   • How would you define self-confidence in your own words?
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • In what ways do you see confidence affecting daily life?

2. Can Confidence Be Taught?
   
   
   
   
   
   

   • Do you believe that confidence is a natural trait, or can it be developed through learning and practice? Why?

3. Examples from Experience
   
   
   
   
   
   

   • Can you recall a moment when you felt more confident after learning or practicing a skill? Share your experience.
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Have you ever seen someone else's confidence grow through a specific activity or practice? What changed?

4. Techniques for Building Confidence
   
   
   
   
   
   

   • What are some activities or strategies that you think can help improve confidence?

5. Balancing Confidence
   
   
   
   
   
   

   • Is there such a thing as too much confidence? Can overconfidence be a problem? Why or why not?

Follow-Up Questions

• Reflection: Think about a time when you were not very confident. What might you have done differently if you had specific tools or techniques to boost your confidence?

• Application: How can the ideas discussed today be applied in our classroom or daily interactions to help each of us grow?

• Debate Wrap-Up: For groups who debated on whether confidence can be taught, what was the most convincing point made by each side, and what are your personal reflections on the debate?

Encourage students to think critically and listen actively. After the discussion, consider having students jot down some thoughts on what they learned and how they might apply these lessons in real life.

Confidence Skill-Building Activity

This activity is designed to provide you with practical exercises to build and strengthen your self-confidence. You will engage in role-playing scenarios, practice positive affirmations, and complete reflection exercises to help internalize effective confidence-building techniques.

Warm-Up: Positive Affirmations

• Instructions: Stand in a circle. One by one, share a positive affirmation about yourself. For example, "I am capable of learning new things." Write down your favorite affirmation on your personal worksheet.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Activity 1: Role-Playing Scenarios

• Setup: In pairs or small groups, choose a scenario where you might feel nervous, such as speaking in front of the class or trying a new activity.
  
• Task: Take turns role-playing, with one student acting as the person feeling nervous and the other providing support and suggestions on how to boost confidence.
  
• Discussion: After each role-play, discuss as a group which techniques helped to build or restore confidence.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Activity 2: Reflection Exercise

• Instructions: Individually, think back to a time when you felt particularly confident. Write down the situation and the actions or thoughts that helped you feel that way.
  

Reflection Questions:

• What triggered your confidence in that situation?
  
• How could you apply those techniques in a situation where you initially feel unsure?
  

Write your thoughts below:

Closing Discussion

• Group Conversation: Come back together and share one insight from your reflection. Discuss ways you might use these strategies in everyday life to support and build your own confidence.

This activity is a safe space for you to experiment with real-life strategies for boosting confidence. Enjoy the process and remember: every step you take builds a stronger and more confident you!