Voicemakers Club is an expression and debate club for grades 5 to 10. It meets every other weekend and is not aimed at competition. Its format is looser than a course: open discussion, 1-on-1 coaching and group activities take turns, and students practice expression through real back-and-forth conversation.
How Voicemakers Club Meetings Work
- Open discussion: The group discusses a current topic. Everyone has to speak, and there is no single correct answer.
- Analyzing a debate topic: Given a motion, students first break down where the disagreement lies and what position each side takes.
- Gathering and sorting sources: Students learn to find reliable sources, judge how credible information is, and sort their material by argument. This is the skill most students lack.
- Group activities: Students prepare in groups and question one another, practicing how to stay organized under follow-up questions.
- 1-on-1 coaching: The coach gives feedback on each student’s particular problems, such as speaking too fast or evidence that does not connect to the conclusion.
What Students Learn in Voicemakers Club
Beyond expression itself, the club builds logical reasoning, critical thinking and leadership among peers. Meeting every other week gives students time to prepare material between meetings, and that preparation is itself training in research. The club spans a wide age range, and older students often take on organizing and guiding roles naturally.
Is Voicemakers Club Worthwhile Without Competitions
Yes. Class participation, group assignments, student government campaigns and college interviews all call for the same set of skills: stating a view clearly, understanding others, and staying organized under pressure. Because the club does not aim at competition results, students are more willing to try things and make mistakes.
Students who want to compete should see Speech & Debate Competitions: Elementary / Middle / High. Students who want systematic practice in the fundamentals should see Speech & Debate Intro.
Voicemakers Club Enrollment and Schedule
Creative workshops come in three enrollment units: full-year classes, term classes, and summer camps. This course runs as follows; dates follow the 2026-27 program guide.
- Club: meets on weekends every other week, throughout the school year.
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Contact a course advisorVoicemakers Club: Frequently Asked Questions
How often do Irvine students meet?
Every other weekend, in a club format, for students in grades 5 to 10. That cadence suits students who already carry a full school load but want to keep working on expression over a long stretch, and the gap between meetings leaves room to read up and prepare.
What format does the Irvine club use?
Three formats combined: open discussion, 1-on-1 coaching and group activities. EDUBUS is based in Irvine and the club meets as a small in-person group. Each format serves a different end, with discussion for exchanging views, coaching for problems particular to one student, and group work for collaboration.
What does an Irvine student take away?
The ability to analyze a debate topic, gather source material and organize it, plus practice in logical reasoning, critical thinking and leadership among peers. The research and sorting step is the one most often skipped elsewhere, and it is what makes an argument hold up.
Does joining mean competing?
No, the club is not competition-driven, and its activity centers on open discussion, research and the practice of expression itself, at whatever pace a student sets. Students who want to enter tournaments should look at Speech & Debate competitions, which is the competition track.
Voicemakers Club or Speech & Debate Intro?
It depends on the current need. Speech & Debate Intro is a 35-week foundational course that moves a student from daring to speak toward speaking clearly. The club meets every other week and centers instead on discussion, research and leadership among peers.
