EDFO ESA; Trying to Be Alive in Hard Circumstances

One of the most promising programs of ESA is EDFO, standing for English Debating Forum. At this moment, English Debating Forum simply called EDFO, maintained under the presidency of English Student Association (ESA), is now attempting to exist and to broaden the availability in this batch. Prior to that, EDFO has already tried to exist in the past two years. This was proven by several intervarsity debate tournaments they joined. As examples, East Java Varsity English Debate (EJVED) UM 2011 was the first debate tournament they joined, even if, they failed in breaking to the octo-final round. Nevertheless, in the coming event, again, EDFO’s debaters then managed to succeed in The First Malang Newbie Debate Competition (MNDC) held by Malang Debating Union, intervarsity level as well. Indeed, this moment served as a memorable event they walk on. The passion to defeat other teams from other reputable universities cannot be denied. Why so ??? None of the participants, at that time, believed that UNISMA’s debaters could beat teams from Malang State University as well as State Islamic University of Malang and won the Semi-Finalist position. What an amazing moment was !

Going to the next debate tournament, EDFO also succeeded to break the limit. That’s unbelievable. The 2012 EJVED UM crowned EDFO’s debaters as the Octo-Finalist. The only teams from Islamic University over East Java that broke into the big sixteen teams. Tremendously, this achievement doesn’t suffice the curiosity among EDFO’s debaters. They still want more. They still seek more challenging debating tournament. Known by most Malang debaters after the EJVED concluded, EDFO then received a new invitation for another debate tournament. At this time, the debate was held in the State Islamic University of Malang called East Java Newbie Debate Competition. Without thinking too long, EDFO decided to join the competition. EDFO in UIN Maliki Malang was represented by Rifai, Diecha, and Raudah as debaters, and Faruq as the N 1 adjudicator. This decision was also agreed by other EDFO’s debaters such as Ela, Ulfa, Dayat, and Nabila.

The opportunity to go for another outstanding debate tournament was not disappointing since EDFO’s representatives did a great job. They made it. They succeeded to break the octo-final round. Though, they unluckily had to stop the journey after being defeated by Formasi’s debaters from University of Brawijaya. All EDFO’s debaters as well as ESA’s members will enthusiastically familiarize the freshmen of English department with debating atmosphere.  Hoping that they will be aware of the real competition outside their campus. In regard with this idea, yesterday on September 29, EDFO performed debate exhibition for freshmen. Besides, this becomes a way to proliferate debaters in English department as well as motivate students to develop their critical thinking in spoken English. This new innovation has amazed many audience during the round. Some of them didn’t believe, at the very first time, that EDFO and ESA’s members have great English competency, especially in speaking skill. 

Lastly, high expectation goes to EDFO’s presence during this batch where joining more regional and national English debate tournaments will shape a tough character for the debaters.