Nothing was lost in translation last weekend, as international student Ian Kim was ranked the second-best speaker at West Point’s annual debate tournament.
Kim, a junior majoring in accounting, was born in Korea. He first studied at Hult International Business School in London before transferring to Binghamton University last year after a friend recommended the University’s accounting program.
When Kim joined the team, he said his teammates were immediately supportive. Anna Pinchuk, a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law and a Ukrainian international student, said Kim was determined to be successful.
“His first tournament, he did not do well at all and he got really upset, because it’s difficult with English being your second language to succeed in an activity that requires so much knowledge and grammar,” Pinchuk said. “He put so much work in, and he was very passionate; he was very open to comments and advice, so he was good in terms of learning stuff fast and taking it in.”
The team participates in Policy Debate tournaments, where teams of two argue for or against a resolution which would call for policy change by the United States government. At the West Point Tournament last weekend, the team made it to the elimination round for the first time since Kim joined a year ago. The judges also voted Kim the second-best speaker at the event out of 92 contestants.
“It was unexpected because the first and the second tournaments I didn’t even make it to the elimination round,” Kim said. “Then suddenly I’m voted the second best speaker, it’s amazing. My practice that I’ve done so far helped a lot.
He discovered debate after taking a rhetoric class taught by the team’s coach, English professor Joseph Schatz. Schatz said he enjoys having international students because they bring a different outlook to the team. Kim also said that debate helped his English improve drastically.
“They bring an international perspective into what we debate about,” Schatz said. “It also helps them be able to learn English; the interaction with other students forces them to learn to use English as a public speaking tool.”
Kim said the diversity on the team isn’t just interesting, but vital to their success.
“We have students from all different cultures, all different ethnic backgrounds,” Kim said. “We share ideas, we have such different personalities, but we all get along together which is just an amazing thing.”
Schatz said that Kim’s success at the recent tournament was not just a great personal achievement, but also a help for the rest of the team.
“He’s constantly trying to work with others, making sure people understand what he’s learning, so it’s not just that he can be successful, but his success is translated to the team in relation to working with people,” Schatz said. “And he does it all while also balancing all of his course work and maintaining a very high GPA.”
Kim said this wasn’t the peak of his debating career, and he wants to continue preparing for events and keep practicing.
“Challenging but exciting,” Kim said. “I am always trying to overcome the language and culture barrier. However, that challenge makes my college life so much more interesting because everything is a learning experience for me. Binghamton University embraces otherness and provides opportunities for international students to be involved.”