Our Interview With John Loo, Interim Director of the Forensics Speech and Debate Team at SDSU

By the Juris Education Interview Team

John Loo is the Interim Director of the Forensics Speech and Debate Team at San Diego State University. 

1. What types of debates or formats does your union participate in?

We have both speech and debate formats. In terms of debate, we participate in three main formats: the IPDA (Individual Parliamentary Debate Association), the NPDA (National Parliamentary Debate Association team format), and the National Forensics Association Lincoln-Douglas debate format (NFALD).

For speech, we have impromptu, extemporaneous, informative, persuasive, after-dinner speaking (ADS), communication analysis, prose, poetry, dramatic interpretation, and program oral interpretation.

2. What are some of the biggest takeaways or real-world benefits that students gain from participating in your debate union?

Students learn how to engage deeply with current events and strengthen both their research and oral delivery skills. They also benefit from community engagement, teamwork, and numerous leadership opportunities.

In addition, they gain valuable public speaking and writing experience and learn how to advocate for social justice.

3. What’s the most challenging and the most rewarding aspect of joining a debate union?

For debate, one of the biggest challenges is learning something entirely new. Many students have heard of speech and debate, but when they begin learning NPDA, it feels like entering a brand new world. It can be overwhelming because there’s so much being introduced, including debate theory.

What’s rewarding then is once students start, the competitive spirit kicks in, which can be invigorating. I always say it’s about doing better than you did last time.

For speech, it can feel like a lot of labor at first, such as writing and memorizing but the reward comes when students present their work to an audience. They feel a real sense of pride.

4. How does debating help students become more confident speakers?

A huge part of it is simply the amount of practice students get. Public speaking can make even the most seasoned speakers nervous. But the more you do it, the more you engage, the more comfortable and confident you become.

Our team members practice so frequently that they stand out more than most others when it comes to public speaking. It’s similar to going to the gym. You may not want to lift those weights but once you do it consistently, you start feeling confident. Students who don’t engage in this kind of practice often don’t develop the same level of confidence. 

5. Do you think aspiring law school applicants can benefit from joining a debate union? How so?

Absolutely—yes. Law schools pay close attention to extracurriculars, and nothing stands out more than participating in debate and speech.

Debate fosters logical reasoning, civil advocacy, and critical thinking, all of which are central to a career as a lawyer. 

In addition, our students often take on leadership roles as officers or mentors, and that kind of experience demonstrates the ability to work in teams and lead, which is also highly valued by law schools.

6. Do you know of any former members of your debate union who have successfully gone on to law school? If so, how did their debate experience contribute to their success?

Yes, several of our students have gone on to law school. SDSU Speech and Debate has been around since 1949, and over the past 76 years, many alumni have gone on to become lawyers. Some have even returned to support our program by attending tournaments and staying involved.

One student, in particular, competed in speech and debate throughout both undergrad and graduate school, eventually becoming one of our graduate teaching coaches. That experience helped him refine his research and writing skills. When he entered law school, his writing and logical reasoning were already well-developed. His ability to construct arguments and speak publicly contributed to his success. 

7. What advice would you give to aspiring law students who are considering joining a debate union in college but aren’t sure if it’s the right fit for them?

Many students are interested in speech and debate, as they may have heard about it in high school. But they’re unsure if it’s something they can do. I want to emphasize that anyone can do it.

We often limit ourselves because we fear the unknown. But at SDSU, we encourage everyone to participate. Students just need to be open to taking that first step. What we’ve seen is that once they do, many blossom into confident speakers.

Similar to success in law school, it requires a willingness to take risks. If you challenge yourself as an undergrad not just academically but in building skills that will help you succeed in law school, speech and debate is one of the best ways to do that.

This is also a great way for aspiring law students to get letters of recommendation. I’ve written many law school recommendation letters for students on our team, and every single one of them has been accepted. 

Juris Education is proud to interview experts like John Loo to help future lawyers understand the benefits of extracurricular involvement in college. Learn more about how our experts can help you get into law school today.