An Arabic debate team member recently won first place at the 6th U.S. Universities Arabic Debating Championship, marking a pattern of excellence for the team.
Foziea Garada, a recent graduate in computer science, won first place in the “Arabic as a Foreign Language” division of the competition, which included top universities and more than 90 talented debaters from across the country.
“I was so surprised. My first year on the team back in 2022, I ranked somewhere in the 60s,” said Garada. “Although I had been putting in the work, practicing several times a week with my team, spending hours analyzing other winning debates, you don’t notice how much you actually improve day by day until all those changes add up to success in the competition itself. It's an amazing feeling to see your work pay off.”
While Garada's win was for an individual category, she said it all ties back to being a part of a great team and community.
"My coach, Dr. Eman Saadah, believed in me when I was an inexperienced debater and pushed me to always keep improving," said Garada. "I also could not have done this without my amazing teammates, Nareen and Asmaa, practicing several times a week, through exams, travel, and even sickness, always encouraging each other through the wins and losses. Their dedication paid off in securing them strong placements of their own, and I know even greater things are in store for them."
The team dates back to 2019, when linguistics professor Eman Saadah assembled and coached her first team of students. So far, her team has competed on the national stage each year.
“I started [the team] because I wanted my students to live the language, not just learn it,” said Saadah. “Debate gives them a chance to think critically, express opinions, and engage with real issues, all in Arabic. It’s amazing to see how they begin to use the language to persuade, challenge, and connect with others. I wanted to create a space where they could take ownership of their learning and see Arabic as a language of ideas, creativity, and confidence. So far, I’ve seen wonders.”
This isn’t the first major recognition the team has received, either. In 2023, the team ranked second in the Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL) category, with student Suad El-Jawhari receiving first place in the same category. In 2024, they organized a regional competition that brought together 10 debate teams from different universities.
“We’re excited to keep that spirit of excellence alive,” said Saadah. “We are hosting the regionals again this year, and as always, our goal is to keep creating opportunities for students to engage, compete, and grow through Arabic debate.”
A big part of that is recruiting more students, and that means spreading the word about their programming. Aside from the debate team, there’s a beginner-friendly Arabic Debate Club, as well as an Instagram (@arabicuiuc2.0) interested students can follow for updates.
“I highly encourage anyone interested to go for it,” said Garada. “Even if you feel like your Arabic needs work, remember that debate is fundamentally about the ideas behind the words, and language is improved with practice.”
Students from all majors are welcome—and students from all majors have something to gain from the experience, according to Garada.
“I think there's a common misconception that debate is mostly for people pursuing social sciences or politics, but as a computer science major, I have seen firsthand how useful these skills are across all areas,” said Garada. “Debate sharpens your ability to articulate ideas clearly, which empowers you to contribute to important discussions about the future and genuinely make a difference.”