UNC Arabic Debate Club Secures Back-to-Back National Championship Win
CHAPEL HILL, NC – November 6, 2025 – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Arabic Debate club has once again proven its dominance on the national stage, securing first place in the non-native speaking team category at the U.S. Universities Arabic Debating Championship. This marks the second consecutive year the team has claimed the top prize in this highly competitive event.
The success of the UNC Arabic Debate Club is directly linked to the specialized instruction offered in “Arabic Languages across the Curriculum, The Art of Arabic Debate” (Arab 308), a course lead by Professor Caroline Sibley of the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (DAMES). Every member of the championship team has completed Professor Sibley’s course, which focuses on honing advanced Arabic language skills through the rigorous discipline of debate.
The programme’s continued success hasn’t been without challenges. Initially funded by a Department of Education grant,the Arab 308 course faced potential cancellation when that funding was cut. Tho, the university stepped in to provide funding for the current academic year, recognizing the program’s value in fostering extraordinary language proficiency and intercultural communication skills.
Looking ahead, continued funding will be crucial to sustaining the course and allowing professor Sibley to expand her innovative approach to Arabic language education.The debate club’s achievements highlight the importance of investing in language programs that equip students with the skills to engage in complex global conversations.
For more data on the team’s victory, see the full article in the Daily Tar Heel: https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/university-arabic-debate-team-wins-national-20251028
