Best part of Topical Talk?
Discussion question | This is for ages 14 to 16
What's been your favourite Topical Talk activity during the Festival?
Was it:
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Debates?
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Videos?
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Games and simulations?
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Discussions?
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Learning about the news?
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Something else?
Tell us what you think
You might want to structure your answer like this:
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been [choose the best part] because [explain why you enjoy this]. It helped me [explain how this helped you understand the news topic].
Comments (113)
In my opinion, the best activity in the Topical Talk Lessons is the discussion part because I could understand that I haven't understand before. During discussion, I could exchange my opinion with other's people opinion. This helped me learn and understand the topic. By reading other people's comment and opinion and also taking part in the discusion, I could study to accept other's people opinion and also seeing a problem from a lot of perspectives. I really enjoy discussing with others from all around the world.
I agree because the discussions helped me to learn by allowing me listen to different people's viewpoints on what they think about the topics. For me, when I see posts of what topical talkers have to say about the topics, I also learn from them and they learn from me and both of us gain mutual benefit. The discussions has helped me improve in my confidence, speaking, listening, composition writing, creativity, and knowledge. I really enjoy hearing what topical talkers have to say from different parts of the world it helps me build on my knowledge and work on myself. I love taking part in the discussions and it will be a dream come true to participate next year. Thank you Topical Talk, thank you Topical Talkers you all have taught me a lot! I really hope I get three( 3) stars for my comment.
Thank you for making me smile humbe_currency, I like your style, but this time it's one (1) star!!
I love the fact that I made you smile, I believe can still work hard to get more stars even though I got 1 star this time. It is just a chance for me to build my skills and work on myself. I got a little reward now but I will work harder and get 3 stars next time because I believe in working harder. Working hard is the key to success that is why I will work harder, I am going to use this one star as a motivation to push myself to getting additional stars and more. I will not give up just because I got only one star, I will push to get three stars. When I have a growth mindset I know I will get a bigger reward by pushing and pushing to get it no matter what happens. Giving up doesn't bring success it makes you take a step backwards. Having a fixed mindset doesn't take me anywhere. If I am given something little I use my creative skills to change it to a bigger reward.
Thank you Topical Talk and Topical Talkers 👍
I agree with humble_currency. When I joined topical talk, I thought it was about a program were you just have fun and talk together about your school now I see it is more global than local. But now I am getting use to it, I have noticed that it is more than that. I am seeing many young people around the world sharing their own facts, opinions and lots of viewpoints. Topical Talk has helped me improve in my composition writing, problem solving, creativity, and confidence. At first it was not easy, I almost ran away because I was scared and because it takes a lot time trying to think about what to write and then go ahead to put my points down. I love the fact that I am getting better at writing, not only writing but speaking. The other day we were discussing about listening skills and I discovered it is important to let the other person finish speaking before I response as it will help me get the person's perspectives. I am so glad to be a part of Topical Talk. I wish I can get to see more schools in Jos where I live participate in this program. THANK YOU ECONOMIST FOUNDATION, THANK YOU TOPICAL TALKERS!💕💕
I agree because the discussion has helped me listen to other peoples opinions on what they think about topical talk.This year the topical talk festival has helped me be more confident to listen to people around the world.I also learn from peoples posts and they learn from me this gives equal understanding.I hope to get 1 or (3) stars have a good day topical talkers.☺
I agree because when I listen to people opinions/viewpoints, it can help me in building my vital and crucial skills. Listening to people helps me learn from them and gain more knowledge and information and they also receive knowledge from me to when they listen to me too. There is saying my Head Teacher says that goes like this " The Best Leaders Are The Best Listeners that means, if you are willing to listen and listen very well to other people when they talk, you will become a great leader and a public figure. People around the world are building, working on themselves and being inspired to do more because of Topical Talk and one of them is me. Thanks Topical Talk and Topical Talkers. I hope I get a star or 3 stars. 👍👍😁😁😀😄
I agree with you, the disscussions going on in the hub is really helping me learn alot, like for example how to listen more in a discussion. To learn about others points of views is actually a privilege because what is a discussion without listening to other people's point of views, if you don't listen and listen well, then it is not a discussion at all.
But for me, personally I like to see posts that makes topical talkers express how they think criticaly on a comment, and that also makes me gain better ideas to solve problems. Topical Talk has really helped me to understand different peoples perspectives and view. All our voices combined together can make a big change in our world today.
I agree with you because the discussion part can help kids show what they really want and it can also help to change the world around with their disussions. The dicussion are a big help to the Topical Talk commuinty and my favourite part of dicussions is that you can talk freely with out someone making fun of you and another reason is you can be creative and listen to peoples opion and ideas and you can tell them what you think about their comment the part when you talk about talking to people around the world I loved that part because it really spoke to me so in concluesion you should talk more and write more to show what you think.
I agree because dusscussing is the best so you know every ones opinion based on what you think. It's important to tell things that are unfair so people can also make an opinion. For example, if you have something to tell, go on, tell it, people could change their mind on the opposite of what you where thinking. This is why it is important to to have a discussion.
I agree because discussions can help you to get important informations, without the discussions and hearing different people's opinion you won't get vital information and gain more knowledge. Listening is the key to learning because when you listen you will be able to learn from that person and see where the person is coming from and understand what the person is passing out whether you agree or not. I have a question for topical talk who is the founder of topical talk and who sponsored it I am really curious to know because the person that found it did a really good job because it helped a lot of people in building skills.
THANK YOU TOPICAL TALKERS !!!
The best activities in the Topical Talk lessons have been debates and learning about the news. When I hear something new to me in the news, I don't just sit there; I do research to learn more. This helps me form a strong , clear opinion for debates and discussions. I like debates because they help me understand other people's ideas and allow me to share my own thoughts. In my English class, we have learned how to write both balanced and one sided arguments so Topical Talk is really helping me upgrade my writing style and persuade others with more interesting facts.
Thanks for your time 🦋
I agree with you, because through the Topical Talk discussions amongst ourselves as students, I learnt how so many people think so differently just through the art of debating. It was a lovely event that taught me how to listen to peoples opinions and all. It made making decisions way easier for myself.
I agree with you in many different ways, though not searching up things to learn more, it would be wise/smart to know more things to form a better vocab or even better opinions people can understand better without it making not a lot of sense. With debates, I do relate it to making me understand others ideas and can show how i think of a certain topic without being judged or misunderstood. Topical Talk can be the best thing that can help others understand and communicate in a way without being judged or made fun of their opinions.
Thank you for reading! 😊
I agree with you in many different ways, though not searching up things to learn more, it would be wise/smart to know more things to form a better vocab or even better opinions people can understand better without it making not a lot of sense. With debates, I do relate it to making me understand others ideas and can show how i think of a certain topic without being judged or misunderstood. Topical Talk can be the best thing that can help others understand and communicate in a way without being judged or made fun of their opinions.
Thank you for reading! 😊
Hi, Prodigious Moon. I totally agree with you on the best parts of the festival being news and debates. Every conversation I enter makes me wiser and and helps me to structure my arguments better and to see topics from different perspectives. The Economist has really outdone its self on this one. Thank you Topical Talk.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been discussions because they make the class exciting, interactive, and meaningful. I really enjoy sharing my opinions, hearing different perspectives, and learning how other students think about the same news topic. Discussions help me practice speaking English in a natural way, improve my confidence, and express my ideas clearly. They also make the lesson more fun because everyone participates and the classroom feels alive.Through discussions, I was able to understand the news topics more deeply, not just by reading them but by talking about them, asking questions, and thinking critically. I learned new vocabulary, better pronunciation, and how to build strong arguments. Discussions encouraged me to listen carefully, respect different opinions, and become more curious about the world around me.Overall, discussions are the best part of Topical Talk because they turn learning into an enjoyable experience. They helped me grow as a learner, become more confident in English, and understand the news in a smarter and more interesting way.
thank you topical talkers 🌹
Personaly, the best activity I've done in Topical Talk has been learning the news. I like that Topical Talk has made me interested in the news which i find boring and and useless before. I've enjoyed the news more and even started to have conversations with my dad about certain topics.
It made me realize the problems we currently face and how I've directed my opinions in response. Ive gain problem solving skills to gain answers for the question. Reading the news have also helped me learn new vocabulary and grammar as english is my second language.
As i read the news ive also read other people's opinions and hos they view current problems. I've learned to accept other people opinions. This helped me to understand that my opinions could be wrong, and i shouldn't judge people.
This was a new aspect in my life, and i hope to continue expanding my knowledge from the news. Thanks.
This is exactly the impact we want Topical Talk to have. Thanks for sharing, straightforward_lake.
I agree because it has helped me view the world differently, like others around the world. I have also gained more knowledge and communication skills, and what I cherish the most is being able to converse with my peers from around the world and talk about meaningful topics that will make us great leaders tomorrow. Thank you Topical Talk!!!
I agree because,learning news from another country can be very useful for later in life if you go to school or get a gob you can remember what happened and succeed for a real example I want a job at united Kingdom topical talk has helped me learn more better.
Learning the news a great way to learn new skills like geography and some that you're country don't teach and can help in many ways
In conclusion thank you for this opportunity.
I completely agree with this comment because it also makes me be able to spend quality time with my parents talking about world problems such as climate change, global warming, wars between countries like Ukraine and Russia, including the war involving 13 countries in the Middle East between Israel, Iran, United States and other nations. It also helps me get interested in different news such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2026 Winter Olympics that I used to think was really boring and useless, but after learning about the different news around the world all of this made me realize that there are many different cool news that are really interesting. Topical talk also helped me develop solving skills which help gain answers for the questions, not only this it also helps me improve my grammar in English as it is my second language.
Honestly, I think the best part of Topical Talk was how all the activities came together to create one powerful experience. The debates challenged me to think critically and defend my opinions with confidence. The videos made complex news topics clear and relatable. The discussions allowed me to hear perspectives I had never considered before. Even the games and simulations made learning feel active and engaging instead of boring.
What I loved most is that it didn’t just teach me about the news it helped me become more open-minded, thoughtful, and aware of the world around me. It truly changed the way I see current events.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons during the Festival has been the live debate because it felt really lively and fun. I enjoyed it the most because it didn’t feel like a normal lesson — it felt more like a real conversation where everyone’s ideas mattered.
It helped me understand the news topic better because I had to really think about what I believed and why. Hearing other people’s opinions sometimes changed my mind or made me see the issue in a new way, which made the topic much clearer and more interesting for me.
For me, the best part of topical talk was simply being in the festival.
I got my first stars when I won the first weekly competition, and that lit a fire under me. I had every motivation to get more, and in doing so I payed more attention to the news, and reflected on it.
Sometimes, when I wanted to get a star it forced me to be on a different side of the discussion, because there’s less people backing a side, therefore easier to stand out. It broadened my view, and made me think in depth. It made me think about the world around us, and recognize what impacts your opinions could have on other people.
Not only that, but the hub moderators recognized when I was thinking too close minded, and forced me to respond with the full question instead of the half I may have been stuck on.
This festival gave me something to look forward to, and to work on. It gave me something to reflect on, and work towards. I may not be the best in this festival, but I’m very proud of my work. Everyone participating should be, because no matter who you are, whether you’re resplendent_blueberry dominating the top of the leaderboard, or someone like me who’s doing their best, we’ve all worked together to create all these amazing discussions, and that can’t be done alone.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been debates because they pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to think beyond my own opinion. It wasn’t just about speaking — it was about listening, responding, and adapting in real time. Debates helped me understand that news topics aren’t simple; they have layers, perspectives, and consequences. They trained me to back up my ideas with evidence instead of emotion. More than anything, they made me realise that changing your mind isn’t weakness but it is growth.
i agree because now children can vote because the legal age is 18 to vote and now Topical talk is giving us the chance for children to feel like they are actually voting to feel more included and not only that they can also participate and have a fun time while doing it topical talk can also help you build more confidence on sharing your ideas and build on people's ideas as well not only that it also helped me build my confidence sharing my ideas with everyone i think it is really important that your self esteem matters too and i love that topical talk did what matters
Honestly, Topical Talk was very beneficial as it changed my worldview and helped me know about things that I didn't think of before. So, from my point of view, the best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the debates.
I chose "debates" because I enjoyed listening to others to understand the FULL landscape and to think about things from different perspectives. I learnt that debates are not arguments. In a debate, each side is explaining his\her own point of view and the other is listening carefully to be able to reply. I learnt that in a debate, I should be listening and focusing not just waiting for my turn to speak. This helped me understand that it's totally okay to have counter arguments. In addition, it helped me think about topics widely and deeply by considering others' perspectives and carrying out research. Not only that, but also new skills are gained, such as listening, speaking, problem-solving and creativity.
In my opinion the vest part of topical talk is the tens of discussion about the various topics.
Discussion let us see hundreds of viewpoints leaving us the the whole concept covered. By looking at other's point of view, we can focus of sections of the topics that we didn't think of before. It also sparks creativity and inspiration by other comments.
As i thought again there wasn't any bad topic/way that wasn't acceptable and it left so inspiration in my mind.
In my experience in Topical Talk I have seen lots of activities. The main idea or activity I had face was debuting on you agree or disagree with a comment or an idea . Also a main activity is discussing a point either you have a good idea to add or you want describe something that another person did and maybe add to him. Another activity is knowing the news and in some topics we knew about how technology helped us in sports,daily life and in our world this was all the interesting points and activities I have faced .
The best activity for me has been discussions, but not just because I can share my opinion. I like that how ever discussion is like a puzzle-pieces of different perspectives, facts and questions come together to reveal the bigger picture of a news topic.
It helped me understand that a single article or headline is never the whole story. Listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions and connecting ideas from others turned learning into an active, creative process.
Discussions didn't just teach me news, the taught me how to: think, analyze and upgrade my skills with ever comment!
Signing of: Fairminded_fly
For me, the best activities at Topical Talk lessons were the games and discussions we did in class. The games were interesting to me because I understood much better what the main problems in the world were, and through them I sometimes had the feeling that I was in one of those problems, so it encouraged me to think about solving certain problem. Also, the discussions helped me to express my personal opinion and to see what others think. And sometimes other opinions have opened up new ways of thinking about the main issues.
In my opinion, I think that the best activity in the Topical Talk has been debates because they make the news feel alive instead of just something we read about. When we debate, we don't just learn facts, we challenge each other's idea, defend our opinions and sometimes even change our minds. That makes the lesson more exciting and meaningful.
It helped me understand the news topic more deeply because I had to look at both sides of an issue, not just the one I agreed with. Preparing arguments made me think more critically and pay attention to details I might normally ignore. Debates also improves my confidence in speaking and expressing my thoughts clearly.
I think debates are powerful because they turn information into conversation and conversation is how real understanding grows.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons for me has been discussions and games and simulations because of lots of reasons. The first has helped me understand points of view of different people, true examples in other countries of different situations and connecting with marvelous people that in other wayS couldn't be possible. Moreover, the second has helped me viewing problems through different points of view and even changing my mind several times in a single game, making me understand the topic deeply and why not to say it, in a fun way.
Firstly, discussions open your eyes to a lot of realities and truly make you think which has been enriching as well as productive. Besides, now I have a huge knowledge on several topics because of the investigations I had to do to write my comments and which preparation was also really interesting.
Secondly, games and simulations were the first view to the topics and made my head spin but in a really good way, showing so many things I couldn't even think about. Furthermore, it was able to include everyone at class and to make some interest born even in people who usually are apathetic towards this type of activity.
To sum up, I think it was a lot of hard work of teachers, students and organizers that led to this marvelous creation which I enjoyed a lot. In addition, everyone was really respectful and the atmosphere couldn't be better. For this reason, once again, THANK YOU TOPICAL TALK AND EVERYONE THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE!!!
I think I really enjoyed researching, discussing topics, and meeting different people in Topical Talk.
Discussing diverse topics increased my creativity in writing, along with my critical thinking. It significantly increased my confidence and strengthen the way I speak about my opinions.
The researching I've done for Topical Talk has been very draining, I admit. But it helped me prove that researching isnt just a message to ChatGPT or a single google search. Researching has increased my literacy and understanding of many things that might come in handy in the future, too!
Talking to people from schools around the world also made me realize that not everyone lives by the same article and mindset. Even with that in mind, we all still are one community together-speaking out to the world and giving solutions every week.
The best part of Topical Talk is that it doesn’t feel like a lecture — it feels like a real conversation.
It takes topics that could easily be dry or overwhelming and makes them interesting and relatable. Instead of throwing information at you, it walks you through ideas in a way that actually makes sense. You come away feeling a little smarter, but not exhausted.
Another great thing is the balance — it’s thoughtful without being heavy, and engaging without trying too hard to be entertaining. It feels natural.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been researching the topics by myself because it made me feel more independent and responsible for my learning. Instead of just being given information, I had to explore different sources, compare viewpoints, and decide what I believed was accurate or important.
I enjoyed this because it felt more mature and realistic — like what real journalists or analysts do. Researching helped me understand that news is not always simple; there are multiple sides, hidden biases, and deeper contexts behind every headline.
It also improved my critical thinking skills. I learned how to question information, look for reliable sources, and avoid believing everything I see immediately.
Overall, researching made the lessons more meaningful because I wasn’t just learning about the world — I was actively investigating it.
The best part in topical talk is discussions and we appreciate so much and we hope others will join and we will welcome
I believe that the best part of the Topical Talk lessons has been seeing how other people perceive issues. In many of these topics, we require different perspectives in order to reach a meaningful understanding. All us Topical talkers come from different and diverse places around the world. Some issues affect others much more or in a different way. I sometimes only focus on what is best for me or who I care about, not what is best for everyone. This festival however, taught me so much about keeping an open mind. I learned about others experience and how policies, technology, and alliances affect their communities and daily lives. These have all changed the way I've viewed issues. For me, there is no longer a direct right or wrong answer to a certain issue as it affects people in all sorts of ways. It makes me weigh arguments before choosing a side to stand on. We all have our differences, beliefs, and, morals. Our uniqueness should not lead to partition or isolation but rather be a guiding part to having building truly authentic and effective conversation. We can all learn something from eachother if we consider all perspectives, not just our own.
This is my favourite part of Topical Talk because I get to hear other perspectives and learn from them, which is a skill I think is extremely important.
In my opinion, the best activity in Topical Talk lessons have been the conversations we had, even though they were discussions rather than debates as most of the students share the same/similar opinions on the topics we exchanged about.
On the other hand, going into topics that are likely to start debates (LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, the discrimination of minorities, religion, heavy use of AI and what resources AI uses etc.) can and will lead to said debates and can make people that feel underrepresented in their class uncomfortable - which is obviously the wanted result of this project.
Therefore, I believe this project was nicely organised and I think it was fun to exchange about currently relevant topics.
I really enjoyed the universal aid lesson because at first I didn't know what any of it was. But I also loved everything on topical talk as it taught us many things and encourages us to learn more. Im exciting to post a standpoint, and I can't decide which lesson I liked most for it. Ill probably go with the winter olympics as it was the most inclusive to me and it was very fun for me and my whole class. I also loved the zoom call when we first joined, because even though our camera didn't work, we still voted and listened to others opinions.
My favourite part of the topical talk festival was definitely when two people from topical talk (I forgot their names) came into our class and watched us to a lesson on international aid and they asked us questions about what we wanted to see next, what we think should be done about certain situations etc;
But my point is: topical talk and the economist foundation have encouraged us to learn new thinks and include ourselves in politics or important questions that we wouldn't usually think about. So I want to thank everyone in this "event" (I font know the right word) for teaching us and helping us understand more.
Looking forward to reading your standpoint!
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons have been discussions because it is good to all share are feelings and say what we think is right and we can also learn about each other helping to communicate fluently and know how others feel and there say for the topic. It also helped me to learn about the topic even more through there ideas and many more by reading others comment you can also disagree and agree but it is okay to do that as everyone has there own opinion it also helps us to know everywhere around the world and to see topics from multiple perspective learning more and building better answer and questioning when needed. Topical talk has made me better at discussing and looking at the topic with more knowledge and maturity helping me to grow. I hope this has enlightened you to become a better topical talker I hope I get 1 to 3 stars on this for now see you topical talkers!
The best activity in topical talk is about how we all interact because it made me enjoy interacting with my mates and those who were invovled . In the lesson I enjoyed talking to different pupils, expressing my opinions e t c . When typing my ideas on different or various news topics, I realized that I do understand and share my own ideas based on the topic discussion in the topical talk section.
The best part of Topical Talk for me has been the research part of making a comment, with the Economist I can keep up to date with what is happening in the world and be confident that my comments are factual. I believe that no matter where you live it's always important to read/listen to and care about the news . To not care or be ignorant about the world's problems because it doesn't affect you is a privilege that not many people have and you should not take it for granted.
Another part that I loved about Topical Talk was reading everyone's thoughts from all over the world, it opened my eyes to different possibilities and problems I had never even thought of. I started Topical Talk because I believe in being aware and informed on everything that is happening in the world and in being able to emphasize with others and put yourself in their shoes.
Thanks Topical Talk for all the amazing and eye opening topics !
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons have been debates because listening to different viewpoints unlike my own has both strengthened my sense of character as well as my ability to dissect and evaluate arguments beyond face value. Seeing how people rationalized their own viewpoints and ideals in contrast to mine showed me how, while we can all have different opinions, the process to get to those opinions must be informed; based off of facts and evidence. The lessons also showed me how different I am when not placed under societal limits about the topics I could talk about. In school, for example, there were certain 'lines' I could not cross. Certain 'taboo' or touchy subjects which I was to avoid at all costs due to the surrounding environment, i.e. religion. While the Topical Talk didn't have a topic regarding religion, it did have topics which I personally felt were unsafe. Talking about things such as gender inequality, while great in its own right, leads to everybody regurgitating the same opinions over and over again since the question is: 'Do you believe women should have equal rights?'. Which, of course, I want humans to be equal. Compare that to talking about voting for example, 'Do you believe that, in a given system built off of democracy, citizens who pay tax should be allowed to vote regardless of age?' It forces you to pick a side, which I admire. Centrism can be useful but being a centrist on everything means you lose your own personal identity which makes you, well, 'you' so to speak.
From my perspective, the best part of Topical Talk has been expressing my opinions and proposing practical solutions to global challenges. Two years ago, I never imagined that I would be participating in international debates and discussing real-world issues — especially at my age. It has truly changed the way I see the world.
Topical Talk has given me the confidence to speak up and the courage to believe that young people’s voices matter. I sincerely hope that our comments are not only read but also taken seriously by leaders and decision-makers. Perhaps one day, a president or policymaker will read a student’s idea and turn it into real action. That possibility alone is inspiring.
What makes this experience so special is that it encourages us to think critically about creating a future that is more equal, fair, sustainable, clean, innovative, and compassionate. The next generation should not only inherit the future but actively shape it with intelligence, creativity, and responsibility.
I often wonder what the future will look like — better or worse? I believe it depends on whether young people are given the opportunity to think, speak, and lead. Topical Talk is helping to build that opportunity and empowering the new generation to become thoughtful global citizens.
My dream is that rulers, presidents, and leaders around the world will truly listen to students’ voices, because sometimes the most powerful ideas come from young minds.
Thank you very much for reading
My favorite aspect in Topical talk in the learning and discussion aspect. Topical talk has made me improve my critical thinking skills, forcing me to think in other prespectives before said and done. It is really important to be open minded enough to accept peoples opinion and study it to form our own conclusion---and Topical Talk has given me the platform and opportunity to train this skill! As a non-native english speaker, my time in Topical Talk also helped me level up the way I convey messages to make it more impactful with certain word choices. With the weekly topics, I often times also have to research them to be knowledgeable enough to give my thoughts in the comments, this forced me (for the better) to read articles---to be frank, something that I rarely did. I enjoyed my discussion people around the world, thank you Topical Talk!
For me, the most powerful part of the Topical Talk lessons has been the interactive elements, especially the debates and role-play activities. They didn’t just teach me information — they changed the way I think. Through discussions, I was exposed to opinions and real-world examples that I would never normally encounter. Listening to others made me question my assumptions and sometimes even rethink my original stance.
The simulations were particularly impactful because they placed us inside the issue rather than outside it. Instead of simply reading about global challenges, we experienced the pressure of making decisions with limited information, competing priorities, and different interests involved. At times, I changed my mind more than once during a single activity, which showed me how complex these topics truly are.
Another important aspect was how inclusive the activities were. Everyone had a role, and every voice mattered. Even students who are usually quiet became engaged because the format made participation feel natural and meaningful. It created an environment where learning felt active, not passive.
I truly hope my reflections earn a star ⭐, as this experience has meant a lot to me.
Thank you!
my opinion, the best activity in the Topical Talk Lessons is the discussion part because I could understand things that I haven’t understood before. During discussion, I could exchange my opinion with other's people opinion. This helped me learn and understand the topic. By reading other people's comment and opinion and also taking part in the discusion, I could study to accept other's people opinion and also seeing a problem from a lot of perspectives. I really enjoy discussing with others from all around the world.Discussion let us see hundreds of viewpoints leaving us the the whole concept covered. By looking at other's point of view, we can focus of sections of the topics that we didn't think of before. It also sparks creativity and inspiration by other comments.
Discussing diverse topics increased my creativity in writing, along with my critical thinking. It significantly increased my confidence and strengthen the way I speak about my opinions.
My best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussion because it made me see topics from different perspectives that I didn't even think of. It showed me a wider way of reasoning instead of staying on one. I really liked having these discussions because it gave me the ability to brainstorm with my peers. This discussion helped me to not only know why something is happening but also the reason for it happening.
I honestly think that the best part of topical talk is discussions because at first, I thought I will be awarded stars easily, but the discussions thought me that to get a star I must think quite intellectually check my spellings and be grammatically correct about my sentences. This has helped me significantly because it has changed the way I think in my school. It also makes me egger to learn more to know how I can upgrade my comments in various aspect and get a star. It has also enlightened me on different people and different cultures from all around the world because I get the chance to interact with them and share my opinions with them. THANK YOU.
The best activity in the topical talk lessons has been the discussions, reasons because hearing from other people points of views from around the world makes me want to know so much more, it is like indirect research both from young adults. The fact that you can also share your views about either you agree or disagree, it is not just a one man opinion. It is various opinions coming together to use their mind and be creative which can be solutions to problems around the world. It has actually helped from when i started until now.
I agree because, topical talk discussions have been amazing so far, I learnt so much by listening to people's view points and gaining knowledge from them. When I listen to opinions topical talkers post I also go back to do some research so I can come back ready to share my own opinion. Discussions have helped me to build my confidence and knowledge.
Yes, you are right; it has honestly helped me from my pronunciation to my vocabulary to my sentence structure and it has helped me to broaden my learning not just limiting myself to just my environment and i am grateful.
Secondly, thanks for the star.
In my opinion, the global discussions (the "Connection" factor), which is the crown jewel of Topical Talk, and here is why I picked it: it is one thing to talk to your classmate or friend when you are having a small argument about a particular thing, but it is another big thing to be talking to another student from a different state, background or country who either has the same opinions as you on a particular topic or has a different opinion or perspective from you on the same topic. The "Discussion" aspect helps us to understand one another's opinions and perspectives. For example, let's say there is a discussion on the temperature or climate around you. Since I come from Nigeria, in Africa, I would say that the climate is sunny and the temperature around me is hot or warm, but someone in the U.K would say that the climate is snowing and the temperature is cold. This is a clear example of us sharing our own opinions through our different perspectives in our different locations. And this has helped me understand the different opinions and voices of people here.
I have been enjoying this festival so far and my best activity is debates. At first I could not understand what was happening but It thought me how to challenge my self and think critically and defending my ideas with evidence, which made my experience very engaging and exiting.
One thing that I appreciate most is listening to other people's view points and even though I may disagree, it made me reconsider my assumptions and strengthening my reasoning which showed me that complex global issues require critical thinking rather than quick judgments.
The experience also strengthened my public speaking and reasoning skills which was not as developed. It thought me how to structure my arguments, respond confidently and support my points with relevant examples and illustrations.
In conclusion, debate has so far been my best because it has embedded skills that can help me even when I become an adult or even in my old age. Thank you very much topical talkers and those that have made it possible.
Well, I feel that throughout the festival, we have been given the opportunity to take part in quite a lot of activities, and it has helped us all and taught us new things that will be useful to us in the future. Even though all the activities have been fun, I think that the best of all of them are learning about news, the discussions and the debates.
The Topical Talk Festival has taught me a lot more about the world around me through the news in different parts of the world like the elections in the United Kingdom, the ongoing Winter Olympic Games and the various questions NATO is facing today. I think it is good exposure as I learnt things that I wouldn't have learned on my own.
Also, during the course of the festival, I learnt a lot from others during the discussions and debates. They helped me to see things from a different perspective.
In summary, I've learnt quite a number of things throughout the festival, and it just keeps getting better.
For me, the best activity in the topical talk lessons has been all the discussions and the topics because the topics are amazing and help you in many ways like improving your vocabulary and teaching you new things. I also love the discussions because I was able to share my views, opinions and ideas with other students all over the world like me and also got to hear some really good ideas from very amazing writers/students. Another amazing thing I liked was hearing from all the professionals and never in my life did I think that I would hear real life voice from someone like Matt Damon because I am a very huge fan. My favourite topic was "No Tax, No Vote", and I liked this topic because it made me test and question some of my opinions and others opinions and see many things from a different perspective. I got three stars on the topic but that was not the main thing for me, I made new friends even though I don't know their real names or how they look but I am happy and it also taught me that I should not write excellently only because I want a star or some stars but it taught me to calm down and enjoy the topics and connect with others and I may not have a lot of stars or be on the leader board but now I have better vocabulary, debating skills, writing skills and ethics. It helped me more because I gained more confidence. Overall, this showed me and taught me a lot of new and amazing things and I am very grateful to be here and have this opportunity and I am really sad that this is coming to an end but all that you guys have taught me will never be forgotten.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the voice activities, especially when Matt Damon talked about how public figures help in providing aid. I enjoyed this particular aspect because I really admire many public figures, and I figured, why not comment on how public figures can actually influence the society around us and create an impact? This lesson also helped me understand that we shouldn't ignore the problems that affect the society around us; instead, we should see it as an opportunity to make an impact in the society around us and also be problem solvers. The Topical Talk lessons has really helped me understand my environment and solve the problems too. Thank You.
I don't really have a best moment in topical talk, not that the lessons, discussions, videos, and quizzes were not worth it, but the fact that everything here was confounding. Topical talk really increased my social skills in my interaction with unknown individuals. So I would say that every message sent, every video watched and everything done was worthwhile. I really appreciate the fact that my viewpoints were put into consideration and were corrected where needed.
Best part of Topical Talk? For me, it’s the way it pushes me to think deeper and not just accept the first idea that comes to mind. I like that I can express my opinion freely, even if others disagree, and still have a respectful discussion. It makes me feel more confident in explaining my thoughts and defending them with clear reasons. I also enjoy hearing different perspectives because sometimes they completely change how I see an issue. It doesn’t feel like a normal lesson — it feels like a real conversation about the world.
The best activity in the Topical talk lessons have been listening about the news, which really intrigued me into finding out more and thinking beyond my limit. During lessons and discussions I can freely express my opinions with the other person and discuss on what I think is the best choice or decision.
I used to not care about the news and thought it was quite boring, but Topical Talk has helped me realise that I am interested in certain topics and news and that actually being aware about the news at a young age can be an important life skill for when I’m older. Another thing I also realised, is that many people have different opinions and views, which I personally didn’t agree with. With this realisation I have researched to find out more and to create a debate against them, sharing my opinions and views.
I enjoyed listening to the news because scrolling through the comments and reading various opinions have sometimes changed my mind in following their side. This has helped me actually understand the topic better and observe what they say and to try and make the same impact they have.
To add it all up, this festival has really helped me understand about certain topics I was never really aware of and what problems they can cause if nobody knows about it. It has been a pleasure to discuss with others around the world and know about their experiences. I have been very interested and is glad to be apart of this festival.
The best activity in Topical Talk has been games and simulations because they made me feel like I was really part of the news, not just reading about it.
For example, when we talked about aid, we role-played different parts, like governments, charities, and countries needing help. It made me realise that aid is way more complicated than I thought; it’s not just about giving money, it’s about managing it well so it actually reaches those who need it.
In the discussion about NATO, I disagreed with some people. I thought NATO doesn’t matter as much anymore because of problems like what happened with Russia. But one person disagreed with me, saying that the benefits NATO provides outweigh the issues. This taught me that there are different perspectives to consider.
It even connects to real life. When organisations like the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement or the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) give aid, they probably have to make hard decisions just like we did in the simulation. They have to figure out where to send help, which problems to prioritise, and how to manage resources. This makes me respect how complicated and careful global decisions really are.
The benefit of Topical Talk is that I gained knowledge, critical thinking skills, and confidence to voice my opinions. I'm excited to try the Standpoint activity to see even more views and maybe change my mind again.
So yes, (games and simulations plus discussions) are my favourite because they help me experience the news and think deeply about it.
The best activity in Topical Talk lessons in my opinion was learning about the news and also debates because when it comes to debates you really have to do a lot of research into the topic and also having your opinion in the debates and using evidence to help you with your opinion. Having debates really made me more interested in the topic and also more interested about having debates and talking about my opinion .Learning about the news was also my favorite part too because I heard about the news around the whole world which makes me wonder about what was happening over there. Those activities not only made me more interested about what was going on around the world and hearing people's opinions but it also helped me with my writing skills and how I put evidence to support my statement. I really like discussing with people, debating with them, and also learning more about my writing skill and topical really did help with all of that stuff.
Thank you Topical Talkers.
The most enjoyable thing in the Topical Talk lessons has been debates because they make the lessons more fun and engaging. When we have debates, we all get a chance to express our views and hear other people’s perspectives. Sometimes I get to hear ideas that I had never considered before, and that makes me think even harder.
It helped me to better understand the news topic because I had to consider both sides of the issue, not just my own views. Debates also helped me to feel more confident in speaking and expressing my ideas clearly. I realized that even when we disagree, we can still respect each other.
That’s why debates have been my favorite part of the Festival!
The best activity in topical talk was the discussios. They gave me things to ponder about in my free time something that lets me consider thinking about while also having other opinions in mind. it gave me a good view of how some people see things and how to think outside the box when it comes getting pros and cons about a specific topic.
In fact, right before writing this comment I went to to look at what other people had to say not just the ones with the stars but also the ones that get overlooked.
Until now I've enjoyed this competition quite dearly, spending time give reasons for why my opinion is atleast decent filles me with pride even when I don't get a star.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been writing comments on the news articles because it gave me the chance to express my opinion freely and think more deeply about the topic. Instead of just reading the news and moving on, I had to stop and reflect on what I actually believe. As a result, I became more aware of different perspectives and more careful about forming my own ideas.
What I really enjoyed is that reading other students’ comments sometimes changed the way I looked at the issue. For instance, someone might highlight an economic impact while I was only thinking about the social side. Therefore, the discussion in the comments section felt like a real exchange of ideas, even without a live session.
In addition, writing regularly helped me improve my English. I started paying more attention to how I connect my ideas and explain my point clearly. From my perspective, this activity was not only interesting but also very useful because it trained me to analyze the news instead of just consuming it. That’s why it has been my favourite part of the Festival so far.
I would actually choose something else. For me, the best experience that I faced in the Topical Talk was taking stars. It made my day and made me feel fantastic. In my own point of view, when I see professional people (economists) like my idea by giving me stars, I see myself as a professional writer. Stars in the Topical Talk are like the hands that push me forward to be better. Stars make me feel proud of myself and make me have self confidence in my school quizzes or debates. Stars in the Topical Talk are one of the main factors that encourage me not to give up or even stop.
On the other hand, imagine that you worked really hard in something, yet you did not succeed. Will you be happy? The answer in absolutely no. I feel horrible when not taking stars. I can spend 3 to 4 days without taking a single star. I thought that these comments would take a star however they did not take a star. This actually helped me a lot. This made me learn from my mistakes and by time I begin changing my technique in writing to better. I was enhancing my performance every day.
Thank you, Topical Talk since you encourage us with stars and make us excited.
From my perspective, the best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussion part since I have learned from others opinions about actual topics that maybe we do not really discuss in our everyday life even though they are there. In the discussion I have been able to share my opinion with others and also read other student's comments.
In my view, sometimes is better for us to learn by listening to others, or in this case, by reading their opinions instead of focusing just on our own view. Everyone in the Topical Talk had the opportunity to share their views and if someone disagrees, we learned how to reply to they being polite.
Thank you for your time!
The best activity in topic talk lessons has been the games I am not gonna lie the activity help me interact with my all of my friends we started discussing the started analysing the problem using creativity which was in another level we made different countries which first was very fun we get to like see the perspective of countries and I don't read news at all but I learnt so much through the topical talk session I learnt about NATO was a thing but I learn that it was very fun I specially like international aid and NATO and I really love the part when the give which skill we are going to use for example we are going to use creativity skill today analysing skill today I really like that part and how they made you to think once or twice before your answer before and all I would think that this topics are very boring but now I took a interest to learning all of them in the end I would just like to say that reading the news is very boring but topical talk made reading the news fun for me
thank you everyone in topical talk team
hats off to you
I think for me personally the best activity of Topical talk has been all of the discussions because they helped me see new sides and opinions of the issues. It helped me understand what I didn't understand before because I could exchange ideas with other people to see their opinion on the topic. Seeing other peoples perspectives and experiences really broadened my view as well, as it made me consider ideas I hadn't thought about before. For example, all of us Topical talkers come from different places around the world, meaning we all view issues differently as well, since not every problem affects us the same. Same for me, like before this festival, I used to only think about how I was affected, or just what I thought, and not what other people might have to say differently based off of their own experiences. Now that I know that thinking about others is important too, and it reminds me to keep an open mind to make sure I consider everyone. I applied this new way of thinking to the new topics every week, and whether it was winter games, voting age, international aid, or NATO, I learned something new every time. Overall, Topical Talk has helped me grow into a more open minded, thoughtful, and aware person who understands the value of listening before forming an opinion.
Thanks highspirited_journalist, its interesting to hear how Topical Talk has made you more open minded and aware that different problem affect people in different ways
For me, I have always valued discussing the most important debates, whether that be political, social, or environmental. It seems this passion has existed since a young age, as I found some of my old writings expressing my concerns. For this reason, the best part of the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussions, because I have had the opportunity to express myself and gain new perspectives from what others say. It helped me listen to key voices and read the news through a new lens. Considering how everyone has a different background and how that leads to varying opinions has been fascinating to read about and truly has been my favorite part!
My favourite is debating because it gives you an opportunity to hear everyone's own opinion about the topic. Especially when you can share what you think about.That is some part but you can also argue your point with another person which i find very interesting about debating!
I think that the best activity in topical talk is the discussing about the Nato because its actually useful to learn something about what actually happens in the world. Like this you can also exchange your oppinion with others around the world and see the point of view from other countrys.
My favourite part is the debates.
I really enjoyed the debates because they gave everyone a chance to share their opinions and actually be heard. It wasn't just about saying what you think; it was about explaining why you think it and listening carefully to other people's ideas too. Sometimes I agreed with others, while other times, I didn't, but that was the interesting part!
What made the debates even better was how they pushed me to think quickly and clearly. I had to pay attention carefully, respond respectfully and back up my ideas with strong reasons. It felt exciting to challenge different viewpoints while still working as a team. Overall, debates were not only fun but also helped me grow confidence and understanding. This was definitely the best part of the festival for me! 😊💯
My best activity in the Topical Talk lessons so far has been the debates because I was able to learn about other people's points of view towards certain matters, and I also learnt a lot from other students. Thank you.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons for me personally, has been debates because first of all, I personally do not like arguing with people over issues or topics. But in the course of the topical talk, the activity has made me more interested in arguing and debating with people I don`t even know across the world. This activity(debates) has encouraged me to think and analyse both sides of an issue or topics whether I`m FOR or AGAINST. It has also taught me how to disagree politely, how to convince others respectfully and how to pay careful attention to opponents arguments.
For me, debates is a powerful speaking activity that sharpens communication and persuasion skills and prepare individuals for real life situations where clear arguments and confidence in speaking are essential. Thank you.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been "Learning about the news"?
I believe that being alert,conscious and aware of the things happening around the world, would actually pave a better socialization and other adaptive measures in ones life.
Many ideas and observations are gained from all this news, which most experts and leaders would apply back to their lives or to the countries development.
I have actually learnt a lot of things especially in the beginning of this comments, when students and members had the liberty to express their ideas and also learn more on "what's best for young people".
Learning more about what most young people needs and sharing ideas would actually attract attentions of some leaders to looking forward in creating best opportunities for his people.
In summary, the technology and knowledge, mostly all other topics involved mostly falls under the main writing theme of what's best for most young people in the world.
Hi, topical talkers.
In my opinion topical talk has brought a great impact on the students partaking in it, as it sparks up discussions that enable young minds to think critically about an issue and engage in helping to solve a global problem by channelling thoughts that could help such a matter. It engages students in positive discussions, which could help them become problem solvers for themselves.
In conclusion, I love how it engages students in discussing what could be done to face problems that affect each and every one of us.
THANK YOU.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussions and debates because they made the lessons more engaging and meaningful for me.
Through discussions, I learned how to listen carefully to different viewpoints and respond respectfully, even when I disagreed. Debates pushed me to think deeper and support my opinions with clear reasons and evidence instead of just personal feelings. It showed me that news topics are often complex and can be viewed from many angles.
These activities also helped me build confidence in speaking and expressing my thoughts clearly. I became more aware of global issues and more thoughtful before forming judgments. Instead of just reading headlines, I now try to understand the full story and consider different perspectives.
I love every part of topical talk and to start we have.
1. Discussion are open debates on global issues that spark curiosity and give everyone a voice.
2. Videos are quick clips that bring complex topics to life and make learning fun.
3. Games and simulations are fun challenges that turn serious ideas into interactives experiences.
4. Learning about the news give us real world stories that give us everyday lessons and making knowledge feel relevant.
Each part is a component that when put together creates a lively mix of learning, fun, and global awareness.
In my opinion the best part about this festival was the first week because it had the best topics. To be more specific, technology and sports really drew my attention and motivated me to express my opinion and discuss about different aspects. I had the opportunity to exchange ideas and points of view with participants from all over the world and that made it quite fascinating. Furthermore, I definitely feel that I have improved my english since the level of communication was quite advanced. Finally, I feel lucky that I participated and I wish there was a simillar event for other coures too!
It is everything because I am so overwhelmed and exited and I sincerely enjoyed every single bit of this topical talk and I am really bumed out that it is soon going to come to an end. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
I really enjoyed discussions because they gave me the chance to share my thoughts
openly and also learn from others opinions.
It helped me become more confident in speaking and think more clearly before giving
my views .
Learning about the news was equally interesting for me. It made our topics feel real and connected to what is actually happening in the world. I felt more aware and more responsible as a student . These activities didn't just make the festival enjoyable for me,
they helped me grow and understand things in a deeper way.
Thank you "Topical talk" for giving me the chance to express my feelings and thoughts.
The best part of Topical Talk for me was definitely learning about the news.I never paid attention to the news before, but after these lessons, I realised how important it is to know what’s happening around the world. I learned about things I didn’t know I needed to know, like how international aid works or what NATO does to keep countries safe.
I didn’t know much about NATO before, but now I understand how they help during security threats. NATO isn’t just military power; it’s about nations working together for peacekeeping and emergencies.
After discussing NATO and global aid in class, I realised how discussions help you see the bigger picture. When we talked about peace in the Middle East, like in Palestine, it made me think about how countries need trust to avoid conflict. Peace in Palestine has been hard due to firm mistrust, but if nations could listen to each other’s views, like we did in class, it could build stronger bonds.
I saw how important it is for countries to cooperate, just like in our discussions. Understanding each other’s viewpoints, even when we disagree, is key to creating peace. Listening and being open-minded doesn’t just help in class; it can help the world.
Topical Talk taught me how to listen to different opinions. Before, I might have agreed with the first thing I heard, but now I understand hearing different perspectives helps me think deeper and form my own ideas.
The biggest impact Topical Talk has had on me is that I’m more aware of global issues and feel more confident talking about them.
Thank you.
In my opinion the most helpful and fun part about Topical Talk lessons is discussions.This is because by communicating with other users i have read a lot of different views which helped me form a more balanced opinion considering every aspect.Furthermore talking with others has personally boosted my confidence ,because of just expressing my beliefs and speaking up.Lastly i have lately noticed that i am able to talk much more fluently in English and i think that Topical Talk has had a major effect on that.Summing up, i believe that the best part about Topical Talk was discussions ,because they have boosted my confidence ,helped me form my opinions better and played a huge part on me talking much more fluently in English.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the debate sessions because they feel the most real and engaging to me. Instead of just reading an article and answering questions, we actually get the chance to explore the topic by talking about it openly. I enjoy this because it makes the classroom feel more like a space for conversation rather than just a place to complete tasks. Everyone has a voice, and even if we disagree, we learn to listen to each other. That makes the experience more meaningful and memorable.
At first, I was a little nervous about participating in debates. Speaking about news topics in front of others can feel intimidating, especially when you’re not completely sure about all the facts. However, over time I realised that the purpose of these sessions is not to “win
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been discussions because when we discuss different topics, we get a better answer than when we try to do it alone, and it is also the best part of the lesson for me because I can get a broader answer to the question, and I can also build a certain amount of teamwork and friendship with the group that is discussing.
Thank you for reading.
I think in my opinion the best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been learning about the news because it's exciting to see what's happening globally.And because of topic talk i learned what happening in Global places. It helped me understand the news topic by breaking down big stories into things that are easy to talk about! And thank you Topical Talk Community to help me know about the world more!!! 💗🌟
I feel like the best part of topical talk is the debates we have time to time on the platform. It creates a safe and bully free environment to express their views on a certain matter.
Hi, topical talkers.
From my point of view, I feel topical talk has laid great impact in helping young minds to discuss solely about issues affecting different areas in life directly or indirectly.It helps young ones focus on how they can solve issues generally in their own little way.
According to me the best activity in topical talk has been learning about the news.Learning about the news matters because it helps you understand the world you’re actually living in — not just what’s happening in your school or your house, but everywhere.
When you know what’s going on, you don’t feel left out or confused when people talk about important things. You can have your own thoughts instead of just agreeing with whoever speaks first. It helps you grow into someone who thinks carefully and makes smart decisions.
It also protects you. There’s a lot of fake information online. The more you learn from real news, the better you get at spotting what’s true and what’s not.
And honestly? It just makes you more aware. You start noticing how different events connect to people’s lives — including yours.
So learning about the news isn’t just about “knowing facts.” It’s about understanding your world and becoming more confident in it.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussions because in my class we don't have many good dissccusions because if somebody says something, like asking a question, it puts a wonderful idea or thought in somebody else's head and so on and thats why we dont have many good discussionsin my class becauseour teacher prefers it when we just get the work done (but she is really nice). But my point is, is that it is a real pleasure when we get the chance to have a real discussion. It also helped me understand the news more by hearing everyone's view and opinions.
Bye Topical Talkers.🫡
Throughout Topical Talk, my favourite part has been educating myself on important global issues that I wouldn't normally think or discuss about. Unlike my parents, I've never been invested in politics so when topics such as international aid and NATO came up I felt obligated to research them and read numerous articles. Admittedly, I absorbed the info like a sponge but even moreso topical talker's opinions. Reading varying viewpoints from all around the world opened my eyes to how people my age, younger or older, perceive the tumultuous world we live in.
This is my first time doing Topical Talk and hopefully not my last since it was fun read and debate on societal issues.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussions because they were so engaging, full of life and vivid. Everyone could get the chance to share their own perspective, which made the learning more meaningful. Discussions helped everyone be able to speak in front of many people more confidently.
Also, it helped us improve critical thinking skills; we did analyze, question and persuade others with our point of view--rather than just memorizing facts. In addition, it helped me consider others' viewpoints that I didn't think of them before. Finally, I could link Topical Talk topics to real life experiences.
The best activity in the Tropical Talk lessons is the discussion because it helped me to view and understand others opinions which gives me the enlightenment to go deeply into the topics. I really appreciate the parts where it increases my knowledge and understanding scrolling through the discussions. It has helped me in understanding the discussions through the evaluation,assimulation and learning from other people views which has me vital information I Can get access to and the inspiration in being motivated by others opinions which is very amazing to listen to although you might not agree with some parts. it also enables me in the aspect of reading , understanding and learning from it , which is the most important feature which one must possess. without it you can never learn from others views and imply it in one's life.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been learning about the news because it makes the world feel real and connected to us, not just something adults talk about. Instead of only hearing headlines on social media, we get to properly understand what is happening, why it is happening, and how it affects different countries and communities.
I enjoy this activity because it pushes me to think more deeply. It is not just about reading an article — it is about analysing different perspectives, questioning sources, and forming my own opinion. It helps me become more aware of global issues and understand that news is often more complex than it first appears.
Learning about the news has also improved my confidence in discussions. I feel more informed, more open-minded, and more prepared to express my thoughts clearly. Overall, it has helped me see that staying informed is not just about knowing facts — it is about becoming a more thoughtful and responsible global citizen.
The best thing about the Topical Talk Festival is writing about different topics. The topical talk festival was a fantastic opportunity for me to improve my writing, researching and critical thinking skills. Every time I write I had to think about the topic, find my view on the topic and do some information research to back up my point. Also I had to utilize my writing skills to lay out my opinion in a written text. This event really tested all my personal skills and now I feel way more prepared for writing at school.
I thought that giving stars out was a really really spectacular idea since it made me so much more engaged and eager to write. I have never in my life been so excited to write a 1000 word paragraph ever. I think the Topical talk team did a great job in letting everyone have fun as well as sharing their own opinion.
Writing is a lifelong skill which be essential for my future career. Topical talk gave me a chance to practice writing my own opinion for people all around the world. This is really helping me to prepare for my future.
I want to say thank you to all the people who made this topical talk festival possible and hope I can write in this festival again next year / next time. It was a pleasure to read every ones work.
The best topical talk activity has been the games and simulations as I found them very engaging and I'm certain many others would too, it helped me understand the topics as I had to refresh my knowledge after completing the quiz so that I could make sure I got it correct next time I completed the quiz.
The best activity in the topical talk festival was the activity of having your own country and try to manage it, in this activity I have heard the reasons of my partners to choose an opcion that was the oposite of mine we discuss and in some ocations I even exchange my option.It was a really fun activity and make me listen my partners and learn about how dificult was to manage a country.Alse reading the comments of the people was a great part, with it I can also learn about their point of view and that made me think .
In my opinion, the best activity in the Topical Talk Lessons has been the one about the Winter Olympics. It is true that I was in england that week and I could not write, but when I returned, I wrote a lot in this lesson. It is because I love sports and the winter ones are spectacularly incredible. This activity helped me to understand more about these types of sports and to discover new passions. Now, talking seriously, this topic was incredible, the way all people wrote and understood the others opinion was incredible. When I read some of the best comments, I was speechless, because I couldnt believe how young people, of my age, wrote so good comments and have such a good opinion about all. This, as I said before, opened my eyes in other things and thanks, because from that moment onwards I couldnt stop reading and learning about the Winter Olympics, but also, and the most important part, wtih the help of this activity, I could understand peoples opinions.
The best activity of the Topical Talk lesson has been the discussion about the lowering of the voting age. This discussion I enjoy it because I think it was interesting because I learn lot of new things that I didn't know before. Some examples of what I learnt can be the differente countries which lead the 16-year-old, which are Malta, Austria and Brasil are some examples of countries which the voting age is 16. This seems to me to be a very strange and interesting thing, because where in Spain, where I live, the voting age is 18. Althoug I see it as an strange thing, it would make a common sense in other people opinion, due to their thinkings. I also learn that the voting acttion is a very importanta action which can not be choose without thinking, because you would take a leader that would be the governamental maximum power of your countrie for 4 years. I also learn`t, that that if its an important thing for the future of your country, you shouldn't be manipulated by other people or by the social media, because some time they only want the best for them instead of the best for their community. I've also learnt about the importance of the critical thinking and the groupal thnking in his type of decisions, which would be very impotant in the choice of the leader.
I think we should have some topics of entertainment because we have already done several serious topics. Entertainment helps a lot of kids or even teenagers reduce the stress of learning at school and chores at home. I can suggest some topics such as " Is games good for kids"? or "What game is your favorite and why"? For example, I think because I play games every weekend and I'm the smartest kid in math class and I play games with my friends and they are also gifted. But parents are usually against games because they think their kids will become" addicted" to games and can't focus in school.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been discussions because I really enjoy sharing my opinions and listening to others. When we discuss different topics, I can understand how other people think.
Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I don’t, but it helps me see the topic from different sides.
It helped me understand the news topic more clearly. Before, I only thought in one way. But after hearing my classmates’ ideas, I started thinking more deeply.
Discussions also made me more confident to speak in front of others and express my thoughts without fear.
I think this was the most interesting and helpful part of the Festival for
The best activity in the topical talk falls under GAMES AND STIMULATIONS.
This is because the topic on sports technology and talent was actually a brilliant one that had its positive effects on those who adhere to some sports practices.
Remember a healthy person has an active brain which can help incur more wealth.
Even with all the developments in the world everyone is encouraged to have a bit fun because all work without play makes jack a dull boy, so to become better and more active we need sports and since physical sports are unattainable to all especially for the deformities, I would encourage in a voice out to the practices of sport technology in order to become physically fit.
Discussion is one of the best activities involved in this topical talk, because it had helped get better ideas on the topic which requires critical thinking and we all know that discussion practices the 4 skills in learning wide, which are the listening, critical thinking, problem solving and speaking.
They help create better ideas for future use, which can help develop the world at large and also benefit others from learning new things to expand their knowledge.
When we discuss a topic, we tend to learn more and get better ideas from experts and others which helps us in evaluating more ides to our own known knowledge, so discussion is very important.
In most topics, people fail to understand what they are asked to do because the topics have not been discussed are knowledge tends to be lost, so to improve one's knowledge in a better way it is needed,
I also loved the debates. It was interesting the way people around the world were arguing over their opinions on topics and trying to understand their various point of views. And actually, get to understand people from their point of view.
In my point of view, the best activity in the topical talk festival has been the debate section, because I have been able to convey my real opinion without the idea of being judged of thinking differently.
It’s really normal to think in a different way of your community and be the one special, but it seems nervous to some people as they think they should be as everyone else and think in the same way as their community.
Me as unique_wolverine, I’m a confident person who doesn’t care that much of how people are gonna judge me, but care about how people will think about my point, not negatively but in a positive, creative way.
People everywhere should just convey their perspective as if they might help make people believe differently in another out-of-the-box WAY.
The best part of Topical talk for my personal opinion is that it makes us express and say our opinion without fear of society because no one knows anyone. They are all different names, so we can express at our convenience without fear, anxiety, tension or fear of society's view that it changes about us. I am very grateful to Topical talk because she was really able to understand the new generation with all its requirements. I was able to let even a little of us deal a little with the outside world, but we make videos. This teaches us self-confidence, patience and how to deal with the outside world. In the end, thank you Topical talk
The best part of the Topical Talk lessons has been the debates created around the presented topics each week, which just kept getting more interesting.
However, I obviously can't keep just one thing from this experience, and so I would love to mention that my favorite part of this festival was the diversity, not just talking about frontiers, but about opinions. Learning from other points of view is always the most beneficial.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the live debates because they made me think more critically about the news. It helped me see different perspectives on the same issue, and hearing others' arguments made me question my own views in a good way. It also made the whole topic feel more relevant and real, instead of just reading about it in a textbook.
The best activity in the Topical talk lesson has been, learning about the news because, it has intteructed me and others on how to give out your news without any interruption on it and also having confidence and knowledge when performing ,by reading other peoples opinions and comments it has helped me to identify problems from other peoples opinion and comments . When seeing other peoples opinion or comments it has helped me to gain and to learn something from them. it has help me to pass out the information proffetionally at my community and other places also, it has made me pass out the new information and to make them understand well in the community.I enjoy learning about the news with other peoples from around the world.
My favourite activity was by FAR debating and reading/hearing other people's comments and ideas. Topical Talks has taught me that I don't have to stick to one idea, I can understand and support contradicting opinions at the same time, because a big part of maturity in debating is realising it's okay to be uncertain about where I stand! In real life, there's often no obvious right or wrong way to do things, so it's okay to explore multiple varying ideas, without personally committing to them in my head.
In our lessons, my teacher was extremely helpful, because she asked so many questions which got me to think beyond what I wanted to think about. She got me to think about some complicated real world scenarios and what I would do, or want other people to do, and I really struggled to come to a conclusion in a lot of those scenarios, if I'm being honest! Which is why I am really grateful, because it showed me that real intelligence won't always look like complete certitude, most of the time it will just like curiosity and a thirst for new information. And that's completely okay.
To conclude, I can honestly say that this competition has taught me SO MUCH! So thank you, Topical Talks!
I really enjoyed the inclusive and immersion events like games or debates, but my favourite was the subject about lowering the voting age. Topical talk has inspired and encouraged me to learn and try to understand many subjects I wouldn't have even acknowledged beforehand.
I didn't like the winter Olympics topical because I wasn't really interested in it as it isnt my type of thing. I also want to thank topical talk for doing all this for us, because I think that younger people should be included in politics and 'adult' conversations (as my mum calls them)
So thank you topical talk and everyone on it.
To me Topical Talk is a place where i could learn things that i haven't or never really think about. There are some topics that i just recently discovered and it became and educational for me to learn. Reading other peoples opinion made me have other prespectives and an open mindset. It was really fun commenting on these topics, I really enjoyed it
I think the best part of Topical Talk is to communicate with people around the world. It helps me learn different things that I didn't know before. I wouldn't know what NATO is if I didn't have the lesson on Topical Talks. We reply to other people to understand others' opinions and maybe I will change my opinion after reading them. For example, on my favorite topic which is Neutral or Alliances. On that topic, my first opinion was neutral but after reading others comments, I changed my mind to alliance. I believe Topical Talk is really helpful and should continue to be used by students and teachers.
From my point of view, the best part of topical talk has been the disscusion, as well as knowing more about other countries sitiations and opinion. Therefore I strongly reccommend all people to be part of it as it is a really enyojable experience taht makes you think about nowadays world.
Can you share what you have learnt?
I have learnt a lot of things, however, the one I like more is the quiz about the voting ages on different countries as for me is a new and interesting fact.
In my opinion, the best activity on Topical Talk is the discussions, because I’m able to share my thoughts on a subject I find interesting ,but I can also read and understand what other people my age think about it too. By reading other people’s comments on the subject I’ve picked,I’m given the opportunity to learn to communicate and listen to other people’s thoughts without only thinking about myself and my opinion.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussions because they gave me the chance to hear different viewpoints and think more deeply about the news topics. I enjoyed being able to share my ideas and listen to how other people understood the same issue in completely different ways. It helped me learn something new by showing me that news stories aren’t just facts, they affect people differently depending on their experiences.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussions because they transformed learning from something passive into something active. Instead of just reading the news, I became part of the conversation. I learned not only to express my opinion, but also to listen, reflect, and sometimes rethink my perspective.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the discussions because they turned learning into a real exchange of ideas rather than just reading information. I enjoyed seeing how students from different countries could look at the same news topic from completely different perspectives. This made every discussion feel meaningful and unpredictable, because I was not only sharing my opinion, but also learning how others think and why they think that way.
It helped me understand the news more deeply, because I had to analyze situations, reflect on causes and consequences, and explain my reasoning clearly. Sometimes, reading other comments challenged my original opinion and made me think more critically. I also learned how to support my ideas with logic and examples, instead of just stating them.
Over time, discussions helped me become more confident in expressing my thoughts and more open to different viewpoints. They also taught me that understanding the world is not just about knowing facts, but about listening, questioning, and continuously improving how I think.
Signing off: Fairminded_fly
@fairminded_fly this is great to hear. Can you talk about the lesson you think supported your growth the most?
The best activity in topical talk lessons has been debates because they make me feel like I am collaborating t a higher level, almost like the talk shows we see on T.V. even though I am a junior, debates gave me the chance to express myself with confidence and maturity, just like adults do when they discuss important issues in public.
Debates helped me understand the new topics more deeply because I have to listen carefully to other viewpoints, think critically about evidence, and respond with clear arguments. This process made me realize that global issues are complex, and the best way to learn about them is through respectful discussions and exchange of ideas.
I also enjoyed how debates sharpened my communication skills. They taught me to organize my thoughts, use examples, speak persuasive. Reading other students' arguments inspired me to think in new ways, and sometimes even changed my perspective. Overall, debates were the highlight of the festival for me.
Thank you, topical talk, for everything you have done for this festival. From the creative activities to the quizzes, videos, and competitions, you gave us the chance to learn in a fun and meaningful way. Your efforts made us feel part of a global community, and the gifts and rewards after the festival show how much you value our participation. I am truly grateful for this unforgettable experience.
The best part of the lessons provided in the Topical Talk activity has been the discussions. It’s because these discussions allowed me to hear different opinions and think more about the issues going on around the world. I liked the discussions because all the people involved were able to share their ideas, agree or disagree with each other, and learn from each other.
The discussions also taught me that issues going on around the world are not as simple as they might seem. Other countries, communities, and people might see the same issues differently. Through these discussions, I became more open-minded, which also taught me to clearly express my ideas about the issues going on around the world.
This activity has been helpful to me because, through this activity, I was able to not only become more aware of the issues going on around the world but also become more confident about expressing my ideas about the issues going on around the world.
Thank you for reading. I really enjoyed the Topical Talk activity 🙂
The best activity in the Topical Talk Festival lessons has been the discussions and debates, because they show as the point of view of other people, they may think like that because of their education, the place they life or they economic position. It show as that there are more than one right opinion and also that all the opinions are valid.
The debates show me how to think another opinion that I don´t think, so is a good lesson to open your main. Also, is great to start conversations with people of other countries and cultures. The debates and disscusions is a form of share skills, knowledge and infomation to other people and disscus about it. In this type of lessons is very common to change your opinion because the other readers conbince you or maybe because their opinions are very informed and hard, change your opinion is not bad is a way of learning also.
The discussions also share opinions in a respect way,I think the name "discussions" is not exactly the same we do, because we share our opinion/point of view with other people, they can share opinions about our point of view or share their own opinion, is a way of sharing skills, so I think this is not a disscusion at all.
Thanks for reading!!
In my opinion, the best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the games and simulations because you are in the same situation as a president, an athlete, a journalist... It helped me to think how is the lifestyle of a famous person and to know that its life it's not easy becuase he need to make decisions that are difficult to choose.
Honestly, this event has taught me many valuable lessons and has impacted me in many different ways. But, in my opinion the best activity in the Topical Talk lesson was being given the chance to share my opinions and thoughts on real world problems. This event has helped me become more confident in expressing and sharing my ideas to everyone, especially about serious problems from all around the world. Before this event, i was sometimes nervous to speak up, but through out these discussions, I learned that my voice matters. Seeing others people perspectives, thoughts and comments made me understand that there is always multiple solutions to a problem, even when they are different from mine, it has helped me become more open minded and respectful during discussions. because after all, we all have different perspectives, and that is what makes decisions meaningful.
In my opinion, the best part of Topical Talk is that it actually lets us share our opinions about real-world issues. As a 14-year-old, I like that it doesn’t treat us like little kids. We get to talk about serious topics and hear different perspectives, which makes discussions more interesting and helps me think more deeply about what’s happening in the world,That's all.
I truly agree with you, as teens, we enjoy taking part in serious and real-world discussions. This gives us the opportunity to express ourselves as kids. It shows adults that even though we’re still at a young age, our idea can still matter. Being involved in this kind of conversation, we can be more aware discovering about what’s happening around the real world getting us ready when we become adults.
One of my favourite parts of the Festival has definitely been the live student debates. From the moment the first discussion began, there was a noticeable buzz in the room. Everyone seemed genuinely curious about what others had to say, and that sense of anticipation made the experience feel special. It wasn’t just about speaking; it was about listening carefully, thinking deeply, and responding respectfully. Watching different perspectives unfold reminded me how powerful conversation can be when people feel confident enough to share their thoughts openly.
What stood out most to me was the range of opinions. Even when students were discussing the same topic, their viewpoints often came from completely different experiences and backgrounds. Some speakers approached issues from a practical angle, focusing on real-world impacts and possible solutions. Others explored the emotional or ethical sides of the topic, asking questions that made everyone pause and reflect. That contrast made the debates dynamic and engaging, rather than predictable. No two contributions felt the same, and that kept the energy high throughout.
Another thing I really appreciated was how respectful the atmosphere was. Disagreements were handled thoughtfully, with students acknowledging each other’s points before offering counterarguments.
My favorite Topical Talk activity was definitely Discussions. I really enjoyed how they created a space where everyone could share their thoughts and listen to others without the pressure of “winning” like in a debate. It felt more like a conversation than a competition. I loved hearing different perspectives and realizing how much there is to learn from other people’s experiences. Even small comments could spark a bigger idea or make me see something in a totally new way. What really made discussions stand out at the Festival was how interactive and lively they were you felt like you were part of the conversation, not just an observer. They were thought-provoking, engaging, and honestly just really fun.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been the Debates, because they made the lessons much more exciting and interactive than simply reading and watching something on our own. I really enjoyed being able to hear different opinions from my classmates and then having the opportunity to respond with my own ideas. It also felt engaging because everyone had a voice, and the discussion could go in interesting and unexpected directions depending on the points people raised.
It helped me understand to listen carefully to different arguments, ideas and perspectives; think critically about the evidence used; and decide whether I agreed or disagreed. Preparing my own points also encouraged me to look more closely at the details of stories instead of just accepting the headline. In addition, it strengthened my confidence in speaking, improved my critical thinking skills, and helped me develop a more balanced understanding of current events.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lesson so far has been the Discussion because they assist in seeing things from different point of view. I enjoy listening what other people think about the news and how they understand certain issues or topics. It makes the lesson more interesting and interactive rather than just reading or listening to the news.
It helped me to understand the news topic better because I leaned that there is more than one side to every news issues or topic. Sometimes I may have my own opinion about something, but after listening to other people, I realize that there are other sides to the issue that I had not thought about before. It really helps me to think better and makes me more open-minded. In the future, this will assist me in making better decisions, understanding people more easily, and working with people who may have different opinions with me.
In my opinion the best activity in Topical Talk lessons is discussions because before I started Topical Talk I wouldn't like to be in any discussions or say that much but when I started Topical Talk I realised that it's actually really fun and intriguing to discover I enjoyed this because it has helped me to be able to learn more information and be more intrigued in the news . It has adapted my interest in the news and helped me to be able to explain my thinking to other people for once.It helps everyone to learnt have a saying in everything and it's always going to be a good idea to carry on forever .
“My favourite Topical Talk activity during the Festival was the debates. I really enjoyed them because it was exciting to share my ideas and listen to other people’s opinions. It made me think in new ways and helped me feel more confident when speaking in front of others.” 😊
The best activity in the topical talk lessons has been reading other comments because it really fascinated me on how other people think so differently compared to me. Topical talk also showed me what other things I should think of when answering any question and to read the question very closely and to answer very carefully just to get a single star.
Reading has never been my strong suit, I was always into maths but I wanted to read a comment to give me inspiration to my own comment so i checked one and i loved it they seemed so inspiring to me so i kept on reading their comments and every new one gave me more of a boost and i wanted to write my own so i starting sharing more and more and each time i did i felt better because i was able to share my thinking to the whole world.
I stopped just reading one person's comment and starting reading other people's comments and i loved it because i got to explore a new think that i never really loved. Also when i read others comment they made me think wow what if i looked at questions this way or another and it really got me thinking about ways i could get better in reading and other things as well.
To sum everything up, i think that a festival like this has a great impact on children who are struggling or finding things hard.
The best activity in the Topical Talk lessons has been discussions because everyone gets a chance to share their opinion. I enjoy it because hearing what others think makes the topic more interesting and sometimes changes how I see things. It helped me understand the news better, since we talk about real issues and explain them in a simple way as a class. It also made me more confident to speak and share my ideas.