Debate Speech (TCKs) [bonus task]

This house believes the benefits of being a TCK outweigh the difficulties

Third Culture Kids or TCKs are children that are creating their own sub-culture. They often relocate to new homes or countries, being exposed to different people and cultures. Where is the problem here? Have you an idea all the benefits that this can bring?

Being a TCK has many advantages, such as: they know an airport better than most people, they adapt quickly to unfamiliar countries and people, they are culturally astute, cross-culturally enriched, and less prejudiced. Imagine being a TCK, is like being from all countries at the same time.

There are some problems, like crisis of identity; you can say that a TCK frequently ask: “who am I?” But you have to think differently: who not am I? If you are a TCK you can be all you want, you also can to decide. For example, if you lived in the USA but now you are in Japan, you are from Japan AND the USA, or if the situation demands it, you can say you are American or you are Japanese.

TCKs are educational achievers, establish relationships quickly, are excellent observers of other people, can make great culture bridges, more mature in their social skills, more welcoming of newcomers into a community, etc. TCKs position themselves by integrating a huge pool of values, norms, behaviours, beliefs mannerisms and thoughts, and they have a deep understanding of human rights. Also they speak more than one language (often they speak three or four); can you imagine all the benefits of speaking two languages? Imagine four!

Maybe a challenge for TCKs is that they feel different from others, which is difficult in forming peer relationships; but they can have relationships with many people, learning more cultures, that’s the idea of being a TCK. Also some people say that a difficulty for them is the sense of belonging everywhere and nowhere; but where is the problem? You belong to everywhere, you are very cultured, and you can feel at home in different countries or continents.

Finally, I just want to say, imagine that you are a TCK, the world will be small for you.