We've got the course for you. Find your perfect fit.
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Littles Speech
Grades: 1st and 2nd
Description: These sessions will be a fun, interactive experience for our youngest speech students. Class activities will include storytelling, confidence building, basic debate, presentation skills, and online speech games and activities. This class aims to get kids comfortable with public speaking, logical thinking, telling and understanding stories. Looking for the FUNdamentals of public speaking and debate for your young ones? Look no further!
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Minimal
Competitions: None
Speech Comprehensive
Grades: 3rd-5th; 6th-8th
Description: This class is a foundational class that any student with no experience in speech or debate can take! Students will learn skills in three fundamental categories: limited preparation speaking, research-based speaking, and acting. This class is great for students who are just starting out, are trying to build their confidence, or refine their speaking skills. After taking this class, students can take the Intermediate Speech and Debate Comprehensive, start the Debate Comprehensive, or move on to specialty classes. Our students love this class because it is a fun way to help them develop their writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Debate Comprehensive
Grades: 3rd-5th
Description: If you argue with your parents a lot and want to understand how to become better at persuasion and argumentation, this class is for you! In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of Spontaneous Argumentation, Team Spontaneous Argumentation, and one major debate category. This class will lay a solid foundation of debate and teamwork skills. Students will enhance their critical thinking, speaking, note-taking, logical problem-solving, listening, and research abilities. Above all, this class is fun! Debate can sound intimidating, but this class provides the opportunity for new debaters to grow alongside others at their own level.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Congress and Impromptu
Grades: 5th-8th
Description: In congress, students pretend to be senators and will advocate for and against bills. They will learn about working together with others, real public policy, researching, speaking, and professionalism. Additionally, this class teaches impromptu speaking, which helps the students learn structure, think on their feet, and use examples as evidence. This is a fun class that teaches students skills they will use throughout their academic career.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Model United Nations for Kids
Grades: 4th-6th
Description: In Model United Nations, students collaborate to solve real-world problems like global hunger, climate change, pandemic preparedness, and many more. Students get the opportunity to represent different countries and develop an understanding of international relations. Doing this helps students to learn how to work with other people and strategize to achieve their desired goals. In this class, students will learn about international history and politics, as well as public speaking, writing, and leadership skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: None
Essay Writing
Grades: 3rd-5th
Description: This class is designed to teach students how to write better essays for both academic and extracurricular endeavors. We'll discuss five-paragraph structure and cover topics like critical analyses, creative pieces, personal essays for applications, and practice pitches for interviews. Mastering the preparation of personal essays and practice pitches is paramount for admission to selective middle schools, high schools, colleges, or even future job prospects. The skill of accentuating your strengths on paper, while still seeming personable, is critical for both education and the workforce.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: None
Billionaire's Club
Grades: 3rd-5th
Description: This class, as part of our economics series, gives students the intellectual and decision-making tools that they need to become independent financially stable people by the time they finish high school. Students will learn the basics of personal financial literacy, the elements of building a successful business, finance and investment through the eyes of an investor, and economic theory and history. It all begins in elementary school, with this course: we teach students about personal financial literacy and public speaking for business.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: None
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Speech Comprehensive
Grades: 3rd-5th; 6th-8th
Description: This class is a foundational class that any student with no experience in speech or debate can take! Students will learn skills in three fundamental categories: limited preparation speaking, research-based speaking, and acting. This class is great for students who are just starting out, are trying to build their confidence, or refine their speaking skills. After taking this class, students can take the Intermediate Speech and Debate Comprehensive, start the Debate Comprehensive, or move on to specialty classes. Our students love this class because it is a fun way to help them develop their writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Congress and Impromptu
Grades: 5th-8th
Description: In congress, students pretend to be senators and will advocate for and against bills. They will learn about working together with others, real public policy, researching, speaking, and professionalism. Additionally, this class teaches impromptu speaking, which helps the students learn structure, think on their feet, and use examples as evidence. This is a fun class that teaches students skills they will use throughout their academic career.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Public Forum Debate
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: In this debate class, students will learn the public forum debate format. The students will learn how to work with a partner to construct and argue a case concerning current events. In public forum debate, there is a new debate topic every one-two months. Consequently, our students will go in-depth with each topic, enhancing their abilities to do deep research and critical thinking. Taking this class will help students learn how to analyze and respond to arguments, listen more effectively, take better notes, and develop their reading and speaking skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Intro to Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: Lincoln-Douglas (LD) is a one-on-one debate format sponsored by the National Speech and Debate Association; the topic changes every two months. Traditionally, LD is a philosophical, values-based debate. This class is for students who want the immersive experience of LD and still want to compete, but are not looking for the advanced level of competition and requirements of the progressive, policy-style LD class. In this class, students will learn how to research, deepen their knowledge base, understand multiple perspectives on issues, deal with ethical questions, and learn note-taking and reading skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
World Schools and Parliamentary Debate
Grades: 7th-12th
Description: This class is for students who are interested in team debate and current events. In this format, debaters will get a new topic every time they debate, which earns them a wide array of knowledge on current events over time. They debate in pairs against rival partners. Parliamentary debate helps students learn how to work together to construct a case, how to listen well and engage in cross examination, and use logic to defend their arguments. World Schools debate, one of the most popular categories across the globe, teaches students how to debate complex combinations of prepared and spontaneous topics in teams of three to five. In this class, students will develop research skills, quick critical thinking, writing, note-taking, and extemporaneous speaking skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Intro to Policy Debate
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class is for students who are passionate about debate and are on track to engage in high-level competitions. Students will learn how to research and improve their analytical skills. If you are interested in public policy, politics, and diving deep into topics, you will love this class. The goal of this class is to help students try out Policy Debate before joining the team later in the season.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Model United Nations for Kids
Grades: 4th-6th
Description: In Model United Nations, students collaborate to solve real-world problems like global hunger, climate change, pandemic preparedness, and many more. Students get the opportunity to represent different countries and develop an understanding of international relations. Doing this helps students to learn how to work with other people and strategize to achieve their desired goals. In this class, students will learn about international history and politics, as well as public speaking, writing, and leadership skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: None
Model United Nations
Grades: 7th-12th
Description: In this class, students act as representatives of real countries to solve real-world problems like global hunger, climate change, pandemic preparedness, and many more. Unlike debate, this highly competitive event emphasizes a cooperative model rather than an adversarial one. In this class, students will write research papers and learn the details of public policy. Students will develop advanced research writing, public speaking and leadership skills aimed to help them succeed at competitive conferences.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Two optional conferences per semester (fall and spring)
Mock Trial
Grades: 7th-12th
Description: If you are thinking about becoming a lawyer, enjoy public speaking, are good at communicating, or simply want to join a fun, litigious activity, Mock Trial is an activity you should consider. Mock Trial was created to help students acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society. Do you have what it takes to be a lawyer, or do you just want to find out what a lawyer does? Join Mock Trial and find out how to excel as a prosecutor, defense attorney, or witness. Students will participate in a capstone project where they compete against advanced students on both sides of a case.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: None
Screenwriting
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class teaches students to understand and apply new screenwriting terminology and tactics. It follows a weekly format. First, students read through an excerpt or complete short, pilot, or feature, together as a class, before watching the filmed version of that piece, and analyzing what was involved in the adaptation from script to screen. Next, students dive into the nuances of that week’s genre and format, discuss examples the students know and like, and participate in instructional games to help reinforce the themes. Finally, students practice writing in that format and genre, before sharing that week’s writing with the class, and receiving feedback.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: None
RPG Lab (Applied Ethics)
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This course develops advanced reasoning, decision-making, and communication skills through structured role-playing simulations inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. Students navigate complex scenarios where they must analyze incomplete information, weigh tradeoffs, and make strategic decisions under pressure. Each session is followed by guided debriefs using frameworks from ethics, game theory, and decision science, training students to explain and defend their thinking with clarity. The focus is not on gameplay, but on building high-level cognitive skills that transfer to academic writing, debate, STEM problem-solving, and college admissions.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: None
Economics, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship (Level I)
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class, as part of our economics series, gives students the intellectual and decision-making tools that they need to become independent financially stable people by the time they finish high school. Students will learn the basics of personal financial literacy, the elements of building a successful business, finance and investment through the eyes of an investor, and economic theory and history. In middle school, students transition to learning economics and practical business skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: None
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Public Forum Debate
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: In this debate class, students will learn the public forum debate format. The students will learn how to work with a partner to construct and argue a case concerning current events. In public forum debate, there is a new debate topic every one-two months. Consequently, our students will go in-depth with each topic, enhancing their abilities to do deep research and critical thinking. Taking this class will help students learn how to analyze and respond to arguments, listen more effectively, take better notes, and develop their reading and speaking skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Intro to Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: Lincoln-Douglas (LD) is a one-on-one debate format sponsored by the National Speech and Debate Association; the topic changes every two months. Traditionally, LD is a philosophical, values-based debate. This class is for students who want the immersive experience of LD and still want to compete, but are not looking for the advanced level of competition and requirements of the progressive, policy-style LD class. In this class, students will learn how to research, deepen their knowledge base, understand multiple perspectives on issues, deal with ethical questions, and learn note-taking and reading skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
World Schools and Parliamentary Debate
Grades: 7th-12th
Description: This class is for students who are interested in team debate and current events. In this format, debaters will get a new topic every time they debate, which earns them a wide array of knowledge on current events over time. They debate in pairs against rival partners. Parliamentary debate helps students learn how to work together to construct a case, how to listen well and engage in cross examination, and use logic to defend their arguments. World Schools debate, one of the most popular categories across the globe, teaches students how to debate complex combinations of prepared and spontaneous topics in teams of three to five. In this class, students will develop research skills, quick critical thinking, writing, note-taking, and extemporaneous speaking skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Intro to Policy Debate
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class is for students who are passionate about debate and are on track to engage in high-level competitions. Students will learn how to research and improve their analytical skills. If you are interested in public policy, politics, and diving deep into topics, you will love this class. The goal of this class is to help students try out Policy Debate before joining the team later in the season.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
Model United Nations
Grades: 7th-12th
Description: In this class, students act as representatives of real countries to solve real-world problems like global hunger, climate change, pandemic preparedness, and many more. Unlike debate, this highly competitive event emphasizes a cooperative model rather than an adversarial one. In this class, students will write research papers and learn the details of public policy. Students will develop advanced research writing, public speaking and leadership skills aimed to help them succeed at competitive conferences.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Two optional conferences per semester (fall and spring)
Mock Trial
Grades: 7th-12th
Description: If you are thinking about becoming a lawyer, enjoy public speaking, are good at communicating, or simply want to join a fun, litigious activity, Mock Trial is an activity you should consider. Mock Trial was created to help students acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society. Do you have what it takes to be a lawyer, or do you just want to find out what a lawyer does? Join Mock Trial and find out how to excel as a prosecutor, defense attorney, or witness. Students will participate in a capstone project where they compete against advanced students on both sides of a case.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: None
Screenwriting
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class teaches students to understand and apply new screenwriting terminology and tactics. It follows a weekly format. First, students read through an excerpt or complete short, pilot, or feature, together as a class, before watching the filmed version of that piece, and analyzing what was involved in the adaptation from script to screen. Next, students dive into the nuances of that week’s genre and format, discuss examples the students know and like, and participate in instructional games to help reinforce the themes. Finally, students practice writing in that format and genre, before sharing that week’s writing with the class, and receiving feedback.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: None
RPG Lab (Applied Ethics)
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This course develops advanced reasoning, decision-making, and communication skills through structured role-playing simulations inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. Students navigate complex scenarios where they must analyze incomplete information, weigh tradeoffs, and make strategic decisions under pressure. Each session is followed by guided debriefs using frameworks from ethics, game theory, and decision science, training students to explain and defend their thinking with clarity. The focus is not on gameplay, but on building high-level cognitive skills that transfer to academic writing, debate, STEM problem-solving, and college admissions.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Light
Competitions: None
Economics, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship (Level I)
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class, as part of our economics series, gives students the intellectual and decision-making tools that they need to become independent financially stable people by the time they finish high school. Students will learn the basics of personal financial literacy, the elements of building a successful business, finance and investment through the eyes of an investor, and economic theory and history. In middle school, students transition to learning economics and practical business skills.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: None
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Advanced Littles
Grades: 1st and 2nd
Description: Our Advanced Littles class for 1st and 2nd graders elevates young speakers with engaging activities that include delivering polished speeches using rhetorical questions and visual aids, participating in small group debates, and practicing advanced feedback methods. Students will build confidence through expressive communication exercises, maintain clear and confident posture, and enhance their note-taking skills while interpreting inspiring stories and poems. Celebrating each child’s unique talents and personal growth, this supportive and fun environment fosters articulation, creativity, and critical thinking. Ready to take your child’s public speaking skills to the next level? Enroll them in Advanced Littles today!
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: Littles Speech
Homework: Minimal
Competitions: None
Intermediate Speech and Debate Comprehensive
Grades: 3rd-5th
Description: This class is for returning Speech or Debate Comprehensive students. Students will refine skills in the major four categories (limited preparation speaking, research-based speaking, acting, and debate) as they analyze new subcategories in each domain. After taking this class, students can move on to specialty classes.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: Speech or Debate Comprehensive
Homework: Light
Competitions: Offered; strongly encouraged
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Returning Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class offers a more advanced, intense, policy-style, progressive Lincoln Douglas debate format for students who want to compete on the national circuit. This class is best suited for students who are interested in competitive debate, want a topic that changes every two months, and prefer one-on-one debating. Lincoln Douglas is research-heavy. To be successful in LD, students most demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic and their ability to provide extensive evidence. In this class, students will deepen their knowledge base, learn how to understand multiple perspectives on issues, deal with ethical questions, develop their note-taking and reading skills, and learn how to quickly process and communicate complex information.
Commitment: One semester (only offered during summer for middle schoolers, offered year-round for high schoolers)
Prerequisites: Intro to Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete during an average of 2.5 weekend tournaments per month
Advanced RPG Lab (Strategic Simulation and Game Design)
Grades: 6th–12th
Description: This advanced course is designed for experienced students ready to lead and design complex role-playing simulations inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. Students learn to function as “Dungeon Masters,” developing skills in leadership, structured storytelling, systems design, and real-time decision facilitation. They will design and run simulations for peers, requiring preparation, adaptability, and clear communication under pressure. The course includes training in world-building and applied research, incorporating elements of geography, history, mythology, and systems thinking to create coherent, high-level simulation environments. A key focus is long-term output. Students will develop and publish original simulation content through a professional online portfolio, demonstrating initiative, intellectual depth, and project completion for college applications.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: RPG Lab
Homework: Medium
Competitions: None
Economics, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship (Level II)
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class, as part of our economics series, gives students the intellectual and decision-making tools that they need to become independent financially stable people by the time they finish high school. Students will learn the basics of personal financial literacy, the elements of building a successful business, finance and investment through the eyes of an investor, and economic theory and history. In high school, students learn about economic history and underlying theories in preparation for the AP tests. Students will also be offered opportunities to compete in math and economics contests.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Math/economics competitions offered
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Returning Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class offers a more advanced, intense, policy-style, progressive Lincoln Douglas debate format for students who want to compete on the national circuit. This class is best suited for students who are interested in competitive debate, want a topic that changes every two months, and prefer one-on-one debating. Lincoln Douglas is research-heavy. To be successful in LD, students most demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic and their ability to provide extensive evidence. In this class, students will deepen their knowledge base, learn how to understand multiple perspectives on issues, deal with ethical questions, develop their note-taking and reading skills, and learn how to quickly process and communicate complex information.
Commitment: One semester (only offered during summer for middle schoolers, offered year-round for high schoolers)
Prerequisites: Intro to Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete during an average of 2.5 weekend tournaments per month
Advanced RPG Lab (Strategic Simulation and Game Design)
Grades: 6th–12th
Description: This advanced course is designed for experienced students ready to lead and design complex role-playing simulations inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. Students learn to function as “Dungeon Masters,” developing skills in leadership, structured storytelling, systems design, and real-time decision facilitation. They will design and run simulations for peers, requiring preparation, adaptability, and clear communication under pressure. The course includes training in world-building and applied research, incorporating elements of geography, history, mythology, and systems thinking to create coherent, high-level simulation environments. A key focus is long-term output. Students will develop and publish original simulation content through a professional online portfolio, demonstrating initiative, intellectual depth, and project completion for college applications.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: RPG Lab
Homework: Medium
Competitions: None
Economics, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship (Level II)
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class, as part of our economics series, gives students the intellectual and decision-making tools that they need to become independent financially stable people by the time they finish high school. Students will learn the basics of personal financial literacy, the elements of building a successful business, finance and investment through the eyes of an investor, and economic theory and history. In high school, students learn about economic history and underlying theories in preparation for the AP tests. Students will also be offered opportunities to compete in math and economics contests.
Commitment: One semester
Prerequisites: None
Homework: Medium
Competitions: Math/economics competitions offered
AP Economics Intensive
Grades: 9th-12th
Description: In this year-long course, students will learn both microeconomics and macroeconomics. This class helps students get an in-depth understanding of economics in order to prepare them for their Advanced Placement test at the end of the school year. ModernBrain does not directly administer the AP test but encourages students to sign up through their school and provides tools and techniques to get a 5.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Passing grade in Algebra I
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Economics contests
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Elementary Nationals Team
Grades: 3rd-5th
Description: Our elementary nationals team invites students who are focused on a competitive, high level development of skills and events to personal attention from our coaches in small groups of three to five. On the nationals team, students learn how to write speeches, develop a variety of events, and take those events to competitions across the United States. Students who join the nationals team will develop their speaking, writing, research, peer review, and listening skills, as well as enhance their ability to work as a team.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Interview (details here)
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete during an average of two weekend tournaments per month
Congress Nationals Team
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: Our congress nationals team is a small group of students who use tailor-made curricula from our coaches to excel at national tournaments. On the nationals team, students learn about working together with others, real public policy, researching, speaking, and professionalism at a nationally competitive level. They attend weekly sessions to prepare for competitions by improving research, delivery, and strategy skills and attend weekend workshops with other students and coaches to optimize their feedback. Please read about the benefits of competitive speech in admissions here.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Interview (details here)
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete during an average of 2.5 weekend tournaments per month
Speech Nationals Team
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: Our middle and high school nationals team invites students who are focused on achieving nationally competitive excellence in acting, prepared speaking, and limited preparation speaking activities. Students meet in small groups with their primary coach during the weekdays and attend weekend workshops with other students and coaches to optimize their feedback. On the nationals team, students learn how to write speeches, develop a variety of events, and take those events to competitions across the United States. Students who join the nationals team will develop their speaking, writing, research, peer review, and listening skills, as well as enhance their ability to work as a team.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Interview (details here)
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete during an average of 2.5 weekend tournaments per month
Policy Debate Nationals Team
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class is for students who want to succeed at the national level against top teams in Policy. Students will learn how to research and improve their analytical skills. If you are interested in public policy, politics, and diving deep into topics, you will love this class. This class requires a high commitment level from the students.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites:Interview (details here)
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete during an average of 2.5 weekend tournaments per month
Parliamentary Debate Nationals Team
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: This class is designed for students who aim to excel at the national level in parliamentary debate. Participants will enhance their research, analytical, and public speaking skills, delving deeply into public policy and political topics. Students will learn to debate in teams, engaging in spontaneous debates on issues of fact, value, and policy. This course demands a high level of commitment and dedication from students.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Interview (details here)
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will participate in approximately 2 weekend tournaments per month.
Lincoln-Douglas Nationals Team
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: Our Lincoln-Douglas nationals team is a small group of students who use tailor-made curricula from our coaches to excel at national tournaments. On the nationals team, students attend weekly sessions to prepare for competitions by improving Lincoln-Douglas debate skills. Please read about the benefits of competitive debate in admissions here.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Interview (details here)
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete during an average of 2.5 weekend tournaments per month
Public Forum Nationals Team
Grades: 6th-12th
Description: Our Public Forum nationals team is a small group of students who use tailor-made curricula from our coaches to excel at national tournaments. On the nationals team, students attend weekly sessions to prepare for competitions by improving Public Forum debate skills. Lincoln-Douglas contests follow a one-on-one format; Public Forum tournaments are two-on-two. Please read about the benefits of competitive debate in admissions here.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Interview (details here)
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete during an average of 2.5 weekend tournaments per month
Model United Nations Nationals Team
Grades: 8th-12th
Description: This class is for experienced Model United Nations competitors only. Students with only summer camp experience should not register for the advanced level. Here, students with a strong grasp of basic Model United Nations (such as international relations knowledge, the basics of political science, and conference rules) will be prepared to attend conferences. Curricula will be tailored to each class's needs, which may include how to succeed in different MUN committees, high-level writing and oratory strategies, and lesser-known tricks of the trade to stand out amongst other delegates. Students who register for this class should do so with the intent of competing at MUN conferences.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Interview (details here)
Homework: High
Competitions: Mandatory; multiple conferences per semester
Mock Trial Nationals Team
Grades: 8th-12th
Description: Historically, studentsneeded to compete with a school-sponsored team of at least eight students to participate in high school mock trial tournaments. ModernBrain has worked closely alongside Peer Potential Mock Trial (PPMT), a Shanghai-based annual competition with over a half-decade of experience, to expand their mock trial middle/high school circuit to Americans. This is a system that’s already seen results at some of the top colleges in the country; students matriculating at Stanford, Princeton, Yale, MIT and more have featured their PPMT mock trial experience. Students who join our Mock Trial Nationals team will prepare every week in groups of four to eight. They need to have already competed in mock trial or taken our mock trial class, since we’ll jump right into our preparation for high-level competitions. They must be 100% free for all competition dates. Read more about the competitions here.
Commitment: One year
Prerequisites: Interview (details here)
Homework: Heavy
Competitions: Mandatory; students will compete in two-four competitions in fall and two-four competitions in spring (minimum)
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Private Lessons
Grades: All (including adult learners)
Description: We help students from 6 to 106 with targeted coaching for all their speech, debate, mock trial, model united nations, ethics bowl, Toastmasters speeches, Professional Speech and Debate Association competitions, TED and TEDx talks, auditions, CELPIP prep, interviews, professional communication, and general public speaking needs. If you're looking for admissions help, please look at our counseling page.
Commitment: One hour
Cost: $225 per hour (if one, two, three, or four hours are purchased at once) or $175 per hour (if five or more hours are purchased at once)
Prerequisites: Complimentary interview (to find the right-fit coach for you)
Homework: Variable
Competitions: Variable
Semi-Private Lessons
Grades: All (including adult learners)
Description: This is for a group of two or more students who want a customized course designed for them. This includes a complimentary interview.
Commitment: One hour
Cost: $150 per student per hour (if one, two, three, or four hours are purchased at once) or $600 student per five hours (if five or more hours are purchased at once)
Prerequisites: Complimentary interview (to find the right-fit coach for you)
Homework: Variable
Competitions: Variable