Toastmasters - public speaking club, anyone a member?
Discussion
Toastmasters is a global public speaking forum with local clubs to help people with public speaking, stage speaking that kind of confidence boosting thing
I have a awful situation where whenever I’m under any sort of pressure I mumble constantly, it’s so frustrating
Anyway, I came across toastmasters online and think I might go along, but wanted to know if anyone else has been to a class and what their experience was?
I have a awful situation where whenever I’m under any sort of pressure I mumble constantly, it’s so frustrating
Anyway, I came across toastmasters online and think I might go along, but wanted to know if anyone else has been to a class and what their experience was?
My wife goes every fortnight, and just loves it. Her aim is to be a world class public speaker. She’s a natural speaker anyway but like me suffers from under confidence at times and it gives her a great friendly place to work on her skills and learn techniques.
In her group, peoples reasons for going and their abilities vary greatly but they generally all have a roadmap to follow and monitor improvements. And improve they all do. There have been members with Tourette’s, others with stammers - and I’m always in awe hearing the stories of how brilliant they are doing and good they’ve become. The fact that everyone goes by choice to do something ‘hard’ on a weekday evening is always inspiring. They are there to better themselves.
Every week there are various speeches given, mostly prepared, sometimes ad hoc. There are table topics and ice breakers which are all spontaneous speaking practices on random subjects given to you if you wish to talk. You also have a mentorship programme where you can be ‘coached’.
The only negatives are they have usual ‘club’ issues of finding volunteers to do weekly jobs (roles) and in my wife’s sessions they are run with military precision - a toastmaster quirk to ensure you practice speaking to an exact allocated time.
You should at least go once to see if you like it.
In her group, peoples reasons for going and their abilities vary greatly but they generally all have a roadmap to follow and monitor improvements. And improve they all do. There have been members with Tourette’s, others with stammers - and I’m always in awe hearing the stories of how brilliant they are doing and good they’ve become. The fact that everyone goes by choice to do something ‘hard’ on a weekday evening is always inspiring. They are there to better themselves.
Every week there are various speeches given, mostly prepared, sometimes ad hoc. There are table topics and ice breakers which are all spontaneous speaking practices on random subjects given to you if you wish to talk. You also have a mentorship programme where you can be ‘coached’.
The only negatives are they have usual ‘club’ issues of finding volunteers to do weekly jobs (roles) and in my wife’s sessions they are run with military precision - a toastmaster quirk to ensure you practice speaking to an exact allocated time.
You should at least go once to see if you like it.
People join for a variety of reasons that will vary depending on location but mostly for networking.
But as ‘thepritch’ points out, they are run with military precision, so they don’t move away from the core principle of ‘public speaking’. It’s extremely well structured, but allows you to progress at your own pace.
In my experience, the participants come from a wide variety of backgrounds. However, it’s more about taking part, than who you are. Give it a try, you might find you enjoy it.
But as ‘thepritch’ points out, they are run with military precision, so they don’t move away from the core principle of ‘public speaking’. It’s extremely well structured, but allows you to progress at your own pace.
In my experience, the participants come from a wide variety of backgrounds. However, it’s more about taking part, than who you are. Give it a try, you might find you enjoy it.
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