Can Toastmasters Help You Be a Better Public Speaker?

Have you heard of toastmasters? Can Toastmasters help you to be a better speaker?

If you are or were a toastmaster, I think your answer to the above question is YES.
If you don’t know what toastmasters are. Check out the below article “Can Toastmasters Help You Be a Better Public Speaker” written by George Torok for more information.

If you want to overcome stage fright and learn to speak with confidence, join a toastmasters club.
You are welcome to visit our Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club (KSTMC) if you are living in Singapore.

Coming Meeting Date:
25 Feb 2012 (Sat afternoon) - club contests
Time: 2:15 pm - 5pm
Venue: Kampong Ubi Community Centre, Level 3 Conference Room

10 Jalan Ubi Singapore 409075
Click here to see the Location Map.

Yetti
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club
Past Club President
District 80 Treasurer 2009-2010

“Helping You To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Speak With Confidence!”
Public Speaking Singapore
Public Speaking in Singapore Blog

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Can Toastmasters Help You Be a Better Public Speaker?
By George Torok

The short answer is yes.

Toastmasters can help you improve your presentation skills. Toastmasters has helped hundreds of thousands of people around the world improve their presentation, public speaking, and communication skills.

My Experience with Toastmasters

I joined Toastmasters to improve my presentation skills. I was a member for seven years. During that time I actively participated in meetings, on the executive, in public speaking contests and in the promotion of membership. I contributed articles, letters and tips regularly to Toastmaster Magazine. I presented at officer training programs, regional conferences and at two international conferences.

Membership in Toastmasters was a series of positive experiences for me. If you want to get the most from any organization or experience contribute and participate. This article is my opinion of my experience as a member of Toastmasters. As a professional speaker and presentation skills trainer I am often asked about Toastmasters.

What is Toastmasters?

Toastmasters is a nonprofit association primarily focused on improving the presentation skills of its members. Through participation in the administration of the volunteer structure Toastmasters also offers leadership development. Anyone can join. Pay your membership fees and you are a member. Volunteer to lead and you can be a club, area or regional officer. Naturally you will be expected to invest time, effort and commitment. Read more »

Updated Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches

Updated Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches

Here are some good public speaking resources:
“If you are not a Toastmaster, consider this an introductory public speaking course.”
“If you are a Toastmaster, this is your guide through the first ten speeches. For each speech project, we’ll look at tips, techniques, and wherever possible, written and video examples of speeches which demonstrate the goals.”

Toastmasters – Ten Speeches (at Ratana Ong’s Blog)
Here you’ll find the objectives for all 10 basic speeches and sample videos from toastmasters doing their speeches.

Andrew Dlugan’s “Six Minutes - A Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Blog” has a Toastmasters Speech Series.

In addition, here are some other public speaking resources for your reference:

Project 1 - The Ice Breaker Manual Guide
Project 9 - Persuade with Power Manual Guide
By DTM Kan Kin Fung, Division U Head Speech Coach 2005-2006

Competent Leadership Tracking Table

Setting Up A Speech Databank  (The Real Secret to Creative Speech Ideas!)
By ATMG Ng Seng Chuan

How to Do Project Evaluations?
Evaluations - Preparing and Delivering Effective Speech Evaluations
By Kim Chamberlain, 2002 District 72 Evaluation Champion

Personal Evaluation Checklist
Produced by Sarah Tennent. Otumoetai Toastmasters, 3511/72, March 2008

How Toastmasters Change Lives
By DTM Nathaniel Koh, Division S Governor 2006-2007

Toastmasters International Resources
Need Help Giving a Speech?
Toastmasters Magazine - Past Issues
Speech Contest Rulebook (updated!)
Officers Resources
Club Officers Resources
Membership Building

Tools for Toastmasters
Club DCP History
George Marshall’s Tools for Toastmasters

Practice is the key to helping you improve in public speaking.

You’re welcome to visit our Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club (KSTMC) if you are living in Singapore.

Cheers!

Yetti
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club
Past Club President
District 80 Treasurer 2009-2010

“Helping You To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Speak With Confidence!”
Public Speaking Singapore
Public Speaking in Singapore Blog

Youtube Video on Tips for Effective Presentation Skills - Power Point

Youtube Video on Public Speaking Tips:
Tips for Effective Presentation Skills - Power Point

Nowadays, powerpoint slides are very common for business or sales presentations.
How to conduct effective powerpoint shows?  Check out the below video.

Here are some points extracted from the video:

  • Keep text simple and consistent
  • Find creative ways to reduce details
  • Decide how many slides to include and what to include
  • Use colours deliberately
  • Use design elements
  • Know your equipment
  • Prepare to deliver
  • Reduce text
  • Graphs and diagrams helps easy illustration
  • Avoid bullets on every slide
  • Avoid clip art in your slides
  • Find or take photos instead

In addition, you can check out our previous blog posts “Powerpoint Presentation Tips” and “Effective Business Presentation Tips” too.

If you want to overcome stage fright and learn to speak with confidence, join a toastmasters club.
You are welcome to visit our Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club (KSTMC) if you are living in Singapore.

Yetti
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club
Past Club President
District 80 Treasurer 2009-2010

“Helping You To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Speak With Confidence!”
Public Speaking Singapore
Public Speaking in Singapore Blog