Every speech delivered by a Toastmaster comes across as theatric (and therefor a bit phony) to me – no offense meant. Perhaps I’ve just been very unfortunate in my exposure, but the TM speakers I’ve seen seem to pay more attention to style than substance. I do not understand half of what they are saying because their elaborate physical gestures and vocal antics distract me from the message.

However, this is an exercise in overcoming fear and self-doubt plus, I’ll learn how to make proper speeches to boot. They do seem to be a very supportive & warm group. So I hope to make this happen by June or earlier :) 1 week ago

a couple of weeks ago, i attended an event with my support group. It focused on each of us having to go up in front of the group and just talking about whatever, 3 rounds each. it was easy mode though since i knew everyone in the group had the same problem with public speaking, but still, i felt as though i gained some experience points. 3 months ago

I’ve been a Toastmasters for the past 9 years, and it has been a wonderful challenge through which I’ve reaped many rewards such as being a more confident and capable speaker, a better leader and an overall better person, as I became aware of my weak areas.

To those of you who are considering it, don’t hesitate, because there is not better place to learn and develop communication and leadership skills. As our Toastmasters’ motto says, a TM club provides a mutually supportive environment for all members to learn and grow.

Yours in Toastmastering,
Florence De Silva, ACB ALB2 years ago

I am actually enjoying Toastmasters a lot. I don’t know where it will lead yet, but I see that there is so much that I can learn from it.

I get excited thinking about the next meetings, and about when I will get to give my first talk. I already have some topic ideas chosen for future talks. This was definitely a great idea for me. 17 months ago

I will join this club next week, when I go to their next meeting.

I would have joined tonight, I just did not have my joining fee with me. This seems like it will be great for me. I feel that I am fairly good at expressing myself in writing. But not as good at doing it when I speak. I think this exercise will help me to learn to organize my thoughts and express them much more clearly in many different contexts and situations. Also, it will help me to pay attention to the other aspects of communicating verbally – body language, gestures, and things of that nature. I am looking forward to it.

I am fairly certain that my future career involves communication in a major way. I have named the area that I am wanting to enter next “Science Communication”, although since that is not really a named field at this point it can’t really go on my resume. I can still improve my skills though, and have a clear understanding of what it is that I want to do.

Cheers. 17 months ago