Toastmasters Club Helps Members Talk the Talk
By Mika Ono
How would you feel if you were asked to give a speech in
front of 100 people? Panic-stricken? Self-conscious? Just
a little nervous?
Scripps Outstanding Speakers Toastmasters Club helps individuals
develop a successful public speaking style—regardless
of how they feel about speaking in front of a group.
“We are supportive of everyone who comes,” says
Molecular and Experimental Medicine Administrative Assistant
Valerie Moreau, president of the club. "The idea is to try
your best. Others in the group offer encouragement and feedback
on how to improve."
Participants gain experience giving prepared speeches, running
meetings, and speaking extemporaneously (without preparation).
To this end, members take turns filling various roles in each
meeting. These include toastmaster (who runs the meeting),
speaker, speech evaluator, timer of the speeches, grammarian
(who presents the "word of the day"), table topics master
(who prepares topics for extemporaneous speaking), "uh/ah"
counter, and meeting evaluator.
Participants advance at their own pace, working their way
through 10 speeches to develop skills in such areas as organizing
material, gesturing, vocal variety, vocabulary, and ability
to persuade and inspire. Advanced topics are available for
"graduates" of the basic program.
The Scripps Outstanding Speakers group was officially chartered
by Toastmasters International in the fall of 1999, when its
20th member joined. The group is diverse and includes faculty,
postdocs, graduate students, and staff. Many speak English
as a second language.
What keeps members coming back?
"Toastmasters has really helped my public speaking and my
ability to think on my feet," says Kathryn Spencer, scientific
associate in the Cheresh lab. "I can now get past my nervousness
and focus on what I want to say."
"Toastmasters offers a chance to improve my public speaking,"
says Michael Nguyen, systems administrator. "But it’s
also fun! I learn about current events, improve my knowledge
of different cultures, and make new friends. I also enjoy
the international mix. We have people from around the world—England,
France, India, Japan, China... I myself come from Vietnam.
The group shows the real meaning of ‘melting pot.’"
"By attending Toastmasters, I have fun and improve my scientific
presentations at the same time," says Astrid Visser, research
associate in Cell Biology.
The Toastmasters club meets from 1 to 2 PM, usually on the
first three Mondays of each month, in the Ellen Browning Scripps
Conference Room, the fourth floor of the Beckman Building.
New members are welcome.
|
Administrative Assistant Michelle Roberts
and Research Associate Kazunobu Kato participate in the Scripps
Outstanding Speakers Toastmasters Club.
For more information, see:
•Scripps Outstanding
Speakers web site
•Toastmasters
International Organization web site.
|
