Members learn communication skills by working in the Competent Communication manual,
a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instill a
basic foundation in public speaking. Participants learn skills related
to use of humor, gestures, eye contact, speech organization and overall
delivery. When finished with this manual, members can choose from 15
advanced manuals to learn skills related to specific interests.
Members also learn leadership skills by taking on various meeting roles and serving as officers at the club and district levels, and by working in the Competent Leadership manual and the High Performance Leadership program.
In our learn-by-doing approach, we don't lecture our members about
leadership skills; we give them responsibilities and ask them to lead.
There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead,
members evaluate one another’s presentations in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what
could be improved. This feedback process is a
key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give
impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings, serve as officers
in various leadership roles and learn rules related to timing, grammar
and parliamentary procedure.
Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who
meet weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills
by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an
impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian.
Sample meeting agenda
| Time |
Role
|
Event
|
Duration
|
| 18:30 |
Meet and Greet
|
Greet
Guests, Set Up Room, Exchange Manuals for Evaluations ... |
|
| 18:40 |
Chairperson |
Open
the meeting |
3 |
|
Toastmaster |
Describe Program |
2 |
| |
Word of the day |
Word of the Day - Explain the word; Contest - who will use the word most often during the meeting? |
1-3 |
| |
1st Speaker |
Competent Communication Manual - 1 - The Ice Breaker
Speak before an audience; Use existing speaking skills; Introduce self to fellow club members. |
4-6 |
| |
2nd Speaker
|
Competent Communication Manual - 5 - Your Body Speaks
Use
stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact to
express tour message and achieve your speech’s purpose; Make your body
language smooth and natural; Focus on methods of delivery as well as
speech content. |
5-7 |
| |
3rd Speaker |
Competent Communication Manual - 7 - Research Your Topic
Collect
information from numerous sources; Carefully support the points and
opinions with specific facts, examples, and illustrations gathered
through research. |
5-7 |
| |
Toastmaster |
Conclude Prepared Speech Portion of Meeting |
1 |
| 19:15 |
Table Topic Master |
Table Topics - 1. Games/Warm-up; 2. Impromptu speeches, 1-2 min each; 3. Vote for favorite TT speake |
10-15 |
| 19:30 |
Break |
|
|
| 19:40 |
General Evaluator |
Introduce evaluators |
1 |
| |
1st Evaluator |
Evaluate speech 1 |
2-3 |
| |
2nd Evaluator |
Evaluate speech 2
|
2-3 |
| |
3rd Evaluator |
Evaluate speech 3
|
2-3 |
| |
Table Topic Evaluator |
Evaluate the table topics portion overall - games/warm-up, selected speeches |
4 |
| |
Ah Counter |
Report on 1. Number of fillers (ah,um); 2. How often used Word of Day |
3 |
| |
Quiz Master |
Quiz on what was said in the meeting. How well did you listen?
|
3
|
| |
Timekeeper |
Report on meeting timing, individual speakers' times |
3
|
| |
General Evaluator |
Evaluate the entire meeting: what worked well, not so well ... |
4-6 |
| 20:12 |
Chairperson
|
Club Business. Awards - Announce Table Topics Winner |
15 |
| |
Close |
Clean Up Room, Meet with Mentors ... |
|
| 