A
seemingly shy, soft spoken girl steps up to the podium.
She wants to present the word of the day. `I chose the
word audacious because it means bold and daring. These
days there is someone in my heart and I`m not brave
enough to admit how I feel. Hopefully, I can be audacious
enough to tell him one day.` At the Seoul Toastmaster`s
Club, the word `audacious` would become the theme of
the evening.
The
Toastmasters club is a positive support group for people
who wish to improve their public speaking and communication
skills.The Toastmasters originated in California back
in the 1920`s and since then has grown into a worldwide
organization. For many members, it`s not just a place
to make speeches. It`s a place where people can exchange
ideas and make new friends. Shy people can learn how
to come out of their shells and seasoned speakers can
fine tune their leadership skills.
Despite
the very business like photos you may see on their website,
the atmosphere at the Toastmaster`s meeting is very
social and welcoming. People from all walks of life
come to the meetings: Irish, Canadian, Dutch, Caribbean,
American as well as English speaking Koreans who were
educated here and abroad. The ratio of men to women
is about equal.
The
meetings go something like this: The toastmaster of
the evening presides over the session. After the introduction,
someone delivers an extended joke. Following that, someone
else comes up to talk about a word or quote they picked
out and why it`s meaningful to them. Then, an interactive
discussion takes place which is led by yet another MC.
At this particular meeting, the thought provoking topic
was the metrosexual male. Interesting questions were
posed about how far the modern man would go to appear
well groomed. Several people in the audience were called
upon to give spontaneous answers.
The
prepared speech segment is next. A few people are called
upon to deliver a 5-7 minute speech that they memorized
at home. This time around, the topics of the prepared
speeches were: `The shortcomings of the Korean education
system` and `Creating an impact on those around you`.
Some people needed improvement and some were positively
captivating. (Two of the better speakers were lawyers.
It was obvious they were experienced!)
After
all is said and done, specifically appointed evaluators
give constructive comments on each of the speakers.
Then, even the evaluators get evaluated on their commentary!
The
main points that I learned from the couple of hours
I spent there were:
- A good speech has an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
-Timing,
gestures, eye contact and variations of vocal intonations
play an important role in keeping the audience`s attention
-
A sense of humor helps to break the ice and make the
audience feel more at ease
-
When delivering a speech don` t be tentative, distracted
or make unnecessary pauses. Say it like you mean it!
-
And, if you mess up, the way in which you recover yourself
will either redeem you or ruin you.
It may seem unnerving to speak in front of a room full
of strangers, but it really isn`t. The members do their
best to provide an encouraging and unintimidating environment.
First of all, the members are willing to give you their
undivided attention. There`s also lot of laughter and
camaraderie. Some people may receive feedback which
isn`t always good, but it`s always delivered with tact
and good intentions. If you`re looking for a social
gathering that`s also an enjoyable learning experience
then the Toasmasters may be for you! Plus, there`s usually
a round of drinks after!
There are 3 chapters of the Seoul Toastmasters depending
on where you live or work. E-mail:
interview@naver.com for Shinchon chapter
fseaton@tmspeaker.com for North River chapter
thamix@naver.com for South River chapter
The meeting times, locations and contact people sometimes change. Please let seoulstyle know if these e-mail addresses are outdated.
