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TOASTMASTERS

Three years ago. Saturday morning. Ding …..Ding …..!!! A tasty piece of toast popped up from the toaster. Becky grabbed the ee years ago. Saturday morning. Ding …..Ding …..!!! A tasty piece of toast popped up from the toaster. Becky grabbed the
Thr
t toast, roughly wiped it with bu� er and jam and rushed to school. I was almost late!! I needed to get to school by 9:30am! I oast, roughly wiped it with bu� er and jam and rushed to school. I was almost late!! I needed to get to school by 9:30am! I
r ran to school with a thousand yawns. Finally I arrived in Room 112 and my fi rst Toastmasters Mee� ng started. What a coin-an to school with a thousand yawns. Finally I arrived in Room 112 and my fi rst Toastmasters Mee� ng started. What a coin-
cidence! I remembered the fi rst day I joined Toastmasters, I grabbed a piece of toast and wondered if I was going to make
cidence! I remembered the fi rst day I joined Toastmasters, I grabbed a piece of toast and wondered if I was going to make
various kinds of toast later on but a� er a few minutes, I knew I was wrong.
The coach of Toastmasters, Miss Anna Yu, told us in the fi rst mee� ng that Toastmasters is a group for training public speaking
The coach of Toastmasters, Miss Anna Yu, told us in the fi rst mee� ng that Toastmasters is a group for training public speaking
skills, not making toast. I was shocked and frightened. I had supposed I would be ea� ng lots of toast!!! Bu� er, maple syrup,
skills, not making toast. I was shocked and frightened. I had supposed I would be ea� ng lots of toast!!! Bu� er, maple syrup,
chocolate icing...... My dream was over! However, what came up next really made me addicted to being a Toastmaster.
chocolate icing...... My dream was over! However, what came up next really made me addicted to being a Toastmaster.
Toastmasters Youth Leadership Programme is the full name of this speaking club. At every mee� ng, we will be divided into 3
Toastmasters Youth Leadership Programme is the full name of this speaking club. At every mee� ng, we will be divided into 3
groups. Table topic, prepared speech and evalua� on. Table topic? Sit at a table and make a speech? Of course not, we have
groups. Table topic, prepared speech and evalua� on. Table topic? Sit at a table and make a speech? Of course not, we have
to give responses immediately a� er a topic is released. This is the most exci� ng part of the Toastmasters mee� ng, I would
to give responses immediately a� er a topic is released. This is the most exci� ng part of the Toastmasters mee� ng, I would
say. If you ask any of our members which part is the climax of the mee� ng, they will defi nitely say “TABLE TOPIC!”
“As I’m a freshman, everything is new to me, and I o� en feel nervous. I’ll never forget the fi rst � me I found out I needed to
give a speech in front of others immediately without any prepara� on. I got very nervous and my mind went blank. I could
barely say a word but luckily I managed to fi nish.” our member Sera said.
When I was also a green leaf, I s� ll couldn’t speak fl uently at all but, honestly, I am quite a thick – skinned person so I tried
many � mes to make impromptu speeches in mee� ngs and improvement gradually occurred. The sense of success was estab-
lished and I started loving speaking and being a Toastmaster.
A prepared speech in Toastmasters is totally diff erent from normal speaking in class. Well…. You may think some topics are
boring. ‘Suggest a way to improve your school image’, ‘Express your point of view on xxx policy’ and so on. OH MY GOD! My
English teachers have talked about these topics many � mes! Speeches in Toastmaster are all about crea� vity and your inter-
ests. You can even joke, play games with the audience or sing as long as it is related to your speech. That’s why Toastmasters
is a group that is always fi lled with joy and laughter.
Another special part of Toastmasters is that we have a chance to give comments on other speakers. This is called the “eval-
ua� on”. In toastmasters we don’t just learn to be speakers but to be listeners as well. Our members enjoy hearing encour-
agement and comments so as to improve their next speeches. ‘I am able to say that I have never faced any unpleasant and
impa� ent comment or reac� on from the table. Everyone just concentrates on what the speaker said and point out the things
that they can do be� er or give another round of compliments or encouragement to each other. In real society, this may not
be what every audience will do. However, as an audience, toastmasters must show their respect and concern for others.
They should be respec� ul and engrossed in the speaker’s words. I think this is what a good toastmaster does, and what my
teammates have been doing.’
Last but not least, our fi nal des� na� on for the year is the speaking contest held by our coach. The anxiety and nervousness
reaches its peak when every member has got lots of impressive experience to draw on. The champion of the contest, Jas-
mine, said

‘I was picked to make an impromptu speech. I was really nervous and scared. During the speech, I tripped over my tongue a
li� le and my hands were shaking. I was afraid that I didn’t do well. But at the end of the compe� � on, the judges announced
that I was the champion, I couldn’t believe it. Me? Champion? From that moment on, I learned that “Courage” is the key to
opening the door to success.’

Second runner-up, Iris said ‘To be honest, I am somewhat of a slow thinker in speaking. However, I am so fortune to have
entered the Toastmaster contest even though I am not a member. As a table-topic speaker, I learned the importance of
quick-thinking. My speed of elabora� on and thinking skills have improved. Toastmasters is defi nitely a place for us to polish
our English.’

I have been in Toastmasters for three years. Over these years, my speaking skills have greatly improved and I have gone a
long way to become the chairlady for this year: I defi nitely love being a Toastmaster. Team spirit and fun is always around us.
Some� mes learning English is not just limited to the exam. Think out of the box and you will fi nd another way to build your
mind palace.
Becky Leung (4B)