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Toastmasters

Have you ever heard of “PREP”: Point - Reason - Example - Point?
This is one of the many methods for public speaking given in the
Toastmaster meetings this year.
Public speaking is often something that has even the most confident
of us shaking at the knees, and there is a reason for this, it is an art
form, and is a skill that needs to be practised in order to achieve
perfection. While some people are better than others speaking in
public, we can all improve and build on our current public speaking
skills. Give it a try!

5D Kaman Cheung
The clock is ticking as it is my third and last year of joining Toastmasters, a
programme that I have personally found incredibly meaningful. I went from being
an apprentice to being a veteran member. This club means a lot to me, and I have
grown a lot during my time here. Two years ago, I was apprehensive and lacked
confidence to speak in front of people, but now I can give speeches in front of an
audience confidently and without many nerves. I have also learned how to enrich
my speech by using the “PREP” method: Point - Reason - Example - Point. Bit by
bit, I have seen progress in my public speaking skills.
Participating in Toastmasters was just like sharing my own thoughts and joy with friends. Through simple and relaxing
meetings, I learned an abundance of English vocabulary, various English skills and the meaning of teamwork. The
members were also very engaging, which I really appreciated. I think Toastmasters provides a good opportunity for
students to speak courageously and practice speaking in fluent English, because even if they make some mistakes, they
can still improve and progress with the encouragement of tutors and other members. We don't need to worry about being
ridiculed or embarrassed. Members and mentors just chatted happily, it was not a big matter if they did not speak perfectly.
Moreover, they can benefit a lot from the conversation! I believe that the skills learned, including English speaking skills,
and the ability to plan activities can be used throughout my life, helping me to progress in the future.
A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. — Elbert Hubbard

5B Cherry Kwan
Time flies, it’s already been a year since I joined Toastmasters. Although this is my second year being the chairlady, I still
found difficulties in preparation. For example, there was a lack of topics for each meeting. However, compared to the past
few years, I have gained a lot of experience, and I have become more confident while speaking in front of the public.
I’m glad that I joined this team, and I can confidently say that ‘Life would not be the same without Toastmasters’. I always
felt lucky participating in every meeting because I’ve had the chance to speak in public while most of the others have not.
This year, the most useful tip for table topics I’ve learnt is the ‘PREP’ method shared by one of our guests: Point - Reason -
Examples - Point! It’s useful for us to handle different types of questions, especially the 1-minute individual response in the
DSE English speaking exam! This tip always gives me lots of ideas, even when I feel nervous while speaking. Sometimes,
you may not realise the importance of these tips, but they all become useful one day. As a result, I have no regrets joining
Toastmasters.
Despite not having many meetings in a term, the chairladies of
Toastmasters still cooperated well before every meeting. Last year, I
often lacked time to prepare before meetings. This year, thanks to my
partners, I’ve been able to arrange every detail. At first, none of us
could perform well, but practice makes perfect. We all felt successful
after holding the meetings.

Next year, because of the DSE, I cannot join Toastmasters again.
However, I believe there will be new members joining this incredible
experience. I know that going to school on Saturdays is tough, but
it only takes 1.5 hours each time, and you will get the chance to
improve your speaking. We do not only learn from teachers, but from
every guest, member, and ourselves. In the next academic year, I
hope to see you joining Toastmasters!
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