Sunday, September 13, 2015
Impromptu Table Topics in Singapore, England, the USA and worldwide
At Toastmasters International clubs worldwide visitors and those members not doing a prepared speech or other role are offered the opportunity to speak unplanned, for two minutes on a surprise topic. Past winners often visit clubs giving their tips for a successful table topic. (Table topics were, and still sometimes are, topics picked unseen from the table.)
In London, England, it is more common for the table topics master to read out the subject, allowing everybody in the room a chance to think about it and try to form a quick reply to every subject, then after a brief pause to pick on the person to speak.
The advantage is that not just one person is trained in speaking off the cuff, but as many as 20 to 40 in a room. If you are in the audience and can't think of an answer, you will feel even more admiration and gain extra pleasure from hearing an entertaining or informative answer, and seeing how the topic question could be answered.
If the topics master arrives early at a meeting, and the guests do likewise, the topics master has a chance to befriend the visitors, find out how quickly and easily they respond to questions, and ask if they would be happy to speak. The topics master can adapt the questions, or re-order the questions, giving the first question to a confident speaker, who demonstrates how it is done and sets up an atmosphere of enthusiasm.
Later questions can be given to guests and returning former members, VIP visitors such as the Area Governor who visits twice a year to give a report. (The number of questions can vary from three to ten depending on time, about five or six being more usual.)
In Singapore it is more usual to allow members of the audience to volunteer. The advantages are that you avoid the embarrassment of notebook coming forward - which is more likely in Singapore where greater numbers are shy, or speak English as a second language, than in the USA and UK those who want to speak can do so.
In some clubs the experienced topics masters know that many members speak Singlish and may be reluctant to volunteer. So the topics master encourages volunteers by offering a small gift.
The advantage is that not just one person is trained in speaking off the cuff, but as many as 20 to 40 in a room. If you are in the audience and can't think of an answer, you will feel even more admiration and gain extra pleasure from hearing an entertaining or informative answer, and seeing how the topic question could be answered.
If the topics master arrives early at a meeting, and the guests do likewise, the topics master has a chance to befriend the visitors, find out how quickly and easily they respond to questions, and ask if they would be happy to speak. The topics master can adapt the questions, or re-order the questions, giving the first question to a confident speaker, who demonstrates how it is done and sets up an atmosphere of enthusiasm.
Later questions can be given to guests and returning former members, VIP visitors such as the Area Governor who visits twice a year to give a report. (The number of questions can vary from three to ten depending on time, about five or six being more usual.)
In Singapore it is more usual to allow members of the audience to volunteer. The advantages are that you avoid the embarrassment of notebook coming forward - which is more likely in Singapore where greater numbers are shy, or speak English as a second language, than in the USA and UK those who want to speak can do so.
In some clubs the experienced topics masters know that many members speak Singlish and may be reluctant to volunteer. So the topics master encourages volunteers by offering a small gift.
GIFTS
For example, a table displays several small objects. The speaker can choose one and say why they want or need that item. Then they get to keep it. The first speakers have more choice. Alternatively, everybody can be given the same gift, not the subject of their talk, such as a pencil or chocolate bar.
It's easy and not too expensive to go into a pound shop or 99 c shop and buy a big bag of chocolates or stationery or children's toys or knick-knacks.
UK, Poundland. Japan's Daiso is also found in the USA, Korea, Singapore and elsewhere.
If the club is affluent, they might reimburse the purchaser. Either occasionally or every week. Another way of doing this on a budget would be to ask everybody to bring in a small unwanted item, such as gift from a cereal packet. This could easily be done before or after Xmas or Easter. A variation on Secret Santa when you might set a budget such as bring a gift costing 2 dollars or 5 dollars or more than five but under ten dollars. If the item is, say four dollars, a generous donor might put two in the pack.
Supermarkets often have multi-packs of sweets or pencils or plastic flowers or assortments of gifts.
As a visitor in Singapore, I often wait until after the VIPs such as the president are encouraged to speak first. I volunteer towards the end, especially if they topics master asks the toastmaster of the Evening, "Do we have time for one or two more topics?"
Then I am not pushing myself ahead of the two or three keenest people. But I am not missing out.
Also in a smaller group I may be asked to speak at this point after the other optional speakers have been eliminated. Some have spoken; others have declined to speak.
Next post: My Prize winning table topic on A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush.
In Singapore at Bukit Batok Toastmasters club, 2nd September 2015.
Angela Lansbury CC (Competent Communicator) ACG (Advanced Communicator Gold)
As a visitor in Singapore, I often wait until after the VIPs such as the president are encouraged to speak first. I volunteer towards the end, especially if they topics master asks the toastmaster of the Evening, "Do we have time for one or two more topics?"
Then I am not pushing myself ahead of the two or three keenest people. But I am not missing out.
Also in a smaller group I may be asked to speak at this point after the other optional speakers have been eliminated. Some have spoken; others have declined to speak.
Next post: My Prize winning table topic on A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush.
In Singapore at Bukit Batok Toastmasters club, 2nd September 2015.
Angela Lansbury CC (Competent Communicator) ACG (Advanced Communicator Gold)
Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daiso
https://www.daisosingapore.com.sg/
Please share links to your favourite posts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daiso .)
Labels: 99c shop, budget, Christmas, Daiso, gift, Impromptu speeches, pound shop, Poundland, Singlish, table topics, toys, VIP, volunteering to speak
