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
Friday, June 16, 2006
Impromptu Speech Success Recipes
SPEECHES
Angela's Advice
How to talk about a subject you know nothing about
If you are going to the AGM and you hold a post, you should have an account of what you have done - especially if you are an accountant. An accountant is expected to be able to quote figures of profit and loss, statistics, no muttering, "Um, I have to check". Similarly, those of use called to speak on a subject we know nothing about have to speak confidently.
A politician may face such a challenge from hecklers. he starts to speak about a subject he knows, something con-controversial. Then a speaker calls out a question on a subject which he knows nothing about or doesn't want to talk about. "Hey - what about the workers!" Maybe that's why hecklers are sometimes ejected.
A politician may face such a challenge from hecklers. he starts to speak about a subject he knows, something con-controversial. Then a speaker calls out a question on a subject which he knows nothing about or doesn't want to talk about. "Hey - what about the workers!" Maybe that's why hecklers are sometimes ejected.
Plan Speeches On Frequent Themes
In Toastmasters we practice at speaking confidently without notes, by being called up to speak after a subject is announced, usually with no indication of the subject. Sometimes we are told the theme of the evening in advance.
Let's suppose you are asked to speak about a subject you know nothing about, which in my case would be finance or football or skiing.
Outsiders Such As Non Skiers
You are an outsider. Some of the audience may be outsiders. One trick is to talk about how outsiders cope. This could be serious. It could be funny. It could be both. And it often makes an orginal speech.
For example, what do Jews do at Christmas? Where do skiers go in summer? What do football fans do on World Cup night - and what do non football fans do?
Angela Lansbury, ACG, CL, member of Harrovians and HOD Toastmasters International clubs in London and Braddell Heights Advanced club in Singapore.
Labels: accountant, AGM, Christmas, finance, football. skiing, funny, Jews, notes, politician, serious, speeches, theme
