Tool to improve quality of evaluations

Evaluations play a key role in developing communication skills. In addition to the evaluation page from the manual, evaluator should prepare handwritten notes on a separate paper capturing details from the speech. Evaluation is about active listening, critical thinking, and then compiling notes captured to develop an insightful, coherent, one-on-one conversation with the speaker. It […]

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About Use of Visual Slides

How do you plan to use visuals in your speech presentation? First of all, when you see use of visuals in a Toastmasters project, keep in mind that a visual can also be a handout that you give to members in audience, or something to show (for example your science project where you might have […]

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Gestures and Body Language

When you speak, your gestures and body language can empower you to emphasize and clarify your words. Body language can help you reinforce sincerity and enthusiasm. Where do you start? Keep our three techniques in mind: 1) develop a message in your own words rather than memorizing the entire speech or reading it, 2) focus on […]

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Cultivate Empathy, Emotional Intelligence using Toastmasters

At toastmasters, we have tools to organize the message, to learn how to listen effectively, to cultivate empathy, emotional intelligence. Speeches and evaluations can help us cultivate this all. Deven’s thoughts on this are in this video. (He gave a speech at his club in Orange, Paul Revere Toastmasters, to record this video)     [Deven’s note: […]

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Table Topics – Impromptu Speaking

At the Toastmasters meeting, the table topics master brings table topics for members. They might develop a theme around a series of questions. For example, it can be about colors, friendships, sports, movies, fiction, high school locker room, or Halloween … the sky is the limit where you can take table topics. You have 20-30 […]

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TOASTMASTERS ROLES

> Role of  Toastmaster > Role of Table Topics Master > Role of Vote Counter > Role of Grammarian > Role of Ah-Counter > Role of Timer YOUR ROLE AS GENERAL EVALUATOR The general evaluator runs the evaluations part of the meeting: Introduces evaluators Requests timing reports and voting for the Best Evaluator award Requests […]

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Let’s Connect: Three Techniques

LET’S FOCUS ON THESE THREE IDEAS: Develop ideas in your own words. What does it mean? Have a list of critical points to develop in your speech. Think about how these points tie into your overall message. Develop each key point in your own words as they come to you naturally. Avoid trying to memorize […]

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Credible Constructive Feedback: Art of Evaluations

WHAT IS AN EVALUATION WHEN YOU ARE AN EVALUATOR?  It is your reaction to the speech as it came across to you: what you saw, heard, and felt in the message. If different individuals give evaluation feedback to the same speaker, will that be different? The answer is yes: each person has a different perspective, […]

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Cultivate Credibility using Different Roles

Evaluations and constructive feedback Three specific techniques for prepared speeches Different roles at toastmasters meeting Impromptu speaking with Table Topics ONE: EVALUATIONS AND CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK Learn to give meaningful constructive feedback using speech evaluations (one-on-one evaluations). I think this should be our top priority this session. This helps in a number of ways: Effective listening […]

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Losing Power AND Point with Power Point? … :)

Can you lose power because of Power Point (or Keynote for that matter)? Can power point get in your way to make a clear point? The answer can be yes. When you are presenting, you are the focal point of your presentation. Or, rather you should be the focal point of your presentation. You are […]

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