Q1: What is this program?
A: See our home page to learn more about it (click here)
Q2: Is there any cost to join the program?
A: There is no cost to join the program. However, it requires a firm commitment to attend all scheduled classes.
Q3: How many new member teenagers (students) are added to the program annually?
A: It depends on the available coaching bandwidth. While there is no fixed number, we have typically been able to add new teenagers to the program every year.
The Toastmasters classes run in a workshop format, with everyone having a role each week and focusing on various communication skills from one week to the next. That limits the number of teenagers we can have in one group (class). We have been able to scale the program thanks to coaching volunteers, which allow us to add more groups.
We welcome new teenagers and families. We look forward to the new ideas, new energy, enthusiasm, fresh perspective, and colors that every new teenager brings. It enriches the experience of everyone in the program.
So far, we have taken all interested families in the program (sometimes with a little bit of wait time).
Notes:
- If you have done Toastmasters in previous years, you will be a returning member. We have your contact info and send invites at the start of every quarter. Please skip Q2-5 and go straight to Q6. Thank you for your continuing interest in Toastmasters.
Q4: What is the starting age for Toastmasters?
A: The starting age for the Toastmasters youth program is 13 years. We give older teenagers priority. For example, a 14-year-old should get a first chance before a 13-year-old.
Q5: How do you register for Toastmasters?
A: Please submit the form on our contact page (click here).
Q6: What if we don’t make a list this quarter?
A: We keep you on a future list. We handle requests on a first-come, first-served basis. If you had to wait, your priority at the next opportunity would go up, as your request date would be that much earlier.
Again, we have taken in all interested families in the program (sometimes with a little wait time). We hope to continue doing so unless demand becomes too overwhelming to handle.
Q7: What if you start Toastmasters at an older age?
A: That is fine. We have several examples of teenagers starting at older ages, ranging from 14 to 17 years, who have done well. One advantage of joining when you are older is more maturity. It makes it easier for you to grasp and implement the ideas.
No need to think or worry that you will miss out on any part of the opportunity if you start at an older age.
Q8: Are we graduating from one class to the next while continuing the program?
A: Right now, all the groups are the same. We distribute the age group and experience level evenly across groups.
Your group probably will change from one quarter to the next, so you get exposure to different peers and coaches.
When we add new teenagers/families to the program doing Toastmasters for the first time, we try to keep them together in one group and bring them along for the first three months. After that, they merge with other ongoing groups. We mix the age group with this first-timers group and quarter as well.
Q9: When we get invited to enroll and start the program, what if we have other conflicting activities?
A: That is fine. In that case, let us know, and you will have a chance to secure a spot in a future quarter when we add new students to the program.
The program does require commitment and regular attendance. So, you are strongly encouraged to review everything you might have to decide whether this is something you can take on as an additional activity. We encourage and appreciate you reviewing the schedule before committing to sign up. It will help us help you maximize returns from the precious time you invest in this.
Q10: If you are returning (ongoing and not a first-timer to the program) family in the program, do you have to commit to and join Toastmasters every quarter?
A: From our experience, continuity helps. However, we understand you might have a lot going on as well. Therefore, we schedule Toastmasters classes for 8-10 weeks. If you have to skip a quarter and would like to resume from the next, that is fine.
Q11: When we decide to join for a particular quarter, why is it a requirement to commit to the schedule and attend classes regularly for that quarter?
- If you don’t attend classes regularly and participate actively, you dilute others’ experience. Families invest precious time in this, and we are very sensitive to not compromising their returns. It adds to coaches’ bandwidth demand to make it run smoothly.
- It causes headaches for everyone involved in the program (other students, families, coaches).
We assume you looked at everything you might have going on with activities and your family calendar, reviewed the schedule carefully, and planned ahead of time so the published program would work for you.
We understand that things can happen. For example, what if you get sick, have a mishap during a sports activity, or face an unforeseen family emergency? The overall spirit of the engagement is that you plan to commit to and attend all classes, and you don’t have any known, planned conflicts.