Education Program Manuals, ends July 2020
Upon completion of any awards, please ask a current club officer to submit your application online. If no current officer has online access, mail OR fax (one method only please) the completed form to:
Member Services, Education Awards
education@toastmasters.org
The Traditional Program Awards
- Application From →
- Complete all 10 projects in the Competent Communication manual.
- Application Form →
- Complete all 10 projects in the Competent Leadership manual.
- ACB
- Received Competent Communicator award (Or received Competent Toastmaster award)
- Completed two Advanced Communication manuals. (Attach Project Completion Record from each manual.)
- ACS
- Received Advanced Communicator Bronze (Or received Able Toastmaster award or Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award)
- Completed two Advanced Communication manuals. (Attach Project Completion Record from each manual.)
- Conducted two presentations from The Better Speaker Series and/or The Successful Club Series.
(Success/Communication, Success/Leadership, Youth Leadership workshops and The Leadership Excellence Series do not qualify.) Presentation date may not be one used previously.- [D5 Tip] The two presentations are module presentations. You can follow the link to download them for free, or you can purchase the hard copy from TI.
- [D5 Tip] The presentation is normally 15 minutes. Consult your VPE to schedule accordingly.
- ACG
- Received Advanced Communicator Silver (Or received Able Toastmaster Bronze or Advanced Toastmaster Silver)
- Completed two Advanced Communication manuals. (Attach Project Completion Record from each manual.)
- Coordinated and conducted one Success/Communication, Success/Leadership or Youth Leadership workshop. (The Better Speaker Series, The Successful Club Series, and The Leadership Excellence Series do not qualify.) Presentation date may not be one used previously.
- [Tip of D5] This workshop speeches are very long. It might be impractical to conduct it in your club. Look for special events held by advanced clubs to see how it’s done and schedule your presentation accordingly.
- Coached a new member with his or her first three speeches.
- ALB
- Achieved Competent Leader (CL)
- Achieved Competent Communicator (CC) award (or achieved Competent Toastmaster award)
- Served at least six months* as a club officer (president, vice president education, vice president membership, vice president public relations, secretary, treasurer, or sergeant at arms) and participated in the preparation of a Club Success Plan while serving in this office. (*You must have served as an officer from July 1 through December 31 or January 1 through June 30 to fulfill this requirement. Other six-month periods do not qualify. The six months must be completed at the time you submit this application.)
- While serving in above officer term, participated in a district-sponsored club-officer training program.
- Conducted two presentations from The Successful Club Series and/or The Leadership Excellence Series. (Success/Communication, Success/ Leadership, Youth Leadership and The Better Speaker Series do not qualify.) Presentation date may not be one used previously.
- [Tip of D5] The two presentations are module presentations. You can follow the link to download them for free, or you can purchase the hard copy from TI.
- [Tip of D5] The presentation is normally 15 minutes. Consult your VPE to schedule accordingly.
- ALS
- Received Advanced Leader Bronze award (or “old” Competent Leader award)
- Served a complete term* (July 1 – June 30) as a district officer (*Term must be completed at the time you submit this application.)
- Completed the High Performance Leadership program.
- Served successfully as a
- new club sponsor or
- new club mentor or
- club coach
- DTM
- Complete ACG
- Complete ALS
- DTM APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE A STREET ADDRESS, NOT A P. O. BOX MONTH YEAR REQUIRED FOR DTM.
Advanced Communication Series Manuals
Special Thanks to Richard Rettig, DTM for pulling this together.
ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS
After you, as a member of Toastmasters, complete the ten basic speeches in the Competent Communication manual, you immediately become eligible to begin work on any one of the 15 manuals in The Advanced Communicator Series.
After you have accomplished all 10 assignments in the basic manual, you pick out two advanced manuals to work on next. A club officer notifies Toastmaster International: (1) that you have finished the basic manual and (2) which two advanced manuals you have chosen. Toastmasters International then certifies that you are a Competent Communicator, notifies your employer (if you so choose), and sends you the first two advanced manuals at no charge.
The Advanced Communication Series trains you for speaking situations that may occur outside of your Toastmasters’ club!
Each of the advanced manuals in the series assumes that you already know the basics of speech—such as organization, voice, gestures, etc.—but not necessarily that your skills are fully developed. The manuals focus on four principles:
- The five projects in each manual increase in difficulty as you progress from project one to project five
- Each topic makes use of techniques learned in previous projects and assumes you will use them when appropriate
- For each project you receive more information than the project requires, thereby giving you ideas for future talks
- Besides just reading about a project, you learn from preparing the speech and actually delivering it
You get to choose from these 15 manuals:
- The Entertaining Speaker (item 226A)
- Speaking to Inform (Item 226B)
- Public Relations (Item 226C)
- Facilitating Discussion (Item 226D)
- Specialty Speeches (Items 226E)
- Speeches By Management (Item226F)
- The Professional Speaker (Item 226G)
- Technical Presentations (Item 226H)
- Persuasive Speaking (Item 226I)
- Communicating On Video (Item 226J)
- Storytelling (Item 226K)
- Interpretive Reading (Item 226L)
- Interpersonal Communication (Item 226M)
- Special Occasion Speeches (Item 226N)
- Humorously Speaking (Item 226O)
Storytelling
Storytelling has been a form of communication throughout the history of mankind It’s a part of every civilization on every continent. Early storytellers told of the deeds of their heroes; these stories were expanded over the years to include tales and fables.
Storytelling continues to be popular. People love to hear and tell stories. Storytelling is great entertainment, yet it has a purpose, too. We tell stories to children to introduce them to the world of literature. In many families, tales about family history and ancestors are passed down from generation to generation through storytelling. Many public speakers tell stories as part of their presentations. They find that a well-told story will attract listeners’ attention and can emphasize or illustrate a point
This manual will help you develop your storytelling skills.
Project 1.—The Folk Tale
Objective:
- Tell a folk tale that is entertaining and enjoyable for a specific age group. Time: Seven to nine minutes
Project 2.—Let’s Get Personal
Objective:
- Learn the elements of a good story
- Create and tell an original story based on a personal experience
Time: Six to eight minutes
Project 3.—The Moral of the Story
Objective:
- Understand that a story can be entertaining yet display moral values
- Create a new story that offers a lesson or moral
- Tell the story, using the skills developed in the previous two projects Time: Four to six minutes
Project 4—The Touching Story
Objective:
- Understand the techniques available to arouse emotion
- Become skilled in arousing emotions while telling a story
Time: Six to eight minutes
Project 5—Bringing History to Life
Objective:
- Understand the purpose of stories about historical events or people
- Use the storytelling skills developed in the preceding projects to tell a story about a historical event or person
Time Seven to nine minutes
Persuasive Speaking
The ability to influence people and persuade them to accept your ideas, products, or services is vital if you want to succeed. Persuasion is a vital ingredient of leadership. Leaders are able to use the power of persuasion to motivate others to achieve a goal. Like other speaking skills, persuasion can be learned. It just takes practice. This manual can help.
Project 1—The Effective Salesperson
Objectives:
- Learn a technique for selling an inexpensive product in a retail store
- Recognize a buyer’s thought processes in making a purchase
- Elicit information from a prospective buyer through questions
- Match the buyer’s situation with the most appropriate product
Time: Eight to twelve minutes
Project 2—Conquering the “Cold Call”
Objectives:
- Learn a technique for “cold call” selling of expensive products or services
- Recognize the risks buyers assume in purchasing
- Use questions to help the buyer discover problems with his or her current situation
- Successfully handle buyer’s objections and concerns
Time: Ten to fourteen minutes
Project 3—The Winning Proposal
Objectives:
- Prepare a proposal advocating a course of action
- Organize the proposal using the six-step method provided
Time: Five to seven minutes
Project 4—Addressing the Opposition
Objectives:
- Prepare a talk on a controversial subject that persuades an audience to accept or at least consider your viewpoint
- Construct the speech to appeal to the audience’s logic and emotions
Time: Seven to nine minutes for the speech, and two to three minutes for the question-and-answer period
Project 5—The Persuasive Leader
Objectives:
- Communicate your vision and mission to the audience
- Convince your audience to work toward achieving your vision and mission
Time: Six to eight minutes
Public Relations
Almost all of us are in the public relations business. Our “public” may be large or small; we may represent a large corporation or just ourselves. In either case, the need for effective communication is the same.
Project 1—The Public Relations Speech
Objectives:
- Prepare a talk that will build goodwill for your organization by supplying useful information of interest to the audience
- Favorably influence the audience by the skillful and friendly delivery of your talk
Time: Five to seven minutes
Project 2.—Resources of Goodwill
Objectives:
- Research the operation and benefits of an organization or company
- Prepare a talk designed to build goodwill toward it by presenting factual information
- Analyze the common interests of your audience and focus your presentation on those interests
- Effectively use at least one visual aid to enhance the audience’s understanding
Time: Eight to ten minutes
Project 3—The Persuasive Approach
Objectives:
- Direct a persuasive appeal to the audience’s self-interests using a combination of fact and emotion in a speech delivered in such a manner that it appears extemporaneous
- Persuade the audience to adopt your viewpoint by the use of standard persuasive techniques
Time: Eight to ten minutes
Project 4—Speaking Under Fire
Objective:
- Prepare a talk to persuade a hostile audience at least to consider your position on a controversial issue
- Conduct a question-and-answer period on the speech subject
Time: Six to eight minutes for the speech—Eight to ten minutes for the question period
Project 5—The Media Speech
Objectives:
- Write a speech script on behalf of a social cause
- Using the script, present the speech to persuade a general television audience
Time: Eight minutes, plus or minus 30 seconds*
This project has a special requirement to simulate a television broadcast. Make arrangements in advance for the proper equipment. If at all possible, a club might arrange for their members to witness an actual studio production as a helpful preparation for this project.
SPEAKING TO INFORM—We are in the midst of an information explosion. It has been said that the average person today absorbs more than 20,000 words of information every day, picked up from sources ranging from the Internet, television to cereal boxes.
Our problem is not to acquire more knowledge but to organize and communicate the information we already have. The elements of an informative speech common to projects in this manual are:
- Contains new and useful information for the audience
- Organized to be understandable and easily retained
- Presented in a way that will make the audience want to learn
Project 1.—The Speech to Inform
Objectives:
- Select new and useful information for presentation to the audience
- Organize information for easy understandability and retention
- Present the information in a way that will help motivate the audience to learn
Time: Five to seven minutes
Project 2.—Resources for Informing
Objectives:
- Analyze the knowledge level of your audience regarding your chosen subject
- Focus your presentation on the audience’s level of knowledge
- Build a supporting case for each major point through use of explanation, examples, and information gathered research
- Effectively use at least one visual aid to enhance the audience’s understanding
Time: Eight to ten minutes
Project 3.—The Demonstration Talk
Objectives:
- Prepare a demonstration speech to clearly explain a process, product, or activity
- Conduct the demonstration as part of a speech delivered without notes
Time: Ten to twelve minutes
Project 4.—A Fact-Finding Report
Objectives:
- Prepare a report on a situation, event, or problem of interest to the audience
- Deliver sufficient factual information so the audience can base valid conclusions or a sound decision on it
Time: Ten to twelve minutes
Project 5—The Abstract Concept
Objectives:
- Research and organize the thought of experts on an abstract concept, theory, historical force, or social/political issue
- Present the ideas in a clear and interesting manner
Time: Ten to twelve minutes
SPEACHES BY MANAGEMENT—Your success as a manager depends largely on your ability to communicate effectively in a variety of speaking situations. Today’s managers are frequently asked to give formal speeches on current issues that relate to their area of expertise and to handle confrontations with the public their organization serves. They also face the challenge of developing positive and productive relationships with employees who, in many cases, are more dedicated to meeting personal needs than organizational objectives.
Project 1—The Briefing
Objectives:
- Apply the key steps in the preparation of a briefing and the organization of material
- Give a briefing according to a specific objective so the audience will have an understanding of the information
- Effectively handle a question-and-answer session following the briefing
Time: Eight to ten minutes—Five minutes for question period
Project 2—The Technical Speech
Objectives:
- Convert a technical paper or technical material into a technical speech
- Organize a technical speech according to the inverted-pyramid approach
- Write a technical speech as “spoken language,” not as an article
- Give the speech by effectively reading out loud.
Time: Eight to ten minutes
Project 3—Manage and Motivate
Objectives:
- Understand the concept and nature of motivational management
- Apply a four-step motivational method with the objectives to persuade and inspire
- Deliver a motivational speech to persuade an audience to agree with your management proposal
Time: Ten to twelve minutes
Project 4—The Status Report
Objectives:
- Organize and prepare a status report involving the overall condition of a plan or program, or performance of a department of a company in relation to its goals
- Construct the report according to a four-step pattern
- Give an effective presentation of the report
Time: Ten to twelve minutes
Project 5—Confrontation: The Adversary Relationship
Objectives:
- Understand the definition and nature of the adversary relationship
- Prepare for an adversary confrontation on a controversial management issue
- Employing appropriate preparation methods, strategy, and techniques, for communicating with an adversary group as the representative of your company or corporation
Time: Five minutes for speech—Ten minutes for question period
FACILITATING DISCUSSION—The presentations you will give from this manual do not require you to stand up and give a speech. In these projects you lead groups of people in discussions
Project 1—The Panel Moderator
Objectives:
- Select a topic for a panel discussion
- Identify differing viewpoints to be addressed by panelists
- Organize and moderate a panel discussion
Recommended time: 28 to 30 minutes
Optional time: 22 to 26 minutes
Project 2—The Brainstorming Session
Objectives:
- Select a problem for a brainstorming session for which you serve as facilitator
- Conduct a brainstorming session
- Have participants reduce the list of ideas to the three best
Recommended time: 31 to 33 minutes
Optional time: 20 to 22 minutes
Project 3—The Problem-Solving Discussion
Objectives:
- Discuss the three ideas generated in Project 2.
- Determine which one best resolves the problem
Recommended time: 26 to 31 minutes
Optional time: 19 to 23 minutes
Project 4—Handling Challenging Situations
Objectives:
- Select a problem and ask club members to discuss and resolve it by either a majority vote or by compromise
- Serve as facilitator for the discussion
- Effectively handle members’ behavioral problems that may interfere with the discussion
Recommended time: 22 to 32 minutes
Optional time: 12 to 21 minutes
Project 5—Reaching a Consensus
Objectives:
- Select a problem for the group to discuss and resolve
- As facilitator, help the group reach a consensus
Recommended time: 31 to 37 minutes
Optional time: 20 to 26 minutes
SPECIAL OCCASION SPEECHES—Occasionally you may be called on to give a special kind of speech, one presented in honor of a friend, relative, or co-worker. Perhaps a loved one has passed away and you will be saying a few words at the service. Or you have been invited to a formal awards banquet at which you will be a recipient. Such speeches are indeed challenging, but you can give them successfully.
Project 1—Mastering the Toast
Objectives:
- Recognize the characteristics of a toast
- Present a toast honoring an occasion or a person
Time: 2-3 minutes
Project 2—Speaking in Praise
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech praising or honoring someone, either living or dead
- Address five areas concerning the individual and his/her accomplishments
- Include anecdotes illustrating points within the speech
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—The Roast
Objectives:
- Poke fun at a particular individual in a good-natured way
- Adapt and personalize humor from other sources
- Deliver jokes and humorous stories effectively
Time: 3-5 minutes
Project 4—Presenting an Award
Objectives:
- Present an award with dignity and grace
- Acknowledge the contributions of the recipient
Time: 3-4 minutes
Project 5—Accepting an Award
Objectives:
- Accept an award with dignity, grace, and sincerity
- Acknowledge the presenting organization
Time: 5-7 minutes
SPECIALTY SPEECHES—Today’s leaders are relied upon to handle many different communications situations. The projects in this manual introduce some particular speech disciplines designed to help you prepare for distinctive communication situations.
Project 1—Impromptu Speaking
Objectives:
- Develop an awareness of situations in which you might be called upon to deliver an impromptu speech
- Understand how to prepare for impromptu speaking
- Use one or more patterns to approach a topic under discussion; for example, comparing a past, present, and future situation or before and after
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Uplift the Spirit
Objectives:
- Identify and understand the basic differences and similarities between inspirational and other kinds of speeches
- Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and establish emotional support
- Develop a speech style and delivery that effectively expresses inspirational content by moving the audience to adopt your views
Time: 8-10 minutes
Project 3—Sell a Product
Objectives:
- Understand the relationship of sales techniques to persuasion
- Skillfully use the four steps in a sales presentation: attention, interest, desire, action
- Identify and promote a unique selling proposition in a sales presentation
- Be able to handle objections and close a prospective buyer
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 4—Read Out Loud
Objectives:
Arrive at an understanding of the elements that comprise oral interpretation and how it differs from preparing and giving a speech
- Learn the preparation or planning techniques of effective interpretation
- Learn the principles of presentation and develop skill in interpretive reading with regard to voice and body as instruments of communication
Time: 12-15 minutes
Project 5—Introduce the Speaker
Objectives:
- Focus on the special occasion talk from the standpoint of the introducer (function chair, toastmaster, master of ceremonies)
- Become knowledgeable and skilled in the functions associated with the master of ceremonies
- Handle the introduction of other speakers at a club meeting
Time: The duration of a club meeting. (To be arranged with the vice president of education)
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION—In your Toastmasters training to date, there is very little interaction between you and your listeners. Think about your daily life, however, and another type of communication becomes important. Each day, you interact with many people in a variety of situations. Special skills are needed to successfully handle these types of situations. All the projects in this manual require you to work with a partner, enacting role plays.
Project 1—Conversing With Ease
Objectives:
- Identify techniques to use in conversing with stranger
- Recognize different levels of conversation
- Initiate a conversation with a stranger
- Use open-ended questions to solicit information for further conversation
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 2—The Successful Negotiator
Objectives:
- Employ win-win negotiating strategies to achieve your goals
- Enjoy the benefits of win-win negotiating
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 3—Defusing Verbal Criticism
Objectives:
- Respond non-defensively to verbal criticism
- Employ a five-step method to identify a p/problem, defuse the attack, and arrive at a solution
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 4—The Coach
Objectives:
- Determine reasons for someone’s substandard performance
- Coach the person to improve performance
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 5—Asserting Yourself Effectively
Objectives:
- Enjoy the mental and physical benefits of being assertive
- Employ the four-step method for addressing a problem and asking for help
- Overcome resistance to your requests
Time: 10-14 minutes
INTERPRETIVE READING—Interpretive reading has many other names: oral interpretation, oral reading, dramatic reading, reading aloud, interpretive speech. Whatever you call it, it’s an important yet little-understood form of communication.
Project 1—Read a Story
Objectives:
- To understand the elements of interpretive reading
- To learn how to analyze a narrative and plan for effective interpretation
- To learn and apply vocal techniques that will aid in the effectiveness of the reading
Time 8-10 minutes
Project 2—Interpreting Poetry
Objectives:
- To understand the differences between prose and poetry
- To recognize how poets use imagery, rhythm, meter, cadence, and rhyme to convey the meaning and emotions of poetry
- To apply vocal techniques that will aid in the effectiveness of the reading
Time: 6-8 minutes
Project 3—The Monodrama
Objectives:
- To understand the concept and nature of the monodrama
- To assume the identity of a character and to portray the physical and emotional aspects of the character to the audience
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—The Play
Objectives:
- To adapt a play for interpretive reading
- To portray several characters in one reading, identifying them to the audience through voice changes and movement
Time: 12-15 minutes
Project 5—The Oratorical Speech
Objectives:
- To understand the structure of an effective speech
- To interpret an present a famous speech
Time: 8-10 minutes
COMMUNICATING ON VIDEO—Video is a part of our daily lives. Television presentations are different from other presentation, and they require special consideration. Some of these considerations are: Time; Audience; Action; Distractions: and Appearance, This manual is designed to take you through learning experiences, of some of the program formats in which you most likely participate.
Project 1—Straight Talk
Objectives:
- To effectively present an opinion or viewpoint in a short time
- To simulate giving a presentation as part of a video broadcast
Time: 3 minutes, plus or minus 30 seconds
Project 2—The Interview Show
Objectives:
- To understand the dynamics of an interview or “talk” show
- To prepare for the questions that may be asked during an interview program
- To present a positive image .on camera
- To appear as a guest on a simulated video talk show
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—When You’re the Host
Objectives:
- To understand a successful interview
- To understand the dynamics of a successful interview or talk show
- To prepare questions to ask during the interview program
- To prepare a positive, confident image on camera
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—The Press Conference
Objectives:
- To understand the nature of a video broadcast press conference
- To prepare for an adversary confrontation on a controversial or sensitive issue.
- To employ appropriate preparation methods and strategies for communicating your organization’s viewpoint
- To present and maintain a positive image
Time: 3-5 minutes for presentation, 2-3 minutes for question period
Project 5—Instructing on the Internet
Objectives:
- To learn how to develop and present an effective training program on the Web
- To receive personal feedback through the videorecording of your presentation
Time: 5-7 minutes for the presentation, plus 5-7 minutes for playback of the video
TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS—Technical presentations are usually given in business, scientific, or government meetings, but the skills needed to give a technical presentation can be adapted to any teaching or coaching situation.
Project 1—The Technical Briefing
Objectives:
- Using a systematic approach, organize technical/specialized material into a concise presentation
- Tailor the presentation to the audience’s needs, interests, and knowledge levels.
Time: 8-10 minutes
Project 2—The Proposal
Objectives:
- Prepare a technical presentation advocating a product, service, idea, or action
- Present your viewpoint logically and convincingly, using an inverted pyramid approach.
- Effectively use Microsoft PowerPoint with a laptop computer to illustrate your message
- Effectively handle a question and answer period
Time: 8-10 minutes for speech; 3-5 minutes for Q&A
Project 3—The Nontechnical Audience
Objectives:
- Understand the principles of communicating complex information to nontechnical listeners
- Build and deliver an interesting talk on these principles
- Answer questions that arise during the presentation
- Use a Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow to illustrate your message
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 4—Presenting a Technical Paper
Objectives:
- Deliver an interesting speech based on a technical paper or article
- Effectively use a Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow to illustrate your theme
- Provide additional information, such as answers to questions, using a flip chart
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 5—Enhancing a Technical Talk with the Internet
Objectives:
- Understand the nature and process of a technical presentation supported with professional-level visual aids*
- Arrange pre-meeting communications via email
- Find or create a post-meeting website for further dissemination of information supporting or enhancing your verbal presentation. You may create a Web page and add it to your club’s website, making use of podcasting, webcasting, or a basic Internet template.
- Use a desktop computer, Microsoft Word, a Web browser, a simple graphics program for photos and other images, as well as a flipchart
Time: 12-15 minutes—longer if club program allows
HUMOROUSLY SPEAKING—The purpose of this manual is not to make you a comedian. Its purpose is simply to help you use humor in the speeches you normally give to attract and retain the audience’s interest and make points more effectively.
Project 1—Warm Up Your Audience
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens with a humorous story
- Personalize the story
- Deliver the story smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Leave Them With A Smile
Objectives:
- Prepare a serious speech that opens and closes with humorous stories
- Prepare a closing story that reemphasizes the speech’s main point
- Deliver the stories smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—Make Them Laugh
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens and closes with humorous stories
- Include jokes in the speech body to illustrate points or maintain audience interest
- Deliver the jokes and stories smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—Keep Them Laughing
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens with a self-deprecating joke
- String together tow or three related jokes in the speech body
- Close the speech with a humorous story
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 5—The Humorous Speech
Objectives:
- Use exaggeration to tell a humorous story
- Entertain the audience
- Effectively use body language and voice to enhance the story
Time: 5-7 minutes
THE ENTERTAINING SPEAKER—People like to be entertained. The purpose of an entertaining speaker is simply to offer listeners a pleasant diversion. There is a misconception among some people that entertaining speakers need to be funny. This isn’t necessarily so. This manual will help you learn to give different kinds of entertaining speeches.
Project 1—The Entertaining Speech
Objectives:
- Entertain the audience by relating a personal experience
- Organize an entertaining speech for maximum impact
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Resources for Entertainment
Objectives:
- Draw entertaining material from sources other than your own personal experience
- Adapt your material to suit your topic
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—Make Them Laugh
Objectives:
- Prepare a humorous speech drawn from your own experience
- Strengthen the speech by adopting and personalizing humorous material from outside sources
- Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humor effective
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—A Dramatic Talk
Objectives:
- Develop a dramatic talk about an experience or incident
- Include vivid imagery, characters, and dialogue
- Deliver the talk in an entertaining manner
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 5—Speaking After Dinner
Objectives:
- Prepare an entertaining after-dinner talk on a specific theme
- Deliver the talk using the skills developed in the preceding projects
Time: 8-10 minutes
THE PRPFESSIONAL SPEAKER—The best road to becoming a professional speaker is first become a talented amateur. Professionalism in public speaking is a matter of attitude reflected in a speaker’s preparation, commitment, and enthusiasm. When you are billed as a professional speaker, your audience expects nothing less than a professional performance. This manual is designed to take you through learning experiences involving the five kinds of speeches that professionals give.
Project 1—The Keynote Address
Objectives:
- Identify the basic differences between keynote speeches and other kinds of speeches
- Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and establish emotional rapport
- Learn and use the professional techniques necessary for a successful keynote presentation
- Develop a speech style and delivery that effectively inspires and moves the audience to adopt you views as a collective reaffirmation of its own.
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
Project 2—Speaking to Entertain
Objectives:
- Entertain the audience through the use of humor drawn from personal; experience and from other material that you’ve personalized
- Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humor effective
- Establish personal rapport with your audience for maximum impact
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows.
Project 3—The Sales Training Speech
Objectives:
- Tell a sales audience how to sell a product by using a planned presentation
- Inform a sales training audience about the human experience of the buyer-seller relationship
- Use entertaining stories and dynamic examples of sales situations
- Inspire sales people to want to succeed in selling
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
Project 4—The Professional Seminar
Objectives:
- Plan and present a seminar with specific learning objectives
- Relate to the audience by using a seminar presentation style
- Use seminar presentation techniques to promote group participation,
learning, and personal growth.
Time: 20-40 minutes
Project 5—The Motivational Speech
Objectives:
- Understand the concept and nature of motivational speaking
- Apply a four-step motivational method with the purpose of persuading and inspiring
- Deliver a motivational speech to persuade an audience to emotionally commit to action
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
Speeches By Management
Your success as a manager depends largely on your ability to communicate effectively in a variety of speaking situations. Today’s managers are frequently asked to give formal speeches on current issues that relate to their area of expertise and to handle confrontations with the public their organization serves. They also face the challenge of developing positive and productive relationships with employees who, in many cases, are more dedicated to meeting personal needs than organizational objectives.
Project 1—The Briefing
Objectives:
- Apply the key steps in the preparation of a briefing and the organization of material
- Give a briefing according to a specific objective so the audience will have an understanding of the information
- Effectively handle a question-and-answer session following the briefing
Time: Eight to ten minutes—Five minutes for question period
Project 2—The Technical Speech
Objectives:
- Convert a technical paper or technical material into a technical speech
- Organize a technical speech according to the inverted-pyramid approach
- Write a technical speech as “spoken language,” not as an article
- Give the speech by effectively reading out loud.
Time: Eight to ten minutes
Project 3—Manage and Motivate
Objectives:
- Understand the concept and nature of motivational management
- Apply a four-step motivational method with the objectives to persuade and inspire
- Deliver a motivational speech to persuade an audience to agree with your management proposal
Time: Ten to twelve minutes
Project 4—The Status Report
Objectives:
- Organize and prepare a status report involving the overall condition of a plan or program, or performance of a department of a company in relation to its goals
- Construct the report according to a four-step pattern
- Give an effective presentation of the report
Time: Ten to twelve minutes
Project 5—Confrontation: The Adversary Relationship
Objectives:
- Understand the definition and nature of the adversary relationship
- Prepare for an adversary confrontation on a controversial management issue
- Employing appropriate preparation methods, strategy, and techniques, for communicating with an adversary group as the representative of your company or corporation
Time: Five minutes for speech—Ten minutes for question period
Facilitating Discussion
The presentations you will give from this manual do not require you to stand up and give a speech. In these projects you lead groups of people in discussions
Project 1—The Panel Moderator
Objectives:
- Select a topic for a panel discussion
- Identify differing viewpoints to be addressed by panelists
- Organize and moderate a panel discussion
Recommended time: 28 to 30 minutes
Optional time: 22 to 26 minutes
Project 2—The Brainstorming Session
Objectives:
- Select a problem for a brainstorming session for which you serve as facilitator
- Conduct a brainstorming session
- Have participants reduce the list of ideas to the three best
Recommended time: 31 to 33 minutes
Optional time: 20 to 22 minutes
Project 3—The Problem-Solving Discussion
Objectives:
- Discuss the three ideas generated in Project 2.
- Determine which one best resolves the problem
Recommended time: 26 to 31 minutes
Optional time: 19 to 23 minutes
Project 4—Handling Challenging Situations
Objectives:
- Select a problem and ask club members to discuss and resolve it by either a majority vote or by compromise
- Serve as facilitator for the discussion
- Effectively handle members’ behavioral problems that may interfere with the discussion
Recommended time: 22 to 32 minutes
Optional time: 12 to 21 minutes
Project 5—Reaching a Consensus
Objectives:
- Select a problem for the group to discuss and resolve
- As facilitator, help the group reach a consensus
Recommended time: 31 to 37 minutes
Optional time: 20 to 26 minutes
Special Occasion Speeches—Occasionally you may be called on to give a special kind of speech, one presented in honor of a friend, relative, or co-worker. Perhaps a loved one has passed away and you will be saying a few words at the service. Or you have been invited to a formal awards banquet at which you will be a recipient. Such speeches are indeed challenging, but you can give them successfully.
Project 1—Mastering the Toast
Objectives:
- Recognize the characteristics of a toast
- Present a toast honoring an occasion or a person
Time: 2-3 minutes
Project 2—Speaking in Praise
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech praising or honoring someone, either living or dead
- Address five areas concerning the individual and his/her accomplishments
- Include anecdotes illustrating points within the speech
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—The Roast
Objectives:
- Poke fun at a particular individual in a good-natured way
- Adapt and personalize humor from other sources
- Deliver jokes and humorous stories effectively
Time: 3-5 minutes
Project 4—Presenting an Award
Objectives:
- Present an award with dignity and grace
- Acknowledge the contributions of the recipient
Time: 3-4 minutes
Project 5—Accepting an Award
Objectives:
- Accept an award with dignity, grace, and sincerity
- Acknowledge the presenting organization
Time: 5-7 minutes
SPECIALTY SPEECHES—Today’s leaders are relied upon to handle many different communications situations. The projects in this manual introduce some particular speech disciplines designed to help you prepare for distinctive communication situations.
Project 1—Impromptu Speaking
Objectives:
- Develop an awareness of situations in which you might be called upon to deliver an impromptu speech
- Understand how to prepare for impromptu speaking
- Use one or more patterns to approach a topic under discussion; for example, comparing a past, present, and future situation or before and after
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Uplift the Spirit
Objectives:
- Identify and understand the basic differences and similarities between inspirational and other kinds of speeches
- Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and establish emotional support
- Develop a speech style and delivery that effectively expresses inspirational content by moving the audience to adopt your views
Time: 8-10 minutes
Project 3—Sell a Product
Objectives:
- Understand the relationship of sales techniques to persuasion
- Skillfully use the four steps in a sales presentation: attention, interest, desire, action
- Identify and promote a unique selling proposition in a sales presentation
- Be able to handle objections and close a prospective buyer
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 4—Read Out Loud
Objectives:
Arrive at an understanding of the elements that comprise oral interpretation and how it differs from preparing and giving a speech
- Learn the preparation or planning techniques of effective interpretation
- Learn the principles of presentation and develop skill in interpretive reading with regard to voice and body as instruments of communication
Time: 12-15 minutes
Project 5—Introduce the Speaker
Objectives:
- Focus on the special occasion talk from the standpoint of the introducer (function chair, toastmaster, master of ceremonies)
- Become knowledgeable and skilled in the functions associated with the master of ceremonies
- Handle the introduction of other speakers at a club meeting
Time: The duration of a club meeting. (To be arranged with the vice president of education)
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION—In your Toastmasters training to date, there is very little interaction between you and your listeners. Think about your daily life, however, and another type of communication becomes important. Each day, you interact with many people in a variety of situations. Special skills are needed to successfully handle these types of situations. All the projects in this manual require you to work with a partner, enacting role plays.
Project 1—Conversing With Ease
Objectives:
- Identify techniques to use in conversing with stranger
- Recognize different levels of conversation
- Initiate a conversation with a stranger
- Use open-ended questions to solicit information for further conversation
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 2—The Successful Negotiator
Objectives:
- Employ win-win negotiating strategies to achieve your goals
- Enjoy the benefits of win-win negotiating
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 3—Defusing Verbal Criticism
Objectives:
- Respond non-defensively to verbal criticism
- Employ a five-step method to identify a p/problem, defuse the attack, and arrive at a solution
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 4—The Coach
Objectives:
- Determine reasons for someone’s substandard performance
- Coach the person to improve performance
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 5—Asserting Yourself Effectively
Objectives:
- Enjoy the mental and physical benefits of being assertive
- Employ the four-step method for addressing a problem and asking for help
- Overcome resistance to your requests
Time: 10-14 minutes
INTERPRETIVE READING—Interpretive reading has many other names: oral interpretation, oral reading, dramatic reading, reading aloud, interpretive speech. Whatever you call it, it’s an important yet little-understood form of communication.
Project 1—Read a Story
Objectives:
- To understand the elements of interpretive reading
- To learn how to analyze a narrative and plan for effective interpretation
- To learn and apply vocal techniques that will aid in the effectiveness of the reading
Time 8-10 minutes
Project 2—Interpreting Poetry
Objectives:
- To understand the differences between prose and poetry
- To recognize how poets use imagery, rhythm, meter, cadence, and rhyme to convey the meaning and emotions of poetry
- To apply vocal techniques that will aid in the effectiveness of the reading
Time: 6-8 minutes
Project 3—The Monodrama
Objectives:
- To understand the concept and nature of the monodrama
- To assume the identity of a character and to portray the physical and emotional aspects of the character to the audience
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—The Play
Objectives:
- To adapt a play for interpretive reading
- To portray several characters in one reading, identifying them to the audience through voice changes and movement
Time: 12-15 minutes
Project 5—The Oratorical Speech
Objectives:
- To understand the structure of an effective speech
- To interpret an present a famous speech
Time: 8-10 minutes
COMMUNICATING ON VIDEO—Video is a part of our daily lives. Television presentations are different from other presentation, and they require special consideration. Some of these considerations are: Time; Audience; Action; Distractions: and Appearance, This manual is designed to take you through learning experiences, of some of the program formats in which you most likely participate.
Project 1—Straight Talk
Objectives:
- To effectively present an opinion or viewpoint in a short time
- To simulate giving a presentation as part of a video broadcast
Time: 3 minutes, plus or minus 30 seconds
Project 2—The Interview Show
Objectives:
- To understand the dynamics of an interview or “talk” show
- To prepare for the questions that may be asked during an interview program
- To present a positive image .on camera
- To appear as a guest on a simulated video talk show
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—When You’re the Host
Objectives:
- To understand a successful interview
- To understand the dynamics of a successful interview or talk show
- To prepare questions to ask during the interview program
- To prepare a positive, confident image on camera
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—The Press Conference
Objectives:
- To understand the nature of a video broadcast press conference
- To prepare for an adversary confrontation on a controversial or sensitive issue.
- To employ appropriate preparation methods and strategies for communicating your organization’s viewpoint
- To present and maintain a positive image
Time: 3-5 minutes for presentation, 2-3 minutes for question period
Project 5—Instructing on the Internet
Objectives:
- To learn how to develop and present an effective training program on the Web
- To receive personal feedback through the videorecording of your presentation
Time: 5-7 minutes for the presentation, plus 5-7 minutes for playback of the video
TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS—Technical presentations are usually given in business, scientific, or government meetings, but the skills needed to give a technical presentation can be adapted to any teaching or coaching situation.
Project 1—The Technical Briefing
Objectives:
- Using a systematic approach, organize technical/specialized material into a concise presentation
- Tailor the presentation to the audience’s needs, interests, and knowledge levels.
Time: 8-10 minutes
Project 2—The Proposal
Objectives:
- Prepare a technical presentation advocating a product, service, idea, or action
- Present your viewpoint logically and convincingly, using an inverted pyramid approach.
- Effectively use Microsoft PowerPoint with a laptop computer to illustrate your message
- Effectively handle a question and answer period
Time: 8-10 minutes for speech; 3-5 minutes for Q&A
Project 3—The Nontechnical Audience
Objectives:
- Understand the principles of communicating complex information to nontechnical listeners
- Build and deliver an interesting talk on these principles
- Answer questions that arise during the presentation
- Use a Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow to illustrate your message
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 4—Presenting a Technical Paper
Objectives:
- Deliver an interesting speech based on a technical paper or article
- Effectively use a Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow to illustrate your theme
- Provide additional information, such as answers to questions, using a flip chart
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 5—Enhancing a Technical Talk with the Internet
Objectives:
- Understand the nature and process of a technical presentation supported with professional-level visual aids*
- Arrange pre-meeting communications via email
- Find or create a post-meeting website for further dissemination of information supporting or enhancing your verbal presentation. You may create a Web page and add it to your club’s website, making use of podcasting, webcasting, or a basic Internet template.
- Use a desktop computer, Microsoft Word, a Web browser, a simple graphics program for photos and other images, as well as a flipchart
Time: 12-15 minutes—longer if club program allows
HUMOROUSLY SPEAKING—The purpose of this manual is not to make you a comedian. Its purpose is simply to help you use humor in the speeches you normally give to attract and retain the audience’s interest and make points more effectively.
Project 1—Warm Up Your Audience
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens with a humorous story
- Personalize the story
- Deliver the story smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Leave Them With A Smile
Objectives:
- Prepare a serious speech that opens and closes with humorous stories
- Prepare a closing story that reemphasizes the speech’s main point
- Deliver the stories smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—Make Them Laugh
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens and closes with humorous stories
- Include jokes in the speech body to illustrate points or maintain audience interest
- Deliver the jokes and stories smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—Keep Them Laughing
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens with a self-deprecating joke
- String together tow or three related jokes in the speech body
- Close the speech with a humorous story
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 5—The Humorous Speech
Objectives:
- Use exaggeration to tell a humorous story
- Entertain the audience
- Effectively use body language and voice to enhance the story
Time: 5-7 minutes
THE ENTERTAINING SPEAKER—People like to be entertained. The purpose of an entertaining speaker is simply to offer listeners a pleasant diversion. There is a misconception among some people that entertaining speakers need to be funny. This isn’t necessarily so. This manual will help you learn to give different kinds of entertaining speeches.
Project 1—The Entertaining Speech
Objectives:
- Entertain the audience by relating a personal experience
- Organize an entertaining speech for maximum impact
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Resources for Entertainment
Objectives:
- Draw entertaining material from sources other than your own personal experience
- Adapt your material to suit your topic
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—Make Them Laugh
Objectives:
- Prepare a humorous speech drawn from your own experience
- Strengthen the speech by adopting and personalizing humorous material from outside sources
- Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humor effective
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—A Dramatic Talk
Objectives:
- Develop a dramatic talk about an experience or incident
- Include vivid imagery, characters, and dialogue
- Deliver the talk in an entertaining manner
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 5—Speaking After Dinner
Objectives:
- Prepare an entertaining after-dinner talk on a specific theme
- Deliver the talk using the skills developed in the preceding projects
Time: 8-10 minutes
THE PRPFESSIONAL SPEAKER—The best road to becoming a professional speaker is first become a talented amateur. Professionalism in public speaking is a matter of attitude reflected in a speaker’s preparation, commitment, and enthusiasm. When you are billed as a professional speaker, your audience expects nothing less than a professional performance. This manual is designed to take you through learning experiences involving the five kinds of speeches that professionals give.
Project 1—The Keynote Address
Objectives:
- Identify the basic differences between keynote speeches and other kinds of speeches
- Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and establish emotional rapport
- Learn and use the professional techniques necessary for a successful keynote presentation
- Develop a speech style and delivery that effectively inspires and moves the audience to adopt you views as a collective reaffirmation of its own.
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
Project 2—Speaking to Entertain
Objectives:
- Entertain the audience through the use of humor drawn from personal; experience and from other material that you’ve personalized
- Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humor effective
- Establish personal rapport with your audience for maximum impact
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows.
Project 3—The Sales Training Speech
Objectives:
- Tell a sales audience how to sell a product by using a planned presentation
- Inform a sales training audience about the human experience of the buyer-seller relationship
- Use entertaining stories and dynamic examples of sales situations
- Inspire sales people to want to succeed in selling
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
Project 4—The Professional Seminar
Objectives:
- Plan and present a seminar with specific learning objectives
- Relate to the audience by using a seminar presentation style
- Use seminar presentation techniques to promote group participation,
learning, and personal growth.
Time: 20-40 minutes
Project 5—The Motivational Speech
Objectives:
- Understand the concept and nature of motivational speaking
- Apply a four-step motivational method with the purpose of persuading and inspiring
- Deliver a motivational speech to persuade an audience to emotionally commit to action
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
Specialty Speeches
Today’s leaders are relied upon to handle many different communications situations. The projects in this manual introduce some particular speech disciplines designed to help you prepare for distinctive communication situations.
Project 1—Impromptu Speaking
Objectives:
- Develop an awareness of situations in which you might be called upon to deliver an impromptu speech
- Understand how to prepare for impromptu speaking
- Use one or more patterns to approach a topic under discussion; for example, comparing a past, present, and future situation or before and after
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Uplift the Spirit
Objectives:
- Identify and understand the basic differences and similarities between inspirational and other kinds of speeches
- Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and establish emotional support
- Develop a speech style and delivery that effectively expresses inspirational content by moving the audience to adopt your views
Time: 8-10 minutes
Project 3—Sell a Product
Objectives:
- Understand the relationship of sales techniques to persuasion
- Skillfully use the four steps in a sales presentation: attention, interest, desire, action
- Identify and promote a unique selling proposition in a sales presentation
- Be able to handle objections and close a prospective buyer
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 4—Read Out Loud
Objectives:
Arrive at an understanding of the elements that comprise oral interpretation and how it differs from preparing and giving a speech
- Learn the preparation or planning techniques of effective interpretation
- Learn the principles of presentation and develop skill in interpretive reading with regard to voice and body as instruments of communication
Time: 12-15 minutes
Project 5—Introduce the Speaker
Objectives:
- Focus on the special occasion talk from the standpoint of the introducer (function chair, toastmaster, master of ceremonies)
- Become knowledgeable and skilled in the functions associated with the master of ceremonies
- Handle the introduction of other speakers at a club meeting
Time: The duration of a club meeting. (To be arranged with the vice president of education)
Interpersonal Communication
In your Toastmasters training to date, there is very little interaction between you and your listeners. Think about your daily life, however, and another type of communication becomes important. Each day, you interact with many people in a variety of situations. Special skills are needed to successfully handle these types of situations. All the projects in this manual require you to work with a partner, enacting role plays.
Project 1—Conversing With Ease
Objectives:
- Identify techniques to use in conversing with stranger
- Recognize different levels of conversation
- Initiate a conversation with a stranger
- Use open-ended questions to solicit information for further conversation
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 2—The Successful Negotiator
Objectives:
- Employ win-win negotiating strategies to achieve your goals
- Enjoy the benefits of win-win negotiating
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 3—Defusing Verbal Criticism
Objectives:
- Respond non-defensively to verbal criticism
- Employ a five-step method to identify a p/problem, defuse the attack, and arrive at a solution
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 4—The Coach
Objectives:
- Determine reasons for someone’s substandard performance
- Coach the person to improve performance
Time: 10-14 minutes
Project 5—Asserting Yourself Effectively
Objectives:
- Enjoy the mental and physical benefits of being assertive
- Employ the four-step method for addressing a problem and asking for help
- Overcome resistance to your requests
Time: 10-14 minutes
Interpretive Reading
Interpretive reading has many other names: oral interpretation, oral reading, dramatic reading, reading aloud, interpretive speech. Whatever you call it, it’s an important yet little-understood form of communication.
Project 1—Read a Story
Objectives:
- To understand the elements of interpretive reading
- To learn how to analyze a narrative and plan for effective interpretation
- To learn and apply vocal techniques that will aid in the effectiveness of the reading
Time 8-10 minutes
Project 2—Interpreting Poetry
Objectives:
- To understand the differences between prose and poetry
- To recognize how poets use imagery, rhythm, meter, cadence, and rhyme to convey the meaning and emotions of poetry
- To apply vocal techniques that will aid in the effectiveness of the reading
Time: 6-8 minutes
Project 3—The Monodrama
Objectives:
- To understand the concept and nature of the monodrama
- To assume the identity of a character and to portray the physical and emotional aspects of the character to the audience
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—The Play
Objectives:
- To adapt a play for interpretive reading
- To portray several characters in one reading, identifying them to the audience through voice changes and movement
Time: 12-15 minutes
Project 5—The Oratorical Speech
Objectives:
- To understand the structure of an effective speech
- To interpret an present a famous speech
Time: 8-10 minutes
Communicating on Video
Video is a part of our daily lives. Television presentations are different from other presentation, and they require special consideration. Some of these considerations are: Time; Audience; Action; Distractions: and Appearance, This manual is designed to take you through learning experiences, of some of the program formats in which you most likely participate.
Project 1—Straight Talk
Objectives:
- To effectively present an opinion or viewpoint in a short time
- To simulate giving a presentation as part of a video broadcast
Time: 3 minutes, plus or minus 30 seconds
Project 2—The Interview Show
Objectives:
- To understand the dynamics of an interview or “talk” show
- To prepare for the questions that may be asked during an interview program
- To present a positive image .on camera
- To appear as a guest on a simulated video talk show
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—When You’re the Host
Objectives:
- To understand a successful interview
- To understand the dynamics of a successful interview or talk show
- To prepare questions to ask during the interview program
- To prepare a positive, confident image on camera
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—The Press Conference
Objectives:
- To understand the nature of a video broadcast press conference
- To prepare for an adversary confrontation on a controversial or sensitive issue.
- To employ appropriate preparation methods and strategies for communicating your organization’s viewpoint
- To present and maintain a positive image
Time: 3-5 minutes for presentation, 2-3 minutes for question period
Project 5—Instructing on the Internet
Objectives:
- To learn how to develop and present an effective training program on the Web
- To receive personal feedback through the videorecording of your presentation
Time: 5-7 minutes for the presentation, plus 5-7 minutes for playback of the video
Technical Presentations
Technical presentations are usually given in business, scientific, or government meetings, but the skills needed to give a technical presentation can be adapted to any teaching or coaching situation.
Project 1—The Technical Briefing
Objectives:
- Using a systematic approach, organize technical/specialized material into a concise presentation
- Tailor the presentation to the audience’s needs, interests, and knowledge levels.
Time: 8-10 minutes
Project 2—The Proposal
Objectives:
- Prepare a technical presentation advocating a product, service, idea, or action
- Present your viewpoint logically and convincingly, using an inverted pyramid approach.
- Effectively use Microsoft PowerPoint with a laptop computer to illustrate your message
- Effectively handle a question and answer period
Time: 8-10 minutes for speech; 3-5 minutes for Q&A
Project 3—The Nontechnical Audience
Objectives:
- Understand the principles of communicating complex information to nontechnical listeners
- Build and deliver an interesting talk on these principles
- Answer questions that arise during the presentation
- Use a Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow to illustrate your message
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 4—Presenting a Technical Paper
Objectives:
- Deliver an interesting speech based on a technical paper or article
- Effectively use a Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow to illustrate your theme
- Provide additional information, such as answers to questions, using a flip chart
Time: 10-12 minutes
Project 5—Enhancing a Technical Talk with the Internet
Objectives:
- Understand the nature and process of a technical presentation supported with professional-level visual aids*
- Arrange pre-meeting communications via email
- Find or create a post-meeting website for further dissemination of information supporting or enhancing your verbal presentation. You may create a Web page and add it to your club’s website, making use of podcasting, webcasting, or a basic Internet template.
- Use a desktop computer, Microsoft Word, a Web browser, a simple graphics program for photos and other images, as well as a flipchart
Time: 12-15 minutes—longer if club program allows
Humorously Speaking
The purpose of this manual is not to make you a comedian. Its purpose is simply to help you use humor in the speeches you normally give to attract and retain the audience’s interest and make points more effectively.
Project 1—Warm Up Your Audience
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens with a humorous story
- Personalize the story
- Deliver the story smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Leave Them With A Smile
Objectives:
- Prepare a serious speech that opens and closes with humorous stories
- Prepare a closing story that reemphasizes the speech’s main point
- Deliver the stories smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—Make Them Laugh
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens and closes with humorous stories
- Include jokes in the speech body to illustrate points or maintain audience interest
- Deliver the jokes and stories smoothly and effectively
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—Keep Them Laughing
Objectives:
- Prepare a speech that opens with a self-deprecating joke
- String together tow or three related jokes in the speech body
- Close the speech with a humorous story
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 5—The Humorous Speech
Objectives:
- Use exaggeration to tell a humorous story
- Entertain the audience
- Effectively use body language and voice to enhance the story
Time: 5-7 minutes
The Entertaining Speaker
People like to be entertained. The purpose of an entertaining speaker is simply to offer listeners a pleasant diversion. There is a misconception among some people that entertaining speakers need to be funny. This isn’t necessarily so. This manual will help you learn to give different kinds of entertaining speeches.
Project 1—The Entertaining Speech
Objectives:
- Entertain the audience by relating a personal experience
- Organize an entertaining speech for maximum impact
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 2—Resources for Entertainment
Objectives:
- Draw entertaining material from sources other than your own personal experience
- Adapt your material to suit your topic
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 3—Make Them Laugh
Objectives:
- Prepare a humorous speech drawn from your own experience
- Strengthen the speech by adopting and personalizing humorous material from outside sources
- Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humor effective
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 4—A Dramatic Talk
Objectives:
- Develop a dramatic talk about an experience or incident
- Include vivid imagery, characters, and dialogue
- Deliver the talk in an entertaining manner
Time: 5-7 minutes
Project 5—Speaking After Dinner
Objectives:
- Prepare an entertaining after-dinner talk on a specific theme
- Deliver the talk using the skills developed in the preceding projects
Time: 8-10 minutes
The Professional Speaker
The best road to becoming a professional speaker is first become a talented amateur. Professionalism in public speaking is a matter of attitude reflected in a speaker’s preparation, commitment, and enthusiasm. When you are billed as a professional speaker, your audience expects nothing less than a professional performance. This manual is designed to take you through learning experiences involving the five kinds of speeches that professionals give.
Project 1—The Keynote Address
Objectives:
- Identify the basic differences between keynote speeches and other kinds of speeches
- Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and establish emotional rapport
- Learn and use the professional techniques necessary for a successful keynote presentation
- Develop a speech style and delivery that effectively inspires and moves the audience to adopt you views as a collective reaffirmation of its own.
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
Project 2—Speaking to Entertain
Objectives:
- Entertain the audience through the use of humor drawn from personal; experience and from other material that you’ve personalized
- Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humor effective
- Establish personal rapport with your audience for maximum impact
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows.
Project 3—The Sales Training Speech
Objectives:
- Tell a sales audience how to sell a product by using a planned presentation
- Inform a sales training audience about the human experience of the buyer-seller relationship
- Use entertaining stories and dynamic examples of sales situations
- Inspire sales people to want to succeed in selling
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
Project 4—The Professional Seminar
Objectives:
- Plan and present a seminar with specific learning objectives
- Relate to the audience by using a seminar presentation style
- Use seminar presentation techniques to promote group participation,
learning, and personal growth.
Time: 20-40 minutes
Project 5—The Motivational Speech
Objectives:
- Understand the concept and nature of motivational speaking
- Apply a four-step motivational method with the purpose of persuading and inspiring
- Deliver a motivational speech to persuade an audience to emotionally commit to action
Time: 15-20 minutes—longer if club program allows
High Performance Leadership: HPL Manual (Item 262)
Working towards your Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) Award – the district has several HPL projects that would qualify for this award (i.e. Area Contest Chair, District Judging Chair/Committee, New Club Launch Committee, Club Officer Training Chair, etc…). The district will provide you with the HPL Kit at no cost to you.
The High Performance Leadership project helps you develop your leadership skills on a project of your choosing. The program consists of five parts offering instruction and practice in such vital leadership areas as:
- As you work with a guidance committee on your project, you receive feedback on your leadership skills.
- The project may be completed within your Toastmaster club, area or district or even within your company or community.
- Completion of a High Performance Leadership project fulfills one of the requirements for Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) award.
Need more information contact Program Quality Director
FAQs
An “action-learning” program that will help you to develop your leadership skills.
- Uses a 3 part learning process – study, action, and feedback
- A 5 phase program which involves:
- Recruiting a guidance committee
- Choosing your objective / Setting Goals
- Winning commitment to your objective from your team
- Working the plan with your team
- Analyzing and Presenting Results to the Guidance Committee, regularly
- Starting a club from the scratch
- Running a district conference as a Conference Chairman or Conference Co-Chairman
- Organizing a Youth Leadership Program
- Organizing Speech Craft
- Being a Contest Chair
- A project at your workplace that involves a large team
- Activities that you do as an Area / Division Director
- A project in our district and in your local community/church etc., involving a large team & any other project that is legal, ethical and socially responsible
- If you decide to complete an HPL Project for District 5 – you will receive a FREE HPL Kit from District 5.
- HPL manual doesn’t call out a specific team size. However, your team size can be anywhere from 6 – 12 people.
- HPL manual emphasizes on the experience, process and procedure that you go through, than the “results” of your project. For example, if you start a project of raising $20,000 for your church and if you end up raising just $10,000 you can still claim a credit for your HPL, documenting your experiences and learning from the project.
- You can have a mix of toastmasters and/or non-toastmasters who can who can guide you in your decisions and acknowledge the completion of the project.
- Meet with your guidance committee to go through the manual
- Deliver a speech (mostly 5-7 minutes) in your club prior to the completion of the project of your choice. This speech should be evaluated by a toastmaster.
- Upon completion of the projection, deliver another speech (mostly 5-7 minutes) in your club about the lessons learned. This speech have to be evaluated by a toastmaster.
- Your “guidance committee” members have to sign the application and provide their contact details.
- Your VP Education has to mail the applications (the guidance committee signature page and the evaluation page of your 2nd speech) to Toastmasters International with your Membership # & club #. You’ll get credit for Leadership Excellence (towards your ALS).