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Educational program
The Toastmasters Educational Program
Communication and leadership cannot be learned in a day. It takes practice.
At Toastmasters, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment.
How the Educational Program works:
At every Toastmasters meeting, all participants have the opportunity to practice their skills by:
- Conducting meetings and acting as the Chair, the Toastmasters or MC.
- Giving impromptu speeches (Table Topics).
- Presenting prepared speeches, based on the projects from the Toastmasters Communication & Leadership manuals. Projects cover a range of topics, including speech organisation, voice, language, gestures, persuasion, or more advanced material.
- Offering constructive feedback and evaluation. Every speaker is assigned an evaluator who highlights speech strengths and offers suggestions for improvement.
Upon joining a Toastmasters club, new members receive a variety of manuals and resources on speaking. Members also have access to other books, as well as audio and video cassettes on speaking and leadership. They also receive the award-winning "Toastmaster", a monthly magazine that offers the latest insights on speaking and leadership techniques.
The Toastmasters program exposes each participant to a wide range of communication experiences.
- Each new Toastmaster receives a New Member Kit. The kit features a copy of the basic Communication & Leadership manual (C&L manual), general orientation materials and information regarding skill improvement in areas such as speech evaluation and the use of gestures.
- The initial prepared speeches, as outlined in the basic C&L manual, are designed with the new Toastmaster in mind.
- A variety of assigned speeches in the C&L manual help the participant develop competency in areas such as organisation, voice inflection, and persuasiveness.
- During the meeting's Table Topics session, members learn to think on their feet by delivering short impromptu speeches, lasting one or two minutes.
- After giving speeches, each Toastmaster receives a constructive speech evaluation. This process recognises speakers for their strengths and provides valuable insight into problem areas.
- Upon completion of the C&L manual, Toastmasters may participate in the Advanced Communication & Leadership program. Participants may choose from a wide range specific topics, including Technical Presentation, Public Relations, Storytelling, and Specialty Speeches.
- Workshop style Success/Leadership programs are also available, offering opportunities for further skill development in areas such as leadership, public speaking and conducting business meetings.