Answers To Common Questions

The first step in becoming a skilled speaker is making the choice to start or improve your speaking abilities. EDTalkers is an excellent place to start. Here's answers to some of the most common questions asked when looking for a speaking club.

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  • What is Toastmasters
  • How does Toastmasters work
  • What resources do I have
  • Can I learn leadership
  • Who can participate
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    A Toasters Club provides a supportive and positive learning environment in which members develop communication and leadership skills that foster self-confidence and personal growth.

    This club is organized by employees for employees, who support it by paying fees. In return, Toastmasters provides a successful program, resources and mentors.

    Toastmasters' members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. A typical Toastmasters Club is made up of 20 to 30 people who meet once a week for about an hour. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice:

  • Conducting Meetings - Meetings usually begin with a short business session which helps members learn basic meeting procedures.
  • Giving Impromptu Speeches - Members present one to two minute impromptu speeches on assigned topics.
  • Presenting Prepared Speeches - One or more members present speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Program Manuals. Projects cover such topics as speech organization, voice, language, gestures and persuasion.
  • Offering Constructive Evaluation - Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator who points out speech strengths and offers suggestions for improvement.

    • Each new member receives 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 leading. They also receive the aswrd-wining The Toastmaster, a monthly magazine that offers the latest insights on speaking and leadership techniques.

    Leadership cannot be learned in a day. It takes practice. In Toastmasters, members build leadership skills by organizing and conducting meetings and motivating others to help them. Club leadership roles and a leadership development program also offer opportunities to learn and practice. Just as Toastmasters members learn to speak simply by speaking, they learn leadership by leading.

    This club is open to all employees of EDFUND and CSAC that wish to improve their speaking abilities.