Publicly Speaking

Bettering the speaking skills of professionals in Asia.

About this blog

Observations, tips and commentary on public speaking I do, observe, judge and critique. Public speaking needn't be feared. And it can't be avoided. So, let's get on with developing a skill we all have and start speaking successfully.

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Stand-Up Comedy Contest

Posted on 10:26 PM No Comments
Oasis TM Club hosted a stand-up comedy contest on Saturday night.

Watch the champions and runners-up, Tong Cheung, Tony Chan, Jacky Lai and KF Tam on You Tube:


The judges were apparently impressed by toilet humour; jibes at pregnant, hormonal, spouses and breast size. Let's hope the upcoming Humourous Speech Contests are not in the same vein.

A Weighty Issue

Posted on 12:17 PM No Comments
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An appeal...

Contest season is coming and it seems a good time to get this off my chest. OK, here goes...

It is the opinion of this less-than-svelte Toastmaster that frequent references to body size during contests, conventions, workshops and other events are wholly inappropriate.

We've had a couple of high profile guys in the last year or so subjected time and again to an MC's indiscretion. We've heard intros such as:

"He's a heavyweight Toastmaster" or "... a huge - ly competent Toastmaster".

To me, such references are not only totally cringeworthy, they are potentially - even probably - offensive. Even in the absence of direct complaints, we, as Toastmasters, should be more sensitive and be models of politically-correct communications. Hong Kong may be lagging behind in this concept generally, but we - Hong Kong Toastmasters - should be demonstrating best practice, not succumbing to the level of playground banter.

Let's leave the 'Fat jokes' behind, please!

Right, I'm off for a pizza...

Eddie Lee Triumphs in Phoenix!!

Posted on 1:03 PM comments (3)
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Our District 80 champion, Eddie Lee, from Hong Kong took third place at the Inter-District contest in Phoenix, Arizona a few hours ago.

Sadly, this means he'll not go through to the next round this time.

Eddie, you've done Hong Kong proud!

L-R: IPDG Poh Kim Siong, Donald Yee, Eddie Lee & Bernard Yue at the District Contest in Hong Kong in May.

What is a Competent Communicator?

Posted on 4:31 PM comments (1)
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Yesterday, I visited a club I've never been to before.

A member delivered his P9 speech. Let's call him Gary. Gary had prepared well, writing his speech word for word. He'd done his research. The content was valid and of interest to his audience. So, what was the problem? Gary delivered his speech, displaying none of the speaking skills we would expect of a Toastmaster with eight speeches under his belt.

He read the entire speech - word for word - from his notes on A4 paper. He made almost no eye contact with the audience, stood rooted to the same spot throughout with a deadpan look on his face.

And his evaluator - who has not yet completed nine projects - made no mention of these facts.

Brian previously commented on this blog that "we are too kind in giving evaluations and seldom fail people." I have to agree and, if I'd been Gary's evaluator, I would have failed him. I might have been a bit scared, but I hope I would have had the guts to be 'cruel to be kind'.

I also agree with Brian that there are CTMs/CCs who really do not possess the skills we'd expect them to. But, what to do when we have evaluators who are not qualified to evaluate and committee members who want to rack up their club's educational awards and earn DCP points?

Twisted Linguist - Part 1

Posted on 3:22 PM comments (5)
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Are you a twisted linguist?

Take a look at the following utterances:


  • We are very honoured to have two guesses here tonight.

  • Please join Toastmaster!

  • It's important to build rappor with your audience

We hear these phrases a LOT at Toastmasters meetings. Like any trade or profession, Toastmasters has its own technical language. Words and expressions peculiar to public speaking shoud be part of every Toastmaster’s vocabulary – and every Toastmaster should master them.

The trouble is, so few do!

I am not suggesting that all Toastmasters should be able to speak perfect English, but these words and phrases are heard with such high frequency and everytime I hear them spoken incorrectly, I tear out another few hairs in exasperation.

So, I will, for the sake of my hairdo, clear this up right here and now.

Guests
Not a difficult word to understand but difficult to pronounce. Often, it sounds like ‘guesses’. It's a consonant cluster and difficult for Chinese speakers (and Americans!). Just try saying 'Grasp crisps for guests' three times. 'Grasp' usually comes out as 'grabs' and 'crisps' sounds like 'crips'. There's really no need to use the words 'grasp' and 'crisps' as there are so many alternatives. 'Guests', however, is worth practising.

Toastmasters
The only difficulty here is the choice between the singular and the plural. One Toastmaster, but many Toastmasters. The organisation name is always plural. It's probably often a pronunciation problem. I can't count how many times I've seen it written wrongly, though, on signs, websites and agendas.

Rapport
From the French language (meaning ‘relationship’), ‘rapport’ has a silent ‘t’ at the end. Usually, I hear it with a hard 't' sound at the end. It's hard to avoid this word in Toastmasters but easy to pronounce it correctly.

Ladies and gentlemen, I appeal to you to avoid these blunders forever more (and save me from baldness) in anticipation of Part 2.

Wow! Thanks guys....

Posted on 6:13 PM comments (1)
You guys are 'Simply Amazing'!!

I couldn't have anticipated such a great response to this blog. In the first day, you have read, commented and subscribed with great enthusiasm. I suppose I should have expected nothing less. I have learned that TMs are not at all shy...and nothing if not supportive of a good idea. However, as we know, there is no such thing as a good idea that can't be improved, so I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Although I am a beginner blogger, treat me as a competent blogger and be honest in your evaluations! Give me a battering, not flattering.

To those of you who have sent me private messages, please be kind enough to post a comment, in the spirit of a blog for all to share.

I'll be picking up some of the issues you have raised over the coming days/weeks 'cos it seems you have lots on your chests!

Together, we can make miracles.

Posted on 6:26 PM comments (9)
Would you like to blog here (and have a part in making a small miracle (perhaps?)? I figure that, while my rantings are of course witty, meaningful and insightful, a little help from my friends wouldn't go amiss.

So, my dear Toasties - please consider extending your communications skills and become a bonafide blogger. Just leave a comment saying 'I can make miracles!'.

Judges' Training?

Posted on 2:24 PM comments (4)
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Who would have thought... judges need training!!! In all my years as a Toastie, the subject of judges and their 'qualifications' (or lack thereof) has been a hotly-debated topic.

Some have been VERY vocal about it. After all, it is the LOSERS who become the judges! If I lose my club contest, I will very likely be invited to judge at the area contest.

A judge needs NO qualifications. A brand new member:
  • who has not delivered Project 1
  • who is terrified of standing up to speak in front of a group
  • who is a member of a Putonghua club
  • who speaks minimal English...
can judge! OK, so this is a slight exaggeration, but it makes my point.

So, last Saturday Talis Wong & Michael Wee - both DTMs - conducted a training workshop. I couldn't make it myself, but let's hope the attendees are better-equipped to assess the speeches of their counterparts at the upcoming contests.
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