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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Keen to develop as a speaker? Have an important presentation looming? Contact me for executive speech coaching.

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Poor pronunciation? Learn the ‘26 + 5 secret’ of native-sounding English!

Be more confident in meetings, conference calls, presentations, interviews and briefings
Be understood every time, first time!
Be impressive and earn the respect of your colleagues, clients and bosses.

If you have ever felt like your poor pronounciation may be holding you back, you need to attend this workshop.
If you are often asked to repeat yourself, you need to attend this workshop.
If you thank all the ‘guesses’ at the end of the Toastmasters meeting, you need to attend this workshop.

Ray Lee, will share his unique method of learning accurate pronunciation in English. His methods are instantly effective and demonstrated through, fun, interactive activities focusing on essential but often overlooked aspects of English usage.

Note: This workshop is designed for professionals for whom English is a second language.

Topics

1. How understandable is our spoken English?
2. Pronunciation starts with the 26 letters especially the 5 vowels!
3. The ease and fun of using IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet).
4. Applying simple rules to fix most pronunciation.
5. Feeling the improvement and gaining confidence on the spot!

When: 2 April 2008; 7-9pm
Where: Centraler Toastmasters

See http://www.centraler.org/ for details.

Ray Lee

Professional trainer in communication, presentation skills, management and leadership programs
Holds MBA, Msc (ISMT), GradDip (eSCLL) & BBus (Marketing) and Certificate of Proficiency in English (Cambridge Uni) with top marks in "Speaking Section".
Started training career in Australia on tertiary Courses & corporate programmes
Speaks fluent English, Cantonese and Putonghua
Is passionate about the learning of English!

Herbert is a Poet and we didn't Know it!!



Herbert Lee, ATM-G, Area Governor of Macau Toastmasters wrote in verse of a recent visit by a couple of distinguished Sing Toasties. We know Herbert is a talented speaker and now we know his poetic skills.

"Tonight we welcomed DTM William from Singapore
He taught us a lot but we wanted more.
With many years of experience under his belt
We could see how his words & ideas melt
He told us everything we wanted to hear
How to craft a talk and overcome our fear
He touched our mind and also our heart
And encouraged us to make a flying start
And instead of giving us the usual show
He motivated us to get ready and go
His style is unique and in a different class
He puts things together like playing jazz
He humbly asked me to evaluate his talk today
But it's rather hard for me to say
He is fluent in English and poutonghwa
And his words have meaning not blah,blah,blah
My point for improvement would be to go deep
Give us some ideas to use and keep
His words & message have great merit
And exemplifies the tm spirit
We're anxious for William to come again
And take us to another plane
Please come again with another tune
We'd welcome you to Macau-real soon!"
- Herbert Lee, ATM-G


Do 'class' and 'jazz' rhyme? Perhaps in a Amerian accent. And 'belt' and 'melt'?? Hmm...I should allow some creative licence here. May I suggest instead 'gel' since mesh doesn't rhyme?

BTW, in the photo, Herbert is on the left and the other dude on the right is not William Lim. Thanks, Neil!

A Visitor from Mars?!!

I see that Graduates & Professionals Toastmasters Club are promoting an event titled
"South African Toastmaster visiting GAP". See details.

Is that it? Now, if she were from Mars, that may be worth announcing to the world, but she was last spotted in Central and an appearance in Wan Chai is really not all that earth-shattering!

Having visitors from overseas - or for that matter, other clubs - is surely a healthy practice and something to be encouraged always.

But...

Why promote this as some special event? It makes the idea of having visitors almost freaky and something extremely out of the ordinary. So, you have a GE who is not your member? OK, good! No need to send out a press release.

One with inaccuracies, too. In fact, I know the lady in question and she's visited our club several times. She is not South African!! She is Indian and lived in Hong Kong for many years - she is like many of our members: a global Toastmaster. From Earth, that is!