Overwhelming and Full of Cheers: The Special Meeting on December 16, 2023

"Overwhelming" was the word of the day for the Special Meeting on December 16th. It was a well-chosen word apt to describe what happened during the meeting and after the meeting. I give credit to Toastmaster Momoko who also used the derivatives of the word. How did the meeting proceed … Well, let me recount:

Starting this year 2023, Senri TMC has stamped its regular meetings starting with "Here’s My Trick." This is an original feature of the club wherein a member shares his/her tips as an effective public speaker. The year-ender role taker was Toastmaster Kazu. His tips were: (1) Be Concise with your Sentences (2) Eliminate Unnecessary Words, and (3) Use "KISS METHOD." Toastmaster Kazu was also the Vote Counter at this meeting. He can handle the two roles with ease.

Then, the awaited "Prepared Speech Session" gave way to three ladies who delivered with great speaking style and enthusiasm to convey their speech content and messages. Toastmaster Mariko talked about Christmas childhood experiences with regards to the belief in the existence of "Santa Claus." It was interesting to note that the topic connected the audience and the speaker. As I listened to her, memories of her topic came flooding into my mind. Her speech was entertaining and at the same time gave a picture of a child torn between "belief" or "doubt" on what adults claim exists.

"The Giant Killer" was Toastmaster Anne's speech title. I was expecting to hear about "tarantula" or "gorilla." But to my surprise, she delivered a heartwarming biography speech about a baseball player who not only excelled in his field of sports but went "beyond the call of duty - to serve and offer his life for his country." Her speech used nonverbal communication, movements, and gestures that added more to her touching message. It was an eye-opener for me, a reminder of the many unsung heroes of today.

The last speaker was Toastmaster Tamiko. She delivered a keynote-style speech recounting her journey in "Speaking in Public." She did give credit to Pathways for helping her achieve the communication confidence that she now possesses. Toastmaster Tamiko made me and the audience recall the great, informative, and entertaining speeches that she had delivered along the way to "Level 5 Project of Presentation Mastery."

The "Evaluation Session" is another unique aspect of Toastmastering. No teachers; thus, speakers and audience learn through the constructive feedback of peer toastmasters. The three evaluators, namely, Toastmasters Teruhiko, Hideo, and Mitsuru, used the "Sandwich Approach." They praised, commended, suggested, recommended, and encouraged the three speakers to consider their comments as they pursue their project paths. An "overwhelming addition" to this session is that the assigned evaluator Toastmaster Teruhiko was also evaluated by a peer, Toastmaster Kiyono. This action is very helpful to evaluators who are still "gaining ground" in their evaluation skills.

As the year is about to end, the Table Topicsmaster Toastmaster Yoshiko chose for the "Table Topics Session" topics related to "Reflecting on This Year." The topics ranged from MVP Star Player, technology, food, word, book, movie, and something started or challenged this year. The speakers who were called upon to answer did their best to expound on their ideas and they did "overwhelmingly."

On top of all these, the club welcomed two guests, namely Takashi and Gloria. We were "overwhelmed" by their presence and their decisions to be members of the Senri Club. "Cheers!"

The transition between sessions and other segments ran smoothly. Thanks to the Toastmaster of the Day, the confident Toastmaster Munehira, who was in control of all proceedings. He chose the "Meeting Theme – New Year's Eve" which the Table Topicmaster did align her topics with.

The two minor roles, the Ah-Counter and Timer, were done by Toastmaster Kaori and Toastmaster Masami, respectively. They did a commendable job with their assigned roles even if the role was new to them. Their role preparations were evident as they performed their roles flawlessly.

The "Cheers!" closed this year's special meeting. We had an "Online Party." It was not merely a "drink and eat party" but became a venue to air out concerns, share tips on assessing/improving speaking abilities, and reflect on one's Pathways journey this year. It was a wonderful time, a time worth doing again!

Indeed, the December 16 th Special Meeting, was "overwhelming!"

Rene

KISS (Here's My Trick by Kazu)

 At the Special Meeting on December 16, Kazu took the stage as the "Here's My Trick" presenter, a role unique to the Senri Toastmasters Club where a member shares his/her tips regarding speeches.

This time, Kazu discussed what he keeps in mind when crafting a speech. KISS, or "Keep It Simple, Stupid." He stressed the importance of keeping our sentences short and simple by eliminating unnecessary words so that it is easier for the audience members to understand the important points of the speech.

What set his presentation apart was his use of examples. He showed two different versions of excerpts from a speech and showed the drafts of these versions, making it visually obvious how the simpler version is easier to follow. In one example, what was over four lines was trimmed down to one line and a half. This demonstrated how short and simple descriptions are powerful in conveying our messages.

Thanks, Kazu, for the superb presentation!

The 185th Regular Meeting, December 2, 2023

会場はCollabo 作業室。いつものオンラインセッティングベテランのTentenとKama-yanがZoom参加のために、TMOD（正式名称：Toastmaster of the Day。教育部分の司会者）であるMarilynが中心になり、Momokoさんや Kazuさんが補佐して準備を進めてくれた。

少し遅れてmeetingはスタートしたが、Marilynの手でスムーズに進行した。二人のゲストを迎え、最初はNew member、Kaoriの入会式。なめらかなpledgeが印象的な入会式の後はrole takersの説明へ続いた。Quick tempoである。

Word of the Dayは、Kiyoさん推薦の"imperative"。難しい英語だが、皆さんがスピーチでどんどん使っているところは千里TMCの積極的な面を表している。 

Here’s My Trick

Kiyoさんのタイトルは、"How I make a speech" 。ベテランらしく'The opening of speeches draws the attention of the audience.' と 'To give a strong conclusion'の大切さを改めて強調された。

Prepared Speech
The 1st speaker: "What's the Difference? Types of Sake?”

Mollyは、 稼業の酒米づくりから得たsake ranking　について、更に、酒の美味さ(うまさ)はcool sakeのflavor（味）とaroma（香り）にあると述べられた。かつて、浅草で飲んだ冷たい吟醸酒のとろけるような味を思い出した。　Well-organizedスピーチであった。 

 The 2nd speaker: "Connecting Dots" 

Kazuさんのスピーチは、最初にsummary ありき、"We cannot predict our future"と提示された。 Steve Jobsのideaを引いて、簡潔に、数学的視点で論理を展開された。 

dot = point = decision 

line = dot の集合体

lifeはdaysから成る、daysはdecisionsから成る dotsをつなぐことによりlineができる。Lineはベクトルをもち、ベクトルは方向と大きさをもつ。このベクトルの方向を決めるのも、その大きさを決めるのも私たちの思考と選択にかかっている。従って、人生は予測できないーー実に深いスピーチであった。ベクトルの方向がアップの場合の結果を、ダウンの場合と対比させて説明されるジェスチャーは効果的であった。

 The 3rd speaker: "A Toastmaster Wears Many Hats-1" 

タイトルの"A Toastmaster Wears Many Hats"はToastmastersのミーティングに登場するいろいろな役割の目的や必要な準備をまとめた資料の名前。第1例として、スピーチの後半timerを取りあげられた。一般的な役割にとどめず、we can be more effectiveをめざし、new ideasを求めて、その役割を創造していくことが大切だ、というinstructiveな発表は、やはりこのクラブのモデルとなる。 

Evaluation Speech

Anne's evaluation on Molly's speech

Anneさんの論評は、温かく適確であった。Do you like sake? のオープニングはcatchyである。そしてスピーチ全体をloud, clear, enthusiasticという言葉でMasamiさんの特長をよくとらえていた。前半のHow and where did sake become popular?の展開はよいので、sake-producing processを最後ではなく、前半の流れの中に入れるべきとAnneさんは指摘された。なるほど。大きなポスターにポイントをまとめて、ホワイトボードに掲示してはどうかというアドバイスも、適確である。

Mune san's evaluation on Kazu's speech
Steve Jobsのファンという点でUjiieさんのスピーチに親近感を覚えたというコメントは、温もりを感じさせた。ベクトルに関するhand gestureの効果を賞賛する一方で、body angleの頻度が高いことを改良の余地ありと評された。しかし、body angleとは何か、例を挙げて説明されると、the audienceにも具体的にイメージできたのだが。

Momoko's evaluation on Tenten's speech

Tentenの発熱症状を気づかいながらの温かいevaluationであった。3つのパートから成るスピーチの中で、前半部分のコメントがまとめにくかったら、思い切って最後のtimerの役割の部分に集中されてもよかったかなと感じた。前のtimerの時より上手に、よりoriginalにtimerの役割を果たそうと目指すべきだというTentenの主張をよく理解した論評であった。 

Table Topics

Topicsmaster Kama-yanのテーマは、"Look Back to 2023"。 7人のspeakerが選んだタイトルはバラエティーに富んでいた。例えば、an unusual part-time jobの経験――ヤミバイトかとちゃちゃが入るーー、国王あるいは女王なら国をどう治めるか、など。スピーカーのprivate lifeの一端を知ることができて、enjoyable speech sessionだった。Kama-yanのaudienceを楽しませる工夫に拍手を送ります。 

全体の感想

今回は、３つのsessionsで、'All are eligible.'（スピーチした人全員が決められた時間制限の中でスピーチを終えて、Best Speakerなどの投票の対象になった）であった。3回のvotingをすることができたのは素晴らしい成果である。学ぶことも多く大成功であったと言える。 

Thank you for TMOD's control and all the members' cooperation. And thank you, two guests.

The 184th Regular Meeting: November 18, 2023

今回はいつもの会場が予約できなかったため、初めての蛍池公民館での例会でしたが、みんな遅れることなく集まれました。(実はいつもの会場に間違えて行った人もいたようでしたが、ちゃんと間に合ってセーフ！) 三人のゲストも無事会場に来てくださり、最初と最後に素敵なスピーチをしてくださいました。とくにTさんは、てんてん脚本・監督のもと私たちみんなが出演して作成したプロモーション動画をほめてくださり、それに惹かれて参加したと言ってくださったのでみんな大喜びでした。

今回のHere's My TrickはTamikoさん。いつもながらのアカデミックなスピーチで、planetery boundaryを精密なイラストを見せながらの熱演でした。

Prepared Speech Session、まりりんは、ご自身のトリプル物忘れ事件と義理のお父様の物忘れを重ねる爆笑スピーチ。Yoshikoさんは、aggressiveでなくassertiveに伝えることの大切さを、ご夫婦の対話の中で気づかれた体験談。Hikoさんは、前回のスピーチ、海外生活中にお子さんの言語習得の過程を見て学んだ言語習得についての考察を、評価者てんてんのアドバイスをもとにブラッシュアップ。唯一オンライン参加のMuneさんは、リラックスした表情で、高速道路での交通事故体験をスリルとユーモアたっぷりに語ってくれました。

今日のEvaluation Sessionは評価スピーチの達人揃いだったので非常にハイレベルでした。それぞれが、評価されるスピーカーやその他の聴衆としっかりアイコンタクトを取りながら、多彩なジェスチャーと豊かな表情でアドバイス。評価スピーチもスピーチである、ということが感じられる、attractiveで、extraordinary(Word of the day!)なevaluationばかりでした。

Table Topic Sessionは、Happinessがテーマでしたが、語られたHappinessは「毎日の手作りパン｣｢テレホンカート収集の思い出」「夫のしつけ日記？」と三者三様の面白さでした。

Toastmaster of the DayのKiyonoさんがみんなにインタビューした「紅葉を観に行きたい場所」では、おふたりが高島市のメタセコイア並木道を挙げられたので、私も行ってみたくなりました。

本日の例会はタイムオーバーをする人が少なかったので、本当にひさびさに、準備スピーチ、評価スピーチ、即興スピーチのすべてでベストスピーカー投票が行われるという快挙（本来あたりまえなんですが…笑）でした（拍手）

そして最後にAnneさんが、23日のClub Showcaseでおこなうことになっている、千里クラブの魅力を伝えるスピーチを披露してくれて、みんなでアドバイス。私はいつも、「Anneさんはどうしてこんなにみんなに親切なんだろう？」と思っていたのですが、Anneさんにとって、千里クラブがSense of belongingを与えてくれる場所だと語ってくれたので、感動してしまいました。

前回の例会のテーマ「収穫」から、今回の例会のテーマ「紅葉」へと、秋の実りの感じられる充実した例会でした。

183rd Regular Meeting on 21 October, 2023その２

「Harvest what you have planted！」

みなさんは、今年はどんな種まきをしましたか？どんな収穫がありましたか？

今回の例会のPrepared Speechのセッションでは、4つのスピーチを聴きました。

本日の1番手、Momoは「Why Tea Ceremony？」と題したスピーチで、茶道のお茶碗とお茶筅を持って登場。お茶のお稽古は片づけに30分かけるそうです。片づけは次に使う時の大事な準備、という言葉にハッとさせられました。肝に銘じます。論評をしたKiyoさんはなんとお茶の先生。お茶の大事な精神である「和敬清寂」と、「軸」についても触れたらよいとアドバイス。「和敬清寂」の精神。今度また聞いてみたいです。 

２人目のスピーカー、HikoさんはEvaluation and Feedbackというプロジェクトに取り組みました。スピーチの講評をもらって、それをもとに次回はより良くなったスピーチをもう一度披露する、というものです。今回は1回目。英国駐在時のお子さんの英語力の吸収と比較しながらご自身の英語の学習について語られました。Evaluatorてんてんからは、印象的だったお子さんのセリフを冒頭にもってきては？と構成に関するアドバイスがありました。次回はどんなふうに変化するか楽しみです。 

3番手、かまやんは2つ前のブログエントリーにもあった冒頭にあった、AnneさんのHere’s My Trickのジェスチャを早速取り入れて、ドラマティックに”Why Are you here?” と問いかけていました。どこか上のほうに向かって。このタイトル、なぜ自分がToastmasters Clubに入ったのかと考えさせるスピーチか、と思いきや。なんと、この季節のみんなの大敵、「カメムシ」に問いかける一言でした！カメムシを避けるTips。もっと早く知りたかったものです。かまやんからEvaluatorのAnneさんに、Transitionについての表現をFeedbackしてほしい、とリクエストしてあったとのこと。Anneさんは色々な言いかえ表現を紹介してくれて、スピーカーにもオーディエンスにも勉強になりました。どんなところを見てほしい、というのは事前に伝えておくとよいですね！ 

最後のスピーカーはConflict Resolutionのプロジェクト。EMPTYという手法で衝突を解消していく手法を、ストーリーテリングを交えて紹介されました。EMPTY―空虚な何かと思ったら、頭文字でした。EvaluatorのKazuは、蓬莱551のCMを実演しながら、EMPTYのあるときー、ないときーのように比較をもっと！とアドバイス。

初めての司会進行Toastmaster of the Day を務めたよっちゃん。初めてのタイマーを務めたYasuko。Here’s My Trickの技を早速使ったかまやんは、早摘みの収穫。Evaluation and Feedbackに挑戦するHikoさんは、まだこれから収穫が待っています。

　　　　　　　　

それぞれに収穫のあった今年の秋。これからもみんながどんな収穫をするか楽しみですね。 

種まき、収穫をしたい方は是非例会を覗きにきてください。

見学はHPのContact Formからお申込みください！

今回のGeneral Evaluator：まりりん

チャンピオンによる未来のチャンピオンの為のスピーチ WS: October 29, 2023

2023年10月29日に日本のトーストマスターズクラブが所属するDistrict 76が主催した「チャンピオンによる未来のチャンピオンの為のスピーチワークショップ」が行われました。3人のスピーチに過去のDistrict Championお2人がフィードバックをするというもので、そのうちの一人が千里トーストマスターズクラブの会員、Momoさんでした。今回はこのワークショップに参加したAnneによるこのワークショップの紹介記事です。

In a room filled with eager faces in Shibuya Tokyo, Momo took center stage to deliver a story of courage, resilience, and determination. She is one of our members, and she was one of the speakers at a nationwide educational event that District 76 of Toastmasters International hosted, "チャンピオンによる未来のチャンピオンの為のスピーチワークショップ" or literally translated "A Speech Workshop by Champions for Future Champions." 

Her inspiring speech, “The Greatest Speaker,” revolved around a young student who had entered a speech contest while enduring many challenges. Momoko highlighted the student’s strong will and bravery to step onto that stage to voice her ideas.

However, the true magic of Momo’s speech came to life when two former District champions offered feedback on her speech performance. I had the opportunity to hear her speech twice before, but the feedback the two champions provided introduced a fresh perspective, revealing the power of ‘Toastmaster’s Mentorship’.

In the end, Momo’s speech was a powerful reminder that it’s not just about winning a competition but about the journey, growth, and determination to improve our skills. 

The 183rd Regular Meeting: October 21, 2023

Super-mini Workshop

This meeting started with the "Here's My Trick" presentation, which really looked like a workshop though it only lasted around three minutes or so.

The presenter, Anne, talked about her tips on delivery, which she learned at an English Rakugo workshop. She prepared some sentences for the attendees to practice and demonstrated how to deliver effectively using good posture, hand gestures, and vocal variety. Following her instructions, the participants tried those tips mimicking her as shown in the photo below.

For your information, "Here's My Trick" is not a standard Toastmasters program. It is our unique program that started this program year, where members share their own tips on public speaking. If you're interested, visit one of our meetings and see it for yourself! You can sign up from our website here.

Tenten

Special Meeting: September 30, 2023

 Toastmastersの活動でメンバーはいろんな役割をしますが、どんな役割を担当しても自身のスピーチ上達につながるんですよ。今回のSpecial meetingではSpeech上達につながるTipsが沢山ありました。

最初に今年度から始まった企画でメンバーが互いにTipsを紹介しあうコーナー“Here‘s My Trick”は、英語教師Momoさんからの発音に関するTips｡英語教師ならではの直筆紙アイテムを使ったプレゼンで､生徒になった気分になりました｡効果的なスピーチをするために、正しい強勢・音節で発音することはとても重要なことですよね｡　特に日本人が陥りやすい発音の間違いについて、例を交えた説明は理解しやすかった。一度で全部覚えきれなかったので、動画をもう一度みて学習しようと思ってます。（千里トーストマスターズクラブは毎回の例会を録画しているので会員はスピーチを見返して再度確認ことができるんです。）

Prepared Speech セッションから2点紹介します。9月に新メンバーとして加入したMollyが初めてと思えない落ち着いたスピーチを披露してくれました。過去、現在、そして未来の描写がとてもスムーズで話に吸いこまれました｡今後のスピーチがとても楽しみです。

2点目はTentenのKeynoteスタイルのスピーチ。Get There Faster と題したスピーチは、Toastmastersで得られる様々な機会を活用してより効果的なスピーカーになるための方法を中心としたものでした。Toastmastersには例会中に担当するRoleやクラブ運営に関わるRoleがあります｡どのRoleを取り上げても､自身のスピーチを向上させる機会が含まれているんですよね｡例えばスピーチの時間を計測すしてスピーカーにどれくらいの時間が経過しているかを知らせるるタイマーというRoleがあります｡このRoleもシンプルにスピーチの終了時間を計測するのみならず､スピーカーが持ち時間の内どれくらいオープニングに使ったか等を分析しながら担当すると､自身のスピーチの際に役立ちます｡その他のRoleもファシリテーションスキルや即興スピーチスキルなどが習得できる機会を含んでいるということを解説してくれました。

次回は10月21日に本拠地 千里中央のコラボにてハイブリット例会を予定しています。次回も楽しくて学びの多いイベントになること間違いなし。興味をお持ちいただけましたら、ホームページのContact Usフォームからご連絡ください！

Any role in the Toastmasters club leads to improved speech skills. In this Special meeting, members shared many tips that contribute to speech improvement.

First, in the "Here's My Trick" session, English teacher Momo gave a presentation on pronunciation using unique items. It was very informative, especially when she provided examples of common pronunciation mistakes that Japanese people often make. I hope to become more aware of placing the correct stress in order to aim for effective speeches. I couldn't remember everything at once, so I would like to watch the video again for further learning. At Senri Toastmasters, we record every meeting, allowing members to review their speeches.

I'll share two things from the Prepared Speech session. Molly, a new member who joined in September, delivered a speech in a  relaxed manner. It didn't seem like her first. Her descriptions of the past, present, and future were very smooth and captivating. I look forward to her future speeches.

The second is about Tenten's keynote-style speech. Titled "Get There Faster," his speech was centered around ways to make use of different opportunities in Toastmasters to help us become better speakers. Every role provides an opportunity to improve one's own speech. For example, there is a role called the Timer, whose primary responsibility is to measure the speech time and show colored signals to let the speakers know how much time has passed. Tenten told us that we can also be proactive and analyze how much of the speaker's allotted time was used for the opening, body, and conclusion. This perspective can be helpful for our own speech. He also explained how we can utilize opportunities other roles provide to improve our facilitation and impromptu speaking skills.

Our next meeting is scheduled to be a hybrid one at Collabo in Senri Chuo on October 21. If you are interested, please contact us through the Contact Us form on our website.

Members Join Debate Festival

 In Toastmasters, the club meeting is at the center of our learning. Yet, that is not the only opportunity for us to learn. There are other possibilities, too. Some examples include speech contests at the area, division, district, and international levels. There are district-sponsored educational events as well. On top of that, some clubs organize their own events inviting members of other clubs.

One such case was the Debate Festival organized by Speak-up Toastmasters Club on September 24. The club is an "advanced" club that features debating as part of its program. (The category "advanced" means clubs under that category only accept membership applications from existing or former Toastmasters.) The Debate Festival was conducted using a "Parliamentary Debate" format, a kind of impromptu debate where the topic is announced on the spot and the debaters only have 15 minutes to prepare.

Our debaters, Momo, Tamiko, and Yocchan, were not familiar with debate in this format but decided to join the event. They held numerous practice sessions to be better prepared and a lot of members volunteered to join these practice sessions taking the role of their opponents. Among them was Molly, who had only recently joined the club and was quite familiar with parliamentary debating. She volunteered to observe the practice session and provide comments to the debaters. Her comments were detailed and insightful indeed.

With the debaters' efforts and support from other members, they performed well and placed second in the Festival. Congratulations!! This serves as a perfect example of Senri's Teamwork spirit.

The 182nd Regular Meeting: September 16, 2023

Club President Rene infused the meeting with a dose of humor as she playfully wielded the gavel upon the lectern, declaring, “Let’s kick off this meeting with a bang!” Her lighthearted opening set the tone for an enjoyable, enlightening, and uplifting gathering.

With this spirited start, the meeting soared with Kamayan sharing invaluable tips on “Vocal Tone.” We pondered the impact of tone on our presentations, realizing that it’s not just the content but also the tone of our voices that truly matter. Kamayan urged us to fine-tune our vocal delivery for various situations, reminding us that casual conversations, informal gatherings, and public speeches each require their unique tonal nuances – like the musical notes Do, Mi, So. The takeaway was clear: Elevating our charisma and credibility lies in mastering our tone and volume. It was a valuable hack worth embracing!

Serving as Toastmaster of the Day, the facilitator of the education portion of the meeting, Momoko led the meeting with sincerity and boundless enthusiasm, impressing us with her ability to speak from the heart, effortlessly delivering introductions without relying on notes. Her natural approach set the stage for a memorable meeting.

The highlight of the meeting was undoubtedly the Induction Ceremony, where we welcomed our newest member, Molly, into the Senri Toastmasters family. As members, we pledged to support Molly on her journey of self-development, providing positive feedback and helpful evaluations to ensure her membership is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Kazu introduced the “Word of the Day” –“proactive,” sharing a personal anecdote about his proactive decision to seek a health check-up due to severe stomach pains. It reminded us of the importance of taking charge of our health.

Regrettably, the Best Speaker Award remained unclaimed due to several speakers exceeding their allotted time – a struggle we’ve all faced. Despite this, all prepared speeches were exceptional, touching on diverse topics such as “Something Absorbed In,” “Your Body Speaks,”“Rugby,” and “Synesthesia.”   Mune and Marilyn complemented their speeches with colorful and well-designed PowerPoint slides that enhanced their messages. Tenten offered invaluable insights into effective body language, illustrating his points with a persuasive example of how he conquered his own mistakes. Lastly, the return of Kiyono to our in-person venue after over a year was a heartwarming experience, and her speech left a lasting impact.

The much-anticipated Evaluation Session followed, with Kamayan, Rene, Tamiko, and Tenten providing thoughtful feedback tailored to each speaker’s experience level. This session also served as an opportunity for us to hone our skills as confident evaluators – a reminder that practice is the key to improvement. 

Hiko led an entertaining and educational Table Topics (impromptu speech) Session, delving into the theme of “Crisis Management.” Kazu claimed the title of Best Table Topics Speaker by brilliantly responding to the question, “What’s the first thing you’d do in the unexpected event of an earthquake?” His spontaneous answer, “shoes,” struck a chord with many of us.

The meticulous timing and record-keeping were handled by Yoshiko, while Mitsuru explained the voting rules with clarity and engaging eye contact. Masami, a newly inducted member, excelled as the Ah-Counter, skillfully tallying all the filler words and delivering a friendly and humble report at the meeting’s close.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to Zoom Master Mariko and her team, who flawlessly managed the online operations, making hybrid meetings possible through their proactive efforts.

Lastly,  let’s cheer on our three debaters – Yoshiko, Momo, and Tamiko – as they prepare to participate in the Speak-Up Toastmasters Club-sponsored  Debate Festival on September 24th. Their courage and commitment to honing their skills deserve our support and applause. 

Eye contact: The 181st Regular Meeting

The topic for "Here's My Trick" was Eye Contact. (To know what "Here's My Trick, this article may help.)

One of the experienced members, Marilyn, talked about how eye contact is important to make our speeches effective. She told us we might want to look into the listeners' eyes long enough to communicate their ideas and know how they are reacting to our message. She also mentioned that our eye contact should not be too long because that will make the listener uncomfortable.

She was not comfortable with eye contact at the beginning, though. She says eye contact is one of the first tricks she learned in Toastmasters. When she delivered her first speech, the Ice Breaker speech, she received feedback from one of the members, saying, "You were constantly gazing at the wall at the back of the room." She followed his advice and now she can use eye contact to engage the audience and see how they are reacting to her speech so that she is able to adjust the content of her speech to suit the audience.

Later in the meeting, General Evaluator Tenten provided feedback to the entire meeting on eye contact. He pointed out that some members were not keeping eye contact during their speeches. Some online attendees were looking away from the camera. Some in-person speakers were looking down on their manuscripts.

This can be said of the functionary role-takers as well. Every moment of our meeting is an opportunity to practice public speaking. When a role-taker explains his or her role, it is a public speaking moment. When a Toastmaster of the Day, the master of ceremonies, or a General Evaluator introduces speakers and evaluators, these are public speaking moments. We might want to use these opportunities to hone our public speaking skills. One thing we can do is to pay attention to what we learned at this meeting, eye contact.

Want to get comfortable with eye contact? Visit us at one of our meetings! 

My Experience in the Senri Toastmasters Club

It has been exactly one year since I joined the regular meeting of the Senri Toastmasters Club as a guest for the first time. I will write about what I have learned and what surprised me in this club by reflecting on this year. My experience of joining a club with zero knowledge may be helpful for those who are considering joining this club or are interested but unsure about what this club is all about.

As I had been interested in public speaking and improving my English speaking skills, Toastmasters had captured my attention for a long time. However, it took me five years to gather the courage to visit a club. I remember I was very nervous on the day of my first visit. Upon arriving at the venue, the club members were busy setting up the room, but they kindly took the time to engage in a conversation with me. This short conversation not only brought me a sense of relief but also made me feel genuinely welcome. Once the meeting started, it proceeded at a rapid pace and ended before I could fully figure out everything that happened. However, I was so impressed by the members' positive atmosphere and remarkable command of English that wanted to become a member of this club. After my second visit (The Senri Toastmasters Club allows up to three visits.), I decided to join the club.

Before I joined the Senri Toastmasters Club, I held the impression that Toastmasters was a place where we practice speeches earnestly like a "Speech Dojo." Later on, it turned out to be different. Surprisingly, not everyone gives speeches at every meeting. There are various roles to fulfill besides giving speeches, and there are so many things to learn through taking those roles. One such role is that of the Evaluator, responsible for assessing the strength and areas for improvement in speeches. In my case, taking this role makes me more nervous than giving my speech. To evaluate someone else's speech, careful listening and thoughtful consideration of good points and areas for further improvement are needed. It is a difficult role, but I have recently realized that it is a very good opportunity to learn about speeches and actually, I gained a lot of knowledge and awareness from this role. The Evaluators also have an opportunity to be evaluated on their evaluation speech by the General Evaluator. I find this aspect of the club's system to be excellent because regardless of the role we undertake, we can receive feedback. I think these aspects are the appealing features of this club

.

Perhaps you may be wondering, after reading this far, if you join our club you will be required to take on so many different roles. There is nothing to worry about. New members will not take on roles immediately upon joining. The members in charge of education and other experienced members will gently push you to try new roles at the right time. Moreover, for a while after joining, new members are assigned experienced mentors, and if you have any questions or concerns, you can ask them any time and will be assured that they will always be there to provide you with genuine support.

Toastmasters is not a place where a teacher teaches you something, but it is a place where you can learn from each other through taking on various roles. Perhaps it is not so much "a club to learn speech" as "a club to learn various things through speech." These various things are not only English speech or presentation skills, but also leadership, teamwork, and communication skills, which are very useful in the real world. Why don't you join the Senri Toastmasters Club and enjoy valuable experiences through public speaking? If you have been interested but hesitant, as I once was, I encourage you to attend our club meeting as a guest. You will be welcomed by friendly and supportive members!

On With a Fresh Start: The 180th Regular Meeting: July 15, 2023

The 180th Regular Meeting of the Senri Toastmasters Club was hybrid (venue at Toyonaka Chuo Kominkan and Zoom) on July 15th. It was the first meeting for this new term 2023-2024. The newly-elected president, Rene opened the meeting with a big bang of the gavel. The club meeting which was always composed of vibrant and enthusiastic members welcomed the first visit of the Area C3 Director (Maho of the Shin-Osaka Leaders Toastmasters Club) and two other guests including a member of the Takarazuka Toastmasters Club. 

The Toastmaster of the Day, Kama-yan introduced each role-takers who did their tasks unquestionably. Kama-yan managed with ease the smooth transitions and baton passing to each session master. He also reminded everyone to use the “word of the day – mandatory.” The said word was defined and used in several sentences by the Grammarian and Word Master, Tamiko.  

This meeting also marks the start of a new feature in our agenda. This new portion named, “Here’s My Trick” aims to share with club members different ways and tips on speech organization, delivery, and evaluation. Speakers on this portion will be led by officers and members who willingly share their knowledge and expertise. The first batter was Rene. She talked about the “Kinds of Definition” which can be used in writing one’s speech body. There are 5 ways namely: (1) Historical, (2) Dictionary, (3) Personal, (4) Expert, and (5) Cultural. Likewise, she gave suggestions on how to employ “definition,” like (1) select a word with depth (2) use personal experiences (3) make use of sensory language (4) discuss connotations (5) provide real-life examples and (6) be creative.  

We had three prepared speakers for the “Prepared Speech Session.” Each speaker’s delivery was stamped with confidence gained through experience and having a full grasp of their speech content and message. 

The first speaker, Maririn, recounted her “Long and Winding Road” to complete her Path, “Innovative Planning.” She talked vividly about her experiences in preparing for the required speeches and with initiative and effort to work with other Toastmasters to come up with projects. Her “journey” with her Path project gave ideas and encouragement to me and the members. Maririn has successfully crossed the line and she did say “Goodbye to Innovative Planning.”

The second speaker, Yoshiko, delivered the same speech “Little Women” incorporating some of the feedback she got at the previous meeting. It was a narrative speech, full of vivid descriptions of the characters and the scenario at that time. The speaker gave reasons why she liked the famous book. At the same time, Yoshiko saw herself in the book’s heroine, Luisa May Alcott, who wanted to live happily and freely without gender restrictions. I do share her thoughts on these. 

The third speaker, Kazu, delivered the same speech “My First Trip to India,” taking into account the constructive feedback received from his speech evaluator. We were able to imagine and picture his business trip experience in India.  He was very vocal in sharing his unforgettable encounters relating to food, hotel accommodation, workplaces, and interaction with the local people. I really admire how he closed his speech with the message that his first trip to India made him energetic, adaptable, and a challenging mind.

The “Evaluation Session” was very fulfilling and educationally constructive. The first evaluator, Momo, evaluated the first speaker praising her for having an unceasing motivation and resourcefulness to reach her project completion. The second evaluator, Nanea, commended how the speaker tried to apply the feedback given for her previous speech, which was to give more concrete related incidents. The third evaluator, Tenten, congratulated the third speaker for trimming down his ideas into three clearly cut categories. These three versatile evaluators used the “Sandwich Approach” in giving feedback. I really appreciate and regard this approach as helpful for speakers to improve. 

The “Table Topics Session” led by Yasuko was very interesting. Her prepared topics seemed easy, but they weren’t. The questions made the speakers think deeply and be placed in a “hot spot.” Some questions run like these ... “When was the last time you lost your temper, and why?”, “Who was the last person to whom you said, 'I love you?'”, “What can’t you buy with money?”, and so on. I like her confidence in handling this session with smiles and composure.

The other Evaluation Team role takers, like Kama-yan as Vote Counter, Hiko as Ah-Counter, and Mune as Timer, did their roles conscientiously adding to a smooth, enjoyable, and rewarding educational meeting. 

I can say that we are on the right track and on with a fresh start with the Senri Toastmasters Club! 

Rene

Division Club Officer Training – A Refresher and An Eye Opener: June 24, 2023

 The 2023-2024 new term officers of Senri Toastmasters Club (Area C3) participated in a half-day Club Officer Training. We were in full attendance and in full force. Some officers were experienced and have held several offices. Our Senri Team has two neophytes who were very receptive and committed to their office roles. We were committed to learning about our designated posts, listening to other Toastmasters clubs' officers, to ask and airing out our concerns and goals with the purpose of sharing and getting new ideas. Having these in mind, we will face the year ahead strongly, enhancing each other to do his/her duty responsibly and with joy that will trigger a “smooth sailing”, educationally fulfilling, and warm thriving home club in Area C3 and in Division C.

The First Session (Breakout Room 1): I realized that most clubs in Division C share the same concern as Senri Toastmasters Club – the need to increase the number of members. Senri club has a very strong base in terms of its educational output coming from members. But to make the meeting livelier, more varied, and not an additional load on role-takers, we need new active members. These prospective members are people who not only learn/wish to grow for themselves but have the concern to work hand in hand for the club's goals and its members. There are several ways that we aim to have new members: (1) work more on PR using social media, (2) to lure back former or inactive members by pointing out what they are missing, (3) work in line with the District 76 Public Relations, but coming up with an original and customized Senri Club Flyer, (4) to check the municipalities that have International Associations Offices, and (5) advertise the club through "word of mouth."

The Second Session (Breakout Room 2), made us, Division C Clubs, realize the problems of maintaining a team of working officers. Sometimes, due to personal/unforeseen reasons, an officer cannot function very well or has to leave the club. This cannot be helped; thus, flexibility and workload division have to be done. Likewise, creating certain committees for offices can be of help in choosing the next person in line. The experience of a committee member will expose him/her to the office task.

The Third Session (Breakout Room 3): Senri new officers met together in this session. We tried to answer the question – being in office a "Burden" or an "Opportunity." As the top officer, I can sense that each officer shared the same mentality and feeling that holding our office gives us an "Opportunity" to serve the club and fellow Toastmasters, learn the mechanics of our designated office, and gain professionally in aspects of communication and leadership.

SENRI Toastmasters Club's foremost aim is to increase the number of club members. But within the club, how will we, OFFICERS lead SENRI Toastmasters Club? WE wish to let everyone be heard, be observed – giving a chance/a role for everyone. WE have to set an example not only in ways deemed of a person: but in all the club meetings and related activities. WE wish to pay attention to each other's concerns and to pick up hints from the members. Lastly, WE aim to practice sensitivity, supportiveness, encouragement, and to have a strong TEAMWORK.

As a whole, the Division C "Club Officer Training" was indeed a "Refresher" for all officers who seemed to be bogged down by concerns/problems that lie ahead this term. Each one was refreshed by ideas and answers to their different concerns. It was also an "Eye Opener" for the new officers as to the tasks, the experiences of fellow Toastmasters, the available resources, and the possibilities they can use and be equipped with.

Rene

The 179th Regular Meeting: June 17, 2023

The 179th regular meeting was called to order, exactly 2 o'clock in the afternoon on June 17, 2023.

President Kama-yan gave us his last greetings. June is the last month of his presidency. He did a great job leading and encouraging members. Kudos to Kama-yan!

We had three prepared speeches: First one about the book "Little Women," which is very popular. She talked about the content, characters, happenings, and etc. The organization was good, but the flow to the conclusion needed to explain more in detail. Anyway, I enjoyed her speech so much. The second speech was about generative AI. He used some technical words which were not familiar to  me. In conclusion he accepted AI positively. Much easier explanation would have been appreciated for people like me. The third speech was about his first trip to India. He had many uncomfortable experiences, but he seemed to like Indian people who were energetic and good. His story was humorous and interesting. All three speakers were well prepared and made us enjoy speeches.

In the evaluation session, we had three experienced evaluators. The first evaluator gave a couple of good suggestions. The second evaluator seemed familiar to AI and suggested telling us its pros and cons. I think it was a good idea. The third evaluator organized his evaluation speech in three parts, that is, 1) purpose, 2) body language, and 3) vocal variety. As a result his evaluation speech was effective and understandable.

In the Table Topic session, Yasuko, who was assigned as Topicsmaster for the first time, did a very good job. She prepared well and gave us unique questions, for example asking,“What is that?" while showing a ballpoint pen.

As a whole, the meeting was enjoyable, comfortable, and educational thanks to Toastmaster of the Day Rene, who made the meeting go smoothly

Feedback Speech Practice Session, June 3 / フィードバックスピーチ練習会 6/3

We held another special event, Feedback Speech Practice Session, on Sat., June 3. This special session was attended by a total of eight, six members and two guests.

Presentation

At the beginning of the event, one of the members made a presentation titled "The Best Takeaway in Toastmasters." Though we practice making speeches, we don't really have many opportunities to deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech in life. To the contrary, our life is a series of providing and receiving feedback. Practicing feedback speeches, or Evaluation Speeches as we call it in Toastmasters, is in a sense the best takeaway in Toastmasters. 

He talked about how to deliver an evaluation speech using an analogy to a course meal. 

Appetizers

Though the main purpose of an evaluation speech is to provide constructive criticism, starting with suggestions is not easy for the listener to swallow. So, we might want to start with appetizers, some compliments in recognition of what the speaker did well in their speech. 

Main dish

Once the speaker is ready, it's time to serve the main dish, your suggestions to make the speech even better. Yet, you might want to pay attention to make it easier to swallow. Some techniques you can employ includes:
1. Using "I-words" rather than "You-words,"
2. Talking specifically using some examples,
3. Using inanimate subject and passive voice ("be -ed" form), and
4. Using subjunctive mood ("I would have appreciated it even more").

Dessert

After you've made some suggestions, you might want to finish your evaluation speech with some dessert, some encouraging comments to urge the speaker to incorporate some of the suggestions you've made for a better result.

Practice

After Tenten's presentation came the main part. The participants listened to Kama-yan's prepared speech and discuss what was good and what could be improved upon in two breakout rooms. This was followed by a series of evaluation speeches delivered by each and every participant.

The final session was our usual Evaluation Session, but this time, two each form the two breakout rooms delivered their evaluation speeches for Kama-yan. Four evaluators delivered their evaluation speeches from their own perspective. It was great to see two guests delivered a beautifully crafted evaluation speeches with valuable suggestions. Wonderfully done!!

This was so fun and educational that we are doing a similar event this Saturday, June 10 from our usual meeting time, 2:00 p.m. The session is scheduled to last 90 minutes. If you're interested, sign up from the "CONTACT US" form on our website! You, too, will enjoy "The Best Takeaway in Toastmasters."

 

「Toastmasters一番のお土産」
今回はフィードバックをする練習会でした。準備したスピーチをする機会なんて実際の生活ではあまりありませんが、フィードバックの機会なら毎日のようにあります。それが練習できるのがToastmastersのおいしいところ。今回はスピーチへのフィードバック（Evaluation Speech）の練習を通してフィードバックの方法を練習しました。

最初にメンバーのTentenがコツをプレゼンテーション。コース料理と同じようにメインディッシュである改善への提案をいきなり出されても身構えてしまうもの。まずは前菜のごとく、良かった点を認めて聞く態勢を作ってもらいましょう。

次にメインディッシュ。スピーチをより良くするための提案です。ここでもスピーカーにとって受け入れやすいように、
１．自分がどう感じたかを中心に話す、
２．例を使って具体的に分かるように話す、
３．無生物主語を使って攻撃的に聞こえないように話す、
４．仮定法を使って仮の話として話す
などの工夫ができます。

プレゼンテーションの後は実践の機会。Kama-yanのスピーチを聞いてブレイクアウトルームに分かれて感想を話し合った後、参加者全員がEvaluation Speechを練習。その後、メインルームでは通常の形式のEvaluation Sessionとなりましたが、今回はそれぞれのプレイクアウトルームから２人ずつ４人がKama-yanのスピーチをEvaluation。４人とも独自の視点でのEvaluation Speechで良かったですね。特にゲストのお２人が価値ある提案を含んだよくまとまったEvaluation Speechをしてくれたのが印象的でした。素晴らしい❣

今回、とても良い学びの機会になったので、また似たイベントを行います。今度の土曜日（6/10）、いつものミーティングと同じ午後２時から90分のセッションです。ご興味がおありでしたらホームページの CONTACT US フォームからお申し込みを。「Toastmasters一番のお土産」を持って帰ってください。

Impromptu Speech Practice Session / 即興スピーチ練習セッション

Are you comfortable speaking in public when suddenly called on to speak? Not many people are ready for that kind of challenge, but our life is full of these impromptu speech opportunities, isn't it?

Today, we had a special session focused on impromptu speaking, what we call "Table Topics" speech in Toastmasters, where we are given a topic and are expected to start speaking on the spot. We had six of our members and four guests for the 90-minute session.

At the beginning of the event, our president, Kama-yan, gave a brief presentation on how to structure an impromptu speech, introducing a model called PREP. It is an abbrevieation of Point, Reason, Example, and Point. First, you might want to state your point clearly. Then, you follow up with a reason or reasons. To make your reason(s) clearer, you want to add some examples to illustrate. Finally, you might want to conclude with stating your point again to emphasize it.

After this, two members are called on to speak on their respectve topics to demonstrate what impromptu speeches look like. This was followed by two breakout sessions, where five attendess each practiced impromptu speeches taking turns providing topics, speaking on the given topic, and timing the speeches. We shared our feedback and speakers themselves looked back on their speech and found what they could have done differently.

After two rounds of breakout sessions, we got back to the main room and have a "Table Topics" session, where one of the members, Tenten, facilitated the session giving topics and callling on members and guests. We listened to speeches by three members and four guests based on their stories from their lives. It was a truly fun and educational event.

We are having another special event next week on June 3, focused on feedback speech. Our life is full of feedback opportunities, right? This is going to be another fun and educational session and guests are welcome. Interested? Just send us a message via the Contact Us form here!

急に話題を振られてその場で話さないといけない。。。　お得意ですか？　多くの人は苦手ですよね。でも、人生って、即興スピーチの連続じゃないですか？

今日は、Toastmastersで「Table Topics」と呼ばれる即興スピーチに特化して練習する特別なセッションで、６人の会員と４人のゲストが参加しました。

最初に会長のかまやんが即興スピーチのコツについて簡単なプレゼンを行い、PREPというモデルを紹介しました。Point、Reason、Example、Pointの略で、最初に結論を述べ、理由とその例を加えて最後にもう一度結論で締めくくるという構成です。

その後、２人の会員が即興スピーチの例をお見せして、ブレイクアウトセッションに移りました。５人グループで互いにお題を出す人、話す人、時間を測る人を交代しながら練習をし、フィードバックをしました。

途中でメンバーを入れ替えて２回のブレイクアウトセッションの後は、メインルームに戻ってTable Topics sessionと呼ばれる、普段のミーティングでも行っている形式での練習。会員の1人、Tentenがファシリテータを務め、3人の会員と4人のゲストがスピーチに挑戦しました。それぞれの経験をもとにしたスピーチを聞けたとても楽しく学びの多い時間となりました。

さて、来週（6/3）にも特別セッションがあります。次はフィードバックスピーチに特化します。人生って、フィードバックの機会満載でもありますよね？　次回も楽しくて学びの多いイベントになること間違いなし。興味をお持ちいただけましたら、Contact Usフォームからご連絡ください！

Golden Week Vacation—178th Meeting May 20th: A Touching Toastmasters Experience

 

The 178th meeting of Senri Toastmasters on May 20 was a delightful blend of in-person and virtual interactions, as members gathered at Sone Chuo Kominkan and connected through Zoom. The meeting exuded a vibrant atmosphere, with Kama-yan, the President of Senri Toastmasters, announcing an upcoming special Table Topics Meeting and celebrating the tremendous response to their promotional videos on social media platforms.

The meeting theme revolved around the Golden Week Vacation, allowing members to share their holiday experiences. In this blog, we will explore the captivating speeches, engaging table topics, and insightful evaluations that made the 178th meeting truly memorable. 

Word of the Day- Touching (adj) affecting, poignant, moving.
Word of the Day is a word that attendees are encouraged to use during the course of the meeting. picked by the Word Master, one of the functionary role takers.  Its purpose is to help members increase vocabulary and flexibility.

Touching Speeches: 

The meeting commenced with Mune san delivering a heartfelt eulogy as his prepared speech. With the objective of "Delivering a Social Speech," Mune san touched the hearts of everyone in attendance, reminding us of the beauty of life and the importance of love. His speech left an indelible impression, truly exemplifying the meaning of the word "touching."

Kamayan, the second speaker, embarked on an "Ice Breaker Speech" and introduced his son to the Toastmasters circle. He shared a story about his son's vision for the future, effectively using rhetorical devices to depict the anticipation and anxiety between a father and son. Kamayan's speech was colored with personal anecdotes and the analogy of chemistry acting as a catalyst for his career direction, making it an engaging and moving experience.

Renelyn delivered an insightful speech titled "Speak Louder Than," based on the project "Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring." Her speech revolved around the key elements of effective mentoring, weaving personal stories of three different mentors. Renelyn emphasized the importance of an empathetic attitude that speaks louder than words, concluding her speech with a beautifully calculated and impactful closing remark.

Kazu, a member who joined Senri six months ago, shared a refreshing and enthusiastic speech about his "My Senri Experience." He expressed his comfort in being part of a diverse club where individuals from various backgrounds come together to improve their public speaking skills. Kazu's goal to become a better public speaker resonated with the audience, leaving them inspired and motivated.

Engaging Table Topics: 

The Table Topics Session, led by Kazu, took the participants on a virtual vacation by asking them about their dream destinations. Imaginations ran wild as members envisioned traveling to Argentina, Taiwan, Africa, and France. Interestingly, one of the guests, Nicolas, happened to be from France, adding an extra touch of excitement to the session. Among the participants, Yasuko san, a fresh new member, emerged as the Best Table Topics Speaker, showcasing her ability to think on her feet and express her thoughts descriptively.

Insightful Evaluations:

The Evaluation Session proved to be a valuable learning experience, with Tenten, Momo san, and Yoshiko san providing detailed feedback to the prepared speakers. Their evaluations not only highlighted the speakers' strengths but also offered constructive suggestions for improvement. Suggestions ranged from addressing unintentional body movements to increasing eye contact with the online audience and refining time sequence and content. These evaluations played a pivotal role in strengthening the communication and speaking skills of the participants.

Appreciation and Conclusion:

The success of the 178th meeting would not have been possible without the exceptional leadership of Toastmaster of the Day, Tamiko san, who skillfully facilitated the meeting, keeping everyone engaged and excited throughout. A special thanks also goes out to the Zoom Tech team, whose unwavering support made the hybrid meeting seamless and enjoyable.

In conclusion, the 178th meeting of Senri Toastmasters left a lasting impact on its participants.

Division Director-Elect!

 District 76 Council meeting, where club Presidents and Vice President Educations of each club as well as District Leaders meet and make decisions, was held today.

One of the most important agenda items was election of District Leaders, namely Division Directors and above, for the next term of 2023-2024. 

Our member Tenten has been elected as next Division C Director. Hooray! 

He gave a speech of his aspiration and talked about how he wants to vitalize clubs.

Division C? Yes, Our Divisions and Area of the Toastmasters will be changed, and Senri Toastmasters Club will be a part of Division C-3. This was another important agenda items decided during the meeting.

In Toastmasters, a program year begins in July and ends in June. We are at around  the end of the year.

I look forward to what will be unfolded in another Toastmaster Year! 

今日は各クラブの会長と教育担当副会長、そしてDistrict 76 （日本地域）のリーダーが集って、議事の決定を行う会議、District Council Meetingが行われました。

そこで。。じゃじゃーーん。次期Division C Directorとして我らがてんてんが選出されましたー！

Division内のクラブをどうやって活性化させていくか、楽しそうにスピーチしていました。

てんてん、おめでとうございます！

さて、Divisionというのは、千里が含まれる地域、大きさとしては関西地方、くらいの地域です。今まではFだったはず？今回の決定で、FからCという名称に変わりました。

ということで、7月からはDivision C になります。

7月に始まり6月に終わるトーストマスターズの一年。次の一年はどんな年になるでしょうか？楽しみです。

まりりん

千里メンバーと英語

 Toastmasters clubは英語を学ぶために特化した場所ではありませんが、英語を使って活動している以上、非母語話者にとって英語力を磨く効果があるのも確か。実際に英語力向上がToastmastersに入った理由の一つである人は少なくありません。

では、Senri Toastmasters Clubのメンバーの英語力はどんな感じ？　気になりますよね。

今回は個人的な独断ですが、千里のメンバーの英語力について書いてみます。

とは書いたものの、色んなメンバーがいるので一言でまとめるのは不可能です。ネイティブスピーカーもいれば、フィリピン出身で落ち着いた口調で豊かな語彙力を使って話す人、英語教師や通訳者として英語のプロ的な立ち位置の人、一般企業で海外の方と英語を使って仕事をする機会のある人、仕事で使うわけではないけれど英語が好きな人、英語は苦手だけど頑張って習得しようとしている人など様々。

ミーティングは基本的にすべて英語で行われています。たまに英語が思いつかず日本語の単語を口にする人もいます。特に罰則があるわけではありませんが、できるだけ自分の使える英語力で伝えたいことを表現する練習をするようにするのが良いでしょうね。英語を使ったパブリックスピーキング能力、コミュニケーション能力、それらを含めてのリーダーシップを磨くのが目的ですからね。

ミーティングでは、Grammarian（文法係）という役目があります。ミーティング内で使われた注目したい表現、ぜひ使えるようにしたい表現、上手に伝えたいことを言い表していた表現などを紹介するとともに、言い間違いや思い違いなどによる文法・語法の間違いを指摘したりする役割です。これを担当するのは毎回１人ですが、英語を伸ばそうという意識があるのなら毎回自分がGrammarianなんだという意識でメモを取ってみるとかなり勉強になります。もちろん、本当のGrammarianの報告からも大いに学びがあるはずですが。

ミーティングでは、Prepared Speechをする人は決まっていますが、それ以外に英語を使って話す機会はたくさんあります。Grammarianもそうですが、それ以外にAh-Counter（不必要で気を散らすような発話に注目して報告する係）、Timer（スピーチの時間を測って時間の経過を綠・黄色・赤のカードで知らせる係）、Evaluator（Prepared Speechに対するフィードバックをする係）、Toastmaster of the Day（当日の司会をするだけでなく事前の準備も含めてミーティングをリードする係）、General Evaluator（ミーティング全体に対してフィードバックをする係）など、色々な役目で話す機会があります。

これらの役割を果たすうえで工夫をすることで、自分にも負荷がかかり英語力を伸ばすのに活用できます。例えばTimerの場合、スピーチ時間を報告する際に毎回同じ表現を使うのではなく色々な表現を使い分けてみることができますし、時間に関して気付いたポイントを一言手短に付け足すなんてことをするとその場で考えたことを英語で表現する練習の場になります。Ah-CounterやGrammarianの報告も同様ですね。単にすべてを羅列するのではなく、似たような内容をまとめて話すとか、どう改善できるかを提案するとかプラスアルファの工夫をするだけで、英語でメッセージを伝える練習の場になります。

Prepared Speechをすることが英語力の維持向上に役立つのは自明でしょう。自分の伝えたい内容をどう表現するのが最も効果的なのかを考えることは、単に単語帳で英単語を覚えるよりもはるかに運用能力を高めてくれます。そしてTable Topics。その場で与えられたトピックについて２分程度で話す練習をする時間です。何を結論に据えて話すか、どういう構成にするのかを瞬時に判断して話し始めるわけで、事前にどういう表現を使うかと考える時間はありません。だからこそ、急に振られた話に対してそれなりに意味のある回答を出す訓練になるし、それをうまく表現する英語力向上のための練習になります。ま、すぐには上達しないんですけどね。

一言でまとめると、いろんな英語運用能力の人が互いに助け合いながらより上手に言葉を駆使して伝える力を養うために練習しているのがToastmasters clubということになります。そして、どんな役割を担当するにしても、工夫次第でかなり英語力を伸ばすための良い練習にもなるということ。ただし、英語そのものを学ぶプログラムがミーティングの中に組み込まれているわけではないので、ミーティングに参加するだけで英語が伸びるわけではありません。インプットや練習は自宅で日ごろから行い、ミーティングではそうして養った英語力を使って「伝える」実践を重ねることでより効果的に英語力を伸ばすことが可能になるという感じでしょうか。

Division Contest? そりゃ、出るでしょ？

2023年4月29日。関西と鳥取にある24のToastmasters clubが所属するDivision Fという枠組みでスピーチコンテストがありました。『Division F 日本語スピーチコンテスト』というものです。

このコンテストに、急遽出場したのが千里メンバーのMariko。当初は出場する予定ではなかったんですが、大会の2日前に本来出場するはずだった別のコンテスタントが出られなくなったという連絡があり、出場の機会が回ってきました。

「え。2日前ですか？　それ、出ます？　だって、前のArea Contest（Divisionの前の予選のような位置づけ）から1カ月半以上も練習してないですやん？」というのは普通の人の感覚かもしれません。でもMarikoは違いました。

「Division Contest? そりゃ、出るでしょ？」と言ったかどうかは知りませんが、当然かのごとく出場。落ち着いた話しぶりで今回のスピーチで最高のパフォーマンスを披露してくれました。日常生活の中で起こったちょっとしたエピソードから得た教訓を楽しい描写で語りかけた今回のスピーチ。隣人の話しぶりの描写に多くの聴衆が笑いを誘われたはず。

今回は千里ではなくもう一つ所属するShin-Osaka Leadersの代表としてのコンテスト出場でしたが、そう遠くない将来、またDivision Contestやその次の段階のDistrict Contestに出場するMarikoの姿を見たいですね。

てんてん

Highlights from 177th Regular Meeting on 15th April 2023

 

今回の例会では、Ice Breaker -一番初めの自己紹介を兼ねたスピーチがありました。SpeakerのHikoは、以前に別のToastmasters Clubに在籍したのち、ブランクを経てSenri Toastmasters Clubに入会してくれました。

感銘を受けた本と、どんなふうに人に貢献できるようになりたいか、ということを力強く話してくれました。真面目なスピーチの中に、ダンスが入り、セルフのボケツッコミがはいり、みんな大爆笑。すっかり打ち解けた雰囲気が出来上がりました。まさにIce Breakerでした。 

2番目のスピーカーKazは映画「Back To The Future」から学んだこと、というお題で話しをしてくれました。映画の中で、未来に行くシーン、なんと2025年だったのですね。すごーく未来な気分で当時見ていたのにもうすぐそこに。。。

3番目のスピーカーNaneaは、Researching and Presentingのプロジェクトで、トランス脂肪酸を排除する大切さを語ってくれました。プライベートなつらい体験を経て学んだ知識はとても説得力がありました。

Naneaといえばお手製のVisual Aid。素敵なのをいつも作ってくれるのです。画面上のスライドも便利で見やすいですが、手作りのものはご本人の想いが伝わりますね。

さて、今回即興スピーチ「Table Topics Speech」のセッションでは、Topicsマスターの会長Kamayanが、教育プログラム「Pathways」のPathの名前からヒントを得たお題を出してくれました。今回はほとんど全員があたり、大盛り上がり。Evaluatorを務めた直後に継続してTopicsマスターを務めたKamayan、お疲れ様～！

今回のBest Speaker、Best Evaluator, Best Table Topics のみなさんの授賞式の様子です。

さて、7月に始まり6月に終わるToastmastersの一年間。次の7月から役割を担うクラブ役員7名を選出する選挙が5月に行われます。それに先立ち、Club Leadership Commmitteeから、7名の次期役員候補の発表がありました。来月は例会の最後に役員候補が選挙スピーチを行います。

千里トーストマスターズでは和気あいあいと、お互いにフィードバックしながら学んでいます。

ご参加ご希望の方は、HPのContact Usフォームよりお申込みください。

YES! We are Senri Toastmasters Club! (toastmastersclubs.org)

byまりりん