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2023年2月26日日曜日

The highlights from 175th regular meeting on 18th February 2023


 Valentine’s Day comes right before Spring every year. Somehow, whether you choose to give chocolates or not, it still feels like a fresh new start. 


 Today’s TMOD Eri chose the meeting theme,” Valentine’s Day”. It was a fun and appropriate way to show appreciation to the members. The warm introductions and pretty decorations sparked club morale and fostered a caring environment. This lifted the mood and we all felt comfortable to present our speeches, table topics and evaluations without becoming too nervous. 


The Agenda: Three Prepared Speeches. 

1) “The Story of John Manjiro” by Yoshiko, illustrated the dramatic life of a young boy who was rescued at sea at the age of 14 and later become the first Japanese to wear a necktie and ride on a train. 

2) “My Online Mentor” by Momo, presented a speech about the importance of having a mentor. When the pandemic broke out, meetings began to be held on Zoom. During the transition, she was able to continue to attend meetings thanks to mentoring from Marilyn. 

3) “Stamped As My Own” by Rene, spoke about leaders who inspire people. In doing so, she gave examples of famous leaders of whom have left an inspirational impact on her life. Especially notable were: leaders must serve as a compass, leaders must take accountability, leaders must have empathy. The passage was strong and emotional. 

 *Special thanks to our Grammarian, Table Topics Master, Toastmaster of the Day, Evaluators, Timer, Ah Counter, Zoom Operator, VPE. Hope I didn’t miss anyone! ☺ 

Thank you and LOVE to everyone for a fun and enjoyable 175th Valentine Meeting Please inquire from our website if you are interested in being a guest!

Nanea





2023年2月19日日曜日

Special Meeting : Judge Workshop and Mock Contest on 4th February 2023



 
スピーチに情熱を注ぐ我々にとって、コンテストは年に1度の特別なイベントです。今回はコンテストスピーチに対してクラブの方にJudges/審査を学んで経験してもらおう!という趣旨で特別例会を開催しました。

私自身は、Workshopで、 Judges/審査の心構えとポイントを解説させていただきました。日頃から、人に伝えることで自分の理解も深まると言われますが、まさに準備を通して私自身もJudges/審査の重要性をよく理解することができました。ワークショップの中では審査基準とともに①Judges/審査になると、自ずとコンテストスピーチを集中して聞かなければならないので学びも多くなる。②自分がスピーチを実践するときに審査基準を理解しておく事はとても有用。という事を伝えさせてもらいました。 

そして、実践編ではエリアの英語スピーチコンテストに出場予定のMaririnTamiさんからコンテストスピーチをしてもらい、 残りの参加者全員が審査員になって評価いたしました。 

スピーチをContent, Delivery, Languageに分解して点数をつけていくプロセスについて、今回初めて実践されたメンバーも多かったと思います。

スピーチ終了後はコンテスタントを交えて、Breakout Roomにてお互い意見交換しました。

やっぱり今回もあっという間に時間が過ぎていく充実したSpecial Eventであったと思います。 

Kama-yan

2023年2月2日木曜日

Highlights from the 174th Regular meeting on 21st January 2023

  “Senri TMC - JUMP HIGH in 2023


The 174th Regular Meeting of Senri TMC had a big leap just like this year’s animal, Rabbit. Taking this in regard, the meeting theme “rabbit” was chosen by versatile Toastmaster of the Day (TOD), Kiyo. She asked each role taker how they connect with the word – theme, “rabbit.”  Role takers had different answers ranging from pets, Easter bunnies and eggs, stuffed rabbit toys, etc. The audience enjoyed listening to these different “rabbit encounters.” The audience composed of members online and on the venue had a wonderful teamwork carrying out their roles – passing the baton from the spheres of digital to analog and vice versa. The meeting was also graced by a male guest, Mr. T.K.

                                   Let us . . .      H  O  P       meeting sessions . . .

The Prepared Speech Session

There were three speakers – a neophyte, a budding one, and seasoned speech – maker. Their speech titles were “Guten Tag”, “Let’s build a nest egg for the future”, and “Step Up”, respectively. The new member, Speaker Yasuko in spite of her injury delivered her Ice Breaker in a relaxed and newly gained confidence. Yasuko knew that the club members were there to listen with their (“rabbit like long”) ears as she recounted her experiences in a foreign country, how such exposure led her to seek and to aim to be a teacher for kids. The second speaker delivered and awakened our minds to a realistic scene of what the future holds with our finances. Kirinne had not left as hanging as to this issue. There was relief when Kirinne expounded on her three valuable solutions to . . . “build a nest egg for the future.” The third Speaker Tenten was eloquent. His speech’s content and message focused on his experiences as he dealt with other toastmasters’ clubs. His vision and the reality of the clubs’ situation struck him, gave him challenges that paved to the “step up” he had gained.  The club members voted Krinne as the Best Speaker for this session.     


     

The Evaluation Session

The General Evaluator (GE) Rene talked about the indispensable part that “Evaluation” plays in Toastmastering. She reiterated that offering useful positive feedback will help speakers become less self - conscious and be aware of their speakers’ skill level – their strengths and what has to be improved. The evaluators tried to be objective as possible not withholding their praises as to delivery, content, organization, voice, style, etc. But at the same time citing specific ways to improve. There were 3 evaluators’ namely, Kamayan, Nanea, and Momo.  As an added bonus to learn the merit of evaluation, the second evaluator, Nanea was evaluated by another member, Maririn.  As evaluators, we should be reminded that a healthy evaluation helps preserve or enhance the speaker’s self – esteem as they continue their journey in the Pathways of Toastmastering. There was no voting for Best Evaluator.

The Table Topics Session

Table Topics (TT), or Impromptu Speech Session was led a new member Kaz who was in control of his new role.   He has prepared well tying up his prepared topics with the speakers’ goals in 2023. We can simply term these topics as “one’s resolution for this year.”  The TT speakers were Kamayan, Munesan, Tami, Maririn, T.K. (guest), and Mika.  The topics they have chosen ranged from Health, Hobby, Travel, Toastmasters, Work and Language. Each speaker bearing their topics in mind freely talked about how they wanted to resolve this year. TT speakers talked about their concerns, their plans, their memories, their mottos, and their objectives in life that will bring about the answer to their resolutions. TM Maririn was voted as the Best Table Topics Speaker in this session.

Other Role Takers:

Grammarian and Word Master (WM), Tami who introduced the word “utilize.” The WM wrote the word, gave some derivatives, and gave several sentences to show its usage.  She has encouraged everyone to use the word of the day as much as possible in their speeches. Her comments on the use of English during the course of the meeting were very educational.

Vote Counter, Tenten took note and counted all the participants’ vote for the main sessions.  

Ah Counter, Tami did a great job watching our verbal crutches such as “ah”, “um”, “y” know” etc. It needs a lot of concentration especially that the audience are in two different spheres. 

Timer, Mika did a remarkable job keeping track of the timing rules all throughout the meeting and the “extra side roles”.

Zoom Master, Maririn was indeed reliable in handling online technology and some issues with zoom like lagging or freezing. 

We did a rightful and timely leap, we were on track with our club’s goals, and we are continuously learning and growing communicatively in a conducive atmosphere.  Thus, we, the members of STMC club will surely leap higher in 2023.      

Thanks to everyone . . .  the 174th Meeting was a big success!!!  

by ~ RENE ~


2023年1月6日金曜日

High lights from the 173th regular meeting on December 17, 2022

12月のMeeting themeは、”Things That Remind You of Christmas”! New Sergeant at Arms(会場係)Mikaさんの明るい笑顔と、サンタクロースの帽子をかぶったPresident Kama-yanの登場で始まりました!


Christmasらしいみんなの装いやZoom背景に飾られた会場は、まるでPre-Christmas Partyのよう。MeetingMCであるToastmaster of the Dayが、事前にRole takersに聞いていた「それぞれの” Things That Remind Me of Christmas”」を紹介してくれました。Scent of pine treeChristmas song…などなど、「分かる!」というものばかりで、楽しいChristmasの雰囲気が広がりましたね。

 




今回、Prepared Speech Sessionで、2人のスピーカーが偶然、どちらもMentorについてお話しされて、その内容が特に印象的だったので取り上げたいと思います。一人目のSpeaker、ムネさんがPresentationに興味を持つキッカケをくれたMentorは、いつもムネさんに「考える時間」をくれて、Muneさんが答えを見つけるまで待っていてくれたそうです。そして、Muneさんの新入社員発表Presentation の準備のため、ご自宅にまで招いてくださり、とことん付き合ってくださったのだとか。Mentor について話してくれた二人目のSpeakerてんてんにとって、Effective mentorであるために大切なことは、相手を理解して信頼関係を育てることでした。Muneさんとてんてん、お二人のお話の中で登場したMentorはいずれも、コミュニケーションを重ねて、彼らを理解しようとしてくれていたところが共通点だと思います。Toastmasters Club で、新しく入会された方のMentorAssignされた時に、また会社や家庭で誰かから頼られる存在になった時に、求められるMentorとはどのような存在か、伺えてとても参考になりました。

Prepared Speech Session で、Speech を披露してくれたもうお二人は、私がToastmasterに入って以来、まるで私のMentorのように相談に乗って下さったり、いつもアドバイスを下さるももこさんとAnneさん。Vocal varietyBody movement といったスキルを使い、また具体例を上手く出して、分かりやすく印象に残るcall to action(行動を換気)するスピーチで、いつものように色々と学ばせて頂きました。 


12月のMeetingは、とあるメンバーの旅立ちの日でもありました。いつも優しく落ち着いた話し方で、素敵なスピーチをして下さったJedaiさん、お仕事の都合でしばらくはお会いできない事になりました。ますますのご活躍と、そしてまた会えることをみんなで願っています!


久しぶりに沖縄からzoomで参加してくれたメンバーも!彼のNative speakerの視点での厳しいコメントは、励みになります。


一人一人の発言に不必要なものがないか細かく見てくれたAh-counterMikaさん、私達がしてしまいがちな間違いとそれを防ぐ方法を教えてくれたGrammarian & Word MasterKazさん、冷静に落ち着いて進行をサポートしてくださったTimerYoshikoさんとVote counterのまりりん、そしてChristmasに関連するシチュエーションの楽しいお題を準備してくれたTable topic masterKama-yan。みなさんのおかげでPre-Christmas Meetingは、思い出に残るMeetingとなりました。

 


2022年もありがとうございました。毎回、実りあるMeetingで、みなさんから、たくさん学ばせて頂きました!2023年もまた毎回楽しいMeetingを企画しましょう。どうぞ宜しくお願いします。  Eri

2022年12月25日日曜日

Grammarian Special! Highlights from Grammarian Special Meeting on 3rd Dec, 2022

 


One of our founders, Rene, made a presentation titled "A Toastmaster Wears Many Hats," detailing the responsibilities of each role taker and some tips to make a difference serving in each.

Since the role of a speaker is obvious and we've learned quite a lot about the evaluator role, going through the Evaluation Contest, she focused the other roles, namely, Toastmaster of the Day, General Evaluator, Table Topics Master, Ah-Counter, and Grammarian.

She came up with a sentence for each role that eloquently summarizes their respective tasks and purposes. Those are:

Toastmaster of the Day RUNS THE SHOW.

General Evaluator ASSESSES ALL.

Table Topics Master INVOLVES EVERYONE.

Ah-Counter CATCHES OUR WORDS AND SOUNDS.

Grammarian WATCHES OUR WORDS.

Those sentences describe their role succinctly and precisely.

The latter half of her presentation was focused on the role of Grammarian because this particular meeting was called "Grammarian Special" and had three members serving as Grammarians. They listened to Rene's presentation and did their best.

Rene explained things to listen for:

Awkward use or misuse of the language

- incomplete sentences

- sentences that change direction in midstream or non-sequiturs (it does not follow)

- grammatical mistakes

 (a) verb tenses

 (b) singular-plural disagreement

- malapropisms - (mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one)

- mispronunciations, intonations, and word stresses

- distracting phrasing

- weed out weak words that don't add to the message

- an overuse of "empty modifiers" like "very," "nice," and "fun" which take up space

- let speakers know of gender-neutral language that connects rather than divides the audience

- call attention to vivid descriptions, on-point metaphors, and appealing rhythms

- point out rhetorical devices

- use of figurative language

- point out humorous twists

Wow! The list is overwhelmingly comprehensive!! Don't worry, though. You don't have to cover them all. Your time for your report is limited and there's only so much listeners can absorb. Yet, her list is educational and motivating. Truth be told, I've delivered a similar talk in other clubs myself and still, found something valuable in her presentation. The three relatively new Grammarians at the meeting must have learned quite a lot from her presentation and their experience puttiing to practice what they learned.

We're all grateful for the opportunity to learn from more experienced members like this.

If you are interested in improving your English skills and public speaking skills, join us at one of our meetings!

Written by Tenten


2022年11月18日金曜日

Highlight from 172nd regular meeting November November 19


11/19の例会から、あるプロジェクトをハイライト。“Managing Difficult Audience”スピーチをする中、複数の邪魔者が、スピーカーに話しかけたり邪魔をします。挑戦したのはTami さん。どんな邪魔が入るか本人は知りません。邪魔されたときの反応は人それぞれ。話しかけられたネタをもとに話を広げたり、それとも無視したり、それとも後で返事をすると答えたり。Tamiさんはとても誠実に対応されました。
スピーチ自体も、オーディエンスの多くにとって新しい情報満載、とても学びのあるスピーチでした。そしてインタラクティブなセッションになったことで、内容もとても印象深くなりました。
元はこのプロジェクトに取り組むことに躊躇されていたTamiさん。
やってみた感想は「とっても楽しかった」とのこと😍
さて、また誰かこのプロジェクトやらないかな、と心待ちにするVPEでした。

I would like to highlight a project “Managing Difficult Audience” from the meeting.
Tami delivered a speech titled “The Happiest Country”, while several so-called disruptor tried to distract her.
In real life, there are cases where you get distracted by audience while the presentation. This project is a good opportunity to learn how to respond with those disruptors.
Each person reacts differently when they have disruptions. You may want to involve the disruptor and expand the discussion or you may want to ignore. Tami handled the situation nicely. The speak itself was really informative. We all enjoyed the session





Best Speaker受賞のNaneaさんはいつも素敵なvisusl aidを作成されます。
rhetorical language(修辞的に関するスピーチ、具体的な例で説明されていてとても勉強になりました。自分のスピーチに応用して活かせるといいなー。
Nice visual aids used by the best speaker of the day, Nanea ‘s speech on rethorical languages

今回のBest SpeakerとBest Table Topics Speakerです。
Best speaker and Best impromptu speech speaker receive ribons from the President

Written by VPE まりりん

Comment from General Evaluator Kiyo:
First of all, I would like to say the meeting was successful with two guests: We had four speakers, and their speeches' objectives were different. 
 That made the audience excited. 
 Table topics speech master who was her first job, prepared many topics which were easy to speak. Excellent job! Evaluation session had excellent experienced evaluators. 
Each evaluator gave us evaluation like a model.
The word of the day was transform, which is different from word change. Ah counter was busy counting Ahs. It was simple but hard. Timer needs concentration. He did it well. The TMD did a very good job. The meeting went smoothly. 
The good news was the new SAA was elected. 
I hope Senri TMC will be energetic and friendly.