Annisa Rochadiat learned public speaking skills through joining Toastmasters International in Jordan. [1] Toastmasters started as an informal club in 1924 to help members improve public speaking and leadership skills. [2] It has since grown to over 260,000 members worldwide who meet regularly to give speeches and provide feedback to each other. [3] Joining a local Toastmasters club is an effective way to overcome the fear of public speaking and build confidence through practice and evaluation.

1. COMMUNITY
Hear, Hear!
Go’s Annisa Rochadiat learned what it takes to
compose and deliver a great speech with a little
help from Jordan’s chapter of the world renowned
Toastmasters International
P
icture this: you’re standing in
the wings of a lecture hall full
of listeners; you are excited,
but nervous. Your heart’s racing
like a Arabian horse. You’ve got
chilled palms, a stomach filled with
butterflies, and a mouth parched
like the Saharan desert.
Sweat dribbles down your
forehead as you try to rehearse, as an informal meeting, eventually
frantically flipping through the cue developed into a 260,000-strong
cards as the moment draws nearer. global communication and
Your name is called out, the floor is leadership-training fellowship for
yours, and all eyes are on you. You those seeking to master the art of
wish you could just crawl into a public speaking, or for those who
hole and die... but you don’t have to. simply wanted to be more confident
Nervousness is a natural in front of a large audience.
emotional response often stemming Today, a typical Toastmasters
from stressful situations like chapter consists of 20 to 40
5 StepS delivering a speech, meeting members who meet regularly
to Joining new people, or confronting fears. each week, fortnight, or month.
toaStmaSterS Everyone gets apprehensive, but for At the meetings — also known as
1. Locate clubs many the anxiety can be crippling. “learning-by-doing workshops”
nearby, narrow down Fortunately, there’s a solution to — participants work on their
the list based on a public speaking anxieties! speaking and leadership skills
meeting schedule that
fits your routine. It all boils down to effective in a friendly manner through
communication skills, self- assignments assessed via a peer-
2. Touch base with a EDTOKNOW
club representative(s) to confidence boosting, and the ability based evaluation and feedback. NEMembership
verify meeting schedule. to cope with stress. These are the Each speaker prepares his or her fees are paid
3. Attend a few club skill set that non-profit organization speech according to guidelines biannually. It’s 30 JOD
meetings; don’t limit Toastmasters International seeks outlined in a manual (a series of for the initial six-month
yourself to one club. The to hone the world over through its ten speaking subjects focusing membership and 20 JOD
more you explore, the after. Some clubs also
12,500 member clubs. on skills such as gestures, eye
likelier it is for you to collect a small sum
find a club culture that Founded by educator and contact, organization, and delivery) for snacks and
suits you best! youth activist Ralph C. Smedley in and is allocated a peer-evaluator drinks.
4. Found a nice niche? California in 1924, Toastmasters who delivers a short evaluation
Let a club officer know started out as a social club where presentation and written feedback.
and fill in an appropriate men were trained to deliver Since Toastmasters first opened
membership form. speeches and preside over meetings. its Jordanian chapter 11 years
5. Sign up! Club dues The term “toastmaster” refers ago, with the founding of the
are inexpensive and to those who propose toasts and International Toastmasters Club of
a promising lifetime
investment.
introduce speakers at banquets and Jordan, the initiative has branched
other functions. What started out out into 11 groups, each with its
toaStmaSterS near You
If you’re thinking of joining Amman International Al Bayan Toastmasters Black Iris Toastmasters Creative Toastmasters Friends Toastmasters
Toastmasters, bear in Toastmasters Club, Club, (Senior Citizens’ Club, Senior Pioneers Club, #61 Abdalhamid Club, (Senior Citizens’
mind that each group is Marmara Hotel, Mecca Forum) Muntada Ruwwad Forum, (079) 517 1598, Badis St., Shmeisani, Forum), Muntada
different, so you may want St., (078) 665 1122, Al Kibar, Mecca St., (077) blackiris.freetoasthost.org (079) 561 1360 Ruwwad Al Kibar, Mecca
to explore your options aitc.freetoasthost.org 753 4767, www.jordan- St., (078) 855 1275,
toastmasters.org friends-tm.com
60 | JULY 2011

2. Ad-Lib
Toastmasters’ speaking
exercises not only deal
SCAn with presentation...
HeRe FOR
FACeBOOK One interesting
portion of the meetings
focuses on building
participants’ ability to
deliver extemporaneous,
or “off-the-cuff”,
responses. Being able to
Search “Toastmasters organize your thoughts
in Jordan” on and create a well
Facebook to join the structured, concise, and
online group. compelling response
within a short period
of time is, no doubt, a
own schedule varying in frequency, improve their English and expand countries. Each district holds a valuable skill.
language, time of day, and age their general knowledge. Hala three-day District Toastmasters Participants also
group. Ten of the clubs convene Ayyash, a member of the Black Annual Conference (DTAC) that get to train their
timekeeping ability
in English, one is in Arabic (“Al Iris Toastmasters Club, said she’s allows for the members from all since at each meeting
Bayan”), and another club, a Gavel, learned a lot from her membership walks of life to come together, a designated timer
was set up at King’s Academy for as each speech project involves network, learn, and compete for ensures each speaker
those under 18. According to one extensive research, which varies the region’s “Best Speaker” title keeps to his/her
of Jordan’s Toastmasters’ founders, according to presentation topic. and also represent the district at allotted speaking time.
And, each gathering
Vicky Ferrer Mustafa, a French- Toastmasters’ Jordan chapter the annual Toastmasters has officers assigned to
speaking club is in the works too. is part of District 79 — one of the International Convention. keep track of grammar
Apart from improving largest districts in the Toastmasters With wedding season at its mistakes and use of
communication, public speaking world with 17 divisions, 76 areas, peak, stop worrying about fumbling filler words (like “um”,
abilities, and organizational skills, and over 10,000 members spread through your toast and check out a “uh” and even “ya’ni”)
accordingly.
many club members are in it to across eight Middle Eastern Toastmasters club near you! Further, in terms of
building managerial
skills, all Toastmasters
clubs follow an
International New Horizons Pioneers International Stars Toastmasters Club, Rainbow Club, Orthodox organizational structure
Toastmasters Club Toastmasters Club, Club, (Senior Citizens’ 3rd Circle, Jabal Amman, Club, Cairo St. Abdoun, that goes all the way
of Jordan, Royal AUB Alumni Club, Forum) Muntada Ruwwad (06) 551 8903, www. (079) 585 7238, rainbow. up to the Toastmasters
Automobile Club, (079) Abdoun, (077) 777 9010 Al Kibar, Mecca St., (077) jordan-toastmasters.org freetoasthost.org headquarters in Santa
597 3642 746 0469, pioneers. Ana, California!
freetoasthost.net
JULY 2011 | 61