TRTUMUPETT –ICSEOPTERMBINER 2T02O1 ASTMASTETRHESME C: AMLPULIFBY
TRUMPET
THEME : AMPLIFY SEPTEMBER 2021
TUNE: 6 NOTE : 3 Warm greetings to my fellow Toastmasters and readers! With the contests
CLUB NO: 7400685
EDITOR’S NOTE
DISTRICT: 120
DIVISION: H TM DIVYA Warm greetings to my fellow Toastmasters and readers!
ARUMUGASAMY With the contests around the corner and all the contestants
AREA: H3 gearing up for the Humorous Speech Contest and Speech
Evaluation contest, I am sure it is going to be a ‘September
INSIDE THIS ISSUE to Remember’! The theme of this newsletter is ‘Amplify’.
Achievements : 1 And we have three wonderful articles explaining how to
Upcoming Events : 1 amplify our strengths and ace in all three judging criteria-
Crack the content : 2 Content, Delivery and Language.
Analysing and amplifying our
delivery style : 3 Contests are a great opportunity to showcase all the public speaking skills that we
Language matters : 54 imbibe through various projects in the educational pathways. And not just that, we
can also put all our organising and leadership skills to test, by taking up various roles
We meet every Tuesday from 6:30 in organising the contests. Free yourself from all inhibitions and limiting beliefs that
p.m. to 8:30 p.m. have been holding you down. Put on your hat of confidence, get on the contest
stage and deliver your best. With the contests being virtual this time as well, I should
Visit Toastmasters International perhaps say, ‘show up on the contest screens’. Remember that participating is not
Website: about winning or losing- it’s about discovering yourself! All that matters are that
www.toastmasters.org you give it your best, add more hours of practice, gain more experience and become
a better speaker. So, buckle up and get ready for the contests!
ExCom team of Tuticorin
Toastmasters Club, Jul 2021- Dec Heartfelt thanks to TM Srinithi and TM Jaisha, for all the help extended towards
2021 editing and collating the contents of this newsletter.
President:
TM Juana Goldie
VP-Education: ACHIEVEMENTS
TM Rajakumaran
VP-Membership: TM VIVEKANANDAN has completed Level 4 in Persuasive Influence
TM Arul Libin
VP-Public Relations: UPCOMING EVENTS
TM Divya Arumugasamy
September 11, 2021 : Open House
Secretary: Timings : 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
TM Purnima
September 12, 2021 : How to ace Evaluation Contest
Treasurer: Timings : 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
TM Jessica
September 25, 2021 : Performing Club Roles
Sergeant at Arms: Timings : 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
TM Siva
September 26, 2021 : Toastmasters International
Immediate Past President: Leader Talk
TM Meena Ambika
TUTICORIN TOASTMASTERS CLUB 1
TRUMPET – SEPTEMBER 2021 THEME : AMPLIFY
CRACK THE CONTENT
TM JAISHA The crux of any speech is its content! And for a mind-boggling speech, we need a mix of
PRIYAM these ingredients: content that has proper structure, captivating content with a message,
effectiveness of the speech and clarity. Keep reading to know more.
1. Structure: Writing content can be quite challenging as it determines the effectiveness of the
speech. The opening, body and conclusion should be structured around the purpose of the
speech. The opening is the bait to loop the audience into the speech. So, make sure you use it
wisely to grab the audience’s attention. While writing the introduction, use personal anecdotes
to give that personal touch. The body can contain supporting material like illustrations, facts, and
figures to back up the argument. Sometimes, a speech may fall flat at this juncture, so it is
important to infuse passion into the message. The conclusion can reiterate the purpose of the
speech. And we can also inspire the audience with a positive message. A good framework of
opening, body and conclusion can ensure a smooth speech.
2. Effectiveness: Effectiveness is one of the key areas we often tend to ignore though it has to be in
the spotlight. Effectiveness is how well we have addressed the purpose of our speech. It is on a
large part, the subjective judgement of the speech. We should ask the following questions to
ourselves to get the audience to the tip of their seat. “Did I determine the speech purpose and
address it?”, “Did the speech relate directly to that purpose?”, “Did I hold the audience’s
interest?”, “Was the speech subject appropriate for this particular audience?” We can do research
based on the above questions to cater to the audience needs and expectations.
3. Speech Value: Speech value justifies the act of speaking. The audience should feel that the
speaker has added value to his/her existing knowledge. The speech should have something
meaningful and original to the listeners. Though the ideas can be built on existing knowledge, they
can be told differently. While delivering we can build credibility by showcasing our authority over
the subject.
4. Suitable content: Audience prior knowledge on the subject is vital as it aids in getting the message
across. Language and content should be comprehensible for the audience to relate to and reflect
upon. The best way to draft appropriate content is to do a study about the audience and then
draft it accordingly.
5. Clarity: The message delivered should be crystal clear. For better clarity, the subject, our
standpoint in the content and outline are the basic framework. Having one idea in each sentence,
speaking clearly and slowly helps greatly in delivering the message. We must be conscious of
words used and refrain from using any fillers. We can edit it as we rehearse as it will not harm the
content. It can give a smooth and well-furnished form to the content. Rehearsing and practising
is beneficial as it helps in attaining more clarity.
Use the above checklist to nail your speech in the upcoming meetings and contests. State the agenda “
concisely, include facts, statistics, and data and have a powerful message. And also don’t forget to
“know the content thoroughly as it helps to take the pressure off your shoulders.
The opening is the bait to loop the audience
into the speech
TUTICORIN TOASTMASTERS CLUB 2
TRUMPET – SEPTEMBER 2021 THEME : AMPLIFY
ANALYSING AND AMPLIFYING OUR
DELIVERY STYLE
TM MADHUMITA Amplifying our strengths starts with identifying our strengths. By continuous self-
reflection and self-awareness, we can identify our key strengths and weaknesses, and
chart out a suitable plan of action. It is also wise to maintain a journal that holds all our
learning's throughout our journey in Toastmasters.
1. Importance of organizing thoughts: In Toastmasters, during prepared speeches and table topic
sessions, organising our thoughts and presenting them sequentially matters a lot. Based on my ten-
month Toastmasters journey, I often receive feedback that I speak fast, resulting in more filler words.
So, the plan of action here is to slow down the pace, which will help me avoid using fillers and
smoothen the thought process.
2. Alignment of content: The key to a remarkable address comes with the alignment of content to the
mode of delivery and language. Though the content we have is excellent, the way we say them, which
is the mode of delivery, also plays a vital role in engaging with the audience. Everybody is unique.
Some use humorous actions, while others prefer subtle comedy. The whole delivery as a category in
a speech include tone, rate, volume, pitch, articulation, pronunciation, and fluency.
3. Appropriate physical delivery: One of the essential aspects of our physical delivery is volume. We
must be loud enough to be heard by everyone present in the room or in an online meeting. To avoid
sounding monotonous, we must vary the pitch, rate, and tone. Sometimes the tone of our voice is
set by the situation. For example, speaking at a wedding and in the office requires different styles,
determined more by the situation than by the speaker. A lot of information is gathered from our
facial expressions and gestures. The more we have eye contact with the people, the better the
delivery. The last aspect of physical delivery is movement. If we have a lot of space on the stage, we
can use it wisely by walking around and establishing contact with the audience.
4. Avoid nervousness: While facing people for the first time, we tend to be nervous. We must train
ourselves to be calm and avoid fidgeting, which is nothing but touching our face, pockets, playing
with the watch, etc. Placing our hands on either side helps us avoid this type of behaviour; pacing
where we tend to rush fast gives the audience a clue that we are not confident enough while
delivering our thoughts. When we present our speech in the initial stages of speech, we can have
notes on a card instead of paper, which will make our shakiness less apparent. We must take a
suitable plan of action to avoid these tell-tale signs of worry.
5. Learning and delivering through visuals: Listening to famous TV hosts like Ellen DeGeneres and “
Oprah Winfrey, helps us to figure out a way of delivery that works for us. They follow Formal Style,
Casual Style, Consultative Style or Intimate Style during their speeches. Their delivery style is based
on the situation and the kind of people they interact with on their shows. Apart from the speech,
incorporating visuals help you reach your speech goals. The frequently used visuals are video clips,
photographs, models, and PowerPoint slides.
“ By continuous self-reflection and self-awareness,
we can identify our key strengths and weaknesses
TUTICORIN TOASTMASTERS CLUB 3
TRUMPET – SEPTEMBER 2021 THEME : AMPLIFY
LANGUAGE MATTERS!
What exactly is language? Is it important? Or should I say, ‘Is it that important?’ In a
speech, language refers to the spoken language, which are the words that enhance a
TM SRINITHI speech. When the language is good in an oration, it helps to avoid vagueness,
repetitiveness, and improve clarity. And this helps in attracting a wider audience rather
than targeting at one particular group. In due course, it upgrades a person’s ability as an effective
public speaker.
There are two main principles for language in public speaking
1. Appropriateness: Ensure that the speech is appropriate not only for the audience but also for you
as the speaker. If you are a novice speaker, avoid using words that you are uncomfortable with,
as it can lead to self-doubting and cause nervousness while speaking, and also have an impact on
the audience who receive the speech. It can consequently bring down your confidence as a
speaker. Appropriateness of a speech to its audience also helps to establish good connection with
them. A vivid speech about the topic that is understandable by everyone does the magic! It helps
the audience create a mental imagery of the speech.
2. Correctness: Correctness of speech can be achieved by getting these three parameters right.
a. Grammar: "The American constitutions were to liberty, what a grammar is to language: they
define its parts of speech and practically construct them into syntax." -Thomas Paine
Grammar is essential to convey the message efficiently with accuracy and to deliver a quality
speech. It instills confidence in the speaker. Grammatical errors can cause distractions to the
audience, so it is important to reduce them.
b. Pronunciation: Pronunciation is a powerful tool that helps to deliver a speech that is clear and
easy to understand by the audience. It avoids misconceptions among the audience.
c. Word Selection: Proper usage of words results in a good speech. Good words are like adding color
and meaning to the speech. Adding good words does not mean adding jargon words, which are
the terminal words in a profession that could only be understood by professionals in that field.
Example: 'Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' could be easily conveyed as
Coronavirus or covid19 in layman’s terms. Also, using more words never means they are more
impressive. It can make the speaker confused without actually making a point and the audience
get bored and distracted. But at the same time, using proper vocabulary is necessary to ensure
that it does not offend the audience.
To conclude, while structuring the speech and practicing for good delivery, always remember to check“
the language, to connect better with the audience and provide a good mental imagery of the context
shared.
“ When the language is good in an oration, it helps
to avoid vagueness, repetitiveness, and improve
clarity.
TUTICORIN TOASTMASTERS CLUB 4