FAQs

1. What is Toastmasters?

Toastmasters has helped millions of men and women become more confident in front of an audience. Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in any situation. Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent or retiree, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills. Learn effective ways to express your ideas and open more doors to new opportunities. You’ll be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations and you’ll improve your one-on-one dealings with others.

2. How Toastmasters works for you?

Don’t worry! Everyone in a Toastmasters club was once at the level you are now. The environment is friendly and supportive, and the self-paced program allows you to build confidence with each speaking assignment. And you’ll love the applause! Constructive evaluation is the heart of the Toastmasters program. Each time you give a prepared speech, an evaluator will point out strengths and suggest improvements. At first you’ll be applauded for your effort; later you’ll be applauded for your skill.

3. Why join Toastmasters?

Survey after survey shows that presentation skills are crucial to success in the workplace. Many people pay high fees for seminars to gain skills and confidence necessary to face an audience. Toastmasters provide an option that is less expensive and held in high regard in business circles. This organization has been around for more than 90 years and offers a proven – and enjoyable – way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.

4. What will I gain from Toastmasters?

Toastmasters provides the tools that enable members to become effective presenters and leaders – all at a very low cost with amazing results. Toastmasters training helps you :

-Learn to communicate more effectively
-Become a better listener
-Improve your presentation skills
-Increase your leadership potential
-Become more successful in your career
-Build your ability to motivate and persuade
-Reach your professional and personal goals
-Increase your self confidence.
-Meet new people

5. How does Toastmasters conduct meeting(s)?

A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a friendly atmosphere. Our group has 20 to 40 members who meet biweekly to practice public speaking techniques. The average meeting lasts two hours.

In Toastmasters meeting, everyone has an opportunity to practice:
• Organise Meetings - Members learn how to plan, conduct and play role in meetings.
• Giving Impromptu Speeches - Members present 1-2 minute impromptu speeches on given topics. This encourages everyone to “think on your feet”. This segment is also opened to guests and visitors who wish to participate.
• Presenting Prepared Speeches - 3 or 4 members present speeches based on projects outlined in Toastmasters’ proven communication and leadership program. Projects cover topics such as speech organization, vocal variety, language, gestures and persuasion.
• Offering Constructive Evaluation – Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator who will highlight the speaker's strengths and offers suggestions for improvement. Every member will have an opportunity to hone their evaluation skills by evaluating fellow members.


6. Is there any manual book(s)?

Competent Communication manual, a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instill a basic foundation in public speaking. Members learn skills related to use of humor, gestures, eye contact, speech organization and overall delivery. After completing the Competent Communication manual members can opts from 15 advanced manuals to further enhance related skills to specific interests.


Leadership cannot be learned in a day. In Toastmasters, members learn leadership skills by organizing and conducting meetings, and by completing projects in the Competent Leadership manual and the High Performance Leadership program.


7. Who will guide me?

There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings, serve as officers in various leadership roles and learn rules related to timing, grammar and parliamentary procedure. To guide you through the process in the initial stage, you will be assigned with a personal mentor.
  
8. Help!! I can’t stand on the stage.

Believe it or not, your chances of dying of stage fright are extremely slim. You might feel as if you are dying on the stage, but chances are good your audience won’t even notice your wobbly knees and sweating armpits. Even the best speakers were once terrified novices, feeling the same symptoms as you when facing an audience. Fear no more! Toastmasters is the best place to learn, to build your confidence, and to push yourself outside your comfort zone. It’s a safe place where there is no penalty for failure!

9. Interested in attending a meeting and/or becoming a member?

Come see us in action or just talk to us. We will show you how to control your butterflies and give better presentations. We meet at 7pm every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 5th Floor, Cititel Hotel, Mid Valley City. Food and drinks will be served at 6.30pm (free for guest!) while the meeting proper starts at 7pm. Email member below if you wish to confirm the meeting date and your attendance:

10. Next step. Join as a member.

If you’re above 18 years old, ask for membership application form after our meeting.


Submit your duly completed form together with your membership fee to the Treasurer when you attend the next meeting. The Treasurer will submit your application to Toastmasters International (TI).

As soon as your application is approved, you will receive a New Member Kit directly from TI, which consists of 2 manuals --- the Competent Communication and Competent Leadership manuals. You can then proceed to present your project speeches at your pace and comfort level.

Members also receive the award-winning The Toastmaster, a monthly magazine that offers the latest insights on speaking and leadership techniques.
  
11. What are the membership fees like ? 
  
Member fees are due every 6 months – October & April

Toastmasters International New member Registration (one time)
USD 20
Toastmasters International  (6 months)
USD 36
Local Club Fees (6 months)
RM 120


12. If Toastmasters is non-profit organization, why do I have to pay?

International dues cover expenses in the Toastmasters International while the Local club fee is to cover expenses at the club meetings and other events organized by the club.

13. What is Toastmasters Journey?
The Toastmasters Journey consists of two tracks: The Communication Track and the Leadership Track. The two manuals that new members get focuses on both these tracks: the Competent Communication Manual (Communication Track) and the Competent Leader Manual (Leadership Track).
















14. What is in the Communication Track?
Members interested in building their public speaking and communication skills begin with Competent Communication.
Competent Communication 
The 10 speech projects in the Competent Communication manual help you develop your speaking skills one step at a time. When you finish all of the projects, you are eligible for the Competent Communicator award. The assignments in the Competent Communication Manual include The Ice Breaker, Organize Your Speech, Get To The Point, How To Say It, Your Body Speaks, Vocal Variety, Research Your Topic, Get Comfortable With Visual Aids, Persuade With Power and Inspire Your Audience.
Advanced Communication Series 
After receiving the Competent Communicator award, you can begin to develop more advanced speaking and communication skills through the Advanced Communication Series manuals. There are 15 in all, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn.


15. What is in the Leadership Track?
Members interested in building their leadership skills begin with Competent Leadership.

This is the core of the Leadership track. The Competent Leadership manual features 10 projects that you complete while serving in various club meeting roles. An evaluator will give you feedback on each project, helping you to improve. When you complete the manual, you are eligible for the Competent Leader award.
After earning the Competent Leadership award, you can further refine and develop more complex leadership skills by completing projects in manuals that are part of the Advanced Leader Program.