Toastmasters Education Program

Your First 10 Speeches

When you join Toastmasters, you will receive a membership kit containing several manuals. The two main manuals are the Competent Leadership manual and the Competent Communications manual. The Competent Communications manual guides you through ten speech projects, each focusing on a different skill area. You complete the speeches at your own pace, and you can request help from a more experienced member. Each speech is evaluated by another member so you have feedback on what went well and what needs improvement.

	Icebreaker (4-6 Minutes) Get started by talking on a subject about which you are the expert (YOU): introduce yourself to the club. Find out what communication skills you want to develop.
	Organize Your Speech (5-7 Minutes) Organize your thoughts into logical sequence leading to a clearly defined goal. Build a speech with a distinct opening, body, and close.
	Get to the Point (5-7 Minutes) Every speech has a general purpose and a specific purpose. Keeping these purposes in mind leads to more confidence, enthusiasm and sincerity in speech delivery.
	How to Say It (5-7 Minutes) Words are powerful. They convey your message and influence the audience and its perception of you. Word choice and arrangement need as much attention as speech organization and purpose.
	Your Body Speaks (5-7 Minutes) Body language enhances your credibility and helps release any nervousness you may feel. Stance, gestures, and facial expressions, help communicate your message and achieve your speech�s purpose.
	Vocal Variety (5-7 Minutes) A speaking voice should be natural, expressive, and easily heard. Use volume, pitch, rate, and quality as well as appropriate pauses to add meaning and interest to your message.
	Research your Topic (5-7 Minutes) Use information collected from various sources, and carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations.
	Get comfortable with Visual Aids (5-7 Minutes) Visual aids help an audience understand and remember what they hear. Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and audience, and use them with ease and confidence.
	Persuade with Power (5-7 Minutes) Persuade your audience to accept your proposal or viewpoint. You will appeal to your audience�s self-interest, and arouse a strong emotional commitment to your cause.
	Inspire your Audience (8-10 Minutes) Select a topic about which you feel strongly, analyze your audience�s mood and feelings, and inspire them using all the skills you have developed in the preceding speeches in this series.

Advanced Speeches

Once you finish the ten basic speeches, you can apply for a Competent Communicator award, and continue your communication development in any of 15 specialty areas, as guided by the Advanced Communication Manuals. Each manual guides you through 5 speeches in the following specialties:

Completion of any two manuals (ten advanced speeches) is a requirement for the Advanced Communicator (Bronze) Award. Ten additional speeches is a requirement for the Advanced Communicator (Silver) award, and ten more is a requirement for the Advanced Communicator (Gold) award. Other leadership requirements apply for the AC/Silver and AC/Gold awards.

More information on these advanced manuals can be found on the District 4 Website (our sister District, across the bay).

	The Entertaining Speaker
	Speaking to Inform
	Public Relations
	The Discussion Leader
	Specialty Speeches
	Speeches by Management
	The Professional Speaker
	Technical Presentations
	Persuasive Speaking
	Communicating on Television
	Storytelling
	Interpretive Reading
	Interpersonal Communications
	Special Occasion Speeches
	Humorously Speaking