<![CDATA[Read, Act, Smile, Repeat - Notes]]>Wed, 10 Jul 2024 02:44:56 +0300Weebly<![CDATA[Table Topics Improptu Speech]]>Sun, 20 Dec 2020 18:11:58 GMThttp://ikanlis.eu/notes/table-topics-improptu-speechIn general, there is no clear structure for a table topic speech, since the topics vary from absolutely absurd to very serious. Thus, the following 10 tips, as presented in the official toastmasters website, give you a general perspective on the content of your speech:

Don’t Panic.
 
If you can, just stop caring about Table Topics. Remember, everyone in the audience has been in your position, has probably dried up at some point and is willing you to do well, so you don’t need to worry about their reaction.

Buy Time. 
Give yourself time for your nerves to die down and for you to think of something to say. Sit at the back of the room and walk slowly to the front. Acknowledge the audience and repeat the question. If you need to, just talk for a while about something vaguely related to the theme, or even about something totally unrelated: Sooner or later, inspiration will come.

Go with the first little idea that comes into your head. 
Sooner or later, a little idea will pop into your head. Even if it’s just a little idea, start talking about it. Don’t reject it in the hope that a bigger idea will come along: The little idea has to be expressed first. If you do reject it, it’ll sulk, and will block the big idea from ever getting through.

Express an opinion, right at the start.
Unless you’re a ­beginner, try not to give a long introduction. Instead, answer the question or express an opinion, and do so at the start. This is easier for closed questions (e.g., “What was your favorite holiday?”), but you can also do it for open questions (e.g., “Talk about holidays”). So long as you can seize your little idea and turn it into something concrete.

Remember the rule of three.
You can put some structure into your speech by breaking it down into three main points that justify your opinion or reinforce it. (For example, “My best holiday ever was in Tibet, and there are three reasons why.”) You don’t need them all before you start: Instead, you can think of the first point while answering the question, then think of the second point while talking about the first, and so on. It’s surprising how often this works.

Remember the six honest serving men.
Alternatively, you can develop your argument by using British writer Rudyard Kipling’s “six honest serving men” (what, why, when, how, where and who) to trigger ideas in your mind. (For example: What was my favorite holiday? Why did I go there? When did I take the trip? How did I travel? Where did I stay? Who did I meet?) By actively looking for answers to these questions, we can give ourselves both material and the framework to put together a well-structured speech.

Know when to stop.
Try not to ramble your way through a long conclusion. Instead, recap your answer and the main points of your speech, finish with a punchy ending and hand it back to the Table Topicsmaster.

Prepare something in advance.
You can often use the theme of the topic to suggest a framework for your speech, a style of delivery or a direction to take it in. When your question arrives, you can fit your answer into the framework you’ve already thought of.

Draw on your own experiences.
When you’re given a Table Topic, you can ask yourself if there’s anything in your own experiences that will answer the question or illustrate your argument. As well as making it easier for you to answer the question, a personal reply will often sound more heartfelt than other answers you might give.

10 Be eccentric
The best Table Topics responses are often those where the speaker avoids a serious or conventional answer, and instead tries something unusual or entertaining. For example, you can deliver your speech in character, or deliver an unexpected or contrarian argument. By doing this, you can grab the audience’s attention and free yourself from the constraints of a conventional approach.
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<![CDATA[EVALUATION Tips and Notes]]>Tue, 15 Dec 2020 18:51:53 GMThttp://ikanlis.eu/notes/evaluation-tips-and-notes
3 Step Method
Step 1: Take Notes, according to goals. Just 2 columns, what I like & what can be improved. Look at 3 things: Speech Organization (flow, strong opening, middle, conclusion), Speech Mechanics (gestures, vocal variety, eye contact), and Speech Emotions (convincing and enganging).

Step 2: Quickly Prepare for Evaluation. Keep it simple. Find 1 thing that was special, above expectation. Also 3 more things that I also liked that relate to the goal. Finally, provide 1 thing that takes her speech to next level.

Step 3: Deliver the evaluation. I need to educate and motivate. Starts positive, smth to improve, and finally some encourangement. Give smth memorable and specific. Get quickly on the points. 

Next some general notes I find quite useful.
  • ​The evaluation speech is not a simple speech, but it should be a creative performance that could capture audience attention.
  • Don't be afraid to go deeper into details. Don't be afraid to hurt feelings. You need to provide extra value. Be unique in your comments.
  • Give examples on how to become better speaker or provide vivid examples from the speech and highlight them.
  • Focus on the speech objectives, not general remarks.
  • Acknowledge your tone and body language while delivering an evaluation. 
  • Use your time wisely: Start with a strong opening line --> one great highlight from speech --> Two things the speaker can improve and presenting the examples on stage --> summary

General Remarks
​Feedback is information about what was observed. This allows the speaker to better understand how he or she is being perceived.
Typically feedback is given in 
a positive, improvement, positive format and is stated in “I” language.  The “I” format puts emphasis on what the evaluator observed rather than faulting the speaker. When positive feedback is given, the member’s confidence is boosted and he or she is often more willing to try to improve upon their speeches. Try to keep the constructive criticism to no more than three points so as not to overwhelm the speaker.
Feedback is more easily received when specific examples are cited from the speech. Advice is an opinion. This may be beneficial if the evaluator is offering suggestions on ways to improve.
Rewrite any advice statements as feedback statements.
Use the verbs like " I saw, I noticed, I observed".

"I had difficulty hearing you" -->Feedback
"You should improve your eye contact" --> Advice ▪ Example rewritten: I saw that you were averting your eyes from the audience
"You used different tones throughout your speech" --> Advice ▪ Example rewritten: I noticed you used great vocal variety throughout your speech 

In a contest, the following four factors are judged:
1) Analytical skills.
2) Specific and helpful recommendations.
3) Technique. How empathetic and motivated are you to the speaker.
4) Conclusion

When giving feedback, present your observations in a positive manner.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
Studies show positive feedback leads to increased confidence and a greater likelihood of achieving goals. During a Toastmasters evaluation, bring attention to areas of the speech you thought were done well. Reinforce the speaker’s effective behaviors.
Seek a balance that favors positive remarks over negative. If you are struggling to identify positive remarks, look to the areas the speaker indicated as her personal goals. For example, if she wanted to improve eye contact and did a good job, lead with a positive comment about successfully meeting that goal.
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
Constructive criticism is the practice of pointing out areas that require improvement in a respectful way. Use the evaluation criteria for the member’s chosen project to form the basis for your evaluation. Focus your attention on aspects of the presentation specified in the evaluation criteria.

Toastmasters ORG remarks
  • During the speech, take notes when necessary, but be careful not to put all of your focus on note-taking. Give the speaker the respect and attention you would want to receive.
  • Start your evaluation by stating the observed behaviors in an honest, respectful way.
  • Concentrate on the action, not the person. Use “I” messages when you give your feedback. “I” messages keep the focus on behaviors, not the person.
  • “You were inspiring,” is about the person. “I observed how passionately and energetically you inspired the audience with your personal story,” is about the behavior.


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<![CDATA[General Table Topic]]>Tue, 15 Dec 2020 13:01:13 GMThttp://ikanlis.eu/notes/general-table-topicFunny Conversation Topics
  • Bring odd ball objects from around your house and have them talk about the object
  • Find random coin, and have people describe what was going on in their life around the time the coin was minted.
  • "The Wisdom of Arnold Schwarzenegger". He mentioned one of his movie quotes and followed it with a question based on it.
  • Give a book title and have them describe the book (use ridiculous titles like 50 Shades of Chicken).
  • ​You are the director of a movie - the TT master gives a fake movie title, and participants try to convince us to see the movie they've worked so hard on. This also allows the participant to elaborate on creating the film, the research they conducted or points of inspiration, etc.
  • You've woken up from your dream to find you're now a ...microwave, dresser, hair dryer, etc.. What does your day look like now that you're a .... ?
  • Pick random object out of a bag and sell it to the audience
  • Pick a newspaper headline and give a first-person account of what happened


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<![CDATA[Table Topics and Christmas (The Awkaward Version)]]>Tue, 15 Dec 2020 12:43:24 GMThttp://ikanlis.eu/notes/table-topicsTable Topics - Christmas Break and Awkward Situations
  • You invite your crush to an expensive restaurant, famous for its expensive and gourmet christmas menu. Your crush has some financial difficulties. Check please.  You forgot your wallet.
  • You talk to your 5 y.o kid about Santa Claus, when your best friends is telling you that you should say to your son/daughter the truth about S.C existence. Your kid is looking you straight in the eyes.
  • You are wearing a new fashionable pair of pants, having a good meal, unbutton the pants waist to feel some stomach relief…and standing up forgetting that the pants are unbuttoned. 
  • You spend New Years Eve with your new GF/BF, who is a jealous person. Once the new year arrives, at 00.01 you have a new text message. The sender was your ex, and the content has dozens of hearts and starts with the following words: My only love. Your GF/BF read the first words as well. What do you say?
  • Tomorrow is the Christmas gala of your Firm. You look forward to seducing a new colleague. The CEO calls you in her office and announces that you will be the Santa Claus for the gala. How do you change her mind?
  • You start to think about the Christmas table. Your spouse has seen a documentary about vegetarianism and decided that this year every meal would be vegetarian. Even the dessert would be gluten free. What do you say?
  • You are exhausted preparing next day's christmas table. You barely feel your body. You mother in law calls your spouse and announces that tomorrow at 6.00 am she will stop by to pick you up on her way to the morning Church service. And she is famous for being adamant in church issues. How can you avoid that?
  • It's 31/12 and you and your team are exhausted from annual inventory process, but still you need two more hours to finish it. The CEO announces that you need to come the following day to finish the task, since the auditors would arrive in 02/01 early in the morning. What do you say to your team members.
  • Awkward situation: You show up at a party completely over- or under-dressed for the affair.
  • Awkward situation: Someone shows up wearing the same dress as you.
  • How do you handle it when you’re given a gift, but don’t have one to give in return?
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