‘An open invitation’

Speak Easy Toastmasters is one of approx. 11.000 clubs affiliated to Toastmasters International which is a voluntary organization dedicated to training its members in the art of public speaking, speaking off the cuff, listening and leadership skills.
Each meeting of a toastmasters club is a unique learning experience. We learn by doing and by observation.

Doing is taking part in a toastmasters meeting program, be it as a speaker, evaluator, toastmaster etc and by observing what the more experienced members do and say and of course how they do and say it.

Learning is a personal journey, whether it is learning by being involved with toastmasters or learning to drive or use a computer. There are many different theories and ideas on how people learn but they can be put into four main areas.

1. How the brain works- The brain has different parts and each part has a function. Our brain is wired to learn new things and when we learn, our brain changes in some way. This is how memory and learning develop and this sets the pace for lifelong learning. In fact, our brain changes with use, throughout our lifetime. As we se the brain, we strengthen certain patterns of connection, making each connection easier to create next time.

2. Learning styles – Each of us has a different way of learning, some of us may learn by seeing and some of us by doing.

3. Social learning – The world in which we live in can play a big part in what we learn, how we learn and also what we know and think about lots of different things.

4. Multiple Intelligence – This explains why some people are better than others at learning some things. For example, one person may be good at playing sport, while others may be good with numbers.

Learning the skills of toastmasters comes under the same headings and it becomes obvious when the toastmaster is a member of a club for a length of time. One person may find that they have skills of leadership which they develop by becoming involved with toastmasters committees.
Another may find that they have a skill in humorous speeches while another may find that they have evaluation or speaking off the cuff skills.

Whatever way a person learns, in toastmasters the one most important factor in which we all strive to accomplish, is that we enjoy our two hours a fortnight in the company of like minded members in Speak Easy Toastmasters.

If you are interested, why not come along to our next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, January 27th 2011 at 7:50PM. Non-members are more than welcome to attend and will not be asked to speak. Further details about the Club are available on our website, www.speakeasytoastmasters.com or on Speak Easy Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Easy-Toastmasters167687469936952