Story Telling Treasure...
I have a treasure to share with you - not only there are the stories, but you can LISTEN TO as well as read them!
It is a free online collection of stories and poems in Mp3 (audiobook) format. You can:
* Download the files to your Mp3 player and listen on the go,
* Listen to the Mp3 files on your computer,
* View the text on a webpage and read along as you listen,
* Print out the stories and poems to make your own book.
There are four ways to get started:
1. Browse by Author. You can pick your stories by the author's last name.
2. Browse by Title. You can pick your stories by title.
3. Search Database. You can search the collection by title, author, keywords or reading level.
An abstract, citation, playing time, and word count are given for each of the passages. Many of the passages also have a related reading strategy identified. Each reading passage can also be downloaded as a PDF and printed for use as a read-along or as supplemental reading material for your classroom.
4. Launch iTunes. If you have iTunes software installed on your computer, you can download many of the selections directly into your iTunes library. The free iTunes application for either Macintosh or Windows computers may be downloaded directly from Apple, Inc.
I hope you will find this site very helpful, specially if you are doing the StoryTelling / Advanced Manuals. You will certainly find the audio files very helpful to master the art of vocal varieties...
Even if you are not you might just enjoy listening to them, or prefer to keep themas a collection...
You never know when you will become a grandfather and need to tell stories to your grandchildren...
Have Fun...
The site to visit is:
http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/index.htm
Luck...
Jack worked hard through school. He studied every night, did his assignments on time, and did extra credit assignments when possible. He applied to 14 of the top colleges and was accepted to two of them. Jack chose Yale where he worked feverishly for another four years. During that time he applied for dozens of internships and made many connections in the business world. Upon graduation, he interviewed for almost 50 jobs and out of his four job offers, he accepted a very attractive position as a high-level manager for a respectable company. When Jack's friends learned of his success, they would say, "Boy, is he lucky!"
How much of success is actually luck? Is the reason that you are not successful because you tend to have bad luck whereas others who are successful only have good luck? What is luck anyway? I am not going to say, "I don't believe in luck" or "luck is for losers". Luck is very real. However, I believe luck is something over which we all have a strong influence.
Luck is defined as, "the chance happening of fortunate or adverse events". The keyword here is "chance". This is important because to improve our luck, all we need to do is improve our chances. Luck is nothing more than the application of the law of probability. The person who is most likely to be "lucky" at winning the lottery is the person who buys more tickets. Of course, there are those one-in-a-billion chances we hear about where one-time ticket buyers win the jackpot, but not only is that extremely rare, it is also NOT success. By now you should realize that success cannot be achieved by one fortunate chance in life, or even several. Success is achieved within us and is a result of our own continual personal development.
Each of us has the ability to create our own good luck - or bad luck for that matter. First of all, you must BELIEVE that you control your destiny. The luck you have experienced in your life and the luck you will experience has much to do with you. Although we cannot have good luck all the time, using the laws of averages and probability, we can certainly tip the scale of good luck and fortune on our side. You can have more doors opened for you, and experience more of the things that everybody refers to as “luck.”
Here are some suggestions on how you can make your own good luck.
- Be in the right place at the right time. Although most people see this is as pure chance, it is vision, proper planning, and calculated risk taking that puts most successful people in the right place at the right time.
- Create the circumstances in your life that lead you to good luck. This can also be referred to as sowing and reaping. In our opening example, Jack was "lucky" to get such a great job because of everything he did in his life up to that point. He chose to work hard and apply for so many jobs. Had he not created these circumstances, his luck would no doubt be different.
- Increase your probabilities. The more chances you have at good luck, the more likely you are to experience good luck. Too many people go about their normal, uneventful lives just waiting for something great to happen to them without doing anything to increase their chances. Some excellent ways to increase your probability for fortunate chances are by working on your personal development, making more contacts or networking, and becoming involved in new opportunities, just to name a few.
- Take more calculated risks. Those who avoid risk are almost always doomed to a life of failure and bad luck. The more you can limit your chance of loss and increase your chance of gain, the better off you will be.
- Apply the principles of success and personal achievement. There are thousands of these, most of which are revealed in this course. Being successful, you will not be able to stop good luck and good fortune from coming your way even if you wanted to!
Then there is the law of attraction. As you start to create good luck in your life, you will experience even more good luck as a result of your existing good luck. The door of opportunity and good fortune usually opens to several more doors.
Unfortunate events or chance will come your way from time to time and despite all your efforts they cannot be avoided. However, you CAN control your response to this "bad luck". As a positive thinker and one who looks for opportunity in problems, each instance of "bad luck" will be replaced with "minor set backs" or even "new opportunities". Luck, as we know it, is all about perception.
When you understand that you create your own luck, you no longer live with insecurity--thinking that some unfortunate chance will take away your success. It is true that some unfortunate chance may take away your money or your business, but it can only take away your success if you let it.
Good luck does exist, and it is something each of us has the power to influence. What most people refer to as bad luck is generally referred to as "minor setbacks" or "new opportunities" by successful individuals. Follow the suggestions above for creating your own good luck and you too will find yourself becoming increasingly "lucky".
...extract from "Year To Success"
Goal Setting...
Stephen Covey once said, “Goal setting is obviously a powerful process… the manifestation of creative imagination and independent will. It’s the practicality of… translating vision into achievable, actionable doing.” “Visualizing something organizes one’s ability to accomplish it.”
Think about what you want to accomplish as a Toastmaster and record your goals. In setting goals, make them specific, measurable and achievable. Keep this with your TM materials and use it as a reminder to reach your goals. By sharing your goals with other members, they can encourage you on your achievements.
SMART Goals:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable / Attainable
- Realistic
- Time Specific / Sensitive Deadline
My long-term objectives as a Toastmaster are:
i) Accomplish my CC by September, 2007
ii) Speak to at least 500 people in 2007
iii) Accomplish my CL by January 2008
Some of my intermediate goals are:
i) Give a manual speech once a month
ii) Sign-up for at least 4 roles in next 2 months
One of the reasons you set goals is to be successful in life. You also think about the benefits that goals will bring when you achieve them. Once you have achieved a short-term goal in your list, treat yourself because you have done something significant in your life. Use the goal setting skills you have gained and apply them to the next goals on your list. Absorb the consequences of the goal achievement, and observe the progress you have made towards other goals.
Don't get discouraged if you are unable to achieve a goal that you set in a given time. Just make it a challenge for you in the next goal and learn the mistakes that you have done. Failure to meet goals does not matter as long as you learn from it. Don't give up all your goals just because you have made a mistake. To avoid these disappointments, review all your goals setting skills and remember that you still have a bigger lifetime goal that needs to be achieved.
If you feel down because of failure, go back to your plans and goals to make sure they are realistic and that you can attain them.
Decide that you'll never give up, even when times get tough, until your most important goal is reached.
Contributed b by: Kumar Kolaganti (VPE), Art Of Speaking
Writing A Great Speech...
To write a great speech you must:
- Determine what you want the audience to do upon hearing your speech. This is your conclusion.
- Decide why the audience should listen to you in the first place. This is your introduction.
- Prove this to the audience. This is the body of your speech."
Robert Cockburn, DTM
Delivering a great speech is the stuff
that dreams are made of. But first,
you have to ensure it challenges the
audience to do something.
Write a Great Speech
in 5 - 7 Minutes
Does the thought of writing and delivering a speech terrify you? Most people share your fear. But why remain scared of public oratory when the solution to this age old problem is so simple? Follow these simple speaking tips and you'll be ready to present a decent speech next week.
First, take a deep breath and relax your mind. Your challenge is to speak to an audience about a topic that you know something about. In other words, you will be sharing your knowledge in a conversational manner with people who are interested in what you have to say. Here's a relaxation tip. Arrive early for a presentation. Meet everyone in the audience that you can. Now you're suddenly talking to acquaintances and not total strangers.
Second, break down the elements of your speech. A simple technique to use in your opening is the Attention Grabber Question! Ask the audience a question that will force them to respond either aloud or to themselves. This will get people involved with your topic and provide you with the positive feedback you need to share a quality message. Decide on three main body points that you want to cover. You may even choose three stories or anecdotes to use as the body points. That will make audience sharing even easier. The goal is to make you feel like you're telling a story to a friend. The only difference is that you're telling the story to ten, twenty, fifty or one hundred friends!
Finally, your conclusion must challenge, issue a call to action, or motivate your audience to do something positive with the information that you've just shared. The conclusion is the most frequently abused piece of a speech. The speaker typically hurries to finish and leaves out a profound bit of wisdom that the audience needs and wants.
Speakers Beware - Don't try to memorize your speech word for word. If you lose your place and grasp for the exact word that makes up your script you may draw a mind blank and panic. SOUNDS FAMILIAR? Here’s a tip - “Share, but don't recite your information.
Let's look at a simple speech topic that can quickly be developed into a complete presentation. Suppose you want to talk about container gardening. An Attention Grabber Question might be, "How many of you have a green thumb?" "Well neither did I until I started dropping plants into pots." Audience members will either answer yes or no to the green thumb question. You have their involvement at this point in the beginning.
Your three main body points may feature three different types of plants you have successfully grown in containers. For added impact, show pictures of your work or bring a sample of your passion for gardening. Props always add another dimension to your presentations. Let your excitement about the topic fuel your words.
In the conclusion, simply tell the audience how easy it is to begin container gardening. You may even give them resources to explore for more information. This leaves the audience members with valuable advice that they can use after leaving the room.
For beginning orators, consider taking a three by five note card to the lectern. The card should only feature the Attention Grabber Question, the three main body points, and the profound conclusion that sends the audience home feeling content and fulfilled. Glance at the card only to keep order. Make an effort to look at each audience member. Use a sweeping eye movement so that you're sharing the information with everyone in the room. As you gain confidence as a speaker, you can experiment with hand gestures, vocal variety and body movement. These skills will develop with practice.
When you get that next speech assignment, decide to share and not recite your wisdom. Break down the elements of the presentation. Don't let the project overwhelm you. Make sure you give the audience members something to take home. You are offering some information that they can use. With a positive, sharing attitude, you can knock out a quality presentation in only 5 - 7 minutes!
10 Tips!
Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here’s how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:
1. Know your material: Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use personal stories and conversational language - that you won't easily forget what to say. If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and revise it if necessary
2. Practice, Practice, and Practice: Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary.
3. Know the audience: Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
4. Know the room: Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
5. Relax: Ease tension by doing exercises. Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech: Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be SUCCESSFUL. Visualize the audience clapping - it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to succeed: Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail.
8. Don’t apologize: If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.
9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium: Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
10. Gain experience: Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
Effective Evaluations...
Positive feedback is the breakfast of champions - At Toastmasters' clubs all speeches, Table Topic responses, evaluations and other toastmaster roles undertaken are subjected to an evaluation by a fellow Toastmaster.
- An evaluation is a mini speech
- It is only one individual’s personal opinion
- Use the PIP sandwich method – Praise, Improvement, Praise
- Don’t whitewash
- Always present one or two points of improvement – give examples if possible
- Leave the speaker feeling positive and looking forward to their next speech
1 Eye contact
2 Hand gestures
3 Body language / mannerisms
4 Confidence
5 Enthusiasm & vitality
6 Vocal clarity
7 Vocal pitch
8 Vocal variety
9 Humor
10 Drama
11 Content of speech
12 Use of vocabulary
13 Knowledge of subject
14 Use of notes
15 Use of lectern
16 General movement
17 Opening of speech
18 Body of speech
19 Conclusion of speech
20 Pauses
21 Rate of delivery
22 ‘Ums’ and ‘ahs’
23 Too much information
24 Timing
25 Control of nerves
26 Impact on audience
27 Appropriate amount of technical information28 Meeting speech objectives
Let's motivate all members by positive and effective evaluations.
Art of Speaking Toastmasters Club
www.artofspeakingcl ub.org
Meeting Roles and Responsibilities
When you are Toastmaster. ..
The job of Toastmaster is to act as a Master of Ceremonies and is one of the most important assignments. The primary duty of the Toastmaster is to act as a genial host and conduct the entire program. The speaker introductions should prepare the audience to listen with anticipation and attention, which makes it easier for the speaker to do his/her best. This creates an atmosphere of interest, expectation and creativity.
Suggestions to help the meeting run smoothly:
· Follow the meeting agenda.
· If applicable, briefly introduce your theme and begin the meeting.
· Introduce speakers by giving their first and last name, brief personal background (or anecdote related to theme,) title of speech, objective of speech, evaluator and time requested.
· Remain standing until speaker arrives at lectern and greet him/her with a handshake, then be seated.
· Lead applause before and after each speaker.
Since the meeting is run on a time schedule, the Toastmaster must coordinate the time of all activities. This includes telling the Table Topics Master to adjust the number of questions based on the number of speakers presenting, and to limit the Toastmasters comments if necessary.
When you are Table Topics Master...
Toastmaster has a tradition that every member should have the opportunity to speak at each meeting. We make every effort to insure this with the Table Topics portion of the meeting.
Points to remember:
· Table Topics Master and Grammarian should coordinate with the Toastmaster so that the meeting themes, word of the week and table topics have continuity.
· Check with Toastmaster to see how many Topics you should write to determine if a longer or shorter session will be necessary.
· At the meeting, begin with a brief explanation of the purpose of Table Topics.
· It helps if this portion of the program is light in nature.
· Topic or question should be brief and relatively easy for response. The goal is not to stump the participant.
· Invite a guest to participate if they desire.
· Always lead the applause
· As you conclude Table Topics, remain at the lecture to shake hands with the Toastmaster.
When you are Timer...
One of the lessons to be practiced in speech training is that of expressing a thought within a certain time period. All Table Topics, Speeches and Evaluations are timed.
At the request of the Toastmaster, the Timer explains the purpose of the function and how the lights will indicate information to the speaker.
Table Topics:
| Green: | Turned on at 1 minute - SPEAKER QUALIFIES |
| Yellow: | Turned on at 1 minute 30 seconds. |
| Red: | Turned on at 2 minutes - SPEAKER DISQUALIFIES after 2 minutes 30 seconds. |
Formal Speeches:
| Green: | Turned on when the speaker has qualified. 5 minutes in a 5 -7 minute speech* |
| Yellow: | Turned on 1 minute before maximum time. 6 minutes in a 5 -7 minute speech* |
| Red: | Turned on when the speaker has spoken for the maximum time. 7 minutes in a 5 -7 minute speech* |
*NOTE: The Speaker has + or - 30 Seconds to qualify (4 minutes 30 seconds to 7 minutes 30 seconds in a 5 -7 minute speech
Evaluations:
| Green: | Turned on at 2 minutes - SPEAKER QUALIFIES. |
| Yellow: | Turned on at 2 minute, 30 seconds. |
| Red: | Turned on at 3 minutes - SPEAKER DISQUALIFIES after 3 minutes 30 seconds. |
Points to remember:
When reporting, it helps to announce the requested time and the actual time (minutes and seconds) spoken.
When you are Grammarian.. .
Grammar covers many areas and the Grammarian has an important and difficult job. The habits that are brought forth are often years old and completely unconscious in nature. The Grammarian's task is to make the members conscious of these habits.
Points to remember:
· The "Word of the Day" should tie in with the theme of the meeting, if applicable.
· At the request of the Toastmaster, explain the purpose and function of Grammarian and present the "Word of the Day" by giving a definition, correct spelling and possible uses of the word in a sentence. (Write the word of the day and brief definition on the large pad on the easel prior to the meeting, and conceal it until you are introduced.)
· At the conclusion of Table Topics, report the names of participants who used the "Word of the Day" in their answer.
· At the end of the meeting you will be asked by the Toastmaster to make additional comments about forms of speech that you feel the membership should practice. Listen for:
1 Misuse of words
2 Incorrect pronunciation
3 Clichés (over-used phrases or words)
4 Poor sentence structure
5 Excellent use of language
When you are Ah-Counter.. .
The purpose of Ah-Counter is to call attention to the members' Ah's, Um's, Xerox words (double words e.g. the the) etc.
Points to remember:
· At the Toastmasters request, explain the purpose and function of the Ah-Counter's duties
· Keep written track of all infractions.
· At the end of the meeting, you will be asked by the Toastmaster to report on the number of infractions for everyone who participated.
· The Ah-Counter's duties begin at the opening of the meeting (you do not have to wait to be introduced) and stop at the end of the meeting.
When you are a Speaker...
A major portion of each meeting is centered around three or more speakers. Their speeches are prepared and typically last from five to seven minutes.
The Speaker:
· Is responsible for finding their own replacement if they are not able to speak and for notifying the Toastmaster of the change.
· Must use a manual.
· Should inform the evaluator about what particular elements they are working on, i.e., voice, gestures, elimination of notes, etc.
· Should provide the evaluator with their manual in order for the evaluator to make written comments about the speech.
· Will tell the Toastmaster how many minutes are required for the speech.
· May at some point be requested to give a speech when someone is unexpectedly absent. Every effort should be made to fulfill the request and gain from this experience.
When you are General Evaluator...
The General Evaluator is just what the name implies, an evaluator of anything and everything that took place throughout the meeting. You are responsible for coordinating a team of Evaluators.
Remember:
· Notify your scheduled evaluators by the week before the meeting to be sure they are prepared. Have them contact their assigned speaker for instructions and manual purpose.
· Remind evaluators to collect the speakers' manuals in order to provide them with written comments.
· Introduce evaluators by giving their first and last name, a brief anecdote related to the theme (if applicable), and the name of the speaker they are evaluating.
· The General Evaluator's general meeting criticism and positive points can cover the meeting starting time, functionaries, Toastmaster, the President, the manner in which guests were greeted, anything and everything.
· This is an ideal time for you, as the General Evaluator, to speak your mind on some subjects concerning the conduction of meetings, even though they may not be pertinent to that meeting.
· Call for all reports Timer, Ah Counter, Listener, and Grammarian
· Give your evaluation of the meeting. Approximately 3 minutes is sufficient
When you are an Evaluator...
Each Evaluator will review one of the formal speeches of the meeting. The purpose of this constructive criticism is to bring to the awareness of the speaker the effects of the speech, speech habits, and progress to date. The comments presented by the Evaluator must be presented as your opinion and be encouraging.
Ten Commandments of Effective Speech Evaluation
1. Read the project objectives and evaluation guidelines.
2. Confer with the speaker before the speech.
3. Listen carefully.
4. Recognize the speaker's strengths.
5. Provide verbal reward for improvement.
6. Suggest positive directions of growth.
7. Recommend alternative actions.
8. Reinforce the speaker's commitment to self-improvement.
9. Be positive and supportive.
10. Make the speaker feel good about themselves.
Suggestions:
· Before the meeting, ask the speaker which particular elements they would like you to look for.
· Choose a few major points and focus on those in your evaluation.
· Be clear and concise. Practice being a diplomat.
· Start sentences with the 1st person. ex. "I thought..., If I were to speak..., How I saw your presentation. .." as oppose to "YOU did this.."
· Observe: Appearance, Approach to the Lectern, Opening and Closing, Speech Structure, Gestures and Eye Contact, Vocal Variety, Adherence to Manual Objectives.
· If you feel the speaker did not fulfill the manual requirements, suggest the speaker repeat it.
· Try not to rely on "I'm looking forward to your next speech" as a conclusion for your evaluation.
· As you finish your evaluation, remain at the lectern and shake the hand of the General Evaluator.
When you are in the Hot Seat...
It goes without saying that unexpected times pop up in our lives, many beyond our control. Because of this and in order to keep our meetings flowing we need members to fill in for others that don't show. For whatever reason. The Hot Seat is responsible to fill any role in the meeting INCLUDING a Speaker. When you are the Hot Seat
· Come with a prepared Speech
· Have a few Table Topics
· Bring a General Evaluation Sheet
· Have a Joke
When you are the Jokemaster.. .
The Jokemaster is to tell a short "friendly" joke to give the meeting some lighthearted humor.
When you have a Planned Absence...
If you know you will miss a meeting be sure to notify the Toastmaster well in advance. If you know a week ahead, contact the Vice president of Education and have you name removed from the schedule during that time.
Art of Speaking Toastmasters Club
www.artofspeakingclub.org
10 Tips for Successful Public Speaking...
Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here’s how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:
1. Know your material: Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use personal stories and conversational language - that you won't easily forget what to say. If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and revise it if necessary
2. Practice, Practice, Practice: Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary.
3. Know the audience: Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
4. Know the room: Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
5. Relax: Ease tension by doing exercises.Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech: Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be SUCCESSFUL. Visualize the audience clapping - it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to succeed: Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail.
8. Don’t apologize: If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.
9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium: Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
10. Gain experience: Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
Art of Speaking Toastmasters Club
www.artofspeakingclub.org
