Our upcoming meetings on December 5 and December 12 will be unique and different from our regular weekly gatherings. These sessions will feature club contests, including the Toastmasters International Speech Contest and the Table Topics Contest.

These meetings might deviate from our typical Toastmasters format, but they promise to be captivating experiences. Let’s take a closer look at the Table Topics Contest:

Table Topics is designed to sharpen your skills in organizing thoughts swiftly and addressing impromptu questions or topics, as outlined on the Toastmasters International website.

During the contest, participants will be challenged to respond to an unexpected topic within 1 to 2 minutes. Here’s a summary of the key rules:

1. Each contestant will be given the same general topic.
2. The topic will be concise, not requiring specialized knowledge, and should prompt an opinion or conclusion.
3. Contestants won’t know the topic until their turn, announced by the contest chair.
4. All contestants, except the first, will leave the room at the start of the contest.
5. Contestants will be introduced by stating their name, the topic, and then their name again.
6. After each speech, the next contestant will be invited in.

What makes this contest particularly engaging for the audience is observing the variety of responses to the same question. It prompts us to reflect on how we might have answered and appreciate the unique approach of each contestant. This exercise allows us to learn indirectly how to refine our own impromptu speaking abilities.

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REMINDER
Exceptionally the meetings will be held at a different location:
999 Maisonneuve Blvd W
Montreal, QC H3A 3L4
Suite 1250 (i.e. 12th floor)
(corner of Metcalfe, Peel metro station)