Speech contest tests self-confidence

Imagine being asked, without prior warning or preparation, to go on a stage and speak in front of an audience about something like confidence or daring. Could you do it?

During a public speech competition that took place on Friday in Abu Dhabi, as part of a Toastmasters Area Conference, this is what some of the contestants had to face: giving an impromptu one-and-a-half to two-minute speech on the “if you want to swim, you first have to dip into water” theme.

The full-day meeting was all about choosing one winner from each of the four categories of speech contests, who will move on to the next level of the annual Toastmasters International Competition.

“Toastmasters is a non-profit educational organisation for people who want to develop their skills in leadership, public speech and their self-confidence,” explained Marwan Abdulla Shayea, advance communicator and advance leader of Toastmasters’ Ro’yah club in Abu Dhabi, formed specially for Gasco employees.

“It was established in the US in 1924 and now it has reached more than 270,000 members in over 13,000 clubs in 116 countries,” he added.

The way it works is for a group of minimum 20 people to come together and form a club. They will hold meetings once or twice a week, each member practising his or her public speech abilities, using a manual provided by the Toastmasters headquarters, meant to boost this person’s leadership skills and self-confidence. How to tackle a topic, how to prepare a presentation, how to use body language and humour are some of the issues that the speaker will learn.

The group will start having speech competitions, first among themselves, then with other Toastmasters clubs from an area, which covers about five clubs, then move on to the division (about 30 clubs) and eventually to the district competition, which, for this part of the world, means the GCC countries, Jordan and Lebanon. The district winner will get to compete in the final Toastmasters International in the US.

The UAE joined Toastmasters in 1996 and the first club was formed in the Capital – Abu Dhabi Toastmasters. Presently, there are at least 90 clubs in the country.

“The competitions are about public speeches and presentations may be made on any subject except religion, sex and politics,” explained Asma Al Amri, Toastmaster advance leader, advance communicator and area governor.

So far, no UAE member has made it to the US finals, but Mohammed Murad, an Emirati from Dubai, has progressed so well within the organisation that he is now one of the two vice-presidents of Toastmasters International.

“He used to be a policeman, and after he retired, he decided to better himself, so he joined a Toastmasters club,” pointed out Shayea.

“This is the point of Toastmasters — to help people develop their skills for the community,” stressed Shayea.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com