Toastmasters beef up speaking skills
Erica Bieber and Lia Eustachewich
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: Features
One key quality that Baruch students are drilled to strive for is being an influential public speaker. Regardless of how well you can crunch numbers or conduct research, career success falls on your ability to sell yourself. Although Baruch offers classes geared toward coaching you on gestures, proper speech and confidence, there are other resources to help you sharpen those speaking skills.
Baruch Toastmasters is an organization that is one of 70 chapters in New York alone. Currently, the Baruch chapter has about 50 people and usually have meetings every Friday night at 6:15 p.m. that last for two hours. However, members often times get together after meetings at the Grand Saloon, on 23rd St. between Lexington and 3rd Avenue, for karaoke.
During each regular meeting, members conduct speeches on topics of their choice and are then given thorough feedback from fellow members. Evaluations of each speech include three things on which the speaker should improve and three things on which the speaker did well.
Also, before speakers conduct their speeches, they are evaluated by a member with similar standing (a member who completed five speeches can evaluate someone who delivered five speeches or less). This allows for more analysis of specific parts of the speech, like the objective.
"Usually, I am nervous. I always try to relate to people when I speak," said Nicholas Peters, a Baruch student and Toastmasters' current vice president of public relations. "The whole idea of speaking in front of people is completely nerve-wracking, but it's with Toastmasters' encouragement and my relatability goal that allows me to give the speech I intended to give."
Both students and New York City residents in the nearby area can join the Baruch chapter of Toastmasters and will learn how to communicate effectively, enhance presentation skills and become better group leaders. Members receive the Competent Communication Manual which contains speaking assignments created to teach students the basic principles of public speaking. These helpful guides range from eye contact, hand gestures, speech organization and other important basics that make students more effective communicators.
Baruch Toastmasters is an organization that is one of 70 chapters in New York alone. Currently, the Baruch chapter has about 50 people and usually have meetings every Friday night at 6:15 p.m. that last for two hours. However, members often times get together after meetings at the Grand Saloon, on 23rd St. between Lexington and 3rd Avenue, for karaoke.
During each regular meeting, members conduct speeches on topics of their choice and are then given thorough feedback from fellow members. Evaluations of each speech include three things on which the speaker should improve and three things on which the speaker did well.
Also, before speakers conduct their speeches, they are evaluated by a member with similar standing (a member who completed five speeches can evaluate someone who delivered five speeches or less). This allows for more analysis of specific parts of the speech, like the objective.
"Usually, I am nervous. I always try to relate to people when I speak," said Nicholas Peters, a Baruch student and Toastmasters' current vice president of public relations. "The whole idea of speaking in front of people is completely nerve-wracking, but it's with Toastmasters' encouragement and my relatability goal that allows me to give the speech I intended to give."
Both students and New York City residents in the nearby area can join the Baruch chapter of Toastmasters and will learn how to communicate effectively, enhance presentation skills and become better group leaders. Members receive the Competent Communication Manual which contains speaking assignments created to teach students the basic principles of public speaking. These helpful guides range from eye contact, hand gestures, speech organization and other important basics that make students more effective communicators.
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