Speeches, Evaluations and Chairmanship Skills
The How of Public Speaking
When you walk into a speakers club meeting you will recieve a warm welcome from the people who want you to succeed. We provide a safe supportive and friendly environment among friends in an environment conducive to mastering the art of public speaking.
Our ASC structured program covers all aspects of speaking and presentation skills, including
Organising a speech for maximum impact.
Speaking with emotion and passion and conviction.
Using humor effectively.
Enriching your voice.
Connecting with your audience .
Another key to learning lies in watching others as they seek to progress absorbing their feedback and you will be suprised how much you can learn
You will concentrate on three areas: Prepared Speeches, Impromptu Speeches and Chairmanship Skills, all underpinned by the ASC foundation stone of caring and constructive Evaluations. More details below….
Elevate your speaking abilities to new levels.
Receive support and constructive feedback as you progress from F1 (Getting Started) to A5 (The Showpiece) and further into advanced tasks.
The ASC works alongside various partners to deliver the best possible learning and development experience for its members. The CPD Certification Service English Speaking Union Scotland Victoria College of Music, London Scottish Poetry Library Rhetoric Game World Speech Day Rotary Great Britain and Ireland RNIB Young Enterprise
Continuing Professional Development
Our ASC Certificates are internationally recognised we have CPD Accreditation
ASC certificates have been recognised and approved by the Victoria College of Music, London, which is an international awarding body in music, drama and communication.
Showcase your progress in public speaking, communication, and presentation skills to your Company
Enhance your video speaking skills!
Impress your colleagues in your next video meeting with improved eye contact and expressive gestures, perfected in our supportive club sessions. Whilst statying in your own home
Prepared Speeches
Preparing a speech is like cooking a gourmet meal; it takes a pinch of passion, a dash of drama, and a spoonful of sincerity to taste just right. A good speech is seasoned with clear, concise language and garnished with a strong opening and a memorable closing.
Don't forget to sprinkle in some humour or personal anecdotes – they're the secret sauce that keeps the audience craving more. And just like in the kitchen, practice makes perfect; rehearse your speech to ensure it's cooked to perfection, leaving your audience satisfied but still hungry for your next words. Bon appétit, or rather, happy speaking!
At a club meeting nearly everything is evaluated to give feedback to all.
Your prepared speeches at the start will be one of the ASC F1 to A5 assignments from “Making a Start” through aspects such as “Speech Construction” and “Use of Voice” to the A5 – “The Showpiece”
Following on from these are various Advanced assignments: speaking without notes, use of visual aids etc., all designed to perfect and enhance your presentation skills.
Impromptu Speeches (Topics)
Ah, the impromptu speech, the verbal equivalent of a surprise party for someone who doesn't like surprises. It's like being thrown into a pool to learn how to swim, or in this case, being pushed onto a stage to learn public speaking.
But fear not, with a dash of confidence and a pinch of structure, you can whip up a speech that'll make the audience think you had it prepared all along.
Just remember, if you ever find yourself in the hot seat, keep it short, sweet, and to the point—like a tweet, but one that doesn't start a flame war!
We practise impromptu speeches in the second half of a standard club evening, and we call it “Topics”. And, of course, so that we all get the most from Topics, both delivering a Topic and chairing the Topics session are also evaluated!
Evaluations
Speech evaluations at your local speaker club are like the secret sauce to becoming a public speaking maestro!
They're not just about pointing out the 'umms' and 'ahhs', but more like a treasure map guiding speakers to the X marks the spot of eloquence. Imagine a friendly pirate crew, where instead of 'Arr matey', it's 'Aha, matey, here's how you can hook your audience better!'
It's all about constructive feedback sandwiches – praise on top, improvement in the middle, and ending with a cheer.
So, grab your metaphorical parrot and eye-patch, and get ready to sail the high seas of oratory excellence!
The evening ends with a General Evaluation (GE) delivered by one of the more experienced members. They listen carefully, make notes and finally assess the whole evening, focussing in particular on the Chair and the evaluators. The GE also has the final say about the decision of the prepared speech evaluators – should the speaker try that task again or are they ready to move on to the next one?
Keeping the meeting on track
Chairmanship
In a speakers club, chairmanship involves effectively guiding the meeting, especially when managing multiple speakers and impromptu sessions. Our speeches are entertaining and varied, ensuring everyone present has a chance to speak during each meeting. This is where the Chair comes in, keeping everyone involved, engaged, and enjoying the evening.
Key skills include active listening to engage with the speakers and audience, clear communication to introduce speakers and facilitate discussions, and adaptability to handle the unpredictable nature of impromptu speaking.
It's also important to maintain impartiality, ensuring each speaker receives equal attention and opportunity to contribute. Leadership is crucial in steering the session towards its objectives while fostering a supportive environment for all participants.
Above all we are a
friendly club.
We have a little formality when its called for and it is useful to learn the rules about public speaking but above all we think people should
enjoy the evenings.
Members come from all sorts of backgrounds. Some are experienced speakers, others are absolute beginners. What we do know is that whoever you are you will be able to learn something and more importantly help others gain confidence and become more proficient as well.
How much you participate is entirely up to you. There is scope for every ambition.
Struggle to speak up? Confidence limiting you? Struggle to find new clients? Forget Everything You Have Been Led To Believe About Public Speaking. And Forget What Everyone Else Has Told You.
A typical evening
There is no such thing as a typical evening. They vary so much depending on the chairman and the needs for members to practice different aspects of public speaking. However when you come you will find that we often follow this sort of format.
Presidents remarks
Presidents warm up
Chairman's introduction
Two speeches of 5 to 8 minutes
Evaluation of the speeches
Topics session
(practice in impromptu speaking)
Evaluation of topics
General evaluation
Club business
President's close
We do other things too:
debates with other clubs,
reading sessions,
fun nights with things like 'Just a Minute',
competitions for individuals and groups of speakers
training evenings to brush up on particular skills.
"From where I started to where I got to by the end of the season were just two different places! " – Simon Kemp
If you have a strong desire to overcome
stage fright, be able to deliver high-impact winning sales presentations to impress your boss or want your boss's job then come and join us and learn the skills required
Our speech subjects included:
The Power of Storytelling: Explain how storytelling influences culture, empathy, and human connection.
Decision-Making Psychology: Dive into cognitive biases, rational decision-making, and improving choices.
Surviving Mondays: A Guide to Coffee, Sarcasm, and Not Quitting Your Job
Pet Psychology: Why Your Cat Judges You and Your Dog Thinks You’re a Hero
The Art of Navigating Awkward Elevator Conversations”: Because sometimes the weather just isn’t enough to break the silence.
Many others
Topics included:
Things around our necks (including the noose!)
The pro's and con's of Events (Like Christmas and Halloween!)
Describing people we would like to have known using word pictures
So far we have heard about:
Kids for Kids - Goats helping people out of poverty in Africa
Ynysenlii - an island paradise off the coast of Wales
A personal account of the first year of Speakers Club
Business Club Presentation
Job Application presentation
Pensions Talks
Investment Talks
Talks on Key events from the past
Talks on Prominent figures Living and dead
Topics have included:
A version of Just a Minute - great fun
Selling yourself - with a twist
Jobs that people do with their hands