Table Topics Secrets Revealed

Table Topics Theme

2008
12.28

You can anticipate what table topics questions will be asked at this time of the year. Knowing that there is a theme that is tie to current events, you can prepare the questions in advance.

For Dec, there are Christmas theme, year end and New Year theme.

The kind of questions they could ask you during Christmas are:

Your most memorable Christmas Day
Your most memorable Christmas present
What you wish for Christmas
If you are Santa Claus..
Is Christmas too commercialised?
What is Christmas to you

Table topics questions related to The New Year theme are:

goal setting
resolution
What you wish for the New Year
Do you believe in making resolution
What’s your goal for 2009
What has been the turning points in your life
What’s memorable about this year.

Find out more about the kinds of topics that you can anticipate in my ebook “Table Topics Secrets Revealed!“

Table Topics Question of the Day – Colors

2008
11.29

If you put all the table topics you ever heard in Toastmasters meetings in one year, put them in a bag, shake them out and pour on the table…and sort them out, you can categorise them. That’s what I did.

One of the categories is a single word e.g. “Colors”. It is a difficult topic for those who are not used to these kind of topics. It is open to interpretation. My favourite opening line is “This color reminds me of…”

Let’s hear how some toastmasters answer to the color given by the Table Topics master. Read the details here.

District 65 Table Topics Contest 2008 Question

2008
11.24

Like to try your hand at table topics? Get ready….go!

At the District 65 Table Topics Contest (2008), the question was: “It is said that a person who has two friends is truly rich. What qualities do you look for in a friend?”

District Table Topics Contest Question

2008
11.21

Here is the question at the District 83 of Toastmasters International Table Topics contest. Are you ready? Go….

At the end of your life do you want to be remembered more for your character or your ethics?”

How to Anticipate Table Topics Questions

2008
11.19

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Sometimes you can prepare for the Table Topics in advance. You could guess and anticipate what topics will be asked. How?

Look out for the theme, anniversary, holiday or World Day.

Sometime the Toastmasters Club will announce the theme for the next meeting. For November, it could be any of these World Day.

1 Nov – World Vegan Day
9 Nov – World Freedom Day
14 Nov – World Diabetes Day
16 Nov – International Day for Tolerance
19 Nov – World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse
19 Nov – World Toilet Day
25 Nov – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

A club recently had a Table Topics session on Veteran’s Day. In December you can expect the theme on Christmas. Expected the usual topics about what you wish for Christmas, your most memorable Christmas experience, is Christmas too commercial, do you believe in Santa Claus, what is the meaning of Christmas, etc.

When these important dates draw near, have a ready answer on these topics. Discover these and more Table Topics strategies in the book “Table Topics Secrets Revealed!”

District Contest Table Topics Question

2008
11.04

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Like to try this is a District contest Table Topics Question? Ready? Go!

“If you were to get a tattoo what would you get and where would you put it?”

This is a straightforward as-a-matter-of fact question. It is a simple and easy question to answer. The answer can be boring.

My strategy is to tell a moving story about what the tattoo symbolises. Usually it is reminder of a loved one who passed away. I will tell why I want to remember the person and why he is so special to me.

If you can tell good stories that tuck the audience heart, you have the advantage in table topics contest.

Discover this and more strategies in my book “Table Topics Secrets Revealed!” at http://www.toastmasters-tabletopics.com

How to Respond to a Table Topics Question

2008
10.29

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It was interesting to see how different people use different strategies during a Table Topics session.

One tried the DIVERSION technique. When asked about the China-Japan spat, he said he knew nothing about the politics, but he sure know about the Miss Universe Contest and how he went to watch them and give them a silent evaluation.

Another TELL A STORY. When asked to comment about countrymen are whiners, he said that if we see the dark side in other countries, we will not whine. He elaborated on a movie in a certain country where the street children were abused, killed and had to fight for their survival. How fortunate we are, when we compare to them.

Another blushed when asked to talk about sex tourist. He went for the DEFINITION approach. He tried to define what it means and attempt using the 5Ws structure – What, why, who, where and when.

The winner gave the PREP approach – Make your point and give your reasons. When asked to comment on the SALES, she make her stand at the beginning that she is against the sales. She stated her reasons clearly. “No 1…., no 2…, no 3…” She was wise not to state how many reasons in the beginning. She merely state the number as she went along.

Learn these strategies and more in my book “Table Topics Secrets Revealed!“

One Life Live it!

2008
10.28

The easiest way to improve impromptu speaking is still the hardest for most of us. And that is to raise your hand. Be the first to raise your hand. Don’t wait for others. This is the one little thing I attempt to do. I told my club members that they have my permission to single me out as a volunteer.

The theme of the Table Topics Session is on commercial slogan. Naturally I was the first to be called. The slogan is M1′s, “One Life – Live it”. I talk about the sudden loss of my friend. In conclusion, I said that they should not assume that tomorrow will always come. Like my friend, tomorrow never come. So live it.

I am glad I spoke. I was prepared to be at a loss of words. That’s ok. I want to condition my mind. I am glad I ended well cos I tied the story to the topic.

James won the best table topics speaker of the day. The lesson learnt is that humour wins. People love humour, not a sob story.

I could have torn my hair to baldness for the 101 things that have gone wrong or how I could have done better. I might have been harsh on myself in the past. But today, I just celebrated the fact that at least I have tried, I have the courage, I ended well. I am sure that the more I do, the better I will be. That’s cause for celebration.

On my way home, I witnessed a motorist lying on the road, next to a taxi. The words of the Table Topics quesiton echoed in my mind…one life – live it. I am glad I am alive, carrying my daughter with me, and on the way home for dinner. (May 2005)

The Question for Miss Universe 2004

2008
10.25

Miss Australia Jennifer Hawkins won the Miss Universe 2004 title. The question is: what period in history she would prefer to live in if she had her pick.

Hawkins quickly answered “this time” given the abundant opportunities that exist for women.

If one study all the questions in the beauty pageants, you will discover that most of the questions are repeated. If contestants are given special training by speech coaches, their success in impromptu speaking will be a deciding factor in winning the crown.