Toastmasters speech contests

Photography session after the competition

The UTAR Sungai Long Toastmasters Club organised The International Speech and Table Topics Contests at Sungai Long Campus on 26 February 2017.

Present at the competition was Toastmasters International Chief Judge Alan Wong, Distinguished Toastmaster Thiagarajah Nesan, UTAR staff, students and invited guests.

The objective of the competition is to provide the opportunity for speakers to test their speaking abilities and to recognise the best as encouragement to all. Members could learn and be motivated by observing the more proficient speakers who have benefited from the Toastmasters programme.

Club Advisor Janet Fernandez said, “The contestants were given the opportunity to speak in a different environment and in front of a different crowd.  This helps them to further develop their speaking skills and raises their confidence level for speaking in public.”

Organising Co-advisor Khoo Suat Hoong said, “It is a good event as it not only benefits the contestants but also the organising team. It is rewarding to help the members embark on the Toastmaster’s journey to be outstanding speakers and leaders.”

There were two competitions, namely the International Speech Contest and Table Topic Contest. For the International Speech Contest, Yim Kong Joe, the club president, won the first place while Chin Yee Ann won the second place. For the Table Topic Contest, Saraswathy Thurairaj secured the first place, Yim Kong Joe won the second place and the third went to Alvinder Singh.

The champions went on to represent the club in the Area Contests on 5 March 2017 in PET Club at Puchong. There, Yim emerged Champion in the International Speech Contest, while Saraswathy emerged as First Runner-up for the Table Topics Contest. They will contest at the Division Level in Open University Malaysia on 2 April 2017.

Toastmasters International former Division W Director E Son Lee said, “UTAR Sungai Long Toastmasters Club was chartered on 1 April 2016. The quality of speeches and the deliveries was awesome and impressive. Thank you for opening the window of opportunity for students to discover and better themselves as capable speakers.”

Toastmasters International (TI) is a non-profit educational organisation that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills. Through its thousands of member clubs, Toastmasters International offers a programme of communication and leadership projects designed to help people learn the art of speaking, listening and thinking. It was formed on 22 October 1924 and has since spread worldwide.