A Month of Speech and Table Topics Contests

When Spring comes, the rains cleanse the air fresh, the trees revive and green takes its pride to embellish nature, energy gets hold of us. Suddenly activities one after another are everywhere to lure us. To T/Ms in Taiwan, maybe around the world, March and April is the busiest season. Outings, gatherings and workshops are all ready to wave at us, yet they are not exhilarating or attractive enough comparing to the benefits and fulfillment Speech and Table Topics contests bring us.

If you are interested in listening to prepared speeches, especially good and meaningful ones, attending Speech and Table Topics Contests would be the best choice. Counting In-house, Area, Division and the last the most exciting Speech and Table Topics Contest, there will be at least one hundred and fifty contests island wide. Just in Northern Taiwan alone, there are Speech and Topics Contests held over fifty (50) T/Ms clubs, fifteen areas and five Divisions for you to choose from. Normally a T/M would at least attend two or three contests to observe, learn and get inspired. I love to attend contests as longs as my schedule fits, and definitely I won’t miss my club's in-house contest, area C2 and Division C Contests. Being a long-time T/M, I don’t need to struggle whether I should attend other in-house, area or Division contests because all the invitations are already more than good enough for me to consider, and I have to turn down a lot in order not to mess up my routine badly. Thanks to all the officers for giving me the honor I was at all the contests to serve as either one of the judges or the chief judge.

How many contests exactly I have attended up to now? They are China, NCCU, YWCA, TCG, Innovative, Sunshine, Area A1, A2, A3, C1, G2, G3, H1, Div. C, E, etc. There were some I really liked to attend, yet their overlapped time or date made it impossible for me. Must say the value of attending all these contests was immense and time was so much worth spending. No T/Ms would doubt the benefits of attending or joining contests. I believe it’s most T/Ms’ dream or goal to join contests. Only by joining contests, can the T/M excel him or herself through learning by doing process. For contestants, they might have done over hundreds of times of rehearsals especially for those who make their way to Division level contest. With the comments and suggestions they receive from fellow T/Ms, they can all enjoy a breakthrough improvement.

From obsering all the contests that I've attended, I’d like to echo the criteria of winning strategies the T/Ms training suggests:

1. Confidence and good poise
2. A clear message that was delivered in a well structured way
3. A speech supported with personal stories to sound original, to intrigue the audience and to inspire them to take action.
4. Skillful and fluent delivery with certain showmanship.
5. Articulation and pronunciation in addition to a well written scipt.

Last but the foremost, winning attitude! It motivates the speaker to rid all his or her disadvantages to make winning the championship a reality.

I am from Division C, I must say all the contestants at the Div. C Contest were simply awesome. I heard their speeches before and was impressed to see the amazing improvement they made. Congratulations especially to the champions Judy Lee and Sylvia Chen. I wish them for the best of luck at the Spring Con, District Contest!

I joined in-house contests several times, yet didn’t outshine in Area level contests. My excuses were bad timing due to my work, my family and my duty at the T/Ms, couldn’t geared up to gather enough zeal or had to give up at the last moment. Now after deciding that I’d not take any role in District office for the following years, I should give it another try. Why not? It’s the best way to hone my public speaking skills and confront my stage fright, if any, once and for all. The disadvantage will be the big loss by not being able to accept all the sweet invitations and enjoy the honor of serving as judge.

Sherry is the one among goldies who has the passion and dedication to take action to join contests. She also encouraged us to join. She made it to the Division level last time, and dropped out from the area contest this time at the last moment unexpectedly. I believe she will definitely make a come-back next year.

To join or not to join the contest, it's still a question to me. What I can be sure of is I’ll still attend as many contests as possible to enjoy the fruitful and fulfilling moment!

Trini