Next Meeting
Time : 7:00pm to 9.15pm (Fellowship starts at 6:30pm)
Venue :Meeting Room 3, Level 1, Vistana Hotel, No.9, Jalan Lumut, Off Jalan Ipoh,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Highlight of the meeting: Learn the techniques of conversing with stranger by our guest speaker
English Tenses
Table of English Tenses
Tense | Affirmative/Negative/Question | Use | Signal Words |
A: He speaks.
| action in the present taking place once, never or several times facts actions taking place one after another action set by a timetable or schedule | always, every …, never, normally, often, seldom, sometimes, usually
| |
A: He is speaking.
| action taking place in the moment of speaking action taking place only for a limited period of time action arranged for the future | at the moment, just, just now, Listen!, Look!, now, right now | |
A: He spoke.
| action in the past taking place once, never or several times actions taking place one after another action taking place in the middle of another action | yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday
| |
A: He was speaking.
| action going on at a certain time in the past actions taking place at the same time action in the past that is interrupted by another action | when, while, as long as | |
A: He has spoken.
| putting emphasis on the result action that is still going on action that stopped recently finished action that has an influence on the present action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking | already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now | |
A: He has been speaking.
| putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result) action that recently stopped or is still going on finished action that influenced the present | all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week | |
A: He had spoken.
| action taking place before a certain time in the past sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration) | already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day
| |
A: He had been speaking.
| action taking place before a certain time in the past sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action | for, since, the whole day, all day | |
A: He will speak.
| action in the future that cannot be influenced spontaneous decision assumption with regard to the future | in a year, next …, tomorrow
| |
(going to) | A: He is going to speak.
| decision made for the future conclusion with regard to the future | in one year, next week, tomorrow |
A: He will be speaking.
| action that is going on at a certain time in the future action that is sure to happen in the near future | in one year, next week, tomorrow | |
A: He will have spoken.
| action that will be finished at a certain time in the future | by Monday, in a week | |
A: He will have been speaking.
| action taking place before a certain time in the future putting emphasis on the course of an action | for …, the last couple of hours, all day long | |
A: He would speak.
| action that might take place | if sentences type II
| |
A: He would be speaking.
| action that might take place putting emphasis on the course / duration of the action | | |
A: He would have spoken.
| action that might have taken place in the past | if sentences type III
| |
A: He would have been speaking.
| action that might have taken place in the past puts emphasis on the course / duration of the action | |
Einstein
Bonnie Blair
Swami Vivekananda
William Shakesphere
(a) know more than other
(b) work more than other
(c) expect less than other
Thomas Edison
I will not say I failed 1000 times, I will say that I discovered there are 1000 ways that can cause failure
My sharing.....
I just want to share with you my experience, all in all from preparation to presentation, of the ice breaker speech.
I was officially admitted to the club on September 10, 2009. The first time I joined as guest of Metro, I felt that people here are so friendly and warm. My plan is to visit different clubs first but Metro pals did a great job in welcoming guest that made me come back and sign for membership. The tagline speaks for itself thru its member, "The friendliest club in town". Learning with friendly people is indeed a worthwhile activity to spend my time with, and laughter is the best de-stressing agent. Upon my acceptance to the club, I was right away encouraged by members to prepare and present my first speech. Most of the officers, if not all, gave their utmost support like giving me a guideline for the first project since I don't have my manuals yet, giving me tips on what to write thru emails and calls, and of course the assuring words that "you can do it" was generously uttered for me.
I thought the speech will be easy to write since I know the subject matter. But the real challenge is what to share with people given the time limit of six minutes where they'll get a grasp of who I am. I started reminiscing my life as far as my childhood. I've realized I still have a sharp memory in my almost three decades of existence! My pen kept scribbling on papers, papers which I took from Vistana hotel during our meetings. At first, I can't think of anything then I decided to write facts about myself. For several days, I will think something interesting about myself then I'll write it down. I ended up writing six pages back-to-back. I tried to read it taking down how much time it'll take. I have to trim down and refine what I wrote to fit the time limit allowed. Then I let a few people read what I wrote and asked their feedback. Too bad that I haven't had the time to send my writing to my mentor since it was written on paper and I didn't have the chance to type it. The final writing was completed only two days before my actual presentation. I benefited in the process of recalling experiences, people, blessings, and I am enlightened to get to know myself again.
When I learned that I'll speak before a joint meeting. I had goose bumps which I normally get when I am introduced to a guy whom I admire (when I was younger)! Speaking in front of people you already know is already a challenge in itself, what more in front of strangers? I thought to myself that this is just the start of the journey and along the way there would be far greater happenings than this. If I give up at this early point and don't take the challenge, how will I be able to take the future projects? You see there are many questions on my head, but I believe that if I do my assignment and prepare for this, I can make it. I imagine the soldiers going for battles without training, for sure they'll be defeated. So I did the best that I can, whatever skill I currently have I put it in use. I know I still have a long way to go before I reach the skills of the people I look up to but I'll get there.
Before the meeting I wasn't comfortable to see a huge crowd. The first part of the meeting I must admit that I am not in full attention to what was happening as I sneak through my speech. Good thing refreshments came first before the speech presentation. It was not just my grumbling stomach that was satisfied but also my conversations with the people released some of the tension in me. They know how to smile after all, it's not just that evident during the meeting as they might be attentively listening which is part of the training in toastmasters. I was the first to speak which I prefer so I will not be intimidated by people who is ahead of me. A really good thing for me because the succeeding speakers are really really good. I proceed on delivering my first speech to the best of ability and although I am nervous I enjoyed what I did. And what can I say, well I would like to move on with my second speech, third, fourth, and so on. I appreciate all the votes given to me, now I don't have to spare a penny on Dale Carnegie's book.
For those who haven't done their first speech, please don't get me wrong I didn't mean to discourage. Yes it is challenging but rewarding. And I'll assure you its fun and totally liberating. Take it as knowing someone who is closest to you, yourself. :)
According to the manual, I don't have to say thank you after the speech but really I thank you for lending me your ears. :)
- Janis
Next Meeting
Time : 7:00pm to 9.15pm (Fellowship starts at 6:30pm)
Venue :Meeting Room 3, Level 1, Vistana Hotel, No.9, Jalan Lumut, Off Jalan Ipoh,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Breaking the Ice
Don’t worry; your chances of dying at the lectern are extremely slim! And that nervousness you feel is not as noticeable as you think. Remember, too, that everyone in your audience was once a beginner like you. They can recall when it was their turn to break the ice, and they support you. With all this on your side, you can sail through the speech! To keep it smooth sailing, here are a few tips:
Ask for a mentor. If you haven’t already requested a mentor for club activities, now is the time to do so. A mentor is an experienced Toastmaster who will help you, with your meeting roles and with your speeches too. This person has stood before the crowd many times and lived to tell the tale. Complete the Mentor Request form included in your New Member Kit and give it to the vice president education.
Read carefully. Study Project 1 in your Competent Communication manual. Don’t forget to read the evaluation guide at the end of the project.
Your life is more exciting than you think! Work with your mentor to develop a speech about yourself. Find an interesting angle about your life’s story, describe your passions or tell about an incident that affected you. Surely you have six minutes’ worth of something to say about yourself!
Narrow your topic by choosing three or four aspects of your life. How about your birthplace, education or family? Use stories, examples and anecdotes to emphasize your points. If you merely state a fact and then continue, most of your audience will miss the point.
Avoid information overload! Choose your points and illustrations carefully. Too much information may overwhelm your audience. “Have more than you show, say less than you know,” is always good advice.
Once you have the highlights, weave them into a story. Pretend you are talking to friends around the dinner table.
Create an attention-getting beginning and strong closing. Memorize both if necessary.
Prepare thoroughly and practice repeatedly! No one knows your life as well as you do, but practice how to present its highlights to others.
While you’re being introduced, take a deep breath and slowly exhale. This will help your voice sound natural.
The Joint Meeting on 13 October 2009 Between Melia & Metro
>
> Congratulations to Stephen and Janis on being voted as best evaluator
> and prepared speech speaker respectively for the Joint Meeting!! {clap
> clap and clap again}
>
> Janis, you were brave and confident in delivering your maiden speech
> in front of more than 30 people than night, whereby more than half of
> the crowd were strangers to you!! And you did it gracefully with good
> preparation. Kudos to you!!! Well done and keep up that kind of
> momentum going through, up to speech No. 10# ;-)
>
> Stephen,
> What can I say about you? Superb!!! You were in your own unique style,
> entertaining, objective, constructive and when everyone was slowly
> slipping into sleeping zone, you woke us with your humorous evaluation
> pointers and made us laugh heartily. Impressive performance, hey....
> not easy to engage and captivate the crowd who had been listening for
> 3 hours of varied speeches. You were the star of the night!!! Hooray!
>
> Yee, Shukur and Tan,
> Many thanks for your contributions and participation. Fabulous
> performance! Just one note to Ms. Tan, if not due to time contraint,
> perhaps it would be better if you can tell what were the repeated
> words, what were the fillers etc. But thank you very much for
> replacing Ellie for Ah Counter with short notice.
>
> Those who present but did not play a role, I'm sure you learn a lot
> through observation. Opportunities will strike and seize it whenever
> there is role play and speaking slot for you to take. Abundance in Toastmasters journey!
>
>
> It was a great and valuable meeting. Thank you to each and everyone
> for making this Joint Meeting a success!!
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Helen Quat
> VPE of Metro TMC