http://www.toastmasters.org/

I have been to toastmaster for almost two years but quit last year because of the work time conflict and I want to focus on my pronunciation as well. I taken all roles ( toastmaster, table master, speaker, evaluator, general evaluator, timer, grammarian, word counter.....)

Bear me, I would like to introduce a briefing of Toastmaster:

There are three organized sessions in a meeting which will last around 1 hour half to two hours.

1. Table Topic. The table master will prepare around 10 questions around one topic and randomly pick up attendees to the podium and speak around 1 mins to 3 mins. At the end of table topics,everybody votes for best table topic master. My favorite part is table master who can ask all controversial questions.

2. Prepared Speech: Every toastmaster will get a manual of 10 speeches. Each speech will focus on one task and have specific requirements, for example, ice breaker, organizing the thoughts, voice,etc. There are usually 3 to 4 speaker slots in a meeting. Every speaker will get assigned a evaluator. Every toastmaster can be an evaluator. After each speech, all attendees should write an evaluation to the speech. At the end of prepared speech, everybody votes for best speaker and most improved.

3. Evaluation: General Evaluator will introduce evaluators and evaluators will give 3-5 mins evaluation to the assigned speech. At the end, again, vote for best evaluation. General Evaluator will evaluate the whole meeting and call for timer, grammarian and word counter give the reports. How long have you spoken? how many filler words are you used? any grammar errors?

To the end, president of the club will announce the winners of best table topic, best speaker, most improved and best evaluator of the meeting.

I had a lot of fun by attending the meetings and made some friends there too. I encourage everyone to find a local club to start as a guest. People of my club are super friendly and I believe the same for other clubs. Myself might return back club around April or May.