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During the year, there are four competitions:
· Humorous Speech Competition; · Table Topics Competition; · International Speech Competition; · Evaluation Contest Compempetition. In the Autumn, the 'Humorous Speech' competition and the 'Table Topics' competition take place.
In the Spring, the 'International Speech' competition and the 'Evaluation' competition are held.
Winners of the club competitions can go forward to the Area Competition, which consists of all the clubs in the south of Spain. Success there would mean qualification for the Division Finals [all of Spain and Portugal]. The next level is the District Final [European Final].
The 'International Speech' competition is the only competition which goes to a 'World Final.' The winner becomes the World Champion of Public Speaking. General information about each competition is provided below:
Humorous Speech Contest
PURPOSE · To provide an opportunity for speakers to improve their speaking abilities and to recognize the best as
encouragement to all.
· To provide an opportunity to learn by observing the other speakers who have prepared to a very high level. · To recognise the value of humour as a skill in public speaking. SPEECH PREPARATION Contestants prepare a five to seven minute original speech. The speech must have an opening, body and conclusion and not be an act or monologue (series of one-liners). GENERAL PROCEDURE Contestants draw their speaking position with the contest Chairman before the contest begins.
There will be one minute of silence between contestants, during which time the Judges will mark their ballots. Contestants may remain in the same room throughout the contest.
The judges’ decision is final.
Contestants who speak for less than four minutes 30 seconds or more than seven minutes 30 seconds will be disqualified. Time will begin with the first word uttered by the contestant. However, should the contestant engage in definite non-verbal communication with the audience (including the playing of music or other sound effects, a staged act by another person, etc.) prior to speaking, the Timer shall activate the timing device at that point. If this results in the contestants going overtime, the contestant will be disqualified.
Table Topics Contest PURPOSE · To provide an opportunity to learn by observing speakers who have benefited from their Toastmasters training. · To encourage development of impromptu speaking skills and to recognise the best as encouragement to all. TOPICS All contestants shall receive the same topic, which shall be of a general nature, and shall speak for between one and two minutes on that topic. The topic shall be of reasonable length, shall not require a detailed knowledge and should lead to an opinion or conclusion. GENERAL PROCEDURE Contestants draw their speaking position with the contest Chairman.
There will be one minute of silence between contestants, during which the Judges will mark their ballots. When the contest begins, all contestants except the first, shall leave the room. The topic is then read to the first contestant, who shall speak on that topic for the required time. There will be one minute of silence between contestants, during which time the Judges will mark their ballots.
The judges’ decision is final. Speeches shall be longer than a minute and shorter than 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Contestants who speak for less than one minute or more than two minutes 30 seconds will be disqualified.
Contestants can take twenty seconds to think before beginning their response. Time will begin with the contestant’s first definite verbal or non-verbal communication with the audience. This usually will be the first word uttered by the contestant, but would include any other communication such as sound effects, a staged act by another person, etc.
International Speech Contest PURPOSE · To provide an opportunity for speakers to improve their speaking abilities and to recognise the best as encouragement to all; · To provide an opportunity to learn by observing the more proficient speakers who have benefited from their Toastmasters training. SPEECH SUBJECT and PREPARATION Subject for the prepared speech shall be selected by the contestant and the speech must be original. GENERAL PROCEDURE Before the contest, contestants are briefed on the rules by the contest Chairman. Judges, Counters, and Timers are briefed on their duties by the Chief Judge. Contestants will then draw for their speaking position with the contest Chairman. Introduce each contestant by announcing:
There will be a one minute of silence between contestants, during which the Judges will mark their ballots. Contestants may remain the same room throughout the duration of the contest. In contests with five or more participants, a third place winner, second place winner, and first place winner will be announced. In contests with four or fewer participants, a second place winner and first place winner will be announced. TIMING OF THE SPEECHES Speeches will be five to seven minutes.
A contestant will be disqualified from the contest if the speech is less than four minutes 30 seconds or more than seven minutes 30 seconds.
Timing will begin with the contestant’s first definite verbal or nonverbal communication with the audience. This usually will be the first word uttered by the contestant, but would include any other communication such as sound effects, a staged act by another person, etc. Timers shall display warning signal lights to the contestants:
Evaluation Contest PURPOSE · To encourage development of evaluation skills and to recognise the best as encouragement to all. · To provide an opportunity to learn by observing the more proficient evaluators who have benefited from their training with Toastmasters. GENERAL PROCEDURE Before the contest, contestants and the contest Sergeant at Arms are briefed on the rules by the contest Chairman. Judges, Counters and Timers are briefed on their duties by the Chief Judge. Contestants will then draw for their speaking position with the contest Chairman. At the beginning of this contest a five to seven minute test speech will be presented. The test speech should be either a contest-type speech, or taken from one of the assignments in the basic Communication and Leadership Program manual. Contestants may make preparatory notes during the test speech using materials of their choice. It is recommended that at all levels of the contest, the Toastmaster giving the test speech is not a member of the same Club as any one of the contestants. The test speaker shall be introduced by announcing the speaker's name, speech title, speech title, the speaker's name. Neither the manual nor any objectives that the speaker may have shall be made known to the contestants, Judges or audience. At the conclusion of the test speech, all contestants shall leave the room. They then have five minutes to prepare their evaluation using materials of their choice. After five minutes has elapsed, no further preparation shall be allowed and with the exception of the first contestant, who shall be called back as first evaluator, all others shall hand all written material to the contest Sergeant at Arms. Preparation material shall be handed back to the contestants as they are called to present their evaluation. Introduce each contestant by announcing the contestant's name twice. There will be one minute of silence between contestants, during which the Judges will mark their ballots. Announcement of contest winners is final. TIMING Evaluations shall be from two to three minutes. Contestants who speak less than one minute 30 seconds or more than three minutes 30 seconds will be disqualified. Timing will begin with the contestant’s first definite verbal or non-verbal communication with the audience. This usually will be the first word uttered by the contestant, but would include any other communication such as sound effects, a staged act by another person, etc.
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Club Contests |