The No. 1 Fear!!! Argh!

At the Allan Pease's talks, organised by Toastmastmers in Singapore, I was somewhat taken aback to learn that the No. 1 fear in England is the fear of public speaking!! If the British found it frightening to speak in front of an audience in their own mother tongue, how about people like us in Asia where English is not our mother tongue.

I wonder if the founder of Toastmasters had realised that people are by nature, terrified of public speaking, and hence, came up with ideas and methods to help train members to speak. As my Vice President for Education, Vanessa Yong, had said, "Toastmasters offer you the most comprehensive as well as the most economical way of improving your language, both spoken and written. For S$200/- a year, you can visit clubs 365 times a year if you have the time everyday. That works out to be about 55 cents a day!!! Or it translates into $16.66 a month. Some people pay $500/- a month for twice a week of 2 hours of English Language tuition!

Also Toastmasters' activities help us to polish up our social and leadership skills as we take responsibility for various appointments in club activities.

When we have to prepare speeches for different projects, it motivates us to push ourselves to craft our speech and to rehearse it effectively. Table topics also enable us to think on our feet and speak off the cuff.

All our members would tell you that they have improved since Day One of joining the club. Now that I know that speaking in public is the No. 1 fear, all the more I want to conquer this fear and excel in it.

If any readers in Singapore wish to know about Toastmasters' activities, please let me know. Will refer you to a club that is nearest your home.

Let's toast to Public Speaking!!

Gan Chau