Tír na nÓg Toastmasters The Hague

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Tír na nÓg Toastmasters The Hague

Toastmasters club Tír na nÓg The Hague can help you improve your public speaking skills. Then Tír na nÓg Toastmasters The Hague is perfect for you!

Everybody is welcome to drop in and sample a meeting both online and offline (please register first) “LIFE BEGINS at the end of your comfort zone.”

– Is the fear of public speaking limiting your career?
– Do you have a speech or presentation soon and you want to know how to blow your audience away?
– Are you a budding public speaker and do you want to learn the skills to take you to the top? Welc

ome!:
We are an internationally oriented Toastmasters club who meet in the beautiful city centre of The Hague. We have our home at the Koorenhuis (room 2.07), next to the Grote Markt, where we meet every 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday of the month. We also host hybrid meetings where members and guests can join both online or at the Koorenhuis. Our club is a great place to be if you want to improve your public speaking skills, communication or leadership skills. Especially because you’ll be doing it with friendly, like-minded people. We’re open to anyone interested. Of course, members of other Toastmaster clubs are also more than welcome to join our meetings. An evening at our club:
In a typical club meeting there will be ten to fifteen people willing to challenge themselves in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Members give prepared speeches on every possible subject. Cricket, personal challenges, creativity, we have it all! These speeches are evaluated by other members so the speaker can improve his or her skills. You may very well be asked to answer a question out of the blue at the table topics or impromptu speaking. Visiting a club is an exciting first step in reaching your goals. There’s no need to feel pressure to participate at your first club meeting – all members experience some nerves – you can simply observe if you wish. After the meeting, you may join some of us for drinks at a pub nearby or for virtual drinks. Please feel free to visit one of our meetings to experience how our Toastmasters learn and improve their skills in a fun and effective way (please register via the form below or on Easyspeak). A little bit of history:
Our English speaking club was founded in 2012 by Toastmasters with Irish roots. They wanted the club’s name to refer to an old Irish tale Tír na nÓg, which title is best translated as ‘the land of eternal youth, beauty, health, abundance and joy’. Our Irish roots can also be found in the club’s motto: “Caint, Craic agus Cúpla focail”: to speak, have fun and share a few words…

For more information and/or registration, contact us via the contact form. Don’t hesitate to join a meeting. Come check out the warm atmosphere for yourself!

“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”

– Jerry Seinfield

11/01/2022

How Toastmasters can help you ace your next job interview!

A Toastmasters evening consists of two parts – prepared speeches and Table Topics. Whilst the reason for many to join Toastmasters is to improve your public speaking of prepared speeches, perhaps the greater benefit to everyday situations, such as at work or interviews, comes in the Table Topics section.

The section works like this – the leader (or Table Topics master) has prepared questions in advance, and will choose random people to immediately answer the question, and these need to be answered for between 1-2 minutes. The person answering the question has no idea in advance of the question. This individual gets up in front of the audience, is asked a question, then is given a few seconds to formulate an extensive and methodical answer. This is daunting for even the most experienced Toastmaster!

An example could be:

Table Topics Master: Laurine, please come up to the front.
Laurine walks up.
TTM: Laurine, please talk for 1-2 minutes on an experience with a difficult colleague and how you resolved it.
Laurine thinks for a few seconds and responds.

Topics each meeting will range from fun to challenging to keep you on your toes!

Learning how to handle calmly being put on the spot and gather your thoughts to come up with a strong response is a skill few have mastered in the workplace. Interviews are a perfect example of this – you have no knowledge in advance of the questions the interviewer will ask so being able to handle calmly the responses and give a great answer that is neither too long or too short leaves a great impression. Interviewees often respond with answers that are far too long for an interviewer, or too short – 1-2 minutes is the perfect length.

From personal experience, I have had significantly more success at interviews since joining Toastmasters. When I first joined the club, I tried to avoid Table Topics, hoping the Master wouldn’t ask me to come forward – however now I embrace being asked. The more you put yourself on the spot, the better you will be when it matters such as an interview – practice makes perfect.

We meet every two weeks on a Tuesday at the Koorenhuis in the centre of the Hague, in room 2.07 on the second floor. We are an international and sociable group, and go for a drink in the bar after the meeting to get to know each other better.

Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join the meeting!

09/11/2021

The new girl (or guy)!

Many of us have made life-changing decisions and moved to a new place, whether it’s not too far from where you’ve been previously or the other side of the world. There could be many reasons for this move – perhaps a family decision to settle somewhere for the local schools, or a work-placement in a foreign land for a set time period, or even you felt like trying something new – because why not, you only live once!

One of the biggest challenges of moving to a new location is that you may not know anyone, or very few people, and so may wish to meet new people and make new friendships. Even the most outgoing extrovert finds it nervous and challenging to make new acquaintances so how do you best do it? One key thing to remember is that a lot of people you will meet have done exactly what you are trying to do now! They will have moved to this place for the first time and had to meet new people, so they will be more than delighted to welcome you into their lives. So don’t be scared!

Here are a few ways you could meet people:

1 – volunteer in the local community. This is also a great way to meet people with similar interests to you.

2 – host a party. Invite neighbours or others for a great chance to get to know people better in a fun surrounding (always best with a glass of wine!)

3 – join a sports team / local club – again great for interest-sharing whether it’s books, football, dancing or whatever you love doing.

4 – advertise a language exchange – a great way to learn to speak like a local while offering your mother-tongue to someone who may be learning your language. And you get to spend some quality time with new people as well!

Once you’ve found your way into the community, how can you best introduce yourself and break the ice with these new people? As in Toastmasters, practice makes perfect – once you’ve found the best way for you to introduce yourself, you’ll feel confident and comfortable with any new people in the future.

1 – Introduce yourself – “Hi! I’m David” and follow up with a question. Start with a question that has a limited answer after which you can follow with one that leads to a longer discussion. For example, do you live around here? Why did you choose to live in that area? Or what do you do for a living? Why did you choose this career? People love talking about themselves so let them talk!

2 – Compliment and smile – don’t exaggerate the compliment, and follow up with a question.

3 – Drop a funny or spontaneous comment. Then you can introduce yourself and follow up with questions.

4 – Fish for common areas of interest which you can build on.
The key is to not be afraid, and always follow up with questions to learn about the people you are meeting. Some people you may have a connection with, whereas others perhaps less. But the hard-work and putting yourself out there will succeed and you will make exciting and lengthy new friendships!

Taking the first hurdle and telling us all about themselves in their Icebreaker speech on Tuesday 16th of November at 7.15pm in Tir Na nOg Toastmasters The Hague will be Shagufta Shah and Romana Richards. Guests are more than welcome to join us!

We meet every two weeks on a Tuesday at the Koorenhuis in the centre of the Hague, in room 2.07 on the second floor. We are an international and sociable group, and go for a drink in the bar after the meeting to get to know each other better.

Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join the meeting!

26/10/2021

Writer's block!

Have you ever struggled to start an important speech or presentation? You know that once you get a good idea and get started you'll be in the flow and succeed but it's taking you ages to know how and where to get started. The term for this is writer's block, and most people will suffer from this at some point. So how do we get over this hurdle?

Before we get to the solutions, let's understand the causes.

The most common causes are:
1 - Perfection - Most people want to make a great speech or a great presentation, so you're constantly waiting for 'the one' idea that will take you to greatness. And as a result you don't start until late, and the vicious circle of delays and time pressure add to the problem.
2 - Fear - so many people may see and hear your speech, do you really want to put yourself under this much scrutiny?
3 - Time - you just don't have the time to dedicate to writing and so may avoid this challenge altogether.

Now we know the causes, let's understand the potential solutions!

There is sadly no single solution to this, but experienced writers have come up with the following ideas:
1 - Exercise - this reduces stress and focuses the mind, while increasing productivity.
2 - Change of scene / go for a walk - this will allow you to clear your head.
3 - Turn off phone or other distractions - let others know not to disturb you!
4 - Make some more coffee.
5 - Brainstorm ideas in bullet points - perhaps a great idea will come from it.

On the 2nd of November, experienced and division-winning Toastmaster Brit Hopmann will visit our club for tips on how to write successful speeches.

We meet every two weeks on a Tuesday at the Koorenhuis in the centre of the Hague, in room 2.07 on the second floor. Feel free to join us as a guest (no cost!) on the 2nd of November at 7.15pm.

Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join the meeting!

29/09/2021

Have you ever left a conversation or disagreement with someone important and thought to yourself “I wish I had said that!” or “I wish I would have said that differently!” In the heat of the moment, being able to get your points across well is not an easy skill to obtain, often with limited time to think or keep emotions under check. This skill can be acquired by practicising debating skills, which we at Tir Na nOg Toastmasters The Hague will do on Tuesday evening, the 5th of October.

While you may not engage in a debate every single day, you will likely get into differences of opinion and small disagreements on an almost-daily basis.

What are the benefits of debating skills in everyday life:

1. Improve Critical Thinking Skills - critical thinking is the ability to make well thought out and reasoned arguments while also questioning the evidence behind a particular conclusion or stance. It will also teach you to be humble – you cannot be right all of the time!
2. Articulate your thoughts - The ability to articulate and plan your thoughts is key in debating, producing a well- planned out and sharp argument.
3. Think on your feet - Think outside of the box, challenge your opponent and be ready to identify any loopholes in their counter-argument. In fact, the ability to think on your feet could stand you in good stead in any situation which life throws at you, when time is of the essence and a decision needs to be made fast.
4. Keep your emotions in check - A good debater will also remember to retain an element of poise and composure – addressing the issue rather than getting carried away emotionally. It is no easy skill to manage, but will gain you respect in every walk of life.
5. Construct meaning out of complex situations - Taking the time to research the subject and carefully construct the points you want to make will help you construct a better argument. Thinking outside of the box and making the best of a bad situation are excellent traits to have, meaning you are prepared and ready to take on any challenge, no matter what the size.

We meet every two weeks on a Tuesday at the Koorenhuis in the centre of the Hague, in room 2.07 on the second floor. Feel free to join us as a guest (no cost!) on the 5th of October at 7.15pm.

Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join the meeting!

30/06/2021

Perfect your speaking in tough situations here! (Both In Person and online)

We all talk in important situations - perhaps in a meeting, or at an interview, or a family gathering. But have you ever had feedback on what you've said? The positive and the negative - wouldn't it be great for people to say "Wow, that person knows how to speak!" At Toastmasters we can help you get these skills - in fact, every meeting you will get a chance to speak and improve!

Tir Na nOg Toastmasters The Hague will return on the 6th on July in the Koorenhuis in the Hague centre and online via Zoom. Feel free to join us as a guest (no cost!) on Tuesday the 6th of July at 7.15pm!

Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join the meeting!

12/06/2021

sdrawkcaB meeting in the park! Everything is backwards!

Have you ever tried a meeting backwards? Perhaps start with answers to questions, followed by the questions, then the presentation?

On the 22nd of June Toastmasters will meet in Clingendael for an evening of mayhem and craziness - everything will be backwards!! We will start with with the evaluations of the speeches, then the speeches, and then the table topics answers with the questions afterwards. If this sounds insane then you are right ... this is exactly what will happen!

All guests will have a chance to speak and get involved in the mad evening - practice your public speaking skills in a safe and friendly environment, learning how to give presentations, respond perfectly at interviews and other skills you need for every day life.

Feel free to join us as a guest (no cost!) on Tuesday the 22nd of June at 7.15pm!

Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join the meeting!

23/04/2021

After another hugely fun evening on the 20th of April, with everyone (even guests) getting a chance to speak and practice talking on the spot in the fun table topics session, and after an incredible first speech by Tess and a profound speech by Laurine, Tir Na nOg Toastmasters The Hague will return on the 4th of May. Practice your skills whether it's at work, an impromtu toast or any occasion, Toastmasters is the perfect preparation! Feel free to join us as a guest (no cost!) on Tuesday the 4th of May at 7.15pm!

Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join the zoom meeting!

13/03/2021

On the 16th of March at 7.15pm, Tir Na Nog Toastmasters The Hague will host its next exciting evening. There'll be a speech from an high-quality member, as well as a speech from a very special guest. As always, we'll have many opportunities for all guests and members to take part in the course of the evening. Toastmasters is recognised worldwide as THE place to be to improve your leadership skills and master being a public speaker and amazing colleagues, friends and family.

It's free to come along as a guest to try out as many times as you wish!

We are a small club which brings many opportunities for gaining experience in meetings and allows all of the club members to develop their speaking skills further. 😊

👉 SIGN UP - Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join a meeting!

24/02/2021

On the 2nd of March at 7.15pm, fresh from the area competition where the club finished in the top two in every category, Tir Na Nog Toastmasters The Hague will host its next exciting evening. There'll be a speech from an experienced and exceptional speaker, and we'll also many opportunities for all guests and members to take part in the course of the evening. Toastmasters is recognised worldwide as THE place to be to improve your leadership skills and master being a public speaker and amazing colleagues, friends and family.

It's free to come along as a guest to try out as many times as you wish!

We are a small club which brings many opportunities for gaining experience in meetings and allows all of the club members to develop their speaking skills further. 😊

👉 SIGN UP - Send an email to [email protected] if you wish to join a meeting!

This meeting will take place on Zoom.

21/02/2021

Area Competition Results:
Congratulations to the Tir na nOg Toastmasters The Hague team for finishing in the top two places across the board in all competitions!! Karin finished in first place in the Dutch Evaluation competition, as well as second in each of the Dutch Speech and English Evaluation competitions. Lutz finished first in the French Evaluation competition, David finished first in the French Speaking competition, and Laurine finished second in the English speaking competition. A club of true excellence!! Those who won will advance to compete in the South Holland region on the 27th of March. Well done all!

Sign up for a meeting every second Tuesday by sending an email to [email protected]! Check the link below for the zoom link!
https://www.meetup.com/tir-na-nog-toastmasters.../events/

Adres

Koorenhuis, Room 2. 07, Prinsegracht 27
The Hague
2512EW

Openingstijden

19:30 - 21:00

Website

https://toastmasters.nl/clubs/tir-na-nog

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