The Global Toastmasters Resource

Table Topics are exercises in impromptu speaking.

Contents 1 What are Table Topics 2 How to run a Table Topics session. 3 Tips for Table Topic speaking 4 Practicing for a Table Topics Session 5 Table Topics Ideas

[edit] What are Table Topics

Believe it or not, you can learn and get better at impromptu speaking. This is an incredibly useful skill. The way to learn and get better is to practice. In an ideal program, clubs would run Table Topics while the evaluators are discussing the prepared assignments. If you need some ideas, check out some of our ideas!

[edit] How to run a Table Topics session.

There are usually five speakers. Each speaker speaks for one to two minutes.

Here are some basic formats for a session:

• The speaker has no time at all to prepare. The Table Topics chair gives the speaker the topic, and when the applause dies down, the speaker starts speaking and doesn't stop until the end.
• The speaker has one to two minutes to prepare. In this format, the second speaker opens his or her envelope as soon as the first speaker starts speaking. When the second person starts to talk, the third person opens the envelope, and so on.
• The speaker stands in front of the audience and receives questions (Thanks to Sara Marks for this suggestion. Check out her blog and podcast at http://ah-um-er.blogspot.com/) The questions go this way:
  • Five audience members have been given a question to ask the speaker.
  • The audience members put up their hands as if they have a question for the speaker.
  • The speaker recognises an audience member and is asked the question.
  • The speaker responds.
  • Repeat for a new speaker.

Table Topics sessions are often limited to a specific theme.

[edit] Tips for Table Topic speaking

It is a good idea to have memorized ahead of time some appropriate quotes which can be applied to almost any situation. Using them effectively will not only start your table topics speech off on a reasonably strong note, but it will also give you some time to think and develop your topic more fully.

Don't feel that you need to start speaking as soon as you are introduced. (If you do, it automatically starts the clock and you are committed). It's fine to wait a few seconds (some recommend as many as 10) to collect your thoughts before responding.

Remember that strong delivery and gestures can make the difference, particularly in higher level contests. I'd suggest that you continually volunteer to participate in table topics at each meeting when preparing for a contest, and even ask you friends to toss you some table topics questions outside of meetings to practice responding.

Remember, too, that a Table Topics response does not have to be accurate, or even truthful in any way! It doesn't even have to be an answer to the question asked, although this should only be used as a last resort if you really are at a loss.

Another technique that's fun is to expound at length about you have no idea how to answer the question. You might try explaining why you were really hoping you wouldn't be called upon or what your fears were about answering the question.

Believe it or not, another thing that can work is simply don't worry about it. Don't over think or prepare; just relax, and if you're called on, stand up and start talking. This may sound ridiculous, but sometimes worrying about it is counterproductive.

[edit] Practicing for a Table Topics Session

Table Topics is my favorite contest, but it can also be a nerve wrecker because you never know what kind of question you're going to get. Here's one way to practice for Table Topics and it works just as well for regular meetings as it does for contests:

Pick a topic out of the newspaper or something you hear on the radio (it may even be an idle thought that passes through your head) and create an instant Table Topic response. Make it a point to practice this on a daily basis.

You'll be amazed at how good you can get at it. And you'll have a backlog of material to draw on the next time you get called on! You may also find that you start to catalogue material in your mind to "save" for tabletopics.

One final piece of advice: make a point of reading the newspaper closely. There's nothing worse than being hit with a newsy table topic and you don't know what they're talking about!

[edit] Table Topics Ideas

We have a list of ideas that have worked well in the past.