Is Toastmasters worth it?

[ysk1]

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Does it help?

My poor communication skills put me at a great, great disadvantage when it comes to anything involving people interaction. They will also make it difficult for me to fully express and sell myself during interviews.
Also, I feel like I'm squeezed into a tin can the whole time I'm around new people.
I'm hoping that those with toastmaster experience can give some feedbacks on it.

Thanks!

 

[mave]

Toastmasters might be good. Really, anything that pushes you to move beyond your comfort zone is going to help you with your interviews. It's something that takes practice!

 

[emquiksilver]

I would suggest checking out their website's free resources first. There might be something worth reading in there. It seems like people are sometimes too eager to buy help. Also, have you tried volunteering? It's free and it's a great way to meet and work with new people. Just find something that involves people interaction. It'll take care of your clinical experience too if you do it in a relevant setting.

 

[TRAMD]

What the heck is Toastmasters? Do I have to drink the Kool-aid?

 

[LikeClockWork]

What the heck is Toastmasters? Do I have to drink the Kool-aid?

It's a group focused on developing/building public speaking skills. It's a way to practice being comfortable speaking in front of crowds and the like.

 

[neuro1617]

how about an oral comm class?

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Does it help?

My poor communication skills put me at a great, great disadvantage when it comes to anything involving people interaction. They will also make it difficult for me to fully express and sell myself during interviews.
Also, I feel like I'm squeezed into a tin can the whole time I'm around new people.
I'm hoping that those with toastmaster experience can give some feedbacks on it.

Thanks!

Rx: ETOH

 

[ysk1]

Rx: ETOH

What does that mean?

 

[emquiksilver]

hahaha nice one QM

he's prescribing alcohol

 

[GoldShadow]

Toastmasters? That sounds like such an awesome name.

Rulers of the bread... barons of butter, and kings of the toaster... they are, the Toast Masters.

 

[TRAMD]

It's a group focused on developing/building public speaking skills. It's a way to practice being comfortable speaking in front of crowds and the like.

Then consider me "The Toastmaster"

 

[ysk1]

Can Toastmasters also serve as a good EC? It's possible that some med school interviewers will bring this up during interviews, right?

 

[ysk1]

One more thing: Can Toastmasters improve your ability to talk impromptuly, off the cuff, without absolutely no preparation?

 

[jr doctor in sd]

One more thing: Can Toastmasters improve your ability to talk impromptuly, off the cuff, without absolutely no preparation?

to practice for job interviews, etc. (which id guess are similar to med ones) i always have my friends quiz me and act like complete jerks - it helps sooo much you have no idea.

say they interviewed me to work at the hospital. theyd ask why i want to. n then be like that seems a little underqualified dont u think? then theyd say well we have alot of offers why YOU? and just keep attacking me with hard Qs - you'll find that if you're able to do that a couple times youll come up with good fast responses to shut them up haha

 

[coffeebythelake]

Does it help?

My poor communication skills put me at a great, great disadvantage when it comes to anything involving people interaction. They will also make it difficult for me to fully express and sell myself during interviews.
Also, I feel like I'm squeezed into a tin can the whole time I'm around new people.
I'm hoping that those with toastmaster experience can give some feedbacks on it.

Thanks!

I joined Toastmasters for a year and it helped a lot, especially dealing with unexpected questions.

 

[Auron]

One more thing: Can Toastmasters improve your ability to talk impromptuly, off the cuff, without absolutely no preparation?

It will improve confidence, so in a way yes.

I did speech (extemp and impromptu mostly, some debate) throughout high school and now college and I have competed on the national level. Being able to do impromptu well also helps tremendously in high pressure situations (like making an unexpected speech or dealing with an emergency). It's the whole thought process that you develop that helps here. Also, you'll improve your posture, gestures (body language) and articulation of speech.

When you can give a great 7 minute speech on a totally random topic in under a minute of prep time...its just an awesome feeling. Definitly check out toastmasters, they'll help you with your problems and improve your confidence.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

One more thing: Can Toastmasters improve your ability to talk impromptuly, off the cuff, without absolutely no preparation?

i seriously doubt it...you just have to train yourself to be more social. toastmaster might do the trick for some people but its nothing terribly special.