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EDUCATIONAL FORUM
" The time for
action is now. It's never too late to do something."
April 2009
Evaluations - What's It All About?
Evaluations are first and foremost about being a good listener.
When you are going to be a fellow toastmaster's speech evaluator there are
some things you need to know in advance.
Check the agenda to see who you will be evaluating and then talk with
that member prior to the meeting to find out what the speaker wants you to
look for in the speech that may not be part of the formal evaluation in the
manual. For example, the toastmaster may be having a problem with
gestures and wants your advice on what to do to improve them.
Read the objectives for this particular project. The objectives are
found in a blue shaded box on the first page of each project in the
manual. These will be the objectives you will read to the members when
you are called upon to explain your function as the evaluator at the
beginning of the meeting.
When giving your evaluation it is usually good to use the sandwich
method: what was good, areas in which to improve and what was good.
Instead of using words like "bad" or "wrong", always use expressions such as
"a place where you can improve" or "to make your speech even better".
Do not use the words "critique" or "criticism". Remember, it is a
personal evaluation, not a brow beating to make the speaker feel bad or
inadequate. All evaluations should be more about praise and
should ALWAYS end on a upbeat statement. In Toastmasters, praise and
support are more conducive to improvement.
The only exception to this method is if the speaker has asked you to be
very critical for a specific reason, such as preparing for a speech contest.
If this is the case, you should make this clear when you are
explaining your role as the evaluator at the beginning of the meeting.
Be kind, be gentle, be helpful--be the evaluator you want others to be.
Kristin Gramando DTM
Agenda information Click Here
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