2010-09-13
La Fin du Temps
J'ai noté cette belle afiche, hier. Qui sait combien ça coute, des billets pour cette prestation, hein?
Vert forêt
Ce que j'aime à mon travail, c'est l'imagination des gens qui s'amusent en travaillant.
Ma collègue m'a demandé de colorer des cellules dans une table ; j'ai décidé de préciser à laquelle couleur.
Alors, la réponse m'a étonné : vert forêt !
Profitez-en !
Ma collègue m'a demandé de colorer des cellules dans une table ; j'ai décidé de préciser à laquelle couleur.
Alors, la réponse m'a étonné : vert forêt !
Profitez-en !
2010-09-11
very simple and quick question for you: who are you?
very simple and quick question for you: who are you?
2010-09-08
Toastmasters Is A Good Place For Me?
I have been flirting with the idea to become a presale specialist for some time. This presumes I have to improve my presentation skills as well as my English at all. This is why I visited one of Toastmasters's clubs in Montreal. As a guest, I may to do it three times before deciding to become a member of it.
The only difference between guests and members during the meeting is that guests have no speeches. So, I had time to evaluate what could be useful in business sense. In other words, whether it would give me what I need.
The following is not a comprehensive analysis because it would be a rash judgement to make conclusions basing on one visit. However, some points can be made.
To begin with the advantages, I have to admit that they are very well organized. As far as I can see, they have a well-structured program and a far-going schedule of future meetings.
Also, the meeting itself went smoothly: timing, opening, closing, holding the meeting at whole were perfect. All speakers were treated with respect: nobody was interrupted even in case of overtiming.
Each speech was followed by an 'expert's' evaluation of the positive aspects and points to improve.
From the other hand, such way of communicating seemed to me a bit too formal. There were not questions after presentations; however, from my point of view, this is a very important part of any public discourse.
In regard to the evaluation, I would say two things. First, it is difficult to perceive any kind of evaluation right after the presentation. You are still excited, you need some time to calm down to really understand what you are being told. During the meeting, I saw special pieces of paper for written feedbacks but they are evidently not sufficient to include all information given by the evaluator. In fact, the evaluation itself is a speech that, in turn, is meant to be evaluated. So, the evaluator tends to be more eloquent than needed because he or she is supposed to use all the time given for the evaluation. Some of them told a lot in order to motivate the speaker but missed very important points.
For example, 'the best evaluator of the meeting' (they award not speakers only but evaluators too) did not say in a direct way about the mistake made by the speaker while he was standing all the presentation between the projector and the screen so that the audience hardly could see ten percent of the screen.
(Here I need to make a side note. The toastmasters' step-by-step program of presentation skills development presumes 10 or something levels for their members. At every stage, a member is supposed to demonstrate some set of skills, be it either a capability of speaking without hints or using visuals, as it was in this case.)
I checked the level, and I was surprised because it was the level number eight! What do you think? This guy passed the grade successfully, and the expert was voted as the best evaluator of the meeting!
I noted as well the big difference in the language fluidity and clarity between native speakers and immigrants. I doubt that listening to the latters could improve my language - I am an immigrant with a strong Russian accent!
To summarize, not to be too critical, I would like to confirm that Toastmasters are indeed what they declare to be - a club for making toasts. Everybody is warmly welcomed, the ambiance is very funny (they use humor too ;) and amiable. However, I am not sure that this is a right place where I could reach my goal.
Actually, I got used to work in a more active atmosphere when the speaker and the audience really interact to each other. Also, I do not like to play other roles like evaluator, time-keeper, and so on. But I repeat, this is my first impression only. Even though I tend to trust to my intuition, I have been wrong so many times.
Anyway, I have time to make a decision, so, meanwhile, I am going to check other opportunities like special courses at universities or some kind of public speaking.
The only difference between guests and members during the meeting is that guests have no speeches. So, I had time to evaluate what could be useful in business sense. In other words, whether it would give me what I need.
The following is not a comprehensive analysis because it would be a rash judgement to make conclusions basing on one visit. However, some points can be made.
To begin with the advantages, I have to admit that they are very well organized. As far as I can see, they have a well-structured program and a far-going schedule of future meetings.
Also, the meeting itself went smoothly: timing, opening, closing, holding the meeting at whole were perfect. All speakers were treated with respect: nobody was interrupted even in case of overtiming.
Each speech was followed by an 'expert's' evaluation of the positive aspects and points to improve.
From the other hand, such way of communicating seemed to me a bit too formal. There were not questions after presentations; however, from my point of view, this is a very important part of any public discourse.
In regard to the evaluation, I would say two things. First, it is difficult to perceive any kind of evaluation right after the presentation. You are still excited, you need some time to calm down to really understand what you are being told. During the meeting, I saw special pieces of paper for written feedbacks but they are evidently not sufficient to include all information given by the evaluator. In fact, the evaluation itself is a speech that, in turn, is meant to be evaluated. So, the evaluator tends to be more eloquent than needed because he or she is supposed to use all the time given for the evaluation. Some of them told a lot in order to motivate the speaker but missed very important points.
For example, 'the best evaluator of the meeting' (they award not speakers only but evaluators too) did not say in a direct way about the mistake made by the speaker while he was standing all the presentation between the projector and the screen so that the audience hardly could see ten percent of the screen.
(Here I need to make a side note. The toastmasters' step-by-step program of presentation skills development presumes 10 or something levels for their members. At every stage, a member is supposed to demonstrate some set of skills, be it either a capability of speaking without hints or using visuals, as it was in this case.)
I checked the level, and I was surprised because it was the level number eight! What do you think? This guy passed the grade successfully, and the expert was voted as the best evaluator of the meeting!
I noted as well the big difference in the language fluidity and clarity between native speakers and immigrants. I doubt that listening to the latters could improve my language - I am an immigrant with a strong Russian accent!
To summarize, not to be too critical, I would like to confirm that Toastmasters are indeed what they declare to be - a club for making toasts. Everybody is warmly welcomed, the ambiance is very funny (they use humor too ;) and amiable. However, I am not sure that this is a right place where I could reach my goal.
Actually, I got used to work in a more active atmosphere when the speaker and the audience really interact to each other. Also, I do not like to play other roles like evaluator, time-keeper, and so on. But I repeat, this is my first impression only. Even though I tend to trust to my intuition, I have been wrong so many times.
Anyway, I have time to make a decision, so, meanwhile, I am going to check other opportunities like special courses at universities or some kind of public speaking.
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