LE @ KATONG TOASTMASTERS CLUB 26 JUN 2025

  
RHETORICAL DEVICE OF THE MONTH

ALLITERATIVE TRIAD

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in two or more nearby words,

such as “gentle giant” or “decadent desserts.”

Alliteration gives an air of musicality to our words and makes them more memorable.

Household brands like Coca-Cola, Krispy Kreme, Dunkin' Donuts, PayPal and TikTok

all use alliteration and the repetition of sounds in their names to increase brand recall.

A triad is a group or set of three related things.

Alliterative Triad is a group of three words beginning with the same sounds.

For example:

The speaker was cool, calm and collected.

We join Toastmasters to upgrade, upskill and upsoar! 

https://katongtoastmasters.blogspot.com/2015/07/3-tips-on-using-alliterative-triads_12.html

USES OF ALLITERATIVE TRIADS 

1) We speak with passion, purpose and persuasion.

2) Along the way, we may have fumbled, faltered and failed.

3) We want to be a club with vision, vigour and vibrancy.

4) Let's stay committed, stay constant and stay connected.

5) Pixel, people and purpose

6) Speed, scale and structure

7) The Mouse, the Man and the Magic

8) His patience, passion and perseverance helped him to succeed

9) The speaker was engaging, enlightening and enthusiastic.

10) We want to connect, collaborate and have contest winners!

BRICKBATS

GRAMMAR

1) It do come with problems => It does come with problems.

2) Her name was Rosie  => Her name is Rosie.

3) They prepare on it => They prepared it / They prepared for it.

4) We must ask ourself => We must ask ourselves

VOCABULARY

1) I would like to question everyone => I would like to ask everyone

2) What do we do in a digital?  => What do we do in a digital world/age?

3) more space to do your speech  => more space to present your speech

4) keep continuing to come back => keep coming back / continue to come back

5) gone off timing => went overtime

6) early of March => early March

7) blow me like wow  => I was blown away! /  I was wowed

PRONUNCIATION (from Dictionary.com)

1) natural  [nach-er-uhl, nach-ruhl]

2) perseverance [pur-suh-veer-uhns]

3) deliver [dih-liv-er]

4) Dubai [doo-bahy] 

5) cuisine [kwi-zeen]

6) fact [fakt]

BOUQUETS

ALLITERATION

1) with screenshares, not smiles

2) need not just systems, but a soul

3) despair and distress

4) disappointed and dejected

5) Mortimer Mouse / Mickey Mouse

6) smashing success

7) he was a dreamer, a doer

8) we ask for your forbearance and forgiveness

TRIADS

1) We need to have emotions, intentions and trust

2) he was an animator, an entrepreneur and a visionary

3) step up, sink in and shine

4) motivate, facilitate and coach

5) featuring well-being, sustainability and innovation

PARALLEL STRUCTURE

1) We need to not just manage the projects, but to humanize the process.

2) He had big dreams, big hopes.

VOCABULARY

1) We can use rhetorical devices to beautify our language.

2) One week later, she bounced back.

LE @ TAMPINES CHANGKAT ENGLISH TOASTMASTERS CLUB 26MAY2025

BRICKBATS

GRAMMAR

1) she hold my hand => she held my hand

2) I become an Area Director  => I became an Area Director

3) I try my best to help them => I tried my best to help them

4) She bring a gift with her => She brought a gift with her

NOTE: 

use past tense when telling a story that happened in the past

VOCABULARY

1) I decided to join yingwei... => I decided to join because ...

2) I'm feeling under the blanket  => ...under the weather

3) make the project success  => make the project successful 

4) Today I'm doing an Icebreaker => Today I'm presenting an Icebreaker speech

5) clap hands generously => please clap enthusiastically

6) composureness => composure

7) he got the independence of the country => he helped India to gain independence

8) very good emotions => positive emotions

9) it is good to lie => sometimes it's essential / imperative to lie to keep peace

10) this will make your speech even more better => will make your speech more impactful

PLURAL/S

1) Toastmaster club => Toastmasters Club

2) one of the Toastmaster => Toastmasters

3) it has been many month => months

4) sometime => sometimes

PRONUNCIATION (from Dictionary.com)

1) asked [askt]

2) anything [en-ee-thing]

BOUQUETS

ALLITERATION

1) pixels, people, purpose

2) prepared speeches and presentations

3) important and integral

4) pleasure and pressure

5) outgoing and outspoken

6) piecemeal progress

7) calmness and composure

METAPHORS

1) baby steps

2) butterflies in my stomach

TRIAD

1) quiet, shy and timid

2) my hands were shivering, my heart was palpitating, my legs were shaking

3) I implore you, I encourage you, I ask of you

(note: even better if we exchange the first and last verbs so that the tone increases in intensity:

I ask of you, I encourage you, I implore you)

DREAM CHASERS

Opening Address 15 May 2025 Katong TMC 20th Anniversary Celebration Chapter Meeting

Dreams are the spark that ignites the fire of possibility within us. They remind us that life is full of potential but our self-limiting beliefs often stop us from pursuing our dreams. When we dream, we open ourselves to new ideas, new perspectives, and new opportunities.

This month I fulfilled my dream of cycling round the island of Taiwan. It was an epic adventure of 900km over 9 days enjoying Taiwan's natural beauty and magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean as we rode along the coast. There were 38 riders, mostly in their 50s and 60s. We call ourselves the dream chasers because it was the dream of our team leader Voon to take on such a challenge 12 years ago but he never had the chance until now. 

As for me, my girlfriends had invited me to join them on a similar trip in 2023 but I was unable to. I lived the amazing adventure vicariously through their Facebook updates and had been yearning to go on this adventure ever since. When the opportunity availed itself last year, I jumped at the chance. 

One of the riders Cheng sustained a fall and fractured his hip in December last year. As a result, he had to withdraw from the trip. After surgery and 3 months of rehab, he managed to recover well enough and with the approval of the surgeon and the support of his wife, he returned to the group in April and completed the cycling trip with his wife. Though he walks with a limp, once he's on the saddle, he's as fast as the wind and as steady as any of the other able riders. What an inspiration! 

I have found 3Ps to be essential in the pursuit of my dreams: passion, perseverance and people! Passion is that strong feeling of excitement and enthusiasm that will fuel our motivation to move forward and take action. 

Perseverance is the determination to never give up and to overcome the setbacks, obstacles and challenges that we face.

People who share our interests and passion is what we need to create a community of dreamers. When we connect with the right people, things happen! 

There are dream chasers all around us! Are you one of them? Ida is. In August last year, she took up ballroom dancing. With her dedicated practice and the encouragement of her coach, she took part in several competitions and started winning medal after medal! Can you visualize our elegant Ida gliding gracefully on the dance floor in glitz and glamour? She is a novice but was placed first runner-up in the recent Asian Dance Tour in Taiwan among many professional dancers. What an inspiration! ✨ 

As for Katong Toastmasters Club, our strength has ebbed and flowed through the years but we've always come through as a team. 20 years is a huge milestone for us. I am grateful for the community of learners who have here, not just in Katong TMC but also from all other clubs. Tonight we're so privileged to have Richard, Penny, Linda and William and all our guests join us to add verve and vitality to our club's 20th Anniversary Celebration. It is my hope and desire for Katong TMC to grow from strength to strength as we embark on our 21st year! 

No matter how big or small our dreams may seem, let's hold on to them.  Because when we chase our dreams, we not only transform our own lives but also inspire others to do the same. Let's be daring and dauntless dream chasers together! 

"If you can dream it, you can do it." - Walt Disney 

LE @ Katong Toastmasters Club 21 March 2024

 Word of the Day

iridescent (adjective)

showing many bright colours that change with movement, or having many bright colours in the same place (from Cambridge Dictionary)

Example:
We were delighted by the sight of iridescent flowers dancing in the wind.

Uses of Word of the Day

Emi: "It will make the world iridescent with both men and women"

Ida: "iridescent fish"

Yau Hong: "iridescent women all around the world"

Komathi: "Women are iridescent"

Lee Min: "wardrobe of iridescent clothes", "iridescent experiences in the Toastmasters journey"

BRICKBATS

VOCABULARY

1) She's doing the Persuasive Influence Level 4 => She's presenting a project from the Pathway Persuasive Influence Level 4

2) We are different person => We have different personalities.

3) Suren is 6 minutes => Suren spoke for 6 minutes

4) She administer me and my sister => She took care of my sister and me

5) It's a good speech => It's an informative / witty / impactful speech

GRAMMAR

1) in all the things she do => In all the things she does

2) It will be include in my speech later => It will be included in my speech later

3) Men is stronger than women => Men are stronger than women

4) My strength lied in ... => ... my strength lay in ... 

NOTE: 

#1 lie, lay, lain 

#2 lie, lied, lied 

#3 lay, laid, laid

For more on this, click here 

5) before the bell ring => before the bell rings

6) in what he do => in what he does

PLURAL

1) When we listen to the story => stories

2) to build my muscle => muscles

3) can I have the objective please => objectives

4) why are you asking me all these question => questions

5) I have 5 topic => topics

6) Good evening, fellow toastmaster => toastmasters

PRONUNCIATION (from Dictionary.com)

1) snippet [snip - it]

2) banana [buh- nan - uh]

3) woman [woo-muhn] vs women [wim-in]

4) quote [kwoht]

BOUQUETS

ALLITERATION

1) smile like sunshine in her soul

2) keep up and kick out

3) to dare is to do

4) practice make perfect

5) reflect and redefine

6) paint a picture

SIMILES

1) Life can be seen as pieces of garments in a wardrobe.

2) I feel like a fish who has been asked to put on running shoes.

METAPHORS

1) Women are made of water.

2) I am going to Marie Kondo my identity wardrobe.

3) She was more John Lennon, I was more Paul McCartney.

4) They are swashbucklers.

RHYME

1) biologically, mentally and physically

2) expressed to impress

ABBREVIATION

1) Use of ABC for conflict resolution:  Active listening, Blame no one, Compromise

Language Evaluation @ Cairnhill CC Toastmasters Club 24Jan2024

 Word of the Day

unruffled (adjective)

calm, not emotionally upset or agitated; steady; unflustered (from Dictionary.com)

Example:
He became all excited, but she remained unruffled.

Uses of Word of the Day

Zhong Jie: "I'll try to unruffle myself." ("I shall try to remain unruffled.")

Eula: "I'm sure Melvin will be unruffled."

Ade: "No matter how strong the wind, you will find yourself unruffled in the journey."

Joyce: "You looked calm and unruffled."

Cecilia: "...your unruffled demeanour..."

BRICKBATS

VOCABULARY

1) Doing the Project 4  => presenting project 4

2) do a list => make a list / create a list

3) work hanging in your head => thoughts of work crowding your mind

4) can lead to feelings of guilty and stress => can lead to feelings of guilt

5) this small change can make a different => ... can make a difference

6) He will give us the speech today => He will give a speech today.

7) She has a beautiful shape => ...beautiful figure

8) I did not get all my dreams =>  I did not fulfil all my dreams

9) Zhong Jie is 6 minutes 25 seconds => Zhong Jie spoke for ...

10) emcee for Table Topics => Table Topics Master

11) progressed on to other things / I kept progressing on => progressed to other things / I kept                                                                                                 progressing

12) courageable action/next courage thing / Be courage in your life => courageous

13) We look forward to your every time evaluation => We look forward to your monthly evaluations

14) Everyone can relate to his speech, don't you? => ... can't you?

15) say a lot of jargon => use a lot of jargon

GRAMMAR

1) timeless wisdom encapsulate in the age old saying => encapsulated

2) make sure you are not running out of time => ... you do not run out of time

3) how and what can be go wrong => how and what can go wrong

4) strike them off the list once you have complete them  => ... have completed them

5) my mom and my dad was not supportive => were not supportive

PRONUNCIATION

1) procrastination 

2) deposit

3) tasks / guests

4) opportunity

5) metaphor

BOUQUETS

ALLITERATION

1) slow, sure, steady

2) switfly pass by instead of slowing down 

3) patient and persistent striving

4) get in the groove

5) perspective in life and projectory

6) amidst power and prestige

7) deadline, distraction & dismantle

SIMILE

1) running around like a chicken without a head

2) I felt like a fish out of water / felt like a sushi swimming smong sharks

3) I felt like a superstar

4) is like a tour of a butterfly farm

METAPHOR

1) navigate our journey of life

2) crypto is digital gold

3) I just started the wine marathon

4) saw UFO in her food

5) jellyfish hand

6) injected humour

RHYME

1) gap between our intention and our action

2) engaging and intriguing

CONTRAST

1) Making the invisible visible

2) People may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you make them feel

3) big wins, small wins

4) little steps, big leap

VOCABULARY

1) revolutionize our market

2) seared in my memory

3) polyglot (= someone who knows several languages)

LE @ KATONG TOASTMASTERS CLUB 20 OCT 2022

Word of the Day

frivolous (adjective)

characterized by lack of seriousness or sense (from Dictionary.com)

Example:
Sometimes we need to be frivolous to have fun.

Uses of Word of the Day

Fook Tiang: "You're not frivolous, you're serious."

Mohammad: "It's definitely not frivolous."

Sreeram: "Be meticulous or frivolous"

Raj: "Halloween was considered to be frivolous."

Yau Hong: "Is he frivolous or is he serious?"

BRICKBATS

VOCABULARY

1) I'm going to ask you guys a question. => I'm going to ask everyone a question.

2) Get sh*t done => Get things done.

3) kiasu => overly competitive

4) in the letter "purpose" => using the acronym "purpose"

5) which are the main point you want to prove => which is the main point you want to share

6) focus on less stories => focus on fewer stories

7) garang gabok => all in a mess

8) who likes to make young friends =>  who likes to make friends with everyone

GRAMMAR

1) I will get out myself out of the bed => I will get out of bed/ I will jump out of bed.

2) I did property agent => I was a property agent.

3) Two types of people can work with => Two types of people we like to work with

4) I am the kid who went to Disneyland and fall down => ... and fell down

5) what speaker speak => what the speaker said

PRONUNCIATION

1) Halloween [hal -uh - ween]

2) memorable [mem - er -uh -buhl]

3) comfortable [kuhmf - ter - buhl]

BOUQUETS

ALLITERATION

1) done and dusted

2) setbacks, sadness and struggles

3) overwhelmed and overstressed

4) head, heart and hands

5) plan, prepare, present and be present

6) wishes come true, witches come through

7) Halloween Horror night

8) horrible and horrific

METAPHOR

1) ashes of his failure

2) diving in the mythical world of Hogwards

RHYME

1) yay or nay

2) near and dear to him

3) impression and inspiration

4) sunny or funny

CONTRAST

1) It's easy to speak, difficult to stop.

2) not in our sleep, not in real life, but in the cinema and in our imagination

PUN

Why is the skeleton always alone in a party?

Because he had no body to dance with. (LOL)

PERSONIFICATION

with my new wife... my rifle

PARALLEL STRUCTURE

so many adventures for us to explore;

so many things for us to try...

TRIAD

1) adrenaline, pump and excitement

2) Never stop fighting; never stop believing; never give up! 

LE @ SAP Toastmasters Club (Online meeting)

 

Word of the Day

buoyant (adjective) / buoy (verb)

  not easily depressed; cheerful           (from Dictionary.com)

 Example:

We felt buoyant upon hearing the news that we could dine in at restaurants again.    

Everyone was buoyed up by the good news.

    

Uses of Word of the Day:

•We feel buoyed about going out and meeting up with friends (Mukesh)

•People are buoyant when given power. (Lucy)

•You're buoyant about your aspiration to be a leader. (Indran)

•Everyone is buoyant about going outside. (Indran)

•SAP is generally very buoyant. (Natasha)

•That was a happy, buoyant speech. (Preethi)

•What an interesting, buoyant topic! (Sharon)

•I was buoyed by her speech. (Karen)

•Thanks for keeping a buoyant meeting going. (Swarna)

Brickbats

Grammar

1. How should I do? =>  What should I do? / How should I go about it?

2. Dictator is something very easy to do.  => It's easy to lead/act as a dictator.

3. How dare are you to shout at your siblings? => How dare you shout at your siblings?

4. He was 7 minutes 32 seconds. => He spoke for 7 minutes and 32 seconds.

5. He was trying to push as much things as possible. => He was trying to cram in as much information as possible.

Vocabulary

1. Come to the nearest era => As for our current era

2. We can have a very good business =>  We can create a burgeoning business.

3. All the time you just want to peace others =>  You try to avoid conflict at all times.

4. I worked for Oracle for long years. => I worked for Oracle for many years.  

5. It's a really hard job. => It's a really difficult / challenging job.

6. It's very monotone. => It's very monotonous.

Pronunciation

•developed [dih-vel-uhpt]

•deliver [dih-liv-er]

Plural

1. Toastmasters 
2. nowadays 
3. some leaders

Bouquets

Alliteration

1. lifelong learning process

2. calm and confident

Simile

1. Creativity is like any muscle in our body.

Triads

1. That requires perseverance, dedication and passion.

2. ...meet people, see people and talk to people.

“It is the hopeful, buoyant, cheerful attitude of mind that wins.

Optimism is a success builder;

pessimism an achievement killer.”

- Orison Swett Marden