Friday, July 18, 2025

LE @ KATONG TOASTMASTERS CLUB 17JUL 2025

 RHETORICAL DEVICE OF THE MONTH


SIMILES

A simile is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing

with another thing of a different kind, using "like" , "as... as" or "as if",

in order to make a description more emphatic or vivid.


For example: LIfe is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!


Women are like the Morse code - hard to decipher!


His fame as ephemeral as a shooting star.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (Proverbs 25:11)


USES OF SIMILES

1) I was perplexed like a penguin in a desert.

2) Comfort zone is like a warm, fluffy blanket.

3) I was clutching onto the agenda as if it was a security blanket.

4) It doesn't have to feel like a rocket launch, it could be like a baby giraffe trying to find its footing...

5) I was as lost as a sheep.

6) You walked through like fish in the water.

7) You were as happy as a clam.

8) Your speech was free flowing like a river.

9) The announcement was like a bolt from the blue.

10) A club without a President is like a ship without a rudder - directionless.

11) It feels like a breath of fresh air. 

BRICKBATS


GRAMMAR
1) It comes free of cost => It comes at no cost. / It is free of charge.

2) I am very curious of things.  => I am very curious about things.




BOUQUETS

ALLITERATION
1) It's a promise, it's a pact we make with ourselves.

2) We are expanding our courage and our confidence

3) pushing past your comfort zone

4) privilege and pleasure

5) clear as crystal

6) glitzy, glittery and glamorous affair

7) cosy and comfortable

8) grow and glow

Sunday, June 29, 2025

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-uhlnach-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.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

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)

Thursday, May 22, 2025

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