LE @ Tampines Changkat TMC Online Meeting 29 OCT 2020

  Word of the Day

enigma [uh-nig-muh] (noun)

enigmatic [en-ig-mat-ik] (adjective)

    1. a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation

    2. a person of puzzling or contradictory character

    3. a saying, question, picture, etc., containing a hidden meaning; riddle

His disappearance is an engima that has given rise to much speculation.

She has a perpetually enigmatic expression on her face.                     (from Dictionary.com)

Uses of Word of the Day:

What is the secret behind this enigma? (Wendy)

The future of work is not enigmatic (Kathy)

Something enigmatic must have happened. (Wayne)

It's not an enigma that Wendy is a great story-teller. (Hyder)

It's not so enigmatic that you have... 

You gave some enigmatic expressions (Cindy)

Brickbats

Grammar

1. Our ZOOM master who have => Our ZOOM master who has

 2. We have achieve => We have achieved 

3. The statue turned alive and become his wife 

=> The statue came alive and became his wife

4. These students become the smartest in the class 

=> These students became the smartest in the class

5. Will not be qualified for the voting 

=> Will not qualify for voting / will not be eligible for voting

6. when I stand in front of the senior leaders 

=> When I stood in front of the senior leaders

7. Haven't speak for a long time => Haven't spoken for a long time

8. all the Speechcraft participants who have went through the Speechcraft program

=> all the Speechcraft participants who have gone through the Speechcraft program

9. The only thing I am scared about is cats

=> The only thing I am scared of is cats

Vocabulary

1. I felt super disappointed => I felt utterly disappointed

2. I took some day offs => I took some days off

3. I'm screwed, man! => I'm done for! 

4. What is their resistant => What is their resistance?

5. How well you guys do => How well you all do

6. If you cannot tahan => If you cannot tolerate/ exercise self-control

Sentence structure

1. Our club has been there for 28 years 

=> Our club has been around for 28 years. / Our club has been in existence for 28 years.

2. Her title of speech is  => The title of her speech is

3. Try to find the comfort in the uncomfortable 

=> Try to find your comfort zone in an uncomfortable situation

4. It got me puzzled a bit  => It got me a little puzzled

Pronunciation

1. deliver    [dih-liv-er]

2. opportunities [op-er-too-ni-tee]

3. continue  [kuhn-tin-yoo]

4. verbatim [ver-bey-tim]

5. Halloween [hal-uh-ween]

Plural

1. Tampines Changkat Toastmasters  / Table Topics 

2. psychologists / guests  / interests

3. stakeholders / executives

4. share your experiences  / two choices

Bouquets

Alliteration

1. hit me hard

2. crafting and communication

3. sweet spot

4. empowerment and engagement

5. squishy and soft

Simile / Metaphors

1. I felt like a fish out of water (simile)

2. My career journey went pitch black (metaphor)

3. pranksters / snitches (referring to the various appointment holders)

Triads

1. Our people at TC need better flexibility, empowerment and engagement

2. resilient spirit, strength and energy

3. Your speech was interesting, exciting and engaging

4. soft, squishy and gooey matter (referring to the brain)

Vocabulary

1. epitome of dedication

Epitome refers to a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality

2. breathtaking vs breath-taking (use of PUN)

breathtaking means something so astonishing or awe-inspiring that it takes your breath away.

breath-taking means to make you lose your breath so you become breathless

Parallel structure

1. meeting by meeting... contest by contest... term by term

2. Others have said that; TC has actualized it.

3. We like you! We love you!

Contrast

1. Growth only happens when I can be comfortable in an uncomfortable situation

2. How you handle life's challenges will determine whether you break or breakthrough

Repetition

1. We are in this together, and only when we change together can we benefit from the future of work as intended.

2. If I can't slack all the way, I'll have to go all the way... all the way down  

(All the way repeated several times throughout the speech)

LE @ ACCA TMC 20 Oct 2020

 Word of the Day

equanimity [ee-kwuh-nim-i-tee] (noun)

= mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain; calmness

(from Dictionary.com)

Many office workers have accepted the new normal of working from home with equanimity.

Uses of Word of the Day:

We are able to accept the new normal with equanimity (Vincent)

Restored that equanimity (Ishnita)

Brickbats

Grammar

1. The pandemic suddenly come

=> The pandemic came upon us suddenly

2. What is something new that you have pick up this pandemic?

=> What is something new that you have picked up during this pandemic?

3. What is a memory you are most fond of from this pandemic?

=> What is a memory you are most fond of during this pandemic?

4. My friend have Thermomix => My friend has/owns a Thermomix

5. If anything go wrong => If anything goes wrong

6. It give a high comfort that... => It gives us great comfort 

Vocabulary

1. We have to used to it => We have to get used to it 

2. The effect bring to us => The effect on us

3. They do not like tension environment. => They do not like tension-filled environment. 

4. We must be encourage => We must be encouraging

5. You look good after loosing 6kg => You look good after losing 6kg

6. Need to loss more => Need to lose more

7. call of action => call to action

8. to do the evaluation => to present the evaluation

Sentence structure

1. It's been a long time didn't see you all => It's been a long time since we last met

Pronunciation

1. analytical    [an-i-li-ti-kuhl]

2. satisfaction [sat-is-fak-shuhn]

3. presentation  [prez-uhn-tey-shuhn]

4. demonstrate  [dem-uhn-streyt]

Plural

1. Table Topics Master

2. guests

3. communication styles

4. six minutes

Bouquets

Alliteration

1. inspire and influence

2. facts and figures

3. the future of finance function

4. impactful and interesting

Triads

1. inspire, influence and impact

2. We need to transform, we need to act fast and we need to do things differently

3. supported this points using statistics, data and reports

Personification

1. to make the numbers talk much better

Parallel structure

1. It is no longer the big beating the small, but the fast beating the slow. 

- Eric Pearson

LE @ NUS Alumni TMC online meeting 14/08/2020

 

Word of the Day

impassioned [ im-pash-uhnd ] adjective  [from dictionary.com]

filled with intense feeling or passion; ardent

The politician gave vent to his feelings in an impassioned speech.

Brickbats

Pronunciation

1. opportunity  [ op-er-too-ni-tee, -tyoo- ]

2. work  [ wurk ]  

3. shocked  [ shokt ]

4. fact  [ fakt ]

5. focused [ foh-kuhst ]

Plural

1. founding father(s)

2. personal example(s)

3. for all the tourist(s)

Grammar

1. When I'm in the beach => When I'm at the beach

2. Singapore do have quite a number of hiking trails => Singapore has quite a number of hiking trails

3. People who enjoys nature => People who enjoy nature

Vocabulary

1. the old syllabus => the traditional educational program

2. to come to our club meeting => to attend our club meeting

3. post the contest => after the contest or post-contest

4. I do not have as much opportunities => I do not have as many opportunities

5. Welcome back, guys and gals => Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen

Sentence structure

1. This is how we'll do the ice breaking. => This is how we'll conduct the Ice breaker session.

2. Can you pass the time to another speaker? => Please nominate the next speaker.

3. I used to to and fro => I used to visit my homeland quite often.

4. to speak on their foot => to think on their feet and speak off the cuff

5. I was voted the best table topics => I was voted the best Table Topics Speaker.

6. To do the club pride => to do the club proud

7. I went out of the mic => I moved out of the range of the mic

8. All evaluators are qualified for voting. => All evaluators are eligible for voting OR

All evaluators qualify for voting.

Bouquets

Vocabulary

1. I have a penchant for NDP songs = strong inclination, taste or liking for something

2. The vaccine has been touted as a silver bullet = a simple and seemingly magical solution to a complicated problem

Alliteration

1. relax and rejuvenate

Simile

1. shine like sunlight

Rhyme 

1. Fracture, adventure and mature

2. elegantly and confidently

Contrast

1. Find clarity in the midst of uncertainty (use of rhyming words also)

Antimetabole

(repeating a phrase in reverse order)

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." - Zig Ziglar

LE @ NUSS TMC Online Meeting on 23 Jul 2020

Word of the Day

indefatigable [ in-di-fat-i-guh-buh ] adjective  [from dictionary.com]

incapable of being tired out; not yielding to fatigue; untiring. 

The Vice President of Membership is indefatigable in her effort to recruit new members for the club. 

Brickbats

Plural

1. Toastmasters Club /  Toastmasters International

2. guests  note: [sts] is a consonant cluster and each letter should be sounded

3. these duties

4. unwanted items

Pronunciation

1. plaque [plak]

2. thank  [thangk]   

3. preparation [ prep-uh-rey-shuh n ]

4. developing [ dih-vel-uh-ping ]

5. fact  [ fakt ]

6. audience [ aw-dee-uh ns ]

Grammar

1. challenges that lies ahead => challenges that lie ahead

2. like what you see earlier => like what you saw earlier

3. though you have connect well => though you have connected well

Vocabulary

1. the multi-tasking is taking place in a lightning speed => 

the multi-tasking is taking place at lightning speed

2. make sure you’re relax => make sure you're relaxed

3. the information you shared was exhausted 

=> the information you shared was overwhelming

4. The acronym is ABC => the abbreviation is ABC
Note: An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words and pronounced as a separate word, such as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration) and scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus)

Bouquets

Vocabulary

1. the EXCO propels us to greater heights = drive/ urge onward

2. WFH conjures feelings of isolation = brings to mind

3. If you want your team to be engaged at work, you need to make your work more engaging.

Alliteration

1. personal and professional development

2. hot Korean hunks

3. pacing and pauses

Metaphor

1. I'm drowning in my sea of files.

2. Songs - the key of life

Triads

1. coax, force and pressurise

2. who, why, what (also alliteration)

3. sounds, sights and smells (also alliteration)

4. confidently, clearly and concisely (also alliteration)

Rhyme 

1. Make together better

2. involvement creates engagement

Contrast

1. When the journey gets tough, the rewards are sweeter.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao Tze

LE @ Civil Service Inspiration TMC Online Meeting 17 July 2020

Word of the Day

rejuvenate 

[from Dictionary.com]

verb (used with object), re·ju·ve·nat·ed, re·ju·ve·nat·ing.

to make young again; restore to youthful vigor, appearance, etc.:That vacation has certainly rejuvenated him.

to restore to a former state; make fresh or new again:to rejuvenate an old sofa.

1. We have revival plans to rejuvenate the club. - Linda

2. It will be an exciting phase of rejuvenation. - Linda

3. I feel rejuvenated. - Ruby

4. Let's rejuvenate the system. - Annette

Brickbats

Pronunciation

interests [consonant cluster]

genre [French zhahn-ruh] 

Vocabulary

1. I try out new recipes la. => I try out new recipes.

2. Can I get you to take over now as evaluation. => Please commence with your evaluation now. 

3. very good evaluation / good opening =>

very informative and insightful evaluation / an attention-grabbing opening

[note: try to use more specific adjectives as "good" is too general]

4. The pro thing is ... => The pros are a, b, c... OR One of the pros is ...

5. The con side is ... => The cons are a, b, c... OR One of the cons is ...

Grammar

1. Tell us something that we will get to know you better.

=> Tell us something that will allow us to get to know you better.

2. What made you change to work for Levi's?

=> Why did you decide to work for Levi's?

Bouquets

Vocabulary 

1. My heart was pounding and my hands were trembling.

=> Effective way of showing the audience that the speaker was feeling anxious instead of just telling us 

2. Laissez-faire

= a policy or attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering, 

e.g. a laissez-faire attitude to life

Alliteration (words beginning with the same sounds)

1. intrigues by local legends

2. misguided men

3. sanitized and sedated

4. studious and systematic

5. comfortable and confident

6. audience awareness

Simile 

watch them bloom like flowers

Metaphor 

1. cold prison walls stripped them of their dignity

2. These men became empty shells and mere shadows.

3. feed them a powerful diet of positive words

4. I was searching through my memory bank

5. I was hooked to your speech.

Triad (group of three words or phrases)

1. confident, capable and competent (also aliiteration)

2. heal, uplift and unite

3. intimidate, insult and infuriate (also alliteration)

Repetition 

You are part of something bigger

We are part of something bigger

Contrast

1. I walked in as a guest and walked out as a member.

2. personal life vs professional life

LE @ Cairnhill CC TMC Online Meeting 27/5/2020

WORD OF THE DAY

assiduous (adjective); 
assiduously (adverb); 
assiduousness (noun)

Meaning: 

• constant in application or effort; persevering; attentive
• e.g. an assiduous student

(from Dictionary.com)

Uses of Word of the Day

• I hope all of you will be assiduous participants. (Sean)
• We need to assiduously work at the solutions (Zaid)
• I was assiduous in class. (SK)
• I hope everyone is assiduously paying attention to the speakers. (Sean)
• We should assiduously contribute to a zero waste nation. (Eli)
• Everyone has become assiduous workers. (Anh Linh)
• We need to do this (reflect, learn, improve) assiduously. (Melvin)
• I am so impressed by the assiduousness of all the participants. (Sean)
• We need to dream assiduously. (Sean)
• Shiwah is an assiduous problem-solver. (Raymond)
• an assiduous worker (?) (Jenny)

BRICKBATS

Pronunciation

• memorable [mem-er-uh-buhl]
• Wednesday[‘wenz-dey]
• eulogy [yoo-luh-jee]
• opportunity [op-er-tyoo-ni-tee]

(from Dictionary.com)

Plural

• Toastmaster(s) Club 
• guest(s) [a consonant cluster]
• these initiative(s)
• electronic(s)
• most nation(s)

Grammar

1. to be possessed of such powers => to possess such powers

2. the chance for every of our speaker to showcase themselves
=> The chance for our speakers to showcase themselves.

3. Everyone can hear me or not? => Can everyone hear me?

4. I will ask a question to the audience. =>  I will ask the audience a question

5. 1 min is the green card, 1 and ½ minute is the amber card, 2 min is the red card
=> At the first minute, the green card will be shown, at the 1 and ½ minute mark, the orange card and at the second minute mark, the red card.

Vocabulary

1. I was a robotics lecturer before the virus
=> I was a robotics lecturer before the pandemic

2. Set up a rocket that can go to the moon
=> Build a rocket that can reach the moon

3. We can connect back to the audience
=> We can connect to the audience

4. Omitted out the information
=> omitted the information

5. I would like to hear from you guys
=> I would like to hear from all of you

6. Remember about the Newater?
=> Remember the Newater?

7. Grasping for his last breath
=> gasping for his last breath

8. always look very beauty
=> always look very beautiful

9. How we can do to help?
=> What can we do to help

10. You have a leadership way of speaking
=> You speak like a leader

11. People can see your full bodies
=> People can see your whole body

12. Hopefully to hear you again
=> I hope to hear you speak in future.

BOUQUETS

Vocabulary

1. stoked
= exhilarated, excited

2. epiphany
= a sudden, intuitive perception or insight into something, usually by some simple or commonplace experience

Alliteration

• complicated, complex, chaotic problems

• perplexed and perturbed

• sustainable and self-sufficient

• smash and slash

• deep, dark ocean

• fun and funny       

Simile

• be shapeless like water - Bruce Lee

Metaphor

• a fluid communication style that builds bridges between people

• Hammer your way to the hearts of the audience

• He was grasping for his last  breath in a deep, dark ocean

• submerged in work

Triads

• Reflect, learn and improve

• hack, smash and slash

• reduce, recycle and upcycle

• listen, learn and laugh (also alliteration)

• macho, muscular, mighty (also alliteration)

• excited, elated and enlightened (also alliteration)

• short, subtle and succinct (last two words are alliterated)

Repetition

• Connect our hearts and connect our minds

• What if the problem was a screw? What if the problem was a bolt? (also a metaphor)

• Recycle and upcycle

• Headlight, spotlight

• Forget to pick up the bill, forget to pick up the laundry, or even forget to pick up the children

• A wishbone, a backbone, a funny bone (also a triad)

LE @ Leng Kee Advanced TMC Online Meeting 20/5/2020

WORD OF THE DAY

buoyant (adjective); buoyancy (noun)

Meaning: 

• not easily depressed; cheerful
• cheering or invigorating

Uses of Word of the Day

• We’re going to have a buoyant meeting. (Patrick)
• Good buoyant Wednesday evening (Julie)
• Are you looking forward to the buoyancy in their speeches? (Patrick)
• My fats keep me buoyant in the water. (Ben)
• I stayed buoyant. (Robert)
• I enjoyed your buoyant story. (Fong Luan)
• It’s a buoyant three. (Patrick)
• It can add bounce to our buoyancy. (Wee Meng)
• All the speeches are full of buoyancy. (Rina)
• Buoyancy in my personality. I am a buoyant person (Aileen)
• I like her buoyant spirit. (Alice)

BRICKBATS

Pronunciation

• Slouched [sloucht]
• Opportunity [op-er-tyoo-ni-tee]
• Canada [‘ken-e-der]
• Japanese [jap-uh-neez]

Plural

• Toastmaster(s) Club, Toastmaster(s) journey
• house rule(s)
• themsel(ves)
• Three lesson(s)

Grammar

1. I have copy and paste => I have copied and pasted

2. Today mark the 44^th day => Today marks the 44^th day

3. When the fast pace of time greet => When the fast pace of time greets

4. me and my buddy =>  my buddy and I

5. What is your goals? => What are your goals?

6. Does your money enough? =>  Is your money enough?

7. If you can go anywhere => If you could go anywhere

8. I have went => I have gone 

9. To share all of this to them => To share all of this with them

Vocabulary

1. Blue can make people feel calm down
 => Blue can make people feel calm (or)
 => Blue can help people calm down

2. Avoiding to use electrical devices => Avoid the use of electrical devices

3. Show me raise of hands => Show me by a raise of hands

4. Can make stir up you to your work
 => Can motivate you or help you be more productive

5. My work was more technically in nature => My work was more technical in nature

6. Don’t let your wild ideas run wild => Don’t let your imagination run wild

7. will be qualified for voting => will qualify for voting (or) will be eligible for voting

8. It was very inspiration to me. => u  It was very inspiring to me.

9. Have fear to speak =>  Have fear of speaking

10. Standing on the toes and speak => Think on your feet and speak off the cuff

Spelling

Difference between Color and Colour

• Color is the spelling used in the United States. 
• Colour is used in other English-speaking countries.

BOUQUETS

Vocabulary

1. expansive wings
= having a wide range 

2. polyglot
= someone who uses several languages

Alliteration

1. awakens our awareness

2. happy and healthy

3. learn to let go

4. bounce in your buoyancy

5. not to impress but to impact

6. credentials and credible

7. not where but who you want to see

Simile

1. as if he was an irritating mosquito

Metaphor

1. mirror of silence

2.  I tried to fly under the radar

3. It must be passion that drives you

Triads

1. accept it, embrace it and make the most of it

2. creative, conceptual and logical thinking

3. Impact, voice and the aftermath

4. flats, heels and platforms

5. No amount of wishing, hoping or wanting

6. Keep learning, growing and serving in Toastmasters