Speaking club changes lives of all ages

AMMAN — When Randa Shalan decided to join the Rainbow speaking club, she had reached a low point in her fight against cancer.

The former French teacher, who is now the president of the club, joined the Toasmasters club in 2012, later moving from a simple member, to treasurer and secretary. 

Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organisation that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs, according to their website.

The club was not only an opportunity for Shalan to unwind from the stresses of daily life, but also a chance to hone her leadership and communication skills, she told The Jordan Times.

“The club offers a friendly and supportive environment in which members learn to listen, practice public speaking, conduct research, feel what other members are presenting and provide constructive criticism,” she said in a recent interview.

With 40 members meeting twice a month, the club has been keen to attract  younger members, in order to help them communicate more easily and excel in their personal and professional lives, Shalan noted.

“I believe we need m ore good speakers,” she said.

Farrah Khalifeh, a housewife and mother of one, joined the club in 2015.

Speaking to The Jordan Times, the relatively new member said she used to slightly fear speaking before groups and that she would start shaking and stammering. Since she joined the Toastmasters, however, she has witnessed a gradual improvement, speech by speech.

“I now know how to better communicate my ideas and how to think quickly before I speak,” she said, adding that the new skills she learned have helped her communicate better with her daughter and within her immediate circle of family and friends. 

Although she is in her early 30s while the majority of the members belongs to older age groups, she said she did not feel an age gap thanks to the “family vibe” among the group.

“In fact, one can always ask for help and would find that everyone is willing to help,” she said.

Hiba Manna had a whole different reason for joining the group.

The 38-year-old had never had a problem with public speaking, as her experience in the marketing field for 14 years entailed her to deliver many presentations in a confident manner.

But she was eager learn how to talk about other subjects, particularly unprepared speeches.

Although she has only delivered three speeches so far, she already notices “a very rapid progress”, as she has become a better speaker and is able to produce a bigger impact on the audience.

For Reema Farouki Alami, the continuity of the learning process is the reason why she heads to the Orthodox Club to attend the Toastmasters’ meetings every other Sunday.

The 77-year-old is a retired educator, mother of four and grandmother of 10, who has delivered 40 speeches on various topics over the past six years, in which she has completed all levels of the club’s manual.

“I finally had the time to pursue things I like in an environment where I am informed and entertained,” she said, adding that younger members think that they are the only ones learning, while, in fact, there is something new to learn for each member in every meeting.

In addition to her learning experience, Shalan feels that the Rainbow Toastmasters club was an essential contributor to her healing process from cancer and she hopes other people can take advantage of this opportunity.

She concluded by expressing hope that residents of the governorate, especially women, will hone their public speaking skills as a major tool of empowerment.

There are currently 16 Toastmasters clubs in Jordan, all located in Amman.