“CATS” Techniques for Terrific Table Topics
Written by OH Hock-Chong, CTM, Toastmasters Club of Singapore
Very often people panic at the Table Topics because they don’t have any framework to help them organize their ideas. Here, I’d like to share four simple techniques to handle any table topic. I name them CATS –Comparison, Area, Time and Storytelling. Take for example, the topic thrown at you is “Bilingualism”. Below are CATS ways how you can organize your thoughts and deliver them within seconds in front of your audience:
Technique 1: – Comparison & Contrast
“I’d like to share my thoughts on bilingualism by comparing its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s first look at the advantages of bilingualism……Now, let’s look at the disadvantages of bilingualism……”
Technique 2: – Areas
“I’d like to share my thought on bilingualism by looking first at how it’s implemented in the West, and then here in Singapore. In the West, bilingualism has a different importance in their educational system because……In Singapore, because of our multi-racial and multi-cultural society, and English Language being Singapore’s official language, bilingualism is therefore emphasized differently here from the West……”
Technique 3: – Time Sequence
“I’d like to share my thoughts on bilingualism by looking at its development over time in Singapore. In 1960, our government introduced bilingualism into our educational system. Every student in school must take their mother tongue as a compulsory subject. In 1970, bilingualism evolved into……In 1980, it evolved further……Now in 2013, bilingualism has evolved into an integral part of every child’s education in Singapore.”
Technique 4: – Storytelling
“I’d like to express my thoughts on bilingualism by sharing with you my childhood story. When I was a kid, we spoke the Hokkien dialect at home, as was the case with most school children at that time. But when I entered primary school, we had to learn English because our school curriculum was taught in English. At the same time, we had to take up Mandarin as our second language, which was considered my mother tongue. It was very challenging for a child to learn two new languages at the same time. I encountered many difficulties in mastering two languages at that young age……”
You can often use the techniques as frameworks for your speech, a style of delivery or a direction to take it in. When your question arrives, you can fit your answer into the framework you’ve already thought of.
And a Bonus Tip:
You can put some structure into your speech by breaking it down into three main points that justify your opinion or reinforce it. For example, “I’d like to share with you the importance of bilingualism, and there are three reasons why.” You don’t need them all before you start: instead, you can think of the first point while answering the question, then think of the second point while talking about the first, and so on. It’s surprising how often this works.
Keep doing table topics
Finally, keep practicing. The more you do it, the less nervous you’ll become, the easier you’ll find it, and the more you’ll enjoy it.
New Member Feature: Shingo Miyamoto
Editor: Please tell us more about yourself.
Shingo: I am from Tokyo, Japan, and have been living in Singapore for the past 5 years or so, thanks to my company’s job assignments (2007-2009 and 2010 to today).
And your family?
I live with my wife and 2 sons here. Both my sons were born in Singapore. We love Singapore and regard it as one of our homes.
Share with us some of your hobbies.
I do not have many hobbies, but I have some favorite things to do. Firstly, I like to read. I read 2 newspapers in a day and 1-2 books in a month. Reading is one of my passions. I also like to eat, which is a popular activity in Singapore. Singapore provides many good places to eat out. I love local foods and, in the past 3 years, I have tried about 80% of “die-die-must-try” hawkers/food courts that “makan sutra” recommends. My favorite local dishes are Fried Hokkien Mee and Bak Chor Mee.
And the reason that motivated you to join TMCS is…
I think it was honestly out of curiosity. After spending a lot of time watching TVs and reading books in Singapore, I started looking for new things to try out when I heard about the Toastmasters Club of Singapore. I like talking, meeting with people and it’s good for my English practice as well, therefore TMCS was a perfect fit from the start. I joined TMCS about 4 months ago.
Anything useful you have learned from your Toastmaster journey so far?
I may not be considered a serious learner; sometimes, I ignore the textbooks and try to do things in my own unique ways, but there I have had great experiences in past 4 months or so. Firstly, it was great to meet so many new people and learn new things through meetings and conversations. Also, I like the culture of Toastmaster, where people care for one another. Some people even voluntarily offered to be my mentor (thanks Avi). Secondly, I find it rewarding to be voted best speaker. I was once voted as the best prepared speaker (maybe I was just lucky!), but it was really a great moment. Of course, Toastmaster is less about “winning” and more about “leadership”, although for me it is also true that winning the best speaker vote is a big motivator for my future prepared speeches.
Finally, do you have any message that you would like to share with the rest of the club?
I enjoy every minute of Toastmaster. Someone once asked me why I joined a Toastmaster Club in English (not in my native language, which is Japanese), but I didn’t have answer then. Maybe it is because there is no Toastmaster Club in Japanese or because I can’t speak Mandarin. However, I love this club and hope we can have more fun and great speeches. Let’s continue this wonderful journey together.
Poem sharing:
How did it come to pass
by Vicky Soo
Oh, I am a tired and broken soul
I feel stuck in a deep dark hole
I once dreamt of fighting for justice
I soon lost my enthusiasm with such ease
Instead of bold heroic deeds
I find myself reading dusty title deeds
Instead of setting the innocent free
I find myself defending the guilty for a fee
What have happened to my high ideals
They are buried under a pile of property deals
I went for the wealth
And traded my emotional health
Now my only hope
Is to hang up my robe
How did it come to pass
How did life lose its meaning so fast
I am so hopeless, so tired, so bored
I would go on a long holiday, if it I could afford
TMCS-YMCA Christmas Party 2013
Social Night Out at Jayleen 1918 Hotel
Here are what some of our members who went for the last Social Night Out at Jayleen 1918 Hotel have to say about the evening. Plus, some nice photos that we took that evening!
“Awesome view, awesome people!”
Lionel Ong
“I get to interact with members and know them better.”
Danny Ho
“It’s very hot.”
Kevin Yu
“Magnificent view!”
Todd Ho
“Great food, great view, great place to mingle.”
Teh Suk Yen
“More casual.”
Lee Jung Woo
Recent Club Achievements
One of our club mentors, Oh Hock Chong, has successfully competed into the Grand Final of People’s Association Humorous Speech Challenge Cup 2013, which was held on 23 Nov 2013.
Another club mentor, Ng Cher Kim, has won the Humorous Speech Contest in Division U, while Diana Thompson, a highly experienced member, has won the Speech Evaluation Contest at the same competition. Both entered into the District 80 Humorous Speech and Speech Evaluation Contest, which took place on 16 Nov 2013.
