The Toastmasters Educational Program

The educational program is the heart of a Toastmasters Club. It is the means through which you develop your communication and leadership skills and achieve your goal of becoming a better communicator.

The Toastmasters educational program is divided into two tracks -- a communication track and a leadership track. The communication track is the major part of the system -- almost all new members join Toastmasters for the benefits this track offers. Some become involved in the leadership track. The tracks are not mutually exclusive. You may participate in both tracks at the same time if you wish.

Communication Track
The core of the communication track is the Competent Communication  manual (also called the "CC manual"), which contains 10 speech projects. The first speech is called  The Ice-Breaker speech.

The Competent Communication Award
The basic manual helps develop your speaking skills one step at a time. Every project builds upon what you have learned in the preceding project. As you complete the projects you'll learn the importance of sincerity in speaking, how to effectively organize a presentation, how to use body language and voice to convey your message, word choice and props, persuasive speaking, and how to inspire others.

Your first goal as a member is to complete this manual. When you do, you are eligible for Competent Communication Award recognition. When you finish all 10 projects, complete the Competent Communication Award application, have the Vice President Education sign it, and send it to World Headquarters. You'll receive a Competent Communication Award certificate and, if this is your first Competent Communication Award, two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals free of charge. If you wish, World Headquarters will send your employer a letter about your accomplishment.

Advanced Program
After receiving Competent Communication Award recognition you can enter the Advanced Communication and Leadership Program, where you can refine and enhance your basic skills. This program consists of 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented; several are not. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn.

The manuals are:

    The Entertaining Speaker (226-A)
    Speaking to Inform (226-B)
    Public Relations (226-C)
    The Discussion Leader (226-D)
    Specialty Speeches (226-E)
    Speeches by Management (226-F)
    The Professional Speaker (226-G)
    Technical Presentations (226-H)
    Persuasive Speaking (226-I)
    Communicating on Television (226-J)
    Storytelling (226-K)
    Interpretive Reading (226-L)
    Interpersonal Communication (226-M)
    Special Occasion Speeches (226-N)
    Humorously Speaking (226-O)

When you work in the advanced manuals you are eligible for several awards:

Advanced Toastmaster Bronze (ATM-B) Award

To be eligible for this award, you must have:

·                     Achieved Competent Toastmaster award

·                     Completed two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals

Advanced Toastmaster Silver (ATM-S) Award

To be eligible for this award, you must have:

·                     Achieved new Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award or achieved Able Toastmaster award

·                     Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for previous awards)

·                     Conducted any two programs from The Better Speaker Series and/or The Successful Club Series

Advanced Toastmaster Gold (ATM-G) Award

To be eligible for this award, members must have:

·                     Achieved new Advanced Toastmaster Silver award or achieved Able Toastmaster Bronze award

·                     Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for previous awards)

·                     Conducted a Success/Leadership Program, Success/Communication Program (Success/Leadership or Success/Communication programs may not be those completed for Able Toastmaster Bronze award) or a Youth Leadership Program

·                     Coached a new member with the first three speech projects

By the time you earn the Advanced Toastmaster Gold award, you will have completed six of the available Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals and will have learned many valuable advanced speaking skills.

To apply for any of the Advanced Toastmaster awards, complete the appropriate section of the Advanced Toastmaster Award application. This application also is in the back of each advanced manual and is available from World Headquarters.

You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.

For assistance with speeches, go to speech tips.