Angela Lansbury's Speech on America

I got a last minute slot on the day at Harrovians Speakers in London in June. I gave the informative speech on American language. I had thought about the American theme for my opening address and speech to Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters in July, just before July 4th, American Independence Day.

Substitute Speaker
I wrote a quick draft on my laptop but did not have time to print it. So I drew a mind map on a piece of paper. I had my opening quotation, The Americans and British are two countries divided by a common language.

I checked the origin of the phrase. It seems that Bernard Shaw might have said it but never wrote it. Oscar Wilde said something similar earlier, in different words, not as pithy. Often when you quote somebody else, or even yourself, you summarise in a more striking sentence.

My title was WHY you should Learn to Speak American English.



Feedback
We were expecting you to play the guitar / ukelele.
It was electric and I could not switch it on.

About The Author, Angela Lansbury
Author of Wedding Speeches And Toasts.

How To Keep Old Members Active - Lessons Learned at Harrovians Speakers Club

Angela Lansbury

Photo by Angela Lansbury

Harrovians Speakers in London.

The first club I joined. Thanks to S for giving me a lift there and back. I find the debriefing conversations after a meeting so useful. 

On the way home he told me, 'I wasn't going to come to the meeting, until you phoned me.'

 I commented on the number of people attending.

 He said, 'Yes, we had lots of guests. But how do we get our regular members to turn up, not just when they are giving speeches?' 

I replied, 'You answered your own question earlier. By phoning people up; and (If you don't go all go off to coffee afterwards, or between meetings,) by arranging for people to travel together to the meetings so they get extra socialising and information about future meetings.

'When I first joined it was the Toastmaster's of the meeting's job to spend the weekend before the meeting chasing everybody on the phone to check they remembered and prepared and felt needed and wanted. 

'At very least send a reminder email. 

'At best the evaluators or mentors should meet the speakers and rehearse the speech'.

'My mentor used to come to my house and hear my speech, and the revision I made after he made comments. Then I heard his speech and gave feedback. 

'Then each speaker feels confident and has to prepare the speech and is looking forward to trying it out. That reduces people dropping out because 'I didn't have time to prepare a speech.'

Author Angela Lansbury ACG ALB
Member of Harrovians
HOD
Braddell Heights Advanced
Tampines Changkat Advanced

Photo shows:
Angela Lansbury in red on right. I was talking about American English.