Monday, June 08, 2015

Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program

Izzaty used to enjoy doing public speaking like story telling or pidato when she was in the primary school. But when she entered TKC, she met friends who can talk better, tell story better, ect. She ended up feeling inferior and avoid public speaking.

Early this year, I helped Datuk Hafsah (or fondly known as Kak Chah to us), CEO of SME Crop doing talk on 'Preparation for Interviews and Public Speaking' where all forth and fifth formers of TKC were to join the program and they were encouraged to do public speaking based on the topic given. Izzaty's team made it to the final and she was chosen to talk as the last speaker. Her team lost... haha. I noticed how rusty her skill was in public speaking and I felt that she needed help to sharpen up this skill.

So this school holiday, I registered her for a public speaking course organized by Toastmasters Club of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The club is part of Toastmasters International that is based in  Rancho Santa Margarita, California, USA.

The course was at Shah Village Hotel in Petaling Jaya from 5th Jun - 7th Jun 2015. 
The program details. I thought it was quite good. 

The toastmasters members getting ready for the class on Friday morning...

On that Friday morning, when the parents first sent their kids for this program, I could see reluctant faces of the kids came to register. All making face like 'I'm here because our parents forced us - so whatever! -.-'  Hahahahhaaaa ;'D

Two of my friends also sent their kids to this program. Well, actually kami pakat -.-. Our kids refused to join the program unless they have a familiar face with them... so we parents pakat laaa... haha! :D

My friend, I.Z's girl, Amirah was really nervous on her first day. I.Z told me she cried coming home on the first day. But by end of 2nd day, she came home with a big smile. She finally enjoyed the course now that she has overcome her fear of public speaking... amazing! As for my girl, she did look nervous on the first day. She came home excitedly telling me... "Maa... ada 6 orang je melayu. And like majority are from international school." And I said "Good laa. This is a good exposure for you. Mingle with them. Gain as much as you can from this course". 

On the last day of the competition, all the kids were to do public speaking in front of parents and visitors to show the skill that they obtained throughout the course. The night before Izzaty was so nervous and I told her "Just do your best. I don't expect you to win or something... just make sure you gain something from the course" (after all I paid RM550 for her to attend this course :P).

So here came the final day... 

There were 26 of them and 14 kids spoke on the first session and the rest spoke later after a short break. Izzaty spoke in the 2nd session. I thought the kids did pretty well! They talked so confidently on the stage. I was quite impressed with them. There are one boy particularly who talked about Rohingya people and their struggles... I thought he did extremely well! 

I was nervous waiting for Izzaty's turn... huhu! But she looked pretty confident while waiting... mama jer over tau.. haha!

And then it was Izzaty's turn...
The title of her speech was 'Don't let the music stop'. 
I have to say, I was pretty impressed with my girl ;) Where did that confident come from???
Proud of you my girl! Berbaloi la mama hantar kamu course ni ya, alhamdulillah :D

After all 26 kids had present their speech. There was a short tea break for everyone...
The happy faces of the participants after the speech competition...  lega! -.-

Izzaty and her Asterix buddy who attended the course with her, Alia Qamelia. 
Yeap... Izzaty's mom pakat dengan Alia's mom to send them for this course :D

Me and my TKC8387 buddy, I.Z (amirah's mom)

Price and certification ceremony were held after the tea break.

The presentation of certificate of participation...

They announced the winners at the end of the event...

And to my surprise, Izzaty's name was announced as the 2nd runner-up winner... yeay!! 
Runner-up was a 17 years-old Chinese girl - Nicole.
And the champion, like I expected was the 16 years-old Indian boy who talked about Rohingya - Gabrieal.
An 18 years-old Chinese boy named Kevin was announced the most improved participant.

The winners... 
Pn Norhayati (the event organizer), Nicole (runner-up), Gabrial (champion), Izzaty (2nd runner-up), and Kevin (most improved).


Oh my... you really surprised me with this award my girl. 
Am so proud of you! :D
Thank you Allah for the rezeki... :D

And ohh... talk about rezeki... 
Alia's mom gave me this yummilicious choc cakes that she baked herself!
Awwww.... thank you soooo much Kak Jah! Moga murah rezeki you lagi!
Love you sis!! *muuuuahhh!!!*

Alhamdulillah.... murah rezeki kami weekend ni... :D

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