First Evaluation

Speaking in front of an audience is tough. Evaluating someone's speech in front of an audience is even harder.

Despite trying hard to plan out my "mini" 3 minute evaluation, it was a disaster. Thoughts were obstacles appearing at random on the track for my train of thought. The train derailed but it didn't turn turtle. I take comfort in the fact that it was the first meeting after so long and i, like most, were just rusty.

I had asked what i could do to be able to arrange my thoughts into words and just say it out. Im definitely where i can do just that. Im glad i spoke up. Im glad i asked the right question. Speak up. What's the worst that could happen?


If i could do it over, i would say:

Firstly, congratulations on completing your first project.

Failure is indeed part and parcel of life. And like u said, it is more on how one react to the failures in life rather than the failures itself. This was repeated several times thus, establishing the central theme of your speech. It also bookmarks the major divisions of your speech: your intro, the two points of the main body as well as the conclusion.

You are the smooth and confident speaker that many of us here will strive to emulate. While you may have had experience in debating and public speaking, how you rise after your failure during your first competition must have made all the difference. The examples you provide not only supports the central theme of your speech; it also made your speech easy to follow.

However, there's an aspect of your presentation that has room for growth. You were loud and energetic throughout your speech. While this may be a good thing as a debater, I feel there were occasions where you could slow down and lower your voice to deliver key points. This vocal variety could act as a signal to the audience that important words are coming, and a slight pause will make the lines more memorable as a result.

Your tone was rather consistent throughout. May i suggest varying your voice to help distinguish the difference in emotions that you had when you were dealing with failures as well as after you managed to overcome them. That might give your speech a more personal touch and leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Nevertheless, it being your first project, you have far exceeded its main objectives: to begin speaking in front of an audience and to discover the speaking ability that you already have and skills that need some attention. With some minor tweaks, Im sure u'll emerge an even better speaker.

All the best and Im definitely looking forward to your next speech. Thank you.

Scenic poetic humour

Today marks the end of official Effective Communication lessons. I really find it a good platform in my journey to try become an effective communicator.

Fitted in the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle this morning. I spent a couple of hours yesterday editing and re-editing and rehearsing my final assignment -- the 3 minutes "Say no to slimming products" speech. And i'm pretty glad having breezed through it without much pauses. However, despite feeling confident practicing by myself in my room and on the train to school, the heart still beats thrice it's normal rate while I wait for my turn.

Observing some speakers while waiting for my turn, I find that reasonable time and effort must be put in while preparing one's script. Only then will one be able to step up confidently and share one's hard work with the rest of the class. As a member of the audience, i want every speaker that steps up to do well -- and that's provided he or she is well prepared. And I realize that i am one of those who is not a fan of those who do not seem to care about their speech. Speakers should know that members of the audience can tell whether due time and effort had been put into the speech.

I'll use this speech as the backbone for my Project 2: "Organize Your Speech." This speech has to be between 5 to 7 minutes, which means that I'll now have the opportunity to add some depth into my speech. I've heard the word "humourous" after giving my 2 speeches. So it seems to me that humour will always be part of the way i write. Still finding it hard to associate Ali and Humor as one.

And i remembered someone approached me after my P1 speech and asked,"You spent quite a lot of time on your speech, didnt you?" And when i said i did spend a fair bit of time on it and asked how he could tell, he said that he finds my speech poetic -- reminding me of the phrase "scenic and poetic" which i had read somewhere, sometime back.

I'll keep in mind these two words the next time i write: poetic humour. Sounds like a new genre altogether. In time, it'll be scenic poetic humour :)

Glad P1 is over

First speech went well and i was surprised i had zero erms, ahs, hmmm..... Im a pretty fluent speaker. I have been forcing myself to just speak fluently ever since the day i tried to "verbalise my thought" -- irregardless of whether or not i make any sense. With fluency, I believe the next step is to talk with more sense as well as conviction.

I was also surprised my evaluator found me humorous for i believed i was far from it. I just do not see myself being humorous. I like me to sound cool, calm and composed -- like Gaurav Keerthi or Ashraf Safdar who were judges for the game show, The Arena.

But nevertheless, now that ive got this one over and done with, I'll build on my voice and my reliance on notes. Ive got next week's oral presentation on slimming pills that I could work on. After all this who know's, i might end up reading the news one day. (Are they well paid?)

Anyways, I got back home late and was i glad to hear one of the twins got first in class. The other came in a distant 15th. Really glad that they're coping well with their studies despite me not intervening-- except those times when they encountered tedious maths questions. My mum mustve be feeling very proud and happy. I know i am.

Ice breaker

Second speech. Hoping to get the hang of writing one. This one's almost 5minutes 30 seconds and ive got 30 seconds to spare. Basically, it's suppose to be about me. Ive gotta present it tomorrow and ive just finished writing it. Didnt have time for much editing. But it being the first, im sure it's ok.

Its been a while since i last written. Time doesnt seem to permit. Or maybe it's because i always fall asleep earlier than usual. Till next time....

My name is Ali Marzuki. You can call me either Ali or Marzuki. Most of my school friends call me Ali because I have always introduced myself as Ali. I know that people will remember it better. This is the first time I’ve introduced myself as Ali Marzuki to my school friends.

Marzuki is the name I’m more used to as that’s the name my family calls me by. U can try calling my home now and ask for Ali. Should my grandma picks it up, she would tell u that there’s no one by the name of Ali living in the house. And that’s provided u asked her in Malay – or Javanese.

And no it’s not Japanese, it’s Javanese… with a V. I have been told once in a while that Marzuki sounds cool coz it sounds Japanese. Suzuki, Kawasaki, Ayumi Hamasaki, Ali Marzuki … U get I mean. Though it may be cool to be jap, I’m not. I’m Malay - born and raised in Singapore.

According to my mum, there was a doctor in the hospital where I was to be delivered. He goes by the name of Dr Marzuki and it’s obvious to me that my mum wanted me to become a doctor. However, I never liked my chemistry nor am I really into dissecting frogs nor rabbits -- so Biology is definitely a no no for me. Still, I did make it into university and I know I have already made my mum pretty happy.

As you can tell, I’m pretty close to my mum. I’m the first of 4 children and that’s probably the reason why. She really had a huge influence on me and I actually feel like a carbon copy of her.

She hates butter and milk , cheese and mayo and so do I. Of course I did try them before and I definitely do not like them one bit.

I remember her not liking to watch shows like star trek or star wars because she doesn’t like the idea of people dressing up as some ugly and deformed aliens or scary hairy monsters. And I guess I kind of followed in her foot steps. However, I must clarify that it is not the reason why im dressed like this tonight. You guys should know that I’m actually dressed as a werewolf. It’s just that there not going to be a full moon tonight.

My mother also doesn’t like the idea of spending money on unnecessary items like going to the movies, buying toys and stuffs like that. Just a secret between you and me, though I’ve told her I’m in toastmasters, I’ve never mentioned having to pay a small fee for it.

She’s really into the idea of saving for a rainy day but I’m glad that she is, for the rainy day had came.

It was two years ago, Father’s day. Rain wasn’t falling that Sunday morning but tears were. My dad left this world for another. I was only a few months into my National Service. I was at a lost. I did not know what to expect. Nor did I know what I should do.

All I know I had to start thinking and acting more like an adult, less like a kid. I was still 18 and I was far from ready to be a father. I even remember feeling unhappy that I had to put on hold my plans of getting braces for my teeth and getting a driving license but I just knew I had to. For I had no choice. I also knew I’ve got to make lots of sacrifices from then on.

I almost signed on as a specialist in the Army. At that time, it seemed like the best solution to my problems. I almost wanted to forget about going to the Uni as I was afraid it would be a burden on my family financially.

But despite all these irrational thoughts, I managed to convince myself that with a better education, I could better support my family. I knew I had to think long term. And that’s the reason why I’m standing here today.

Fellow friends,

My life has always been revolving two things -- family and school. I am very much aware that this translates to no life at all. I’ve given it much thought and had found a solution. Toastmasters –- a club where I’ll learn new things and make new friends.

Thank you for your time. I hope I’ve given u a glimpse of the person I am. And I wish you all the best for the coming exams.

Thank you.

Let me try to verbalise my thoughts

Let me try to verbalise my thoughts.

I'll never forget that line. I believe i can write my thoughts into volumes of books if i wanted to. But i know i struggle trying to convert my thoughts into words that can be heard by the ears of mine and yours. When writing, one can pause and think and backspace and go back to the previous paragraph to add something that one had left out. But the same cant be said about talking.

I told myself that there's definitely something that ive learnt over the past couple of months but i just didnt know how do i put it in words. Im was impressed by how the other students shared their thoughts, views and reflection. But I kept telling myself that there's no way i could come up with something that's got to do with politics or policies or use big big words that i hardly hear. I saw how well the others speak that i was afraid i wun be as brilliant as them and worse, make a fool out of myself.

But the inner struggle i had, to just share made me soo scared that I could literally feel my heart beating faster and faster. I told myself that if i didnt say anything before the end of the class, i've not changed. Im still the guy who dun dare speak up in class. The guy who thinks that those that can speak well are born that way.

The Caliphs were close to God and the sunnah of the Prophet and at the same time, were able to achieve so many things. I hope this course will make me a better Muslim when school starts. To remember that it is possible to achieve so many things while being close to God. In other words, the balance between world and the Hereafter.

It didnt matter to me if what i said was as good as his or hers. All that mattered was that Im really glad that i spoke up. And i was told it sounded quite good(or was it didnt sound bad) by my train buddy. That made me feel better and i hope this is the start of many changes to come.

And perhaps this would mark the start of a change in the way i write my entries. I wouldnt be surprised if i see chunks of text and one liners that dun seem to make sense on this blog of mine. Perhaps even speeches i need to prepare should i join a club like Toastmasters. Well who knows ...... for the joy of the journey is the element of surprise.