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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
tracks are not mutually exclusive. You may participate in both tracks at the same time if you wish. Toastmasters
International sends every new member a set of materials within 48 hours after receiving his/her application for
membership. Included in the material are manuals to get you started in both tracks: Competent Communication, Competent Leadership, Your Speaking Voice, Effective
Speech Evaluation, and Gestures: Your Body Speaks.
Communication Track
Members working in this
track learn and practice communication skills.
 Competent Communication Manual
This manual, which has
10 speech projects, is the first step in the communication track. It helps develop your speaking skills one step
at a time. Every projects builds upon what you learned in the preceding project. As you prepare and present each
project speech you'll learn the importance of organization, how to use body language and voice to convey your message,
select the right words and use visual aids. You also learn how to speak persuasively and inspire others. An evaluator
will give you feedback on each speech you present and help you to improve. The speech projects are:
1. The Ice Breaker
2. Organize Your Speech
3. Get to the Point
4. How to Say It
5. Your Body Speaks |
6. Vocal Variety
7. Research Your Topic
8. Get Comfortable with Visual Aids
9. Persuade with Power
10. Inspire Your Audience |
When you compete this manual you
are eligible for Competent Communicator (CC) recognition. Complete the CC application in the manual and ask your
Vice President Education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a CC Certificate and, if this
is your first CC award, two Advanced Communication manuals free of charge.
Advanced Communication Manuals
After receiving CC
recognition you can work in the Advanced Communication manuals, where you can refine and enhance your speaking
skills. There are 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented. You
choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn. The manuals are:
The Entertaining Speaker (226A)
Speaking to Inform (226B)
Public Relations (226C)
The Discussion Leader (226D)
Specialty Speeches (226E)
Speeches by Management (226F)
The Professional Speaker (226G)
Technical Presentations (226H) |
Persuasive Speaking (226I)
Communicating on Television (226J)
Storytelling (226K)
Interpretive Reading (226L)
Interpersonal Communication (226M)
Special Occasion Speeches (226N)
Humorously Speaking (226O) |
When you work in the advanced manuals,
you are eligible for several awards:
Advanced Communicator
Bronze (ACB)
To be eligible for
this award, you must have:
Achieved Competent Communicator award (or
achieved Competent Toastmaster award)
Completed two Advanced Communication manuals
Advanced Communicator
Silver (ACS)
To be eligible for
this award, you must have:
Achieved Advanced Communicator Bronze award (or achieved Able Toastmaster
award or Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award)
Completed two additional advanced communication
manuals (may not be those completed for any previous award)
Conducted any two programs from The Better
Speaker Series and/or The Successful Club Series
Advanced Communicator
Gold (ACG)
To be eligible
for this award, you must have:
Achieved Advanced Communicator Silver award
(or achieved Able Toastmaster Bronze award or Advanced Toastmaster Silver award)
Completed two additional advanced communication
manuals (may not be those completed for any previous award)
Conducted a Success/Leadership, Success/Communication
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 manuals and will have learned many valuable speaking skills.
To apply for any of the Advanced Communicator awards, complete the appropriate section of the application in the
back of any advanced manual and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll
receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.
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