The speech evaluator plays a crucial role in a Toastmasters club, focusing on providing constructive feedback to speakers to help them improve their communication and public speaking skills. This role is considered the "heart of the Toastmasters educational program" due to its emphasis on active listening, critical thinking, and the delivery of positive and actionable feedback.
The primary responsibility of a speech evaluator is to observe a speaker's presentation and offer objective verbal and written evaluations of their efforts. Before the meeting, the evaluator must contact the speaker to understand what they will present and what they wish to achieve with their speech. This pre-meeting discussion helps the evaluator tailor their feedback to the speaker's specific goals and the project guidelines.
During the meeting, the speech evaluator should arrive early, confirm details with the general evaluator, and ensure they have a good vantage point to observe the speaker. When introduced, the evaluator reads the purpose statements from the evaluation form, informing other members about the speech's objectives. Throughout the speech, the evaluator takes notes, focusing on recording impressions objectively and identifying areas for improvement, as well as strengths. It's crucial to provide specific methods for improvement rather than just pointing out flaws. Evaluations should be honest yet positive, focusing on what the speaker does rather than who they are. Using "I" phrases (e.g., "I believe..." and "My reaction was...") helps personalize the feedback and avoids accusatory language. The goal is to motivate and inspire the speaker to continue practicing and learning.
After the verbal evaluation, the speech evaluator completes a written evaluation, ideally within 48 hours, providing more comprehensive feedback. This written feedback, often guided by Pathways evaluation forms, offers tangible and detailed criteria for assessment. The evaluator should also follow up with the speaker to address any questions they may have. The impact of a well-delivered evaluation can be profound, encouraging speakers and building their confidence, while a poorly delivered one can be disheartening. The skills learned as a speech evaluator, such as providing specific, sensitive, and constructive feedback, are also highly applicable in professional settings, like employee performance reviews.
