Meeting #392

• Date: October 2026 (19:00 – 21:00)
• Meeting Format: Online (Zoom)
• Word of the Evening: Point of view
• Number of Guests: 0

 Meeting Summary

 Opening & Recent Updates

We kicked off with a Halloween atmosphere (yes, there were real masks on screen!) and a round of good news. One member’s high school baseball team won its regional tournament and earned a spot at next spring’s Koshien. Another shared a surprise reunion with an old friend from overseas at work, which ended with an evening out at a Japanese izakaya, and one more told us about a beach-side barbecue with 20 friends where the sun was so strong that the food got a little too well done. A fourth member told us about giving his very first Toastmasters speech in Japanese at another club, and what it taught him about delivery in two languages.

 Table Topics Session

This round’s theme was habits, and our Table Topics Master used the Word of the Evening, “point of view,” in the questions. The four questions went from “If you could add one new 5-minute habit to your morning, what would it be?” all the way to “Are habits a source of freedom, or a cage?” Answers ranged from morning stretches to a husband who wakes up at 3 a.m.

The standout was a member who confessed to his own “secret habits”: ignoring a red pedestrian light when no cars are coming (and feeling a little guilty about it), and refusing to use an umbrella in the rain, a habit he said fit right in on a trip to Scotland. He had no script, just a quick pause, a personal story, and a clear point. That is exactly the kind of on-the-spot thinking we practice every time.

 Prepared Speech Session

TM A.M. presented “Enjoy Backyard Camping,” a humorous talk about turning your own yard into a campsite: no campground fees, easy electricity for a hot pot in the tent, and a projector that turns the tent into a movie theater. Bonus: the kids stay busy, and so does the stress level at home.

TM Y.T. followed with “Meaning of Life.” He opened with a question: “How many years do you have left?” Then he told the story of his talkative grandmother, who passed away this summer. His idea that we are borrowing our lives and returning them left everyone thinking about what they would leave behind.

 Evaluation & Feedback

TM A.K. evaluated TM A.M.’s speech. She praised the clear structure and the balance between a heartwarming message and humor, and suggested a slightly longer pause before the punchlines and using the full time to make the speech even more dramatic.

TM S.K. evaluated TM Y.T.’s speech. He highlighted how the opening question was echoed in the ending, and he singled out “borrow the life, return the life” as a memorable phrase. He also suggested one more line for the conclusion to push the message further.

Members also openly shared that the camping story was warm but not quite as funny as the project goal asked for. That kind of direct, kind, specific feedback is what helps us grow.

 Awards

• Best Table Topics Speaker: TM S.K.

• Best Prepared Speaker: TM Y.T.

• Best Evaluator: TM S.K.

 Interested?

Do you use English at work, but go blank when you have to speak without preparation? We’ve been there. Our Table Topics session is a safe place to practice that exact moment, with a friendly group and real feedback from peers who understand your workday.

We’re a small, supportive community of business professionals in our 30s and 40s, practicing real-world English through impromptu talks, prepared speeches, and honest peer feedback, in a space built for growth, not judgment.

Our next meeting is November 7, 2026 (Saturday), 18:30–20:30, hybrid (in person + Zoom). Guests are welcome to join free of charge for up to three meetings.

Come see what it feels like to speak with confidence. We’d love to have you!