Table Topics for Toastmasters
Toastmasters International has been teaching public speaking skills to its members since the 1920s. Members must talk or convince the listeners about a certain subject an impromptu way, only learning the topic right before talking about it. These topics can range from role-playing both a husband and wife's argument to convincing the audience of the perpetrator of a mystery. These activities are usually done within a group, with each member assuming a different angle of the subject.
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Disobedient Children
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Many of the individuals involved in Toastmasters have children and families, or have at one time or another looked after a friend's or family member's child. As a funny twist on the table topics, give each speaker a situation to where a child is disobeying, such as a teenage girl climbing out her window late at night, and have her come up with a creative solution on the spot in order to stop it.
Election
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Politicians are constantly giving speeches in an attempt to convince their audiences to vote for them. Have each person go up and pretend that he is either a local or national politician trying to garner votes. Have the speaker state which party he is with, what his platform is, and why individuals should vote for him, using persuasive language. These topics are often practiced during Toastmaster elections themselves, either at local, regional or national levels.
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Pet Peeves
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Pet peeves are often subjects that can be talked about for a long time by anyone. Whether it's being annoyed by drivers who do not use their signal lights before turning to individuals who chew gum loudly and with their mouths open, have each speaker talk about her biggest pet peeve and why. Instruct the speakers to convince the audience of the faults in the pet peeve and acknowledge it as one of their own.
Newspaper Clippings
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Bring in a variety of newspaper headlines from a local newspaper. The more random and less known the stories are, the better. Give a different story to each individual; have the speaker tell the story behind the headline, including those involved, where it happened and what the outcome was.
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References
Resources
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