Tips from District 76 Speech Contest Champions

English Tall Tales Contest Contest Champion 2017

Yayoi Komura
Atsugizama Toastmasters Club

Tall Tales! What is that? That was my first question for Tall Tales. It was my second challenge for Tall Tales
Contest. Last time I ended third at the Area Contest for my third year of Toastmasters life. Thanks to Mr. Paul Malone, he kindly held a Tall Tales Workshop on July 2017 at Atsugi Zama Toastmasters Club. It gave all of us an idea of what a Tall Tales speech can be. Something exaggerated but something that “may” happen.
I appreciate his educational workshop.
My speech “My Dear” was a story about a crazy middle aged woman who is addicted to her cell phone. Her “Dear” (phone) wakes her up like her boy friend, send her flowers (via Amazon) and even dances with her. This cell phone gives her everything she wants and is a great satisfaction buddy for her. One day, she meets a real human guy and the cell phone like a human gets jealous with her and sticks on to her hand and cannot get it off. The crazy woman goes to AU shop for help and cries out the magic word, “I love AU, I am not going to change to Docomo, I am not going to change to Softbank” and bang! the cell phone finally falls off her hand. I came up with this story watching my daughter who is addicted to her cell phone and 24 x 7, cannot live without it. She was indeed the model of this cell phone and made this sarcastic story. I believe many of us are like her and live in the small virtual world happily. Even Toastmasters who study communication skills are deeply addicted to this magic phone. I wanted to bring up this social phenomenon and just laugh at this together!!

Toastmasters for me is a “therapy” As I write the speech, practice the speech and perform the speech I find the answer I am looking for my life. Especially when I perform the speech and feel the waves coming from the audience, my answer to my questions are answered and feel I am so blessed to be a Toastmasters!
Audience gives me the answer and pat on my shoulder. Thank you so much.

I appreciate all the support Atsugi Zama Toastmasters Club gave me and Nakano Toastmasters Club who kindly gave me the feed back. And Mr. Paul Malone who showed me the way to Tall Tales. It was a great experience and journey for me. Lastly I would like to express my gratitude for District 76 team who made this Big Day happen for us. Thank you very much. My journey continues to look for an answer…..