Activity C - Table Topics - Practice Generating Ideas

Table Topic - Generating Ideas for Body We will practice today one of the stumbling blocks for table topic, generating ideas. Given a broad context or topic, coming up with what you could talk about. For below topics generate as many ideas (3 , 5, 10 or 15 ideas) of what you could talk about. It is fun ! Try it. 1. What was your best dream ? 2. What is your biggest fear ? 3. If you could star in a movie, which movie would that be and why ? 4. You woke up to realize that you are in foreign country where no one speaks your language. What would you do ? 5. If you could only give one learning to a kid, what would that be ?

Related Reading

Often we believe that talking about a topic is tough because we have nothing important to say. We seldom go through idea generation in our mind because we feel it would take a long time. However if well practiced, idea generation can take hardly any time.


Let's look at how.  

---

First Attempt

"What was your best dream"

I can talk about dreaming with eyes open such as "becoming a CEO of company", "doing something meaningful for humanity", "changing something in the world"
I can talk about some desire or fantasy like "Being on a space ship", "Spending vacation in a beautiful island", "having a job that pays 10 million a month" 
I can talk about "Sensual Dream" :) 

Finally I select "doing something meaningful for humanity" as the narrow topic I would talk about. This is much more concrete than the topic initially given. 

As you can see given a topic, generating ideas can be great way to think of what to talk about. Time yourself. In your first attempt you may take a minute or two to come up with ideas. With time you can pretty much come up with many ideas within a minute.

The benefit are many. Sometime, you can combine the different ideas and make them points in your speech, other times, you can select something that you feel is better idea to talk about.

---

Second Attempt

"If you could change your profession, what would your dream profession be"

I can talk about "How I love my present profession itself", "I love my profession but I would love to work in another company or country", "I would love to be a bouncer at club", "I would love to travel a lot", "I would love to be management consultant", "I would love to make a difference to unprivileged by working in charity"

I can even talk about "How I do not know what I want to be, but I would love to travel and work abroad to know what I may like", "or I would like to work in few different professions before making up mind" 

Finally I select "How I do not know what I want to be, but I would love to travel and work abroad to know what I may like" as the narrow topic I would talk about. If I had not generated ideas, I may have selected a narrow topic which was not as suitable to me as this. 

Generating options, as you can see can land you with options about what to talk about. It most of time would be better than rushing with the first thing that comes to you mind.

Also, if you practice generating ideas, you will become more creative with them and more efficient in creating them. You would know that you can do that for any topic. Maybe this realization may even reduce your fear of talking on strange topics !

Activity B - Table Topic - Intro, Body and Ending

Table Topic - Intro, Body and Ending We will practice today one of the fundamental aspect of any speech. Also, this is one of easily improved aspect. Select any one of the below topic and practice giving a table topic speech with good introduction, body and ending. You can give same speech twice. You can also practice solo at home before doing group practice. 1. Why did I join iJam ? 2. How did I land up in Barclays ? 3. What is my dream job ? 4. What would I do if I win 1 million dollar lottery ? 5. What would I do if I am captured by aliens ? For Rigorous Solo Practice of this activity, click here

Related Reading

Every speech, including table topic speech, has at least three crucial parts

1. Introduction 
2. Body 
3. Ending

Understanding the importance of these components of speech can significantly improve speech.

Let's look at how. Below are various versions of a table topic speech. Try to spot what differences between versions make them more effective speech. 

---

First Attempt

"Why Did I join iJam"

I am very scared of being asked to talk on random topics, so I wanted to take the bull by the horns, and do it often. What better way to do that than actually practicing doing something I fear, and master that skill.

When Opportunity struck in the club to form a small team to learn and practice table topics rigourously, I thought, this was my chance !  

This speech, while it makes sense, is tough to read because it does not provide a smooth transition from topic given ("Why did I join iJam?") to the content (speech). It also does miserable job of catching attention and giving a conclusion. It's like a nice food in shoddy packaging.

---

Second Attempt

"Why Did I join iJam"

I Joined iJam to improve my table topic skills. 

I am very scared of being asked to talk on random topics, so I wanted to take the bull by the horns, and do it often. What better way to do that than actually practicing doing something I fear, and master that skill.

When Opportunity struck in the club to form a small team to learn and practice table topics rigourously, I thought, this was my chance !  

That's why I joined iJam

This speech is a slight improvement on previous one. You will however notice that it is easier to read. The introduction properly transitions you from topic to what you would talk about. The conclusion is also present, which clearly marks ending of speech and gives sense of completion to listeners.

---

Third Attempt

"Why Did I join iJam"

My father told me once that, the only way through fear is through it. As child I was very scared of ice skating and this is the advice that made me embrace ice skating then.   

Fast forward 15 years and now I am very scared of being asked to talk on random topics. What better way to remove the fear than actually practicing what I fear.

When Opportunity struck in the club to form a small team to learn and practice table topics rigourously, I thought, this was my chance !  

That's why I joined iJam

You will notice that the starting of speech now is more attention grabbing and a good intro to the body of speech. It make the body of speech more attractive and understandable. It's like serving appetizer before main course of food. The ending however is still lukewarm.

---

Fourth Attempt

"Why Did I join iJam"

My father told me once that, the only way through fear is through it. As child I was very scared of ice skating and this is the advice that made me embrace ice skating then.   

Fast forward 15 years and now I am very scared of being asked to talk on random topics. What better way to remove the fear than actually practicing what I fear.

When Opportunity struck in the club to form a small team to learn and practice table topics rigourously, I thought, this was my chance !  

Every step you take today may seem inconsequential in short run. However, every step you take today has a long tail. In few years from now, there may be a big impact of decision you made today. This I believe is one such decision. What long tail decision have you made recently ? I joined iJam. 

You will notice that ending of the speech is now much more memorable. It also connects back to the main topic of the speech, making it easier for listeners to understand your response.


If you compare this to cooking, the body of speech is main course of the meal, introduction is the appetizer and the ending the sweet dish after the food. You can significantly improve the speech by adding good appetizer and sweet dish to your main course. Look at activity C, D and E to learn how to improve these components.

Rigorous Solo Practice Exercises

These exercises are meant for taking this activity to next level by intense practice done solo.

• One

Activity A - Getting Warmed Up - Select Your Team Name

Now that you have formed your team, let's get to one important thing about team. Its name and identity.

Spend some time to discuss the name for your team and let us know so we can create your whatsapp and facebook groups.