My experience as a member of Toastmasters International helped me pass a teaching test to successfully earn my first contract as a business communications instructor at Conestoga College in 2020.

In every semester I have instructed since then, in person or online, I mention my membership in the Cambridge Toastmasters Club. I, particular, I suggest my international students investigate Toastmasters to build communication and leadership skills in a new culture.

Effective communication is the top skill employers look for in 2024, according to LinkedIn.

Toastmasters International was founded in 1924 at YCMA in Santa Clara, California. Today, it has more than 270,000 members, in 150 countries, in more than 14,000 local clubs around the world.

Cambridge Toastmasters was founded 50 years ago and meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. Members range from senior business leaders to entrepreneurs to recent college graduates practicing their communications skills and receiving feedback in a supportive environment.

Toastmasters offers members opportunities to build personal confidence and leadership skills through practicing public speaking. This link shares information about Toastmasters programs.

There’s also a Toastmasters International YouTube channel with self-help videos you can learn from and share at no charge.

If you’re scared of public speaking or worried your communication skills aren’t as strong as you like, I encourage you to visit a Toastmasters Club to see what they offer.

Find a club near you with this online tool.

There are dues to join a local Toastmasters club, which vary depending on factors such as meeting frequency and location meeting costs.