Speech Contests
It’s Contest Time! Learn and find eveything you need to compete in, attend, or hold a speech contest.
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Why Contests?
Speech contests are a Toastmasters tradition. Each year, we seek to identify and recognize members with outstanding public speaking skills, and ultimately award the title of “World Champion of Public Speaking” to one among our ranks. Besides being fun, it recognizes excellence, inspires our members, and draws attention to our organization.
How do contests work?
It all begins in the Club. Club contest winners (or nominees) advance to and compete in Area Contests. Area winners advance to Division Contests, and Division winners to the District Contest. District Winners of the International Contest advance to International Levels, for a chance to compete in the World Championship of Public Speaking.
2024 Contest Events
The “International Speech” Contest is held every year. In addition to this, District 33 is holding an Humorous Speech Contest, and a Spanish Speech Contest (Humorous Speech Format).
This year the district speech contests will be held in a Hybrid Format. Each contest is a completely separate event with its own contestants, judges, and so on.
International Speech
Contestants present a five to seven minute speech on any subject they choose. All districts must conduct this contest.
Humorous Speech Contest
Contestants present a humorous speech that must be thematic in nature (opening, body, and close), not a monologue (series of one-liners).
Spanish Speech Contest (Concurso de Oratoria)
Spanish Speech Contest: Contestants present a speech in Spanish that will follow the Humorous Speech Contest rules and requirements. This event will be held in Spanish.
Concurso de Oratoria en Español: los concursantes presentan un discurso en español que seguirá las reglas y requisitos del Concurso Humoristica de oratoria. Este evento se llevará a cabo en español.
Other Types
These types of contests are not being held in District 33 this year.
Humorous
Contestants present a humorous speech that must be thematic in nature (opening, body, and close), not a monologue (series of one-liners).
Table Topics
An impromptu speech, all contestants are assigned the same topic, told to them when they are introduced by the contest chair.
Tall Tales
Contestants present a three to five minute speech on a topic that is highly-exaggerated and improbable in theme or plot.
Evaluation
Contestants observe a five-to seven-minute test speech and then present a two-to three-minute evaluation of the test speech.
