As an Ah-Counter, your role is to count and to report the number of unnecessary sound that hamper the effectiveness of a speaker to delivery their speech, such as filler and repetitive words. Here is how you could succeed this role.
Before the Meeting
Bring Pen and Paper (or use the Official Toastmasters App, Google/Apple): You will need to jot down number of times a speak uttered any unnecessary sound/words during their speech. These notes will be used for your reporting at the end of the meeting.
During the Meeting
Step 1: Introduce Your Role
The Toastmasters of the Evening (TME) is the host of the meeting, s/he will introduce a team of facilitators, including your role as the Ah-Counter, to facilitate the meeting. The TME will introduce you to the stage to explain your role. Remember to shake your hand with the TME to take over the stage.
Your script could look like this:
Fellow Toastmasters and most welcome guests. My name is __________ and my role as the Ah Counter is to count the number of unnecessary sounds or repetitive words you use when you are speaking on the stage.
For example “Er“, “Em“, “Ah“, “You Know“, “I Mean” will be counted in my report. These are fillers that would affect your effectiveness in delivering your speech. At the end of the meeting I will present my report to you.
Hand back to the Toastmaster of the evening by extending your arm out and saying ‘Toastmaster’.
Step 2: Deliver Your Report
Towards the end of the meeting, the TME will introduce you to the stage to deliver your report. Remember to shake your hand with the TME to take over the stage.
Report example:
Fellow Toastmasters, friends and guests, here’s my Ah Counter report.
- Name : 5 ums
- Name: 2 ems
- Name repetitive words like “You know”
That’s all from my report.
Hand back to the Toastmaster of the evening by extending your arm out and saying ‘Toastmaster’.