{"id":21,"date":"2013-11-30T13:28:01","date_gmt":"2013-11-30T13:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/?page_id=21"},"modified":"2025-03-26T12:02:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T12:02:05","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/?page_id=21","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mercurytoastmasters.de\/membership-mercury-toastmasters-berlin\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"675\" height=\"675\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic showing the value of Mercury Toastmasters membership with icons representing speech practice, roles, feedback, contests, and more.\n\" class=\"wp-image-3508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6.jpg 675w, https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Explore 8 powerful benefits of becoming a Mercury Toastmasters Berlin member.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><code><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ <![CDATA[ function toggle_visibility(id) { var e = document.getElementById(id); if(e.style.display == 'block') e.style.display = 'none'; else e.style.display = 'block'; } \/\/ ]]><\/script><\/code><\/p>\n<h3><a>Q: What is the Toastmasters mission?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q1\">\n<p><!--Original line was not showing the answer anymore:\n\n\n<div id=\"Q1\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\n--><\/p>\n<p>A: Toastmasters teaches you to prepare and give <b>public speeches <\/b>and presentations, make <b>impromptu speeches<\/b>, and <b>evaluate<\/b> speeches, among other leadership skills. The approach is learning by doing.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: What are the benefits of membership?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q2\">\n<p>A: Many! First of all, you get access to <b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toastmasters.org\/pathways-overview\">Pathways<\/a><\/b> Toastmasters\u2019 education program, with 10 specialized learning paths to choose from. Other benefits include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access to a library of <b>free online materials<\/b> on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.toastmasters.org\/\">Toastmasters International website<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The opportunity to set your own <b>educational path<\/b> in our club, <b>perform speeches<\/b> and complete projects in the areas of communication and leadership<\/li>\n<li>The chance to take part in <b>speech and evaluation contests<\/b> at club and higher levels<\/li>\n<li>The monthly <b><i>Toastmaster<\/i><\/b><b> <\/b>magazine containing articles and materials about public speaking and leadership.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: When and where are meetings held?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q3\">\n<p>A: Our meetings take place every first 3<b>\u00a0<\/b>Wednesdays of the month.<br \/>Check out details on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/mercury-toastmasters-develop-public-speaking-and-leadership\/\">Meetup<\/a>.<br \/><!--\n at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahoyberlin.com\/\">Ahoy Berlin<\/a>, Wattstra\u00dfe 11, 13355. \n--><\/p>\n<p>Doors open at 7:15 p.m. so you can arrive a few minutes early to \u201cwarm up\u201d and greet other attendees. The speaking program begins at 7:30 p.m. and lasts two hours. Meeting dates can be found in our club\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/tmclub.eu\/view_meeting.php?c=333\">online calendar<\/a>. In the rare event of a cancellation, details are posted on our home page at least one day ahead of time.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: What&#8217;s a typical meeting like?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q4\">\n<p>A: Meetings are split into two parts. The first part comprises <b>several speeches<\/b> prepared by our members according to requirements in the Toastmaster manuals. After a mid-session break comes <b>Table Topics<\/b>, an exercise in impromptu speaking. For more details see a <a title=\"Meetings\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/?page_id=23\">sample agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: Can I attend as a guest?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q5\">\n<p>A: Of course! Our meetings are open to <b>everyone<\/b> who wishes to join in and see how it works. You don\u2019t need to register in advance \u2013 just show up at the next meeting.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: I\u2019d like to come, but I\u2019m afraid I\u2019d have to speak. Can I just listen?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q6\">\n<p>A: Well, that\u2019s what our meetings are all about: <b>speaking<\/b>. But don\u2019t worry, newcomers won\u2019t be forced to speak if they don\u2019t want to. If you just want to sit and listen, that\u2019s okay!<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: Can I speak German during the meeting?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q7\">\n<p>A: No, our club is <b>English-speaking<\/b> only. There are seven German-speaking Toastmasters clubs in Berlin \u2013 see the full list <a title=\"Toastmasters Clubs in Berlin\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/?page_id=641\">here<\/a>. The other English-language clubs in town are <a title=\"First Berlin Toastmasters\" href=\"http:\/\/www.fbtm.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">First Berlin Toastmasters<\/a>, <a title=\"Splendid Speakers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.toastmasters.org\/Find-a-Club\/07567137-splendid-speakers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Splendid Speakers<\/a> and <a title=\"Center Berlin Toastmasters\" href=\"http:\/\/centerberlin-toastmasters.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Center Berlin Toastmasters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: Is my English good enough to give speeches?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q8\">\n<p>A: Our members include many non-native speakers with varying levels of proficiency, so there&#8217;s really <b>no need to worry<\/b>. We also have native English-speakers who point out common mistakes, but they always do so in a very positive manner.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: Where can I join?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q9\">\n<p>A: Ask our vice president in charge of membership for a <b>sign-up form<\/b> or download it <a title=\"Mercury member application form\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/General_Docs\/ApplicationFormMercury-edited.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: How much does membership cost?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q10\">\n<p>A: To become a <b>member<\/b> of the club, you pay a 20 Euro one-time registration fee plus 60 Euro in membership dues every six months, in April and October. If you join mid-season you need to pay for the remaining month in the running season only. E.g. you want to join in January: Your monthly dues account for 30 Euro (Jan, Feb and Mar) plus 20 Euro one-time registration fee.<\/p>\n<p>Before you join, you can attend as a <b>guest<\/b> as often as you want to get an impression and decide whether Toastmasters is right for you. We encourage our guests to take roles at the meetings and participate in Table Topics &#8211; the impromptu speeches.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<h3><a>Q: How can I pay the fees?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div id=\"Q11\">\n<p>A: Fees are paid by <strong>bank transfer<\/strong>\u00a0to our treasurer. The account details will be provided with the registration form.<\/p>\n<hr \/><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Top<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Q: What is the Toastmasters mission? A: Toastmasters teaches you to prepare and give public speeches and presentations, make impromptu speeches, and evaluate speeches, among other leadership skills. The approach is learning by doing. Q: What are the benefits of membership? A: Many! First of all, you get access to Pathways Toastmasters\u2019 education program, with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-21","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21"}],"version-history":[{"count":134,"href":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3524,"href":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21\/revisions\/3524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}