Toastmasters Healesville member Hanh Bui McLay. PICTURE: SUPPLIED
“Even though I was a journalist and I had interviewed many different people as part of my work with a magazine in Vietnam, I didn’t understand why I could not stand in front of more than two or three people to speak.
“Even in a work meeting I never stood up to speak out,” Hanh (pronounced ‘Hi’) confided.
“I would rather die than speak in front of people.”
Hanh came to Australia in 2007 and to Healesville in 2017.
She joined Toastmasters to build her English-speaking skills and to become a better speaker four years ago and has not looked back.
“For that first year in Toastmasters I didn’t understand a lot of what people were saying but everyone was very friendly, welcoming, supportive and encouraging,” she said.
Hanh said she soon realised that what she needed was to change her mindset; to accept that it was all right to make a mistake.
“I was born and grew up in a country where people are not encouraged to say what they are thinking. In school we were not allowed to say what we were thinking so I was afraid I would say something wrong or upset my teacher.”
Toastmasters facilitated that change of mindset.
“I learnt how to say my thinking and to not be afraid that people would judge me right or wrong. Even though I might say something stupid, or my accent was so strong, I felt that people were always supporting me and I overcame my fear.”
Life is good, busy and exciting for Hanh.
During lockdown she founded an online club based on the Toastmasters format to help her life-coaching clients in Vietnam use their voice; to speak out.
She has created a series of online tutorial videos and is in demand as a speaker in Australia and in Vietnam, including an invitation to speak at an upcoming Toastmasters Conference.
A book about life-coaching and about her life in Australia is also underway.
“I think it is a huge step for me, a woman who could not say one word in front of people, to become an inspirational speaker,” she said.
Hanh said she loves going to Toastmasters to use language in a positive way, to communicate and to speak her message in a way that is clear and with no misunderstanding.
Hanh said she loves going to Toastmasters to use language in a positive way, to communicate and to speak her message in a way that is clear and with no misunderstanding.
“Language is a power,” she said “… and we need to use it.”
Her plea … “I would love for the world to use the art of language to communicate with each other to make peace in the world and not use weapons for communication,” a clear reference to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
For information on Toastmasters Clubs in Yarra Ranges visit:
Healesville Toastmasters: https://www.healesvilletoastmasters.org.au
LMC Toastmasters: https://www.facebook.com/lmctoastmasters
CFA D13 Toastmasters: https://d13toastmasters.org.au/
Lilydale Toastmasters: https://www.lilydaletoastmasters.org.au/
Wandin Toastmasters: https://wandin.toastmastersclubs.org/
The reasons people join a Toastmasters Club is varied – a family speech coming up, work presentation, career and leadership advancement … a job interview.
Fear of public speaking is the most common factor and it was Healesville member Hanh Bui McLay’s greatest fear.
“Even though I was a journalist and I had interviewed many different people as part of my work with a magazine in Vietnam, I didn’t understand why I could not stand in front of more than two or three people to speak,” Hanh (pronounced ‘Hi’) confided.
“Even in a work meeting I never stood up to speak out. I would rather die than speak in front of people.”
Hanh came to Australia in 2007 and to Healesville in 2017.
She joined Toastmasters to build her English-speaking skills and to become a better speaker four years ago and has not looked back.
“For that first year in Toastmasters I didn’t understand a lot of what people were saying but everyone was very friendly, welcoming, supportive and encouraging,” she said.
Hanh said she soon realised that what she needed was to change her mindset; to accept that it was all right to make a mistake.
“I was born and grew up in a country where people are not encouraged to say what they are thinking. In school we were not allowed to say what we were thinking so I was afraid I would say something wrong or upset my teacher.”
Toastmasters facilitated that change of mindset.
“I learnt how to say my thinking and to not be afraid that people would judge me right or wrong. Even though I might say something stupid, or my accent was so strong, I felt that people were always supporting me and I overcame my fear.”
Life is good, busy and exciting for Hanh.
During lockdown she founded an online club based on the Toastmasters format to help her life-coaching clients in Vietnam use their voice; to speak out.
She has created a series of online tutorial videos and is in demand as a speaker in Australia and in Vietnam and a book about life-coaching and about her life in Australia is also underway.
“I think it is a huge step for me, a woman who could not say one word in front of people, to become an inspirational speaker,” she said.
Hanh said she loves going to Toastmasters to use language in a positive way, to communicate and to speak her message in a way that is clear and with no misunderstanding.
“Language is a power,” she said “… and we need to use it.”
Her plea … “I would love for the world to use the art of language to communicate with each other to make peace in the world and not use weapons for communication,” a clear reference to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
For information on Toastmasters Clubs in Yarra Ranges visit:
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