本項翻譯係經世界總會授權，版權亦屬世界總會及中華民國國際演講協會所有，
註明出處，歡迎轉載。

為何留?

譯者：高珮萱 Melissa, Hsin Chu

Awards or not, this member is a winner in Toastmasters.
不論獲獎與否，我們在演講會皆是贏家。
　

Since joining Toastmasters in 2002, I have given more than 30 prepared speeches and entered numerous speech contests. I can’t win a title or a “Best Speaker” ribbon if my life depends on it. I still keep speaking.
自從我2002年加入演講會，我完成超過30個指定演講，參加過無數次演講比賽。我無法贏得比賽前三名，或例會的「最佳演講員」的榮譽彩帶，我仍然持續發表演講。 

I have read stories in the Toastmaster magazine about how improved speaking skills enable members to land better jobs and realize their dreams. My income has gone down by 10 percent and I don’t know what my dreams are. I still keep coming.
我曾經在演講人雜誌月刊上，讀到如何增進演講技巧，並協助演講會會員，將工作做更好，同時完成夢想的故事。我的收入下降百分之十，我對未來夢想也是毫無頭緒。我仍然持續參加。 

I have given speeches and Table Topics presentations peppered with plenty of ums, ahs and you knows. Many times my cheeks burn red and cold sweat beads pop out on my forehead. I still keep at it.
我發表演講及即席問答，夾雜著夠多的嗯、阿、你知道。很多次我在台上面紅耳赤，前額頭冒著冷汗。我仍然持續不懈。 

Why? Because since joining Toastmasters, I have gone from being unable to speak in front of a group without a script to being able to (mostly) give five- to 15-minute speeches without so much as an index card to guide me. My sonic-speed vocal cadence has slowed to a rate accessible to the human ear.
為什麼呢？因為自從加入演講會，我從無法不帶小抄在眾人前講話，成長到即使沒有小抄指引，我也可以完成五至十五分鐘的演講。我原先像光速般的聲頻，也調降到人類耳朵可接受的範圍。 

There was a time when I wanted to quit. Then I remembered that at my first three club meetings, I could not utter a word. Now I regularly stand up and speak off the cuff as a participant in Table Topics. Making announcements at the lectern as a club officer poses no problem.
我曾經一度很想放棄。然後我回想起我頭三次參加例會，我可是連一個字都說不出口。現在我可以正常的站起來，亳無困難地回答即席問答的問題。甚至以分會幹部的身分，在講台上宣佈會務，也輕而易舉。 

While my professional situation is currently in tatters, the practice of speaking and thinking on my feet allows me to better articulate my thoughts. I may be between jobs at the moment, but I sound and act like a professional.
當我的事業走到低潮期，在演講及即席演講的練習，讓我更能認清楚我的想法。當下我可能介於工作轉換之際，我卻看起來以及在外表現，像個專業人員。 

With Toastmasters helping me take the fear out of talking, my self-esteem improved. Now I can stand up for myself – firmly but gently – in personal and work situations. When I felt wronged or criticized in the past, I wouldn’t say anything – not because I felt I deserved such treatment, but because I couldn’t think of an appropriate response fast enough. Now I can, thanks to Toastmasters.
在演講會的練習，讓我說話時不再恐懼，同時提升我的自尊。現在我在私人及公務場合，可以堅定並溫和的為自己挺身而出。在過去，每當我覺得自己犯錯，或被他人批評時，我不會說任何話，原因並不是我覺得我應該受到如此對待，而是因為我當下無法立即快速作出適當回應。現在托演講會的福，我可以了！ 

By taking on leadership activities within my club, my confidence has grown. I can even facilitate communication among people with opposing viewpoints. I am not afraid to gently push people to do what they need to do. Through the process of delivering evaluations, I can now express my thoughts diplomatically as opposed to too bluntly.
藉由參加分會的相關領導活動，我的自信心增加。我甚至可以在，持有不同觀點的人群中，擔任協調溝通的角色。對於推動人們，去作他們應該做的事，我並不懼怕。藉由發表講評的過程，現在我可以靈活的表達想法，避免過於坦率而傷人。 

Every time I give a speech, I am pushing myself toward my goals, whether it is another degree of certification or becoming a better speaker.
每一次我完成一個演講，我在不斷推動我自己朝著目標前進，不論目標是一個學位的證書，或是成為一個更好的演講者。 

My creativity has blossomed through brainstorming sessions for speech topics. My brain power has expanded by doing research for my speeches. My comfort level has increased as I have shared my own thoughts, interests and experiences in the gentle, supportive atmosphere of my club.
在演講題目的腦力激盪過程，激發我的創意能力。我的腦力因演講所需的研究而擴充。每當我在溫和並被支持的氛圍下，分享我的想法、興趣和經驗，我的舒適程度增加。 

I joined Toastmasters not to become a professional speaker, as many of my fellow club members have. I have no desire to become a life coach or a corporate trainer. My reason for joining was simple: I wanted to become a better public speaker for those life events that require it. Should I have to give a eulogy, speak out about a community issue or give a toast at a birthday party, I wanted to be prepared.
我參加演講會，不同於許多其他會員，是為了成為一個專業的演講者。我對於成為人生救援教練，或企業訓練家毫無興趣。我參加的理由很簡單：我希望成為人生場合所需，較好的公眾演講家。有時，我是否必須要能朗讀一個頌詞、表達一個社會的議題、或在生日派對上代表致詞，我想要隨時準備好！ 

If called on, I now readily get up to speak in front of a large group. I’m still far from perfect, but I’ve improved enough so that a non-Toastmaster cannot see my flaws. That is one of the hidden benefits of Toastmasters: Even if you can’t join the best in the world at the International Speech Contest, you’ll seem like a great orator to the average person. To everyone who tells me, “You sounded great up there,” I tell my secret: “Join Toastmasters.”
如果被叫上台，我現在已經準備好，可以在一大群人們前演講。我的表現，距完美還很遠，但已經進步許多，至少讓非演講會的人，無從得知我心中的緊張。那是演講會一個隱藏的利益：即使你無法參加國際演講比賽拿冠軍，在一般人群中，仍然看起來像個厲害的演說家。每一個前來稱讚我：「你的演講真精采！」的人，我會不吝分享我的秘密：「參加演講會！」。 

I have just completed my Advanced Communicator Bronze award and will now become the president of my club and join my area’s advanced club. I realize I’m in Toastmasters for the long haul.
我才完成我的銅牌高級演講員榮銜，並為我們分會的會長，同時加入分區裡的進階演講會。我明白我演講會將有更長遠的路要走。 

Competing at the International Speech Contest is not what I hoped to get out of my Toastmasters experience – but you never know. 2011 might be my year!
參加國際演講比賽，不是我演講會生涯所期望的，但是—誰知道呢！2011年也許是屬於我的！ 

Tracy Keller, ACB, is a member of the Back Talk Toastmasters in Peabody, Massachusetts.
崔西凱勒，銅牌高級演講員，麻州Peabody市的Back Talk演講會會員