Testimonials
WRITING
(English)
I was captivated by the article "Know Thy Culture" in the October issue of The Toastmaster. So many articles about understanding cultural differences contain recycled, heard-it-all-before information. This was a great "insider's" look at listening to a 'typical' American speaker from an outside perspective. I laughed, learned a lot, and came away feeling enriched for having read the piece.
Dena Harris, Award-Winning Author and Feature Writer, Madison, NC, USA
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Another Step in Communication
WOW was the word that I had to say after reading your article. It was the first time ever I came across such a professional article about speaking amongst different cultures. I am sure that this article would have helped many people around the world.
Mohamed Shukry, SriLankan Airlines, APIIT Toastmasters, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Brilliant article with all the hallmarks of your perceptiveness and humor.
Martine Marie, Insurance Advisor, Adcahb Medical Coverages, Lighthouse Point, FL, USA
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This is just a short note to say that I found your October 2009 TOASTMASTER magazine piece, about cultural differences, absolutely fascinating. Congratulations on the skill which you show in explaining sociological changes smoothly and clearly I was particularly impressed by the way you said: "My French acute sense of privacy and my Latino-borrowed reverence of family fused with his depictions like a Molotov cocktail in my stomach." Although I am neither French nor Latino myself, I feel much more sympathy towards French and Latino attitudes in this matter than I do towards American ones. We Australians are a strange mix. The founding British influence on our culture has greatly declined in recent years, and is widely assumed to be nonexistent today. But whenever I visit America, I find how strong British tendencies are within myself.
Rob Stove, Editor, Writer, Composer, Organist, Media Producer, Melbourne, Australia
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I didn't even mind that the bus took twice as long as it should have because I was so enjoying your article - and yes I loved the last line....Those French!
Nan Norton, Public Speaking Coach, Paris, France
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I grew up in Mexico, lived in Germany and in Spain, travelled extensively in Latin America, and have been in the U.S. since 1998.... Usually one learns the business etiquette, and some do’s and don’ts when visiting a foreign country, however, I'd never seen an article that addressed this from the perspective of an speaker addressing a foreign audience. Great job!
Joaquin Soria, Vice President - Managing Partner Nutrac, Inc, Mooresville, NC, USA
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Your article was laugh out loud funny.
Joe Thomas, Toastmasters Club Awesome, Coral Springs, FL, USA
There is SO much fascinating stuff in your article, we most likely will not get to it all [in the interview]. Your story about attending the motivational speech at the business convention in FL is golden! I
Ryan Levesque, President, iGrOOps LLC., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA
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I loved your article in TM magazine. You describe the classical principle of decorum so well –audience- centred communication. The classical writers emphasised it all the time for a successful speech.
Judy Tarling, author of Speaking with Quintilian, Battle Speakers Toastmasters Club, UK
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Thank you for a succinct and penetrating article. I have asked my club to give me as many of these issues as possible. Through my work, I have quite a bit of contact with our international students.
There are a number of professionals in our various International Centers, as well as students, that will find this of great interest. Would you be open to emailing a copy to me that I can more easily disseminate?
I also want to find a way to contact the HR Director of a St. Louis-based company that operates in 38 countries. He spoke on campus at the Business College last month. When I asked him to comment on the challenges of managing a workforce located around the world, he basically said, you just create one company culture!! And when a student asked about the value of studying another language, he practically shrugged it off, explaining that most countries have plenty of English speakers, and they just hire native speakers as they need them. He totally missed the point of the cultural experience and transformation in studying another culture and hence gaining insights into one’s own.
Sharon C Silva, Coordinator Best Practices and Special Projects, Office of the Vice Provost for International Programs, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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Such useful information, so succinctly written, and so applicable to much of what we 'travellers' have found in different countries
Pat Hyduk, Director PMH Consultants, Ontario, Canada
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Your Oct. 2009 article concerning the assumptions Americans make about what their audiences like was right on. This Christmas when I visit England, I want to give a speech at one of the TM clubs in Essex. You gave me a lot to think about and I intend to tone down my normally lively speaking style and introduce myself a bit more conservatively.
Debra Callender, Member Babble-On Toastmasters, Portland, OR, USA
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You have captured the very essence of effective public speaking: character; the character of the person who is doing the speaking, as distinct from the personality. 'Presence' although intangible to our normal senses is, nevertheless, there. It is radiated. It is radiated in those pauses between words, no matter how articulate or unsophisticated the words themselves. It envelopes us and we respond as we, too, indentify with that which is far above the mundane in each and every one of us. You portrayed this so well in your article and I thank you for it.
Tom Ware, Dundas TMC, Sydney, Australia
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Hear This: Tone Down the Cheerleading!
I am in total agreement with Florence Ferreira’s reaction to the cheerleader technique of many American speakers and moderators (“Know Thy Culture,” October). Although born and reared in the United States, I too have been turned off by the need of presenters (yes, even Toastmasters) to introduce their messages by shouting, “Are we having fun?” and, if the response is not enthusiastic enough, “I don’t hear you!” American culture demands show biz in everything we do, and that usually equates to energy, speed and volume. Perhaps Toastmasters training should include the information that audience enthusiasm builds naturally after (and not before) the speaker presents a well-designed and delivered speech. The expectation is on the speaker, not the audience.
Jen Fredericks, Morristown Toastmasters, Morristown, NJ , USA
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I need to buy a new highlighting pen. Ms. Ferreira’s article, Know Thy Culture, in the October edition of Toastmaster provided so numerous points of invaluable advice that my highlighter ran dry. Her advice and insights are not only vital to anyone considering speaking abroad but also illuminate the reason and purpose behind the speaking techniques Toastmasters, and others, advocate throughout the U.S.A. and Canada. I would not be surprised if the article became a popular reference or instructional aid.
As President of a rather visible club in an extremely multicultural city, being cognizant of other cultures isn’t sufficient to ensure that members receive the education and experience they need to speak successfully within their community, at work or before a broader public. Ms. Ferreira’s article has brought to my awareness the need for a framework and forum to identify and learn about the deep cultural patterns necessary to succeed as intercultural presenters – at home, let alone abroad. Given the cultural diversity of our city and club membership, I now realize the tremendous opportunity our club has to harness this and raise the competence, confidence and impact of our members.
However, to put a program together with my executive team, I’m still going to need that highlighting pen. Gratefully, a highlighter is a small price to pay for the awareness and advice I received. Thank you very much for ‘finding’ Ms. Ferreira and publishing her article.
If you post a podcast of the article or an interview with Ms. Ferreira, please send me the link so I may place it on our website and newsletter.
Fraser B. Barnes, President , Toronto Business Toastmasters, Toronto, Canada
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Just a short note to say how much I admired Florence Ferreira's recent TOASTMASTER article on cultural assumptions varying from country to country. I do hope you will soon publish more articles by that clearly very stylish and perspicacious author.
R. J. Stove, City Centre Toastmasters, Melbourne, Australia
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When I read the article by Florence Ferreira I had a sense of déjà-vu! I have attended many seminars where the speaker simply has a good time, oblivious of what others are feeling or thinking. If you have to connect with the audience you must understand their cultural differences. It is a lesson not only to speakers but also to people like me who work in a multicultural environment. Thank you Florence for the way you have dealt with the issue in the article. I look forward to read more from you!!
Premnath Menon, Citizenship Officer, The Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua, Wellington, New Zealand
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Since I previously wrote to complain about an article, I wanted to keep with the spirit of Toastmasters and write to compliment you this month. "Know Thy Culture" by Florence Ferreira in the October magazine was more than useful. It was interesting AND helpful. I was fascinated to learn about French style vs. American regarding communication and perception, and I will keep this information in mind in the future. The article was extremely well written as well as an enjoyable read. Thank Florence for writing it and thank you for publishing it. I look forward to many more such practical and enlightening pieces in the future.
Wendy Levine, San Mateo, CA, USA
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Hear This: Tone Down the Cheerleading!
I am in total agreement with Florence Ferreira’s reaction to the cheerleader technique of many American speakers and moderators (“Know Thy Culture,” October). Although born and reared in the United States, I too have been turned off by the need of presenters (yes, even Toastmasters) to introduce their messages by shouting, “Are we having fun?” and, if the response is not enthusiastic enough, “I don’t hear you!”
American culture demands show biz in everything we do, and that usually equates to energy, speed and volume. Perhaps Toastmasters training should include the information that audience enthusiasm builds naturally after (and not before) the speaker presents a well-designed and delivered speech. The expectation is on the speaker, not the audience.
Jen Fredericks, Morristown Toastmasters, Morristown, NJ, USA
Letter from the Editor
Florence, you are a joy to work with – in many ways. As an editor, it’s a treat to read your work: It brims with intelligence, warmth and witty wordplay. In articles such as “When Table Topics are Real,” you display a playful and potent sense of humor; in pieces such as your commentary on the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and your feature on visiting doctors’ offices, you write with eloquence and sharp insight, particularly about cultural and psychological issues. Toastmaster magazine has received many “Letters to the Editor” from readers who have been touched by your articles.
On top of all that, you are very easy to work with – cooperative, giving, always willing to do whatever is needed to make the story better and our jobs as editors easier.
Among many writers, Florence, you stand out.
Paul Sterman, Associate Editor, Toastmaster Magazine, CA, USA
KEYNOTES
(English)
Thank you, Florence, for raising the bar, helping us to learn and making us proud to be a member of BRTM 3299!!
Patricia Martínez, President Boca Raton Toastmaster, Deerfield Beach, FL, USA
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(Français)
Cette présentation particulièrement adaptée, vive, fine, bien menée, à la fois professionnellle et parsemée d'humour a suscité mon intérêt.
Christelle Minot-López, Mission Economique Ambassade de France, Miami, FL, USA
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Au nom de la FACC, je voudrais encore vous remercier pour votre excellente présentation qui a été très bien reçue par l'audience.
Gunter Kuhn, Directeur Chambre de Commerce Franco-Américaine, Miami, FL, USA
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Je tenais à vous remercier et vous féliciter pour votre présentation.
Frédéric V. Blanchard, Constantin Associates, New York, NY, USA
COACHING
(English)
Thanks to your resourceful coaching and intercultural insights, the impact of my presentation to the board of directors in France was a complete success and exceeded my expectations.
L. R., Regional Director for Latin America, British Petroleum Solar, Lima, Peru
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Your customized coaching gave me priceless tips and techniques that have instantly improved my delivery. Most importantly, you helped me develop my own style and persona by stressing my strongest assets. Me, afraid of speaking before an audience? Seems so far behind, now!
Velma Gill, Independent Consumer Goods Professional, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
