Diversity Toastmasters Club Meeting #178

Date: March 19th, 2025

Time: 21:00-22:20 (Japan Time)

Venue: Online

Hi there, thank you for visiting our blog!

We are an online Toastmasters club based in Japan. Anyone who is interested in visiting our club, just come visit our meeting. We will welcome you with open arms, and excited to listen to your story!

We had a cozy yet exciting meeting last night with quite a few new vocabulary and ideas. It was my first time hearing "spring quartet" and "osettai". The four nature colors of spring in Toyama prefecture is stunning! And I like the combination of the words. It sounds very poetic!

One of the members was telling us about her plan doing Osettai which is the practice in Shikoku island, supporting pilgrims along the way with small gifts, food nd even even a place to stay a night! I was impressed by the kindness of the people in the region.

The proposition of our debate session was "Homework should be banned from all elementary and middle schools in Japan". I was the affirmative speaker presenting three points 1. Stress for the students, 2. Forcing to improve in-class instruction quality, and 3. Equity of the students brings huge gap in students' understanding.

The negative speakers pointed out some good counter speeches mentioning effectiveness of doing a moderate amount of homewark, skill acquired for time management, and quality family time doing homework with parents.

It was interesting taking the affirmative role which contradicts my personal opinion. And I learned that makes this debate session enjoyable. It really is a great way to understand what the people on the opposite side are thinking. It becomes an eye-opening experience for anyone. I started liking the debate session even more!

The table topics session was full of new information as well. The topic master prepared enough questions for everyone revolving around the "March" theme.

I didn't know there are "world book" "world sleep" "world wildlife" "world eaffle" days in March.

The word of the day "spirited" was used a couple times during the meeting.

It was an another spirited meeting at the end.

 Thank you everyone who participated in our meeting last night! See you again on April 2nd!