Toastmasters International's Youth Leadership Program is an very good way to help teenagers begin learning more effective communication and leadership skills that are essential to become successful in life's future path.

The program is an informal interactive workshop in communications targeting those under the age of eighteen which is conducted in four to eight sessions of one to two hours each. Ideally, there are 15 to 25 participants in these group sessions.

An adult coordinator and assistants help prepare and monitor the sessions however, the participants themselves conduct the meetings. At these session, participants learn:

• Speech preparation and presentation
• How to conduct meetings
• Effective listening skills
• How to evaluate and offer helpful advice
• Participate in and lead group discussions or meetings

Acquiring skills in speaking, listening, thinking, and evaluating is quite important in today's fast paced world where people need to flexibly adapt. To help in this process the teenage participants can be mentored by experienced Toastmasters should they choose.

The sessions of the Youth Leadership Program covers a variety of topics which play a part in good public speaking.

• Gestures
• Vocal Variety
• Using Visual Aids
• Speech Organization
• Taking the Terror Out of a Talk
• Effective Speech Evaluation
• Constructing a Speech
• Relating to Your Audience

Further information on the Youth Leadership Program can be obtained through the Toastmasters District 1 Youth Leadership Program coordinator.