I am too shy to speak in front of people. Where do I start?

Start with an audience of one: your phone camera. Record yourself explaining something for two minutes. Then try a small group, like a study group or tech club. Toastmasters is designed for nervous speakers. Your first speech can be two minutes long, and the audience is trained to be supportive.

Is Toastmasters free for students?

There is a membership fee, typically a few thousand shillings per year. Some campus clubs charge less than community clubs. Most clubs let you attend a few meetings as a guest before deciding to join. Ask about student pricing.

Does public speaking help with tech interviews?

Directly. Tech interviews include behavioural questions, system design explanations, and project walkthroughs. All of these are public speaking. Candidates who explain their thinking clearly and calmly outperform those who know the material but cannot articulate it.

Public speaking on campus: Toastmasters and other places to practise | Campus

Public speaking on campus: Toastmasters and other places to practise

Toastmasters clubs exist at several Kenyan universities and are the most structured way to practise public speaking. If your campus does not have one, try the debate society, tech club lightning talks, class presentations, or church groups. The skill matters in interviews, presentations, and every time you pitch a project. Start now while the stakes are low.

Why public speaking matters for your career

Every job interview is public speaking. Every project presentation is public speaking. Every time you explain your code in a stand-up meeting, pitch a freelance project, or present at a hackathon, you are speaking in front of people who are judging what you say and how you say it.

Students who can explain their ideas clearly get more internship offers, win more hackathon prizes, and get promoted faster once they start working. It is not about being loud or charismatic. It is about being clear, organised, and calm when eyes are on you.

University is the safest place to practise because the consequences of messing up are low. Nobody fires you for a bad class presentation. But the skills you build carry into every professional setting.

Toastmasters on campus

Toastmasters International has clubs at several Kenyan universities, including University of Nairobi, Strathmore, and USIU-Africa. Each club meets weekly or fortnightly, and sessions follow a structured format: prepared speeches, impromptu speaking (Table Topics), and evaluations.

What makes Toastmasters effective is the structure. You are not just "practising." You follow a curriculum, receive specific feedback after every speech, and track your progress over time. It is one of the few places where people will tell you be honest what worked and what did not.

Joining costs a small annual fee. If your campus does not have a club, you can visit a community Toastmasters club in your city. Many meet on weekday evenings or Saturday mornings and welcome students.

Other places to practise

If Toastmasters is not available or not your style, you have other options:

Debate society. Most universities have one. Debate sharpens your thinking under pressure and forces you to organise arguments quickly. It is more combative than Toastmasters but equally effective at building confidence.

Tech club talks. Many campus tech clubs run lightning talks or demo sessions where members present projects, tools, or tutorials. Volunteering to give a five-minute talk at your next tech club meeting is a low-pressure starting point. Starting or joining a tech club gives you regular opportunities.

Class presentations. Instead of dreading group presentations, volunteer to be the one who presents. Every presentation you do in class is free practice.

Church, mosque, or community groups. If you are active in a faith community, volunteer to lead a session or give a short talk. These audiences are supportive and forgiving.

Record yourself. Open your phone camera and explain a concept you learned today in two minutes. Watch it back. You will notice filler words, pacing issues, and habits you did not know you had. This costs nothing and requires no audience.

What to do this week

Find out whether your campus has a Toastmasters club, debate society, or public speaking group and attend one meeting.
Volunteer to present at the next tech club meeting or class group presentation.
Record yourself explaining a concept for two minutes and watch it back to identify one habit to fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am too shy to speak in front of people. Where do I start?: Start with an audience of one: your phone camera. Record yourself explaining something for two minutes. Then try a small group, like a study group or tech club. Toastmasters is designed for nervous speakers. Your first speech can be two minutes long, and the audience is trained to be supportive.
Is Toastmasters free for students?: There is a membership fee, typically a few thousand shillings per year. Some campus clubs charge less than community clubs. Most clubs let you attend a few meetings as a guest before deciding to join. Ask about student pricing.
Does public speaking help with tech interviews?: Directly. Tech interviews include behavioural questions, system design explanations, and project walkthroughs. All of these are public speaking. Candidates who explain their thinking clearly and calmly outperform those who know the material but cannot articulate it.