Grammarian
An exercise in expanding your listening skills. You introduce a new word to the club and comment on how English is used across the whole meeting.
The Three Parts of This Role
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Note exceptional uses of the English language
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Note improper uses — and suggest how to improve them
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Provide and track the Word of the Day
Before the meeting
Choose your Word of the Day
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Read the Toastmaster's email and pick a word aligned with the meeting theme
What makes a good word:
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Fits easily into everyday conversation, but is different from how people usually express themselves
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Two syllables is ideal
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An adjective or adverb works best — more adaptable than a noun or verb
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Not vulgar
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On-theme, but not so on-theme that people use it unintentionally all night
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Stuck? Pull a word from the theme and ask Google or an AI for synonyms
Prepare your materials
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Print two sheets of paper with the word in letters large enough to read from the back of the room, include the word, what type of word it is, and a brief definition
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Write a sample sentence showing the word in use
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Note any accepted variations (different tenses)
Prepare your two mini-speeches
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Intro (2 min) — cover: why the club needs a Grammarian, all three parts of your role, the Word of the Day, and the rule that everyone stomps their feet or taps their thighs when a speaker uses the word intentionally. Make it a mini-speech — get creative, it's stage time
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Report recap — a short lead-in to your end-of-meeting report
On meeting day, before 7pm
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6:30 PM — arrive, meet the SAA
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Collect the Grammarian sheet from the Toastmaster or SAA (or use your own notebook)
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If the Word of the Day posters are already up, write your word on them. If not, post yours around the room — visible from both the stage and the audience
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The SAA will tap your shoulder when it is your turn
Your Intro - 2 min
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The Toastmaster calls you up — shake hands on stage
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Deliver your mini-speech: your role, the Word of the Day, the definition, your sample sentence, accepted variations
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Tell everyone to stomp their feet when the word is used
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Shake hands, return to your seat
Throughout the meeting
Listen to everyone — speakers, role-takers, evaluators — and write down on your report form:
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✅ Exceptional or interesting words and phrases
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❌ Improper uses of grammar or language
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⭐ Every use of the Word of the Day, and who used it
Your Report - 2 min
The SAA will tap your shoulder. Stand and deliver loud and clear:
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Exceptional / interesting words and phrases you heard
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Improper uses of language — always with a suggestion for improvement
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Who used the Word of the Day the most
After the meeting
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Take down the Word of the Day signs
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Clean them and return them to the lockers
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Give your completed report sheet to an Executive member
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Support the team in returning the room to its original setup
Materials
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Grammarian report sheet
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Word of the Day poster template
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Toastmasters "Word of the Day Cards"
Questions?
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Contact the Executive team or the VP of Education