Script: Ah Counter
2021-05-10
When introduced by the Toastmaster, please state the following:
“Greetings Mr./Madam Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, and guests.
The purpose of the Ah-Counter is to note words and sounds that are used as a “crutch” or “pause filler” by anyone who speaks. During the meeting, I will listen for overused words, including and, well, but, so, and you know.
I will also listen for filler sounds, including ah, um, and er.
I will also note when a speaker repeats a word or phrase, such as “I, I” or “This means, this means.”
At the end of the meeting, I will report the number of times that each speaker used these expressions and how they used them.
Thank you, Mr./Madam Toastmaster.”
Use this Check-list to record fillers:
https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/ah-counter-script-and-log
Reference Materials:
1. Counting on the Ah-Counter
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2021/june/counting-on-the-ah-counter
2. Like, Um, How Do I Stop, Ya Know, Using Um and Ah?
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2017/september-2017/umah
3. An Empty Tradition?
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2018/mar2018/an-empty-tradition
4. Drop Those Crutches
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2019/feb/drop-those-crutches
5. So, What's So Bad About So?
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2020/aug/toolbox-so-whats-so-bad-about-so
6. CUTTING OUT FILLER WORDS
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/articles/cutting-out-filler-words
----------------------------------------------
Report:
【基本の構成】
1. 各話者ごとの使用回数の報告
2. 全体へのコメント(共通点や改善点など)
個別に伝えるとき:
* “[Speaker’s Name] used ‘ah’ three times and ‘um’ once.”
* “[Name] had a total of five filler words — mostly ‘so’ and ‘you know.’”
* “[Name] used two filler words: one ‘um’ and one ‘ah.’ Very minimal — well done!”
* “[Name] did not use any filler words. Excellent control!”
* “For [Name], I noted repeated use of ‘like’ — five times.”
まとめて言うとき:
> “Here’s my report:
> Speaker 1 (John): 3 ums, 2 ahs
> Speaker 2 (Mary): 1 um
> Speaker 3 (Ken): No filler words — great job!
> Table Topics Speaker A: 2 ‘likes’, 1 ‘you know’”
【全体へのコメント】
* “Overall, the use of filler words was low today — great improvement!”
* “Some speakers tended to start sentences with ‘so’ — something to be aware of.”
* “Many of you showed excellent awareness and control of unnecessary sounds — keep it up!”
* “It might help to slow down and pause instead of using ‘um’ or ‘ah.’”
【ポジティブな締めの言い方】
* “Thank you for your attention, and let’s continue to improve our fluency and confidence!”
* “That concludes my Ah-Counter’s report. Back to you, Mr./Madam Toastmaster.”
* “Let’s all try to aim for fewer filler words next time — thank you!”
【便利な語彙・表現】
| filler words | つなぎ言葉(um, ah, like, you know, well 等)
| crutch words | 頼りがちな言葉(例:I mean, basically, really, actually)
| repeated words | 繰り返しの言葉(like like, so so)
| verbal pauses | 音で間をつなぐ(えーと、あのー)
| fluency | 流暢さ
| speech flow | 話の流れ・テンポ

“Greetings Mr./Madam Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, and guests.
The purpose of the Ah-Counter is to note words and sounds that are used as a “crutch” or “pause filler” by anyone who speaks. During the meeting, I will listen for overused words, including and, well, but, so, and you know.
I will also listen for filler sounds, including ah, um, and er.
I will also note when a speaker repeats a word or phrase, such as “I, I” or “This means, this means.”
At the end of the meeting, I will report the number of times that each speaker used these expressions and how they used them.
Thank you, Mr./Madam Toastmaster.”
Use this Check-list to record fillers:
https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/ah-counter-script-and-log
Reference Materials:
1. Counting on the Ah-Counter
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2021/june/counting-on-the-ah-counter
2. Like, Um, How Do I Stop, Ya Know, Using Um and Ah?
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2017/september-2017/umah
3. An Empty Tradition?
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2018/mar2018/an-empty-tradition
4. Drop Those Crutches
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2019/feb/drop-those-crutches
5. So, What's So Bad About So?
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2020/aug/toolbox-so-whats-so-bad-about-so
6. CUTTING OUT FILLER WORDS
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/articles/cutting-out-filler-words
----------------------------------------------
Report:
【基本の構成】
1. 各話者ごとの使用回数の報告
2. 全体へのコメント(共通点や改善点など)
個別に伝えるとき:
* “[Speaker’s Name] used ‘ah’ three times and ‘um’ once.”
* “[Name] had a total of five filler words — mostly ‘so’ and ‘you know.’”
* “[Name] used two filler words: one ‘um’ and one ‘ah.’ Very minimal — well done!”
* “[Name] did not use any filler words. Excellent control!”
* “For [Name], I noted repeated use of ‘like’ — five times.”
まとめて言うとき:
> “Here’s my report:
> Speaker 1 (John): 3 ums, 2 ahs
> Speaker 2 (Mary): 1 um
> Speaker 3 (Ken): No filler words — great job!
> Table Topics Speaker A: 2 ‘likes’, 1 ‘you know’”
【全体へのコメント】
* “Overall, the use of filler words was low today — great improvement!”
* “Some speakers tended to start sentences with ‘so’ — something to be aware of.”
* “Many of you showed excellent awareness and control of unnecessary sounds — keep it up!”
* “It might help to slow down and pause instead of using ‘um’ or ‘ah.’”
【ポジティブな締めの言い方】
* “Thank you for your attention, and let’s continue to improve our fluency and confidence!”
* “That concludes my Ah-Counter’s report. Back to you, Mr./Madam Toastmaster.”
* “Let’s all try to aim for fewer filler words next time — thank you!”
【便利な語彙・表現】
| filler words | つなぎ言葉(um, ah, like, you know, well 等)
| crutch words | 頼りがちな言葉(例:I mean, basically, really, actually)
| repeated words | 繰り返しの言葉(like like, so so)
| verbal pauses | 音で間をつなぐ(えーと、あのー)
| fluency | 流暢さ
| speech flow | 話の流れ・テンポ
