What I Learned About Communication at a Portuguese Toastmasters Meeting (Where I Didn't Speak the Language)
What happens when you attend a Toastmasters meeting conducted entirely in a language you don't understand? You might expect confusion, awkwardness, or a wasted evening. Instead, I walked away with one of the most profound lessons about communication I've ever experienced — and, somehow, an award for best table topics response. Here's the story of my visit to the Oporto Toastmasters Club in Porto, Portugal.
Why I Decided to Attend a Meeting in a Language I Don't Speak
My wife and I recently traveled to Portugal, and Porto was one of our favourite stops — a truly beautiful city. As a dedicated Toastmasters member, I did my research ahead of time because I wanted to visit a local club during our trip. That's when I discovered the Oporto Toastmasters Club, which has a fascinating format: they alternate their meetings each week between Portuguese and English.
I reached out to the club and heard back from the VP of Membership, Paulo. He was welcoming but honest: "The date you're planning to visit falls on a Portuguese meeting week — but I hope you'll still come."
My initial reaction was hesitation. I emailed Paulo back explaining that I don't speak any Portuguese and didn't think it would work. But he continued to encourage me, and I started to reconsider. I've always been deeply impressed by Toastmasters members who show up week after week and deliver speeches in English when it's their second (or third) language. The courage that takes is remarkable. So I thought: why not flip the script and put myself in their shoes?
Pre-Meeting Nerves
I'll admit it — even as someone comfortable with public speaking, I was nervous walking into that room. There's something uniquely vulnerable about being in an environment where you can't rely on language to connect with others. Right before stepping through the door, I recorded a quick video of myself and said, "I will probably understand very little, but it will be an interesting experience — and that's what this is all about."
My biggest worry? That I'd somehow be called on to speak — in Portuguese.
A Warm Welcome and a Unique Club Format
The moment I walked in, Paulo greeted me warmly and introduced me to the other club members — in English, for my benefit, which I greatly appreciated. It was wonderful meeting so many individuals who are fluent in both Portuguese and English.
As the meeting kicked off, I quickly noticed that the Oporto Toastmasters Club has some unique traditions I hadn't encountered before:
- A Theme Master: Someone who sets a creative theme for each meeting, adding an extra layer of cohesion and engagement.
- A Port toast at the end: Because they're in Porto — the birthplace of Port wine — they close each meeting with a small celebratory toast. (Honestly, every club should consider adopting this tradition.)
- Learning moments: The club incorporates dedicated educational segments drawn from both current and legacy Toastmasters materials to continuously sharpen their members' skills.
The Power of Communication Beyond Words
Here's where the experience became truly eye-opening. Even though every speech was delivered in Portuguese — a language I'm completely unfamiliar with — I found that, after a few minutes, I could follow the general themes of what each speaker was talking about.
How? Through body language, vocal variety, and confidence.
We often hear that the words we say make up only a small percentage of how a message is delivered. Sitting in that meeting, I experienced the truth of that principle firsthand. The speakers' gestures, facial expressions, tonal shifts, and physical energy communicated meaning that transcended the language barrier. It was almost like a game of charades — I was piecing together narratives from non-verbal cues alone, and it worked remarkably well.
This was a powerful reminder: if your body language and vocal delivery are strong enough, your message can reach people even when they don't understand a single word you're saying. That's a lesson every speaker should take to heart.
My Table Topics Response (in English) — and an Unexpected Award
At the beginning of the meeting, I was asked to introduce myself. Mercifully, they allowed me to do this in English. Later, I was called up for a table topics response — again in English, thankfully.
I spoke about why I originally joined Toastmasters. For my job, I was required to speak to a group of 50 to 60 people once a month, and I was absolutely petrified. Two weeks before each presentation, the anxiety would begin. My sole goal in joining Toastmasters was to reduce that stress — to make speaking in front of people less terrifying.
Over three to six months of regular meetings, that's exactly what happened. The anxiety diminished, which was mission accomplished. But then came all the other benefits: learning to make eye contact, using hands effectively for emphasis, controlling tone and vocal variety. The growth compounded in ways I never expected.
I closed by expressing my admiration for the club members, who not only speak in their native tongue but also alternate weeks delivering speeches in English. "I have to speak in English to all of you, which is something I could stand to improve on in a secondary language," I said. "So thank you for this opportunity."
To my genuine surprise, that response won me the best table topics award for the meeting. I'm fairly certain the members were simply being gracious to a visiting guest, but I'll take it!
A Club with Deep Roots: Paulo on 18 Years of History
After the meeting, I had the chance to sit down with Paulo, who has been instrumental in the club's growth over many years. He shared some fascinating history.
The Oporto Toastmasters Club is the second oldest club in Portugal, founded on November 20, 2006. In its 18 years of existence, the club has achieved Presidents Distinguished status an astonishing 17 times. Originally located at the Porto Business School, the club now meets at a university technology centre and serves as the main Toastmasters hub for northern Portugal.
Paulo explained that a major part of their success lies in their commitment to innovation while respecting the core Toastmasters format. "We do not alter what a Toastmasters session is," he said. "We just spice it up with tiny improvements — like a Theme Master, like making a real toast at the end — little things that make the club more interesting and help combat the membership turnover that most clubs struggle with."
The club's success has even spawned growth: at least three other clubs have been born from Oporto Toastmasters over the years. At one point, when Paulo was president, the club had 60 active members — so many that they had to split into two clubs because the size was simply unmanageable.
Katarina on What Makes Oporto Toastmasters Special
I also spoke with the club's president, Katarina, about what draws people to the Oporto Toastmasters Club and what sets it apart.
Katarina's own journey began when she was a PhD researcher working in a foreign country. She needed to improve her communication skills and her confidence speaking in English publicly. "I joined and felt very welcomed," she said. "The feedback we get is incredibly useful, and it's a safe environment. I kept coming back — and here we are."
When asked what makes the club different, Katarina pointed to the members themselves: "The members here are people who come with a very high level in terms of their professional lives. They're already in interesting places, which makes them interesting members. But at the same time, they're very focused on improving — and they're very funny. That combination is what makes this club truly special."
As for the impressive quality of speakers, Katarina credited the club's investment in structured learning moments. When Toastmasters transitioned to the Pathways program, some of the focused skill-building from the legacy Competent Communication handbook became more dispersed. Oporto Toastmasters made a deliberate effort to recover those elements and weave them into their meetings as targeted learning opportunities — and the results speak for themselves.
A Truly World-Class Toastmasters Experience
Attending the Oporto Toastmasters Club meeting was one of the most unique and frankly amazing Toastmasters experiences I've ever had. The quality of speakers — even evaluated purely on body language, eye contact, the ability to present without notes, and vocal variety — was at an exceptionally high calibre. It's no accident. This is a club that invests in its members, grooms future leaders, and plans for smooth leadership transitions.
But beyond the mechanics of great speaking, the experience taught me something invaluable: communication is so much more than words. When you strip away language, what remains — your presence, your energy, your expressiveness — is what truly connects you to an audience. If you're ever in the Porto area, whether you speak English, Portuguese, or neither, I wholeheartedly encourage you to reach out to the Oporto Toastmasters Club and experience what they've built. It is truly something special.