Club roles · The Ah-Counter
The Ah-Counter listens for filler sounds, overused or repeated words, and overlong pauses, then keeps a separate tally for each speaker. This guide covers what to count, how to explain the role, and how to report the results.
During the meeting
Thursday club meeting
SavedThe list
“I, I” or another unintended repetition
an unnecessary pause used in place of a word
These examples come from Toastmasters International’s Ah-Counter role materials. Role responsibilities may vary slightly by club, so check with a club officer and apply the agreed approach consistently. View the official source.
The meeting
Start with the examples in the official Ah-Counter log, then check whether your club uses any additional local conventions. Official guidance says to listen to anyone who speaks during the meeting.
Prepare a row per expected speaker before the meeting starts, whether on paper or in a counter on your phone.
When you are introduced, tell the room which words and sounds you will count. You can use the following script:
“As Ah-Counter, I listen for filler sounds such as ah, um, and er; overused words or phrases such as well, so, and you know; repeated words; and overlong pauses.”
“The purpose is to help speakers notice these habits. I will report the counts at the end of the meeting.”
Tally each filler when you hear it, and keep every speaker’s count separate. If you miss one, continue rather than guessing.
Read the totals for each speaker and keep the report brief and neutral.
The report
When you are called on during the evaluation portion of the meeting, give the totals for each speaker. For the sample tallies shown here:
“Maya had seven ums and four likes, mostly during transitions between points.”
“Owen had five ahs. Priya had five fillers in total.”
“There were thirty-two fillers across the three speakers.”
Keep in mind
Give the counts and, if useful, mention where they occurred. Avoid personal judgements about the speaker.
Official guidance covers anyone who speaks. If your club follows a different local practice, confirm it with a club officer before the meeting.
If your club wants a copy, share the report link in the club chat rather than posting it publicly.
Sample meeting report
Mostly during transitions between points.
This summary contains the same names and counts used in the sample script.
Add each speaker, then tap a word whenever you hear it. The tool keeps the counts separate and prepares a summary for the report. Counting is manual, and no audio is recorded.
Open the free Ah-CounterSources
We checked the role duties and examples on this page against these Toastmasters International resources. Club practice can vary, so follow your meeting agenda and club officers.
These links point to official Toastmasters International material. speaking.app remains an independent product and is not affiliated with Toastmasters International.
Filler sounds such as ah, um, and er; overused words and phrases such as well, so, and you know; repeated words or phrases; and overlong pauses. Clubs may vary slightly, so confirm any local practice with an officer.
Toastmasters International’s guidance says to note filler words and sounds used by anyone who speaks during the meeting. If your club follows a different local practice, confirm it with a club officer beforehand.
Give each speaker’s totals briefly and neutrally. If appropriate, mention an improvement you noticed. A full sample report is on this page.
No. You count manually by tapping a button when you hear a filler word. The counter does not record audio.
Yes. The counter works in English, Spanish, German, French, and Portuguese. Each language has its own default filler-word list; for example, the Spanish list includes “este” and “o sea”.
No. speaking.app is independent and not affiliated with Toastmasters International. The role duties and examples on this page are checked against the official sources linked below. Ask a club officer when local practice differs.
speaking.app is an independent product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by Toastmasters International. TOASTMASTERS is a trademark of Toastmasters International, used here only to describe meeting roles and formats.