TOEFL Preparatory Course

SPEAKING SKILLS 1+2

LISTENING SKILL 1
 The TOEFL iBT Speaking Section

The TOEFL Speaking section actually tests more than just

.your English-speaking skills

It tests your ability to (1) read, listen to and understand

recordings by native English speakers, (2)
pronounce words correctly, (3) use appropriate
.grammar, and (4) manage your time wisely

This section also tests exam-taking strategies, such as your

.ability to (1) remain focused and (2) take brief notes
Though you won’t be speaking directly with another
person, you will be speaking out loud into a
.microphone

No one will be listening to you in the moment, but

.your recordings will be graded later

TOTAL 20 minutes

 
 TOEFL Speaking Questions

The Speaking section is made up of SIX tasks ( 6

:questions) , which require you to

give personal opinions-

summarize lectures and conversations-
 .speak about the opinions of others-

TOEFL Speaking topics vary, but the format of the

.section is always the same
There are two categories of questions in the Speaking
:Section

Independent ( single) (2 Tasks )-

Integrated( together) ( 4 Tasks )-
 TOEFL iBT Speaking Task Types

Independent Tasks

Personal Preference - Preparation time: 15 seconds Response .1

time: 45 seconds
This question asks the test taker to express and defend a personal
choice from a given category—for example, important people,
places, events or activities that the test taker enjoys. ( personal
opinion)

Choice - Preparation time: 15 seconds Response time: 45 .2

seconds
This question asks the test taker to make and defend a personal
choice between two contrasting behaviors or courses of action.
( choose between two things)
 Independent Speaking Rubrics

1- The response Content

2- Delivery
3- Language Use : vocabulary / grammar
4- Topic Development: how you organize your ideas

https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_speaking_rubrics.p
df
 Independent Task 1

This question will generally ask you about a person, place, event or
object that is familiar to you. You should choose an answer that you
.can support with reasons and examples from your real life

.Look at the topic below for 15 seconds

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Use
.reasons and details to support your response

Preparation Time: 15 seconds     

     Response Time: 45 seconds

.After 15 seconds, please speak into the microphone

 ??How do you structure your response

Introduction : Personally, I would like to be ………….. For -

.the following reasons

Supporting Idea 1+ Examples & Details-

.Reason 1+ Explain it+ Example

Supporting Idea 2+ Examples & Details-

Reason 2+ Explain it+ Example

……………,Conclusion = In conclusion-
 ??How do you structure your response

.Introduction : Personally, I would like to be ………….. For the following reasons -

.I think that being a pilot would be interesting for me for the following reasons

Supporting Idea 1+ Examples & Details-

.Reason 1+ Explain it+ Example
The first reason is that I could travel the world. Being a pilot will give me the chance to travel by planes to
.different parts of the world. For example, I have wanted to go to China, being a pilot will give that chance
..…………… ,First of all

Supporting Idea 2+ Examples & Details-

Reason 2+ Explain it+ Example
The second reason is that you can learn about other people’s cultures. Pilots travel the world and that would
give them the chance to go to different countries and meet different people and learn about their cultures.
For example, I have always wanted to learn about the Chinese culture , so going to China will give that
.opportunity
,Secondly

Conclusion = In conclusion, I would like to be a pilot because I could travel the world and learn about other -
.people’s cultures
 Useful Language

:For Introductions, you can start with -

.……,For me-
.…… I think that -
..…… ,In my opinion-
…… I believe that -
Personally, I would like to be a …………………..for the -
.following reasons
 To give reasons

.………… That is because -

……………… The first/second reason is that-
………The first/second reason is that-
………… First of all -
……………Secondly-

.Introduction: Personally, I would like to be a …………………..for the following reasons

Reason 1 + explain it+ example -1
The first reason is that I am good at football. (2)If you are good at something you excel )1(
.in it. (3)For example, If you are good at math, you excel in it and get really good grades
Reason 2+ explain it + example -2
The sec0nd reason is that it is not a difficult job and you can make a lot of money. It is )2(
very good to have an easy job that you love and you can make a living of it. For example,
Ronaldo is a very good football player who made a lot of money and became rich out of
.something he loves

Conclusion: In conclusion, I would like be a professional football player because I am

.good at football and it is not a difficult job and you can make a lot of money
 To add more points

.…………… Another reason/ example is -

.……… ,In addition -
..……… ,Furthermore-
…………… ,Moreover-
: Instead of
..…And
.…Also
As well
 To give examples

…………For example-
……………For instance-
.…………like/ such as -
 To conclude

In summary -
In brief-
In conclusion -
To sum up-
 !Let’s Practice Speaking

What is your favorite food? Use reasons and details to -1

.support your response

If you suddenly got 10 million Dirhams, what would you -2

spend it on? Use reasons and details to support your
.response

If you could live anywhere, where would you live? Use -3

.reasons and details to support your response

Which person who is alive today would you most like to -4

.meet? Use reasons and details to support your response

Why are you preparing to take the TOEFL test? Use -5

.reasons and details to support your response
 Independent Task 2

In this part you have to speak for 45 seconds about a choice. You will be
presented with two situations or opinions. You'll be asked which
.you prefer, and you need to explain your choice

.Look at the topic below for 15 seconds

Do you prefer to go out for dinner or stay home and cook a

.meal? Use reasons to support your response

Preparation Time: 15 seconds     

     Response Time: 45 seconds

.After 15 seconds, please speak into the microphone

 ??How do you structure your response

= Introduction -

= Supporting Idea 1+ Examples & Details-

= Supporting Idea 2+ Examples & Details-

= Conclusion-
 Useful Language

…I prefer….rather than/instead of -
…… I would rather -
 !Let’s Practice Speaking

Do you prefer to be in a large or a small class? Use -1

.reasons to support your response

Would you prefer to take a trip by plane or train? Use -2

.reasons to support your response

Do you think it is better to study alone or study with -3

.friends? Use reasons to support your response

Would you like to live in a big city or a small town? Use -4

.reasons to support your response

Do you prefer to take essay exams or multiple-choice -5

.exams? Use reasons to support your response
 !More Practice

w.bestmytest.com/blog/toefl/new-toefl-speaki
2019
 Listening Skills

The kinds of questions that the TOEFL listening

section asks are very similar to those in the reading
.section

:There are two components to the TOEFL listening test

Conversations (2) )1(
Lectures ( 4) )2(
 LISTENING PASSAGES

The Listening section of the TOEFL measures the ability

to understand English as it is spoken in North
:American academic settings. The section contains

Two conversations between two people, each followed-

by five questions

Two lectures with student comments and questions,-

each followed by six questions

Two straight lectures, each followed by six questions-

 Conversations

The conversations are generally between a student and a

professor or other university staff member, such as a
librarian, counselor, administrative assistant in a university
.office, and so on

The conversations are often of a problem/resolution type,

where the student needs assistance from the other person
and must explain her needs to obtain the desired assistance,
.and the other person attempts to assist the student

.The conversations average two and a half minutes or more

 Lectures

The lectures are on a range of topics, covering history, art,

.business, science, and social science

The lectures do not assume specialized knowledge in any

field, nor do they assume detailed knowledge of United
.States culture, government, history, and so on

However, a basic, introductory-level understanding of a

variety of fields will make the lectures (and reading) much
.easier to follow

.Lectures average four to five minutes

 Markers of Authentic Speech

Markers of authentic speech—such as pauses,

digressions, interruptions, hesitations, false starts
(e.g., “I’m not . . . I don’t really know the answer to
that question”), idioms (e.g., “I don’t have a clue
what you mean”), and colloquial language (e.g., “The
scientists were sort of surprised by the results”)—are
.evident in both the conversations and lectures
TOEFL Listening Section Breakdown – Question Types
 :Topic/Main Idea/Gist

When identifying the topic or main idea of a lecture of

 :conversation, questions along the lines of

 ?What is the subject of the conversation/lecture

 ?What is the topic of the discussion/academic talk

Keep in mind these are general questions needing

.general answers
:Questions testing our understanding of the 'gist' include

What is the subject of the conversation?

What is the main idea of the conversation?
What is the purpose of the conversation?
Why does the student go to the office?
Why does the student visit the professor?
?What is the conversation about
 !Listening Practice

earsonlongman.com/toefl/246/62979/1612266
html

xamenglish.com/TOEFL/TOEFL_listening
.htm
 Tips to Improve Your Listening Skills

Practice listening to something in English

every day, and gradually increase the amount
.of time that you listen
.Listen to different types of materials
:Listen actively. Try to answer the following questions
who
what
when
where
why
how
.Listen passively to get the general idea of what's being said -
Keep a listening log (a list of everything you listen to in English each
.day/week)

Write a 1-sentence summary to remember the main idea of what -

.you heard

.Write down new expressions, idioms and vocabulary that you hear -

.Use dictation and other exercises to help your listening ability -

Ask an English speaker to dictate an article to you. Good sources of material are magazine or
.online articles or textbooks
.First, write down exactly what you hear
.Then, only take notes on the important points that you hear
.Do information gap exercises, using unfamiliar content and complex structures
Use the resources in your community to
.practice listening to English
.Visit places where you can practice listening-
.If possible, enroll in an English class
.Go to a museum and take an audio tour in English
.Follow a guided tour in English in your city
Call or visit a hotel where tourists stay, and get information in
.English about room rates, hotel availability or hotel facilities
Call and listen to information recorded in English, such as a
movie schedule, a weather report or information about an
.airline flight
.Watch or listen to TV programs and podcasts recorded in English -
Some helpful TV channels to listen to are CNN®, Discovery Channel® and National Geographic®, as well
.as soap operas or situation comedies
.Do this with a friend and talk about the program together

Watch movies or other videos online (turn off the captions!) or go to a -

.movie in English

.Listen to an audiobook in English-

Listen to English-language recordings that come with a transcript. -

:Listen to each recording at least 3 times
.The first time, take notes about the main ideas you hear
.The second time, read the transcript and listen for the ideas you wrote down
.The third time, write down any words and phrases that you didn't understand, and look them up

.Practice speaking English with others

.Exchange language lessons with an English speaker who wants to learn your language
 .Begin to prepare for academic situations

.Visit academic classes conducted in English -

Record lectures or presentations, and replay -
.them several times
Listen to short sections several times, until you understand the
.main points and the flow of ideas
.Stop the recording in the middle, and predict what will come next
Become familiar with the organization or-
.structure of academic lectures
Pay attention to the difference between main ideas and details
.presented
.Listen for the general (main) ideas
.Pay attention to details — facts, examples, opinions
.Pay attention to the structure-
Lecture or presentation — introduction, body and conclusion
Narrative story — beginning, middle and end
.Learn to recognize different styles of organization -
Theory and evidence
Cause and effect
Steps of a process
Comparison of 2 things
.Think carefully about the purpose of the lecture -
Try to answer the question, "What is the professor trying to accomplish in
"?this lecture
Write down only the information that you hear. Be careful not to interpret
information based on your personal understanding or knowledge of the
.topic
Develop a note-taking strategy to help you
organize information into the main points
.and supporting details

.Make sure your notes follow the organization of the lecture

Listen for related ideas and relationships within a lecture, and

.make sure you summarize similar information together

.Use your notes to write a summary

Listen for signals that will help you understand the
organization of a talk, connections between ideas
.and the importance of ideas

Listen for expressions and vocabulary that tell you

the type of information being given. Think carefully
:about the type of information that these phrases show
opinion — I think, It appears that, It is thought that
theory — in theory
inference — therefore, then
"-negatives — not, words that begin with "un-," "non-," "dis-" or "a
fillers — non-essential information — uh, er, um
Identify digressions — discussion of a different topic from the
main topic — or jokes that are not important to the main lecture.
!It's OK not to understand these
Listen for signal words or phrases that connect ideas in
order to recognize the relationship between ideas. Think carefully
:about the connection between ideas that these words show
reasons — because, since
results — as a result, so, therefore, thus, consequently
examples — for example, such as
comparisons — in contrast, than
an opposing idea — on the other hand, however
another idea — furthermore, moreover, besides
a similar idea — similarly, likewise
restatements of information — in other words, that is
conclusions — in conclusion, in summary
.Pay attention to the connections between examples
.When you hear 2 details, identify the relationship between them
.Write a sentence connecting the examples, using the appropriate connecting word
Pay attention to intonation and other ways that speakers indicate
:that information is important. Important key words are often
repeated
paraphrased — repeated information but using different words
said louder and clearer
stressed
Pay attention to body language and intonation patterns used to
.express different emotions
.Emotions are often expressed through changes in intonation or stress
Facial expressions or word choices can indicate excitement, anger, happiness or
.frustration
Listen to how native English speakers divide long-
sentences into "thought groups" to make them easier to
understand — a thought group is a spoken phrase or short
.sentence. Thought groups are separated by short pauses
Listen to sets of thought groups to be sure you get the whole idea of the
.talk
.Listen for pauses between important points
Listen for numbers you might hear in prices, times or-
.addresses
Listen for verbs and other expressions that show if an-
.event is happening in the past, present or future
During a lecture, pay attention to words that are written
.on the board