POINTS TO STUDY
- Practice
TOEFL speaking comprehension
이전엔 말하기 시험은 없었는데 요즘은 이렇게 말하기 능력도 테스트를 하는군요. 토플이 무진장 어려워진듯 합니다. 말하기 영어에서 기본적으로 중요한 것이 결국엔 제대로 듣고
이해하는 것이고, 이를 바탕으로 적절한 문장의 영어로 대답하는 것입니다. 말하기 연습이 제대로 되어 있지 않은 상태에서는 답을 알고
있다 하더라도 조리있게 말한다는 것이 쉽지 않습니다. 평소의 말하기 연습에 많은 노력을 기울여야만 좋은 점수를 얻을수 있으리라 믿어집니다.
VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyOeytP6eOs
SCRIPT, LISTENING TIPS, & GRAMMAR
(More information on how to
prepare and take the TOEFL speaking test is available at the bottom of this
post.)
Unit 4 Problem
solution. Directions:
In this question,
you will listen to a conversation. You
will then be asked to talk about the information in the conversation and give
to your opinion about the ideas presented. After you hear the question, you
will have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.
Sample practice.
(Now listen to a
conversation between two students.)
Now, Great… what’s
wrong? My computer broke down as you
know the report is due tomorrow. Now
what am I going to do? Did you save your
files? If you did, there might be a way
to open them. Unfortunately, no, I didn’t
save them. I can’t believe it. See I was almost done. Even if I stay up all night, I don’t think
that I will be able to finish it by tomorrow.
Why don’t you go down to the help desk?
I’m sure they could help you.
Yeah, I know, but it’s almost midnight.
I have to pay extra for after-hour service. I rather the library charges
money for any services or help after 10 at night. Oh~, is that true? I didn’t know about that. Then why don’t you talk to your professor tomorrow? Maybe she could give you an extension. If you tell her what happened to your
computer, I think she’ll understand. No
way, I remember when Jennifer asked her for extension because she was hospitalized;
Professor Fickle refused and told Jennifer it would be unfair to the other
students. I think she is really
strict. I don’t think that a computer
breakdown problem could be an excuse.
The two students
talk about the man’s problem. Describe
the problem and state which of two solutions you prefer and why? Please begin speaking after the beep.
Sample answer
The man worries that
he might not meet the due date as his computer broke down while doing his
school work. The woman suggests him to ask
help at the help desk or ask the professor to an extension. I think he should go down to a help desk and
see if they can help. The best reason is
that it may be a minor technical problem.
As the staff members at the help desk or an expert in computers they
will easily find our how to restore his file. You have to pay the money, but it
could save his time as well. Also I
think meeting the due date is problem or responsibility. If he doesn’t want to make the professor feel
he’s unreliable. I think he rather find
a way than to talk about the problem.
Practice test 1
(Now listen to the
conversation between two students.)
Oh,,,oh, we’re in
trouble. What do you mean we’re in
trouble? What’s wrong? Well, you will know that one of the famous philosophers
is supposed to give us a speech next week?
Yeah, I heard about that. I read
it in the school bulletin. So, what
about it? Why are you so concern? Well, I’m so worry that not many students are
aware of it. I’m getting worried that he
might have to give a speech in a large with only a few students. If that happens, I’m going to feel really bad
for the lecturer. Yeah, I get your
point. Say, if you’re that concern, what
about sending e-mails to whole department?
I’m sure that students will check the emails and could be a good chance
to let them know about it. Yeah, that
could be a way. Or why don’t you ask the Professor to lead the discussion class
rather than a lecture? Tell the
professor that students want to talk more deeply about his book, which is
recently published. Well, I guess that
it won’t be easy to ask the professor for a change because the lecture is in a
week. I need a solution anyway.
The students
discussed two possible solutions to the woman’s problem. Describe the problem, then state which of the
two solutions you prefer and explain why.
Please begin speaking after the beep.
Sample answer
The guest speaker is
coming to give a speech next week and a woman is worried that not many students
will come. Two suggestions are given;
send e-mails to the students or ask the professor to lead the discussion
instead of giving a speech. I think it
will be better to send e-mails to the students. I’m sure that most of the
students check their e-mail everyday so it will be the best way to inform them
about the speech. Also I think the
professor won’t have enough time to prepare.
Only a week is left and surely the speaker will have his own agenda so I
think the woman should send e-mails to the students.
Practice test 2
(Now listen to a
conversation between two people.)
Hello, professor
Finley. How are you? Oh, hello, Professor Brown, I’m good. How about yourself? I’m fine except for one thing. One of my students has a swimming competition
that she has to attend, but it’s on the day of our term exam. I want to give her the opportunity to do
both, but I don’t know how. I can’t
arrange that. If I give her an
extension, I have to do that whole class.
And I don’t think I want to do that.
Do you have any suggestions?
Well, how about allowing her to take a make up test? It’s not an extension; you can just continue
with the other student’s exams and give her separate test paper on the day of
her return. In that play, you don’t have
to change your schedule. The only thing you have to do is to make another test
paper. I’ve thought of that too, but our
department never allows make up tests. It’s
a way to prevent plagiarism. Hum.. then,
why don’t you give her an extra writing assignment? Give her long and challenging assignment that’s
enough to cover the content of the exam so that it could make up for her missed
exam so her grade for her paper would be her grade for the exam. I think you can work your way around, can’t
you? Maybe, but the problem is, she is
taking too many other courses and has many writing assignments too. If I give her another writing assignment on
top of the others, I think the result will be worse than expected.
The professors discussed
two possible solutions to the woman’s problem.
Describe the problem, then state which of two solutions you prefer and
explain why.
Sample answer
In the conversation,
the woman doesn’t know what to do. She wants to give the opportunity to her
student to attend the swimming competition and write the final exam scheduled
for the same time. The man offers two
possible solutions either give the student a make-up exam or an extra writing
assignment. I think the woman should
give the student an extra writing assignment. Since the school doesn’t allow
anyone to take a make-up exam, I’m sure they won’t make an exception just for
her. Although it won’t be on the same
day that other people have to take it, it would be fair if the content of the
assignment covers the term. For these
reasons, the woman should give a writing assignment.
Practice Three
(Now listen to two
students as they talk about mess in the dorm.)
Have you ever been downstairs’
dorm kitchen? No I stayed up all night
doing my projects and just came back from my class. What’s up with the kitchen? Well, I just went down there to heat up some
soup and I was surprised to see the mess.
You should’ve seen the greasy dishes and leaky facets and the trash can
that is never empty. The university
should hire a genitor for the dorm. I
mean if the students can’t do it, there should be someone assumed to be
responsibility. Yeah, you’re right, but
maybe it will cost us money. I heard that the student committee’s always
worrying about the tight budget. I don’t
think they can afford to pay for a genitor. Then if the dorm and administrator
can afford the money, what about making students assigned the chores? If we
make a schedule to check up what is done and what is not, it will be much
better. Then we don’t have to stand the mess.
The two students
give two possible solutions about the dorm kitchen. Describe the problem, then state which of two
solutions you prefer and explain why. Pleases begin speaking after the beep.
Sample answer
The student said the
dorm kitchen should be cleaned and to solve the problem two solutions are
given. The university could hire a staff
to take care of the dorm or the students can make a list and divide chores
equally. I think assigning the chores would be better. The first reason is that
money could be saved as the university is worrying about the money even if they
decide to hire a staff. I’m sure the
students would have to wait for a long time.
Another thing is that if the students divide the chores, they will learn
the responsibility for where they live. I think the students don’t care for
that because they believe someone else will clean it up. But while cleaning up the kitchen, students
will be more like hosts.
TODAY’S PRONUNCIATION
Daily Pronunciation #63 - English Lesson – LUMINARY
PREVIEW FOR TOMORROW
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
FROM ORIGINAL POST
From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyOeytP6eOs
These are 4 sample questions
for the TOEFL ibt speaking section. As you probably already know, the speaking
test is divided into 6 sections and this video deals with question number 5;
problem solving.
In this question, you are asked to listen to two students (usually a man and a
woman) discussing solutions to a given problem. The problem is usually related
to life on a university campus with some rare exceptions. But no matter the
nature of the problem, your job is ALWAYS the same. There is no way you can be
startled by this question. The question is often worded in the following way
The students discuss two possible solutions to the man/woman's problem.
Describe the problem and state which of the two solutions you prefer and why.
I personally think this is one of the easiest questions in the whole test. You
may disagree with me, but let me tell why I think it is an easy one.
First of all, unlike the first two questions, you don't need to be creative.
You don't have to come up with something intelligent to say or share something
personal. Indeed all the material is provided for you. All you have to do is
listen to the conversation, take notes following a very simple pattern and then
decide which of the two solutions sounds the best.
Once you have selected the solution, all you have to do is state the advantages
of the solution and perhaps the disadvantages of the other solution, which by
the way are all provided in the conversation.
It is important to note that you MUST NOT come up with a solution of your own.
The question clearly stipulates that you have to select one of the solutions
provided in the conversation. What you can do though is to come up with
additional reasons to support your choice, but it is not a requirement.
Remember, this is a language test, nobody actually cares about whether or not
your solution is the best. All they care about is how well you can deliver your
thoughts in ENGLISH...
Anyways, here is how I advise my students to structure their notes.
1: The Problem: _____________________
2: Solution 1: ______________________
2.1: The advantages_______________
2.2: The disadvantages____________
3: Solution 2: ______________________
3.1: The advantages_______________
3.2: The disadvantages____________
4: My opinion: 1 or 2
4.1 My 1st reason _________________
4.2:My 2nd reason _________________
And that's it... Just make sure that you get all that info while you are
listening and preparing you r answer should be much easier.
Here is how the speech should actually be presented
1: State the problem briefly: 5-10 secs
2: State the best solution: 5 secs
3: State your first reason 10 secs
4: Provide an example/detail 10 secs
5: State your second reason 10 secs
6: Provide an example/detail 10 secs
7: make up a cute conclusion 5 secs
There is no way you can fail the organization part for that question if you
follow that pattern.
NOTE
Of course, the judges expect you to summarize using different words than those
used in the conversation. That is when all those synonyms and paraphrasing
skills come in handy. So make sure you keep the content, but change the words.
Good luck
Here is the link to the PDF speaking scoring grid
http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/Speaki
ng_Rubrics.pdf
It will give you a good idea of what they use to grade you