Independent task: speaking, personal preference questions

You can practice these questions by yourself. Remember you have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 to talk.

Take into account: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation. Speak clear and do not hesitate.

• What do you think is the best way to learn a second language? Give your opinion.

• Name a skill you have learned and explain why it is important to you. Include details and examples to support your explanation.

• Some students prefer to do the group projects. Other students prefer to do individual projects. Which kind of projects do you think produce more learning and why?

• Some people work for a business, and some people work in their own business. Which would you prefer to do and why? Include details and examples in your explanation.

• A good teacher should have some special qualities. What qualities do you think are necessary for a good teacher to have access and why? Include details and examples in your explanation.

Secrets for the Reading section

from English club

The iBT does not test grammar separately as previous TOEFL tests did. You will still need to prove that you have a strong grasp of grammar in the speaking and writing sections. It is helpful to familiarize yourself with key academic vocabulary. Keep in mind that you don't need to know every word in a reading passage to answer the questions. Practise reading without a dictionary close by. When it comes to the questions, concentrate on the areas that the questions pertain to. Skim through the passage, read the questions, then read for more detail. The questions usually come in the order they appear in the passage. Anticipate the type of questions you will be asked in this section. Many of the readings have a main idea question. You will be asked at least two vocabulary questions from each reading. You will also be asked some detailed questions and some inference questions. You will not have time to reread a whole passage.

New accents in the Speaking and Listening part from March 2013

From this year, TOEFL has added new accents to its listening and speaking section. This will be competitive to other cultures and more worldwide. In my classes, I always encourage my students to listen audio and videos from other languages. English is not only American or British, It is part of what we consider globalization. 

For more information about accents in the TOEFL visit toefl.org

Videos with TOEFL tips from teachers

Do you really want to know what do teachers expect from you? What kind of essays they consider the most amazing? What kind of answers are expecting to hear in the speaking part?

http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/content/tips-esl-teachers-what-teachers-want-you-know

TOEFL crosswords

Would you like to improve int your vocabulary or just to review some words? One of the best ways is to do crosswords. ETS has an excellent tool with TOEFL words, so don´t get lazy and start!

http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/crossword-puzzle

TOEFL tips for the writing

From English Grammar
There are two tasks in the TOEFL Writing section. The first writing task is an integrated task: you will have to listen to a lecture and read a passage. You must then write a summary of both passages.

The second writing task is an independent essay. You have to write an essay of at least 300 words on a given topic. You will have to write on the topic you are given. No choice is available. TOEFL iBT is a computerized test. You have to type both essays on a computer. If you do not know typewriting well, you must practice on a keyboard before your test.

You can cut, copy and paste as you type your essays, but remember that the computer will not check your spelling or grammar. That means you have to do your homework. Learn the spellings of all words you tend to misspell.

General writing strategies
The TOEFL writing section has two tasks. It takes about 50 minutes. Here are a few tips for success on the Writing section.

Organize your thoughts first
Do not start writing as soon the section begins. Instead, use one or two minutes for organizing your ideas. This is very important, because few people are capable of organizing their thoughts in their mind as they write. As a result they will have to edit more.

By organizing your ideas in the beginning itself, you will get an outline for your essay. Once you have got the outline ready, you only need to develop the ideas into paragraphs. However, do not spend more than 2 or 3 minutes on an outline. Remember that you will not get any marks for the outline

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Use familiar vocabulary
Some students try to impress the examiner with complex vocabulary. You must not try this stunt if you are not familiar with these words. Of course, you have to use academic words in your essay. However, they needn’t necessarily be obscure.

Speaking part (tips)

Written by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors
For many students, the Speaking section of the TOEFL is the hardest. Not only do you have to show mastery of spoken English, but you also need to perform well. If you’re not used to speaking in front of an audience, or if you’re generally shy or soft-spoken, the performance aspect of your oral answers can affect your score significantly.

Why does this happen?

Inexperienced public speakers aren’t used to calibrating their voice and speed. They may mumble, speak too quickly or in a monotone, or insert filler phrases like “um” when uncertain of what to say next. Without the feedback of an audience, such speakers don’t realize that the WAY they’re speaking is creating a negative impression about WHAT they’re saying.

How can you avoid these pitfalls?

Create opportunities for public speaking, if you can. Volunteer to lead a group presentation, or teach a group of friends how to do something that you know well. Read a newspaper item out loud to your family. If you can’t practice in front of an audience, you should still practice speaking out loud to an empty room. The goal is to get used to projecting your voice, speaking clearly, and pacing yourself.

Here are some additional tips for good public speaking:

Breathe. Students often try to say as much as possible in their answers. This causes their words to blur together, and makes the rater’s job harder. Slow down by taking a breath at the end of each sentence. This will also give you a moment to organize your thoughts.

Sit up in your chair. Or even better, stand. Projecting your voice is difficult if you’re slouched into a chair. Whether sitting or standing, have your back straight and your head up. Breathe slowly and deeply.

Avoid caffeine and dairy products. Caffeine dehydrates. Since nervousness alone can cause dry mouth, you don’t want to make the situation worse by drinking caffeinated beverages before the TOEFL exam. Similarly, dairy products create the sensation of needing to clear your throat. Drink water instead.

Warm up your voice. Try a few tongue twisters or other brief speaking exercises to warm up your voice. This will help you to enunciate clearly.

Even though you can’t practice answers for the content of the Speaking section, you can practice your performance skills. By improving to the performance aspect of your answer on the Speaking section, you might raise your score by two or more points!