¿Qué estrategias se pueden usar para obtener una buena puntuación en la sección Speaking del TOEFL®? En esta primera entrega de un total de tres se analizan las dos primeras tareas de la sección Speaking (Independent Speaking Tasks). Se comienza con un análisis de esta sección del examen TOEFL®, para muchos la más difícil de todo el examen. Se continúa con una descripción de los dos tipos de Speaking (Independent and Integrated) y el sistema de evaluación de las tareas. Finalmente, el artículo se concentra en las primeras dos tareas de la sección Speaking (Independent tasks), con una grabación de un hispanohablante y un análisis posterior de la respuesta.
The hardest part of the TOEFL iBT® is the speaking section. This is very difficult for various reasons: 1) you are timed, 2) you are recorded, 3) you have a very specific task to accomplish for each speaking test, and 4) the room you are taking the test in will have other people who are also talking and doing the same test, which means you will have background noise that could distract you.
To prepare for this test at home use the recommendations below and time and record yourself. This will give you a sense of urgency and frustration, so that when you get to the test it will be a “walk in the park” (very easy). This will probably be the test that you score the lowest on, but I hope to outline some recommendations so it will be easier.
The speaking section, like the writing section, has two parts: an independent part (during which you give your opinion) and an integrated part (during which you connect together different sources of information). We will look at these speaking tasks in sets of two. In this first post, we will focus on the independent tasks.
Grading
You will be graded by two raters per spoken test who will give you a whole number score between 0 and 4. Like writing, you are scored, basically, on three things with equal weight: structure, development/clarity of ideas, and language usage (both good and bad).
Independent speaking
Your independent tasks are similar to the prompts that you have for writing. You have two of them. For both, you are asked to give and develop your opinion about a topic that is given to you.
Your first one is called the “personal preference task” and the second is called the “paired choice.” After the prompt is read to you (and displayed on the screen), you will have 15 seconds to plan your response. During your planning time, you should write your choice and two supporting reasons.
Task one: What is the most amazing book you have ever read and why do you think so?
Task one questions will normally ask you for your best/most/favorite of something (book, vacation, food, etc.). In your planning time, make a simple outline such as:
100 Years of Solitude
- magical
- historical
You will then have 45 seconds to talk about the topic, developing your ideas with clear examples and descriptions.
Example: Please listen to the example response below from a native Spanish speaker.
This student, “Juan”, gave a very good response (probably a score of 4 or 3.5). He chose Harry Potter, though didn’t specify which book or the whole series. He explained it gave him a magical view of reality, and that he enjoyed the length because he dislikes short stories. His grammar and vocabulary were mostly correct, and he was self-correcting. Minor pronunciation issues were present, but he communicated effectively.
Task two: Some people enjoy cooking, others hate having to cook and only do it out of obligation. How do you feel about cooking and why do you think that way?
Task two always asks you to choose between two options. Choose one and support it — do not try to argue both sides.
Example outline:
Love cooking
- creativity
- eat healthy
You will have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak, developing your ideas with examples and explanation.
Example: Please listen to the example response below from a native Spanish speaker.
Again, Juan gives a great response (probably a 4). He expresses his opinion clearly and gives two reasons. As a teacher, I would suggest he use better linking words like “firstly” and “secondly”, and explain more how loving to eat connects to cooking. His conclusion is brief but acceptable.
