TOEFL Speaking: A Teacher’s Guide

In this episode titled TOEFL Speaking: A Teacher’s Guide, we dive into a comprehensive master’s project from the University of San Francisco that’s packed with practical strategies and activities to help teachers and students conquer the TOEFL Speaking section. Join us as we explore a guide designed by an experienced TOEFL instructor, breaking down the essential criteria: delivery, language use, and topic development.

We uncover creative classroom activities like “Getting to Know You,” where students practice fluency with a fun twist, and the effective “If I Were You” game, making grammar learning interactive. Discover how scenes from popular films like The Joy Luck Club help students master tricky modal phrases, while the “Think Fast” activity simulates real-time pressure to improve spontaneity and coherence.

We also delve into innovative exercises like “Deer and Share” that encourage engaging discussions, critical thinking, and vocabulary expansion. This episode is brimming with strategies to enhance your TOEFL preparation, focusing on authentic language use and confident communication. Whether you’re a teacher or a student aiming for success, this guide offers a clear roadmap to master the speaking section.

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Transcript

Okay, so have you ever like completely choked in a high-pressure situation? Yeah, I think we all have at some point.

(0:22 - 0:29)
Right, like you know the material, but the second the spotlight's on you, poof. It's gone. Yeah, like your brain just decides to hit the snooze button.

(0:30 - 0:41)
Exactly. And for a lot of people, that high-pressure situation is the TOEFL speaking section. I mean, it's one thing to read and write in English, but to actually speak it fluently and coherently with that ticking clock.

(0:41 - 0:50)
Oh yeah, that's a whole other ballgame. It can feel pretty intimidating. So in today's deep dive, we're tackling that fear head-on.

(0:50 - 1:07)
We're diving into a master's project from the University of San Francisco called A Closer Look at the TOEFL Speaking Assessment Test, a guide to teaching TOEFL IBT speaking. And let me tell you, this guide is like the ultimate cheat sheet for acing that speaking section. Absolutely.

(1:08 - 1:20)
What I love about this guide is it's not just some dry theoretical textbook. It's written by a TOEFL instructor, someone who's in the trenches, who knows exactly what the test makers are looking for. It's like having a secret weapon in your back pocket.

(1:21 - 1:34)
Exactly. And the best part, it's packed with practical speaking activities that target the exact criteria you use to evaluate your speaking performance. So no more guessing games, no more hoping for the best.

(1:34 - 1:39)
This guide gives you a clear roadmap to success. Exactly. Okay, so let's break down those criteria.

(1:40 - 1:53)
The guide focuses on three main areas, delivery, language use, and topic development. Which basically covers everything you need to sound confident, fluent, and like you actually know what you're talking about. It's like the trifecta of speaking skills.

(1:53 - 2:07)
So let's start with delivery. What exactly does that mean in the context of the TOEFL? Well, delivery is all about how clearly and fluently you speak. It's about getting your message across in a way that's easy to understand and engaging for the listener.

(2:07 - 2:26)
Right, because you could have the most brilliant ideas in the world, but if you're mumbling, stumbling over your words, or speaking in a monotone... It's going to get lost in translation, literally. Exactly. So how does this guide help with that? Because, let's be honest, speaking fluently, especially in a second language, can be a real challenge, even on a good day.

(2:26 - 2:35)
Oh, absolutely. That's why this guide is so valuable. It uses really creative, engaging activities to help you build those essential speaking skills in a way that feels natural and fun.

(2:36 - 2:43)
Okay, I'm intrigued. Give me an example. What kind of activities are we talking about? Well, one activity that stood out to me is called getting to know you.

(2:43 - 2:53)
Okay, sounds pretty straightforward. Is it like your typical icebreaker? It starts with those classic icebreaker questions, getting to know your classmates, sharing a bit about yourself. But here's the twist.

(2:54 - 2:58)
Students have to slip in a little white lie. A white lie. Okay, now you've got my attention.

(2:58 - 3:04)
So it's like a game of deception. Exactly. And the other students have to listen carefully and try to guess what the lie is.

(3:04 - 3:14)
Oh, I love that. So it's not just about speaking. It's about listening actively and paying attention to those subtle cues, those little tells that give us away.

(3:14 - 3:24)
Exactly. And what's great about this activity is that it creates this fun, lighthearted atmosphere, which is so important for reducing anxiety, especially in a testing environment. Absolutely.

(3:25 - 3:33)
Because when you're relaxed and having fun, you're more likely to speak naturally and confidently. Exactly. It takes the pressure off and allows you to focus on just communicating.

(3:33 - 3:37)
So it's like tricking your brain into being more fluent. I like it. Exactly.

(3:37 - 3:48)
And that's just one example. The guide is full of these creative, engaging activities. Another one that really stood out uses a hilarious Mr. Bean scene to help students practice fluency.

(3:48 - 3:58)
You know, the one where he's at the restaurant and orders that raw steak tartare? The restaurant scene? Classic Mr. Bean. Okay, I can already see where this is going. It's brilliant.

(3:58 - 4:01)
Right. Because the scene is almost entirely visual. Very little dialogue.

(4:01 - 4:15)
Which is perfect for TOEFL prep because you're often asked to describe a picture or a situation. Exactly. Students can watch Mr. Bean's antics, his facial expressions, his physical comedy, and practice describing his actions in real time.

(4:15 - 4:27)
It's like providing that running commentary, which is such a key skill for the speaking section. And let's be real. It's a lot more fun to learn English grammar when it involves Mr. Bean stuffing a raw steak in his pocket.

(4:28 - 4:32)
It's like, I'm not studying. I'm just enjoying some classic British comedy. Right.

(4:32 - 4:38)
It makes the learning process so much more enjoyable and memorable. Exactly. But this guide doesn't just focus on fluency.

(4:38 - 4:44)
It also dives deep into another crucial aspect of the speaking section. Language use. Right.

(4:45 - 4:57)
Because it's not enough to just speak smoothly. You need to demonstrate that you have a strong command of English grammar and vocabulary. It's like you can have a beautiful car, but if you don't know how to drive it... You're not going to get very far.

(4:57 - 5:15)
Exactly. So how does this guide help us navigate the sometimes bumpy road of English grammar? Well, one thing it does really well is break down complex grammar concepts into bite-sized manageable chunks. And it focuses on the specific grammar points that the TOEFL loves to test.

(5:15 - 5:21)
Like for example, the infamous second conditional. Oh yes. The dreaded if I were you scenarios.

(5:21 - 5:31)
Those can be tricky. They can be a real head scratcher. But this guide has a really clever activity called If I Were You that makes learning this grammar point so much easier.

(5:31 - 5:34)
Okay. I'm all ears. Tell me more about this If I Were You activity.

(5:34 - 5:43)
So it's basically a chain question game. One student might start with something like, if I were a chef. And then they pose a related question to another student.

(5:43 - 5:54)
So it's like, if I were a chef, what kind of restaurant would you open? Exactly. And then that student answers the question and comes up with their own If I Were You scenario to pass on to the next person. I love that.

(5:54 - 5:57)
It's interactive. It gets you thinking creatively. Precisely.

(5:57 - 6:06)
And it forces you to actually use the grammar in a natural conversational way. Precisely. And that's exactly what the TOEFL speaking section is all about.

(6:06 - 6:17)
Being able to think on your feet and communicate your ideas effectively in real time. Right. Because it's one thing to memorize grammar rules, but it's another thing entirely to actually be able to apply them in a spontaneous conversation.

(6:17 - 6:23)
Absolutely. And this activity does a great job of bridging that gap. So we've got fluency covered.

(6:23 - 6:36)
We've got grammar covered. What else does this guide tackle? Well, another area it addresses really well is the use of what we call perfect modals. You know, those phrases like should have, could have, would have.

(6:36 - 6:39)
Oh, yes. Those pesky modals. They always seem to trip me up.

(6:41 - 6:54)
They can be tricky. But they're essential for expressing certain nuances of meaning, especially when we're talking about regrets, past events, or hypothetical situations. And guess what? The TOEFL loves to test those nuances.

(6:54 - 7:11)
Of course they do. It wouldn't be the TOEFL without a little linguistic hurdle to jump over. So how does this guide demystify the world of perfect modals? Well, one thing it does is use a really powerful scene from the movie The Joy Luck Club to illustrate how these modals are used in a natural emotional context.

(7:11 - 7:15)
Oh, The Joy Luck Club. Such a great movie. I actually remember that scene.

(7:15 - 7:32)
It's the one where the mother and daughter are having that really intense heart to heart, right? Exactly. And the language they use, those perfect modals, are so powerful in conveying that sense of regret, those missed opportunities, that unspoken tension between them. It's like a masterclass in emotional expression through grammar.

(7:32 - 7:46)
Exactly. And what I love about the guide is that it doesn't just stop at explaining the meaning of these modals. It actually goes a step further and provides links to resources, like Rachel's English, that focus on the pronunciation of these tricky phrases.

(7:46 - 7:56)
Oh, that's so helpful. Because it's one thing to know what the words mean, but if you can't pronounce them correctly, it can really affect your fluency and your overall score. Absolutely.

(7:56 - 8:13)
And the guide emphasizes that even subtle differences in pronunciation can make a big difference in how you're perceived by the listener, especially in a high stakes testing environment. It's like you don't want to accidentally say should've instead of should have and throw off the entire rhythm of your response. Exactly.

(8:13 - 8:29)
It's about paying attention to those finer points of language that can really elevate your speaking. So we've covered fluency, grammar, pronunciation. What's next on our TOEFL speaking checklist? Well, the last piece of the puzzle, and arguably the most important, is topic development.

(8:30 - 8:46)
Okay, so what does topic development really mean in the TOEFL context? Well, it's about taking those individual pieces, those building blocks of language, and using them to construct a coherent, well-structured response. So it's like you've got all the ingredients, now you need to bake the cake. Exactly.

(8:46 - 8:57)
And just like with baking, there's an art to it. You need to follow the recipe, but you also need a little creativity, a little finesse to make it truly shine. I like that analogy.

(8:57 - 9:15)
So how does this guide help us become master bakers, or rather, master speakers? Well, one of the biggest challenges of the TOEFL speaking section is the time pressure. You have to think on your feet, organize your thoughts, and deliver a clear, concise response, all within a very limited time frame. Tell me about it.

(9:15 - 9:21)
I get stressed just thinking about it. Right. So the guide addresses this head-on with an activity called Think Fast.

(9:21 - 9:36)
Think Fast! Okay, what's the catch? The idea is to simulate that time pressure you'll experience during the actual test. It uses note cards with various prompts, questions, or scenarios on them. So like, what kind of prompts are we talking about? It could be anything, really.

(9:36 - 10:00)
From everyday topics like, describe your favorite hobby, to more abstract ones like, what is the importance of art in society? Okay, so it's about getting you comfortable thinking on your feet and coming up with those off-the-cuff responses. Exactly. And because you're working with these random prompts, you never quite know what to expect, which forces you to think creatively and adapt your language skills to different situations.

(10:00 - 10:11)
It's like mental gymnastics for your English. Exactly. And the more you practice, the more confident you'll become in your ability to handle those unexpected twists and turns that the TOEFL speaking section is known for.

(10:12 - 10:24)
So Think Fast! is all about simulating the pressure cooker of the test. Are there any other activities that...
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... focus on this aspect of topic development? Yes, actually. One that I found particularly helpful is called Deer and Share.

(10:25 - 10:27)
Deer and Share. Okay, now I'm really curious. Tell me more.

(10:27 - 10:32)
So Deer stands for drop everything and read. Okay, that's a new one. Right.

(10:32 - 10:44)
But it's actually quite simple. It involves students choosing a short article, maybe from a magazine or online publication, something related to their interests or field of study. So it's like sneaking in a little bit of pleasure reading while you're studying.

(10:45 - 10:55)
Exactly. And then comes the share part. Students take turns summarizing the main points of the article, discussing their thoughts and reactions, and maybe even debating some of the ideas presented.

(10:56 - 11:02)
Oh, I love that. It's like a mini book club, but with a focus on those essential speaking and listening skills. Precisely.

(11:02 - 11:15)
And it's a great way to expand your vocabulary, practice those critical thinking skills, and get comfortable expressing your opinions in a clear and concise way. It's like hitting all the TOEFL speaking sweet spots in one activity. Exactly.

(11:15 - 11:23)
Yeah. Now, before we wrap up, there's one more thing I wanted to touch on. Something that often gets overlooked in TOEFL prep, but can make a huge difference in your performance.

(11:24 - 11:30)
Okay. I'm all ears. What's the secret sauce? It's not so much a secret sauce as it is a simple truth.

(11:30 - 11:50)
And that truth is, you need to practice speaking English in a way that feels authentic to you. Okay, that makes sense. But how do you actually do that, especially when you're so focused on the test itself? Well, one suggestion the guide makes is to find opportunities to use English outside of the classroom or the test prep environment.

(11:50 - 12:00)
So like talking to native speakers, watching movies, listening to music, that kind of thing. Exactly. Anything that allows you to engage with the language in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.

(12:01 - 12:15)
Because the more you do that, the less foreign and intimidating English will feel. And the more confident you'll become in your ability to express yourself fluently and naturally. It's like the old adage says, practice makes perfect, or at least practice makes progress.

(12:16 - 12:27)
Exactly. And remember, the goal of the TOEFL isn't to become a perfect English speaker. It's to demonstrate that you have the communication skills necessary to succeed in an academic or professional setting.

(12:27 - 12:33)
It's about showing them what you've got. Exactly. So embrace those imperfections, those little stumbles along the way.

(12:33 - 12:37)
They're all part of the learning process. Absolutely. And remember, you've got this.

(12:38 - 12:49)
This guide provides some really valuable insights and practical strategies to help you rock that TOEFL speaking section. So put in the time, practice those skills, and most importantly, believe in yourself. Thanks for diving deep with us.

(12:49 - 12:50)
We'll see you next time.