TOEFL Speaking (for the AI Era)
Get the inside track on all things TOEFL® Speaking—from expert breakdowns of the test’s scoring rubrics to cutting-edge research on how AI like SpeechRater™ evaluates your performance.
Whether it's leveraging movie-based learning techniques or diving into the psychology behind language assessment, each episode gives you a front-row seat to the latest strategies, tips, and tools to help you master the Speaking section.
We don’t just stop at exam prep. We explore the bigger picture of how the TOEFL shapes language learning, how automated scoring impacts your results, and what really goes on behind the scenes at ETS. If you want to understand the nuances of TOEFL Speaking and learn how to make your test performance stand out, this podcast is for you.
This podcast is made possible through a blend of innovative AI solutions, including NotebookLM, ElevenLabs, ChatGPT, Suno, and Buzzsprout.
Visit My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/
TOEFL Speaking (for the AI Era)
Get Better at TOEFL Speaking in 3 Simple Steps
Struggling with TOEFL Speaking? You’re not alone, but the good news is, we’ve got you covered! In this episode, we dive into the latest research and share 3 simple steps to help you master your speaking skills. Learn how to anticipate task structures, organize your thoughts effectively, and boost your confidence with active listening techniques.
Discover how tools like MySpeakingScore are revolutionizing test prep, offering personalized feedback and guidance to over 100,000 students worldwide. Whether it’s tackling integrated tasks or avoiding common strategy pitfalls, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you ace TOEFL Speaking and become a better communicator overall.
Ready to unlock your full potential? Tune in and let’s get started!
Source
Free TOEFL Speaking practice:
Free resources:
Social:
My Speaking Score serves 000s of users across the globe by helping them data-power their TOEFL Speaking prep.
Ready for a deep dive? Today, we’re tackling TOEFL Speaking—not just the usual stuff.
(0:28 - 0:40)
We’re diving into the thinking behind it—the strategies—based on research about Iranian students prepping for the TOEFL. And here’s the twist: their first language was Turkish.
(0:41 - 0:47)
Wow. Learning a new language is always tough, but for these students, it’s on a whole other level.
(0:47 - 0:55)
They’re juggling two language systems in their heads while preparing for a high-stakes English test. It changes how we think about test prep, for sure. Absolutely.
(0:55 - 1:03)
And that’s what makes this research so fascinating and global. It examines what they call "strategic behaviors"—the choices students make while completing speaking tasks.
(1:03 - 1:13)
The research split tasks into two types: independent tasks, where students express their opinions, and integrated tasks, which require combining information from reading and listening. That’s a significant distinction.
(1:14 - 1:27)
And the research showed integrated tasks made students use far more strategies. Probably because they’re more challenging, right? You’re not just using vocabulary—you’re processing, synthesizing, and organizing a lot of information to deliver your answer. It’s intense.
(1:27 - 1:34)
Totally. The study even refers to them as LRS tasks, which stands for Listening, Reading, and Speaking tasks. Ah, I’ve heard of those.
(1:34 - 1:37)
LRS tasks aren’t just about grammar. They require critical thinking and connecting ideas.
(1:38 - 1:44)
Exactly—skills that are essential in college or professional settings. For sure.
(1:45 - 1:51)
This isn’t like cramming for a multiple-choice quiz. It’s more like writing an essay—analyzing, synthesizing, and combining information. Exactly.
(1:52 - 2:01)
Now, about those strategies: the research found something surprising. There’s no direct link between the number of strategies a student uses and their TOEFL score.
(2:02 - 2:06)
Hmm. So you can’t just throw in every trick in the book and expect a higher score? Apparently not.
(2:06 - 2:13)
It’s not about the number of strategies—it’s how effectively you use them. In fact, some strategies that seem helpful could hurt your score.
(2:13 - 2:21)
For example, students who spent time explaining their performance or evaluating themselves ended up with lower scores. Oh, interesting—it’s like they were overthinking it.
(2:21 - 2:31)
Exactly. They were so worried about their performance that they lost focus on the task itself. And that kind of mental gymnastics drains your energy.
(2:31 - 2:36)
If you doubt yourself during the task, you won’t perform your best. That’s where technology can make a difference.
(2:36 - 2:46)
Tools like MySpeakingScore use AI to help students prep for TOEFL Speaking. Over 100,000 students have used it, and it’s changing the way we get feedback and improve.
(2:46 - 2:55)
That’s incredible. And think about those students in the research. Many of them probably didn’t have access to tutors, prep courses, or other resources available to students in countries like the U.S.
(2:55 - 3:11)
But with a tool like MySpeakingScore, powered by SpeechRater AI, they essentially have a coach on their phones. They can practice anytime, anywhere, and get detailed feedback on pronunciation, fluency, and even strategy use. It’s amazing and goes beyond just improving scores.
(3:11 - 3:23)
It’s about helping students everywhere achieve their goals, whether for school or work, and making education more accessible. That’s the best part: technology addressing real challenges and giving people opportunities they might not have had otherwise.
(3:23 - 3:40)
Now let’s dive into a specific strategy from the research—one that was linked to higher scores, especially for LRS tasks: anticipating task structure. What does that mean? Imagine you’re preparing for a TOEFL task.
(3:40 - 3:57)
You need to listen to a lecture, summarize it, and connect it to your own knowledge. If you can anticipate how the information is likely to be organized—chronologically, or in a problem-solution format—you’ll understand it more quickly. It’s like having a map before you explore an area.
(3:57 - 4:08)
That’s a huge help, especially when you’re timed. Right. So how do students learn this skill? Is it something you can develop, or is it more intuitive? Oh, you can definitely develop it.
(4:08 - 4:23)
Practice and feedback are key. Familiarizing yourself with TOEFL task formats and how information is usually presented helps you build mental maps. Tools like MySpeakingScore speed this up by providing feedback on how well you understand task structures.
(4:23 - 4:35)
It’s like having a coach pointing out your blind spots. Exactly. But test prep isn’t just about strategies—it’s also about managing stress and building confidence.
(4:35 - 4:47)
Absolutely. The TOEFL can feel incredibly stressful, especially if you’re aiming for a specific score. That’s where personalized feedback and support, like what MySpeakingScore offers, make a big difference.
(4:48 - 4:57)
It’s not just about identifying what you did wrong—it’s about understanding your strengths and weaknesses. That way, you walk into the test feeling confident and focused, like you’ve got this.
(4:58 - 5:15)
Exactly. Sometimes all it takes is a little boost of confidence to perform at your best. I’m feeling more confident about TOEFL Speaking already. Now, let’s take a break, and when we return, we’ll dive even deeper into TOEFL Speaking strategies.
(5:15 - 5:29)
Remember how we mentioned that some strategies can actually hurt your score? It’s not just about knowing strategies—it’s about using them correctly at the right time. For example, explaining yourself during your response can be a trap.
(5:29 - 5:37)
Why is that? I mean, it feels natural. If you think you messed up, you want to explain. But think about the TOEFL raters—they’re focused on specific criteria.
(5:38 - 5:52)
Exactly. Raters evaluate fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and how organized your thoughts are. If you’re explaining or justifying your performance, you’re likely going off-topic and failing to show those core skills.
(5:53 - 6:00)
That makes sense. Every second counts in a speaking task. Instead of trying to justify why you didn’t use an advanced word, just use the vocabulary you know well and focus on clarity.
(6:00 - 6:06)
Right. It’s about using what you know effectively. But what about positive self-talk? We always hear that it’s important for confidence.
(6:06 - 6:14)
Positive self-talk is helpful—before the test. But during the task, it can be distracting. For instance, if you’re thinking, “That was a great sentence,” you might miss what comes next in the task.
(6:14 - 6:23)
So, there’s a balance between confidence and focus. You need to believe in yourself but stay in the moment while completing the task.
(6:23 - 6:40)
That’s where tools like MySpeakingScore can really help. It’s like having a virtual coach that notices when you’re getting distracted and helps keep you grounded. Almost like a mindfulness app for TOEFL Speaking prep.
(6:41 - 6:50)
Love that analogy. Okay, let’s switch gears. Earlier, we talked about anticipating task structure as a strategy that improves scores. Let’s dig into that some more.
(6:51 - 7:00)
How can you anticipate something you haven’t seen yet? It’s not about predicting exact content but understanding how information is typically presented.
(7:01 - 7:13)
For example, if you’re summarizing a lecture, it might follow a common structure like intro, main points, evidence, and conclusion. Knowing these patterns prepares your brain to process information faster.
(7:14 - 7:17)
Totally. It’s like having a mental framework. You’re not starting from scratch every time.
(7:17 - 7:27)
Exactly. It also makes it easier to remember key information. This reminds me of those students in the study—the ones managing two language systems. That’s a lot to handle.
(7:28 - 7:33)
Absolutely. The cognitive load is huge. That’s why these strategies are especially important for English learners.
(7:34 - 7:51)
They’re already working hard just to process words and meaning. Anything that helps simplify or structure the task is a big win. That’s where tech like MySpeakingScore becomes a game-changer—not just for pronunciation and grammar but for higher-level thinking.
(7:51 - 8:01)
Couldn’t agree more. Another interesting finding from the research was the benefit of using “mechanical means” to organize thoughts. Things like notes and mind maps—those made a difference in scores.
(8:01 - 8:06)
Mechanical means? Like writing stuff down? Exactly—notes, diagrams, mind maps, or any visual aid.
(8:07 - 8:15)
The study showed students who used these during prep time performed better. When there’s a lot of info to process, having a visual helps keep it organized so you don’t blank out.
(8:16 - 8:29)
It’s like offloading some of the cognitive load onto paper so your brain can focus on speaking. Even if you don’t look at your notes while speaking, the act of making them helps you remember and understand better.
(8:29 - 8:38)
Right. It reinforces the information because you’re working with it in multiple ways. And even though MySpeakingScore focuses on speaking, it can also tell if your responses are clear and organized.
(8:38 - 8:56)
If your answer flows logically, that’s a sign you’ve organized your thoughts well—whether in your head or on paper. Tools like MySpeakingScore are amazing, giving feedback in ways we couldn’t before.
(8:56 - 9:03)
It’s like having a team of experts in your pocket. Now, before we wrap up, let’s review what we’ve learned so far.
(9:03 - 9:23)
Not all strategies are created equal. Some backfire, like overexplaining yourself, while others—like anticipating structure or using visuals—can boost your score. And AI tools are revolutionizing test prep by making guidance accessible to everyone.
(9:23 - 9:38)
It’s a great time to be learning languages. If you want to unlock your speaking potential and ace the TOEFL, stay with us for part three, where we’ll dive even deeper.
(9:38 - 9:47)
We’ve covered so much already. TOEFL Speaking prep isn’t just about learning English—it’s about mastering strategies and building confidence.
(9:47 - 9:57)
Exactly. It’s about knowing the test inside out and feeling prepared when it matters most.
(9:58 - 10:13)
And those AI tools, like MySpeakingScore, can play a huge role. They don’t just track scores but also help you build practical skills for school and work.
(10:14 - 10:25)
One big takeaway for me is the importance of understanding how you learn. Everyone’s different, so you need to experiment with strategies to find what works for you.
(10:25 - 10:36)
Exactly. Think of it like being a scientist studying yourself. You gather data on what works and refine your approach. MySpeakingScore is like your lab partner, offering objective feedback.
(10:36 - 10:46)
Now, about those integrated tasks. We’ve talked a lot about how tricky they are compared to independent ones. What’s the best advice for handling them?
(10:47 - 11:04)
The best advice is to anticipate the structure, like we discussed earlier. Get familiar with how information is typically presented so you can organize your thoughts quickly.
(11:04 - 11:20)
Use notes or visuals to map out your ideas. Even if you don’t look at them while speaking, the process of organizing your thoughts makes a big difference.
(11:20 - 11:34)
Also, practice active listening. Engage with the speaker mentally—ask yourself questions and predict what’s coming next. It keeps you focused and helps you remember better.
(11:34 - 11:48)
And don’t stress if you mess up. Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is how you recover and keep going. Raters are looking at the big picture—how well you communicate overall.
(11:49 - 12:04)
Exactly. Mistakes are part of learning. The key is to turn them into lessons, and that’s where tools like MySpeakingScore help. They give you detailed feedback to improve with every attempt.
(12:04 - 12:22)
This field is so exciting because we’re constantly discovering better ways for students to learn languages. And tech plays such a big role in breaking down barriers and making education accessible.
(12:23 - 12:30)
Absolutely. TOEFL Speaking prep is a journey, not a finish line. It’s about improving and building confidence step by step.
(12:30 - 12:48)
So keep practicing, keep learning, and most importantly, believe in yourself. Thanks for joining us for this TOEFL Speaking deep dive. Until next time—happy speaking!
