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)
The Lazy Man’s Guide to Boosting TOEFL Scores 140% Faster
Looking for an effortless way to skyrocket your TOEFL scores? Discover the surprising power of integrating liberal arts knowledge into your English learning routine. In this episode, we dive into groundbreaking research on the CLIL curriculum, which boosted TOEFL score gains by an astonishing 140%.
Learn how this innovative approach combines content exploration, critical thinking, and AI tools like MySpeakingScore to revolutionize test prep. Whether you're preparing for the TOEFL or aiming to communicate more effectively, this guide will transform the way you learn English—faster and smarter. Tune in and start your journey to success!
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Welcome back for another deep dive with us.
(0:31 - 0:49)
Always exciting. You know, when we think about the TOEFL, it's usually about grammar drills, vocabulary lists, all that stuff. What if I told you that a strong foundation in liberal arts could actually be the secret to acing this test? That's right.
(0:49 - 1:17)
What do you think about that? It might sound surprising, but we're going to explore some fascinating research from a Japanese language teaching conference that reveals this unexpected link between liberal arts knowledge and TOEFL success, particularly when it comes to the speaking section. Okay. So our source material for today is a research paper titled Transforming University English with CLIL Curricula, an in-depth case study.
(1:17 - 1:26)
Sounds pretty in-depth. I know that sounds a bit dense, but stick with us because this paper dives into a really interesting challenge faced by Japanese universities. All right.
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I'm getting ready. So Japan, despite being a technologically advanced nation, has historically struggled with low TOEFL scores compared to other Asian countries. Right.
(1:37 - 1:47)
And this research kind of digs into the reasons behind those scores. It goes beyond the usual explanations like grammar-focused teaching methods or like linguistic differences. Yeah.
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The researchers discovered that one significant factor contributing to these lower scores is a gap in liberal arts knowledge. Interesting. Among Japanese students.
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Okay. And you see, the TOEFL isn't just about English fluency, it's about comprehending academic content. Right.
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And that content often draws from liberal arts fields. So it's not enough to just have good grammar and vocabulary. You actually need to understand the concepts behind the words.
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Exactly. And that's a crucial point for anyone preparing for the TOEFL, especially the speaking section. Okay.
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Imagine being asked to discuss a complex topic like economics or sociology in English. Right. If you don't have a basic understanding of those subjects, it's going to be tough to formulate coherent and insightful responses, even if your English is otherwise strong.
(2:34 - 2:41)
That makes a lot of sense. And what's fascinating is that even the TOEFL's executive director acknowledges this connection. Right.
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The paper quotes him saying that test content often mirrors first and second year liberal arts courses. That's a pretty powerful statement. It underscores the fact that the TOEFL is designed to assess academic readiness.
(2:53 - 3:09)
Right. And that readiness is built upon a foundation of liberal arts knowledge. So how does this research actually connect to the speaking portion of the TOEFL? And what about the global challenges in improving those scores? Well think about the typical TOEFL speaking tasks.
(3:09 - 3:17)
Okay. You might be asked to summarize a lecture on a scientific discovery, express your opinion on a social issue, or describe a historical event. Right.
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All of these tasks require you to draw upon knowledge and concepts that are rooted in the liberal arts. And the researchers found that Japanese students, due to their educational system's emphasis on rote memorization and grammar drills, often lack the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to perform well on these tasks. That's right.
(3:36 - 4:01)
And this isn't just a problem limited to Japan. We see similar challenges in other parts of the world where English language learning focuses heavily on grammar and vocabulary acquisition without sufficient attention to content knowledge and critical thinking skills. So how did these researchers try to address this challenge? They developed an innovative curriculum based on a method called CLIL, which stands for Content and Language Integrated Learning.
(4:01 - 4:20)
Oh wow. Essentially, they created custom modules covering various liberal arts subjects specifically designed to enhance both English skills and content knowledge. So instead of just learning vocabulary lists, students are actually engaging with fascinating topics from different fields like sociology, economics, earth science, and they're doing it all in English.
(4:20 - 4:25)
Precisely. Yeah. And these modules are carefully structured to promote deep understanding.
(4:25 - 4:45)
Oh wow. They include things like bilingual glossaries, adapted texts for different levels, visuals to aid comprehension, and even content tests to ensure students are truly grasping the material. It sounds like they're really trying to create a more holistic learning experience where language acquisition is integrated with content exploration.
(4:45 - 4:47)
Yeah. That's really neat. So interesting.
(4:48 - 4:57)
Yeah, it is. Welcome back. So we were just talking about these CLIL modules that the researchers developed to integrate liberal arts content into English language learning.
(4:57 - 5:01)
Right. You mentioned that they cover diverse topics. Yes.
(5:01 - 5:11)
Like sociology, economics, and earth science. Can you give us some specific examples of what these modules actually look like? Absolutely. Let's take the economics module, for instance.
(5:11 - 5:24)
Imagine, instead of just memorizing economic terms, you're presented with a real world scenario, maybe a case study, of a local business struggling to stay afloat. That's a lot more engaging than just staring at a vocabulary list. Exactly.
(5:25 - 5:45)
So the module would start by introducing key economic concepts related to the scenario. Things like supply and demand market forces, or maybe even government regulations. And these concepts wouldn't just be presented in isolation, they'd be woven into the narrative of the case study, making them more relatable and easier to understand.
(5:45 - 6:04)
So the students are learning about economics, while simultaneously expanding their English vocabulary and comprehension skills. Precisely. And to further support that learning, the module would include a bilingual glossary of key economic terms, ensuring that students can grasp the nuances of the language.
(6:05 - 6:15)
That's a really thoughtful approach. It recognizes that even if a student's English is fairly good, they might not be familiar with the specialized vocabulary used in academic disciplines. Right.
(6:15 - 6:33)
And then to really solidify their understanding, the module might incorporate interactive activities. Perhaps a debate about the best strategies for the struggling business, or a role-playing exercise where students have to negotiate a loan from a bank. That sounds a lot more dynamic than the traditional lecture and worksheet format.
(6:33 - 6:46)
And here's another clever element, they incorporated adapted text. They recognized that not all students are starting at the same level of English proficiency, so they created different versions of the module materials. Oh, that's really smart.
(6:46 - 6:56)
Yeah. So for students who are still developing their English skills, the readings might be simplified a bit while still conveying the core economic concepts. Exactly.
(6:56 - 7:03)
And for more advanced learners, they might provide supplementary materials that delve deeper into the subject matter. Okay. Yeah.
(7:04 - 7:16)
It sounds like they're really trying to make this curriculum accessible to a wide range of learners. Did they only focus on reading and writing? No. Or did they incorporate other skills as well? They definitely took a multimodal approach.
(7:16 - 7:31)
Okay. The modules also include listening components, such as excerpts from lectures or podcasts related to the topic at hand. So for example, in that economics module, students might listen to a podcast discussing real-world applications of economic principles.
(7:32 - 7:48)
Precisely. And they would be encouraged to take notes, identify key arguments, and even formulate their own responses to the ideas presented. That's a great way to prepare them for the speaking portion of the TOEFL, where they might be asked to summarize or respond to a lecture.
(7:48 - 8:08)
And to round out the learning experience, they incorporated visual elements, things like charts, graphs, or even infographics to aid comprehension and make the material more engaging. It's fascinating how they've managed to weave together so many different elements. Language learning, content exploration, critical thinking, and even visual literacy.
(8:09 - 8:16)
And this approach wasn't limited to just the classroom. They also integrated extensive reading into the curriculum. Oh, wow.
(8:16 - 8:29)
Carefully selecting books that were thematically related to the modules. So if a student was studying economics, they might be encouraged to read a biography of a famous economist or a novel that explores economic themes. Exactly.
(8:29 - 8:39)
And it speaks to the holistic nature of this approach. They're not just treating English as a separate subject to be mastered in isolation. They're embedding it within a broader context of knowledge and exploration.
(8:39 - 8:52)
It sounds like a really effective way to compare students for the challenges of the TOEFL and beyond. But did this approach actually lead to any tangible improvements in their scores? Yeah. I'm ready to hear if all this paid off.
(8:53 - 9:04)
Yeah. Did those impressive sounding CLIL modules actually make a difference? They did. In students' TOEFL scores? The researchers carefully tracked student progress and the results were pretty remarkable.
(9:04 - 9:20)
In 2022, after implementing this CLIL curriculum, they saw a whopping 140% increase in TOEFL score gains compared to the average gains over the previous seven years. Wow. Yeah.
(9:20 - 9:24)
140%. That's not just a slight improvement. That's a complete transformation.
(9:24 - 9:29)
It is. What about the following year? The gains remained significant in 2023 as well. Oh, wow.
(9:29 - 9:36)
With 107% increase compared to the previous average. Okay. This suggests that the approach wasn't a fluke.
(9:36 - 9:47)
It had a real and lasting impact on students' ability to perform well on the TOEFL. That's incredibly encouraging. It really highlights the power of integrating liberal arts knowledge into language learning.
(9:47 - 9:55)
It does. But were the students actually happy with this new approach? I mean, sometimes a more rigorous curriculum can feel overwhelming. That's a great point.
(9:55 - 9:59)
The researchers were interested in that aspect as well. So they gathered feedback from the students. Yeah.
(9:59 - 10:13)
And the overwhelming majority reported a positive experience. They found the CLIL classes engaging, stimulating, and ultimately valuable for their overall learning. So they're not just scoring better, they're actually enjoying the process too.
(10:14 - 10:16)
Yes. That's a win-win in my book. Absolutely.
(10:16 - 10:41)
But let's zoom out a bit. We've been talking about this research in the context of Japan, but I imagine these findings have implications for English language learners worldwide, wouldn't you say? Absolutely. This research sheds light on a global challenge in TOEFL preparation, the tendency to focus on rote memorization and grammatical accuracy at the expense of developing deeper conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills.
(10:41 - 10:47)
Right. Because in the real world, you need more than just perfect grammar to communicate effectively. Right.
(10:47 - 10:56)
You need to be able to understand complex ideas. Yeah. You need to be able to analyze information and articulate your thoughts in a clear and persuasive way.
(10:56 - 11:10)
And those skills are honed through exposure to a wide range of subjects, which is where the liberal arts come in. Exactly. And I think this research also highlights the growing impact of technology on education, particularly when it comes to test preparation.
(11:10 - 11:16)
Right. Think about tools like MySpeakingScore, a fantastic resource for TOEFL speaking prep. Yeah.
(11:16 - 11:31)
It uses AI-powered speech reader technology to provide personalized feedback on speaking responses. That's a game changer for students who might not have access to a human tutor or who are learning in a setting where individualized feedback is scarce. Right.
(11:31 - 11:38)
And it's been used by over 100,000 students worldwide. Wow. Which speaks to the accessibility and effectiveness of this technology.
(11:38 - 11:55)
It's like having a virtual coach right in your pocket, helping you practice your speaking skills, identify areas for improvement, and track your progress over time. It's amazing how technology is breaking down those barriers to quality education and making these resources available to learners anywhere in the world. It is.
(11:55 - 12:04)
And this aligns perfectly with the principles of the CLIL approach. Right. Which emphasizes active learning, critical thinking, and personalized feedback.
(12:04 - 12:19)
Okay. By combining the insights from this research with the power of AI-driven tools like MySpeakingScore, we can empower students to achieve their TOEFL goals and become more confident and effective communicators. So to wrap up this deep dive, let's leave our listener with a final thought.
(12:20 - 12:33)
Imagine the possibilities if we embrace this holistic approach to language learning, integrating content knowledge, critical thinking, and cutting-edge technology. Right. It's not just about acing a test.
(12:33 - 12:42)
It's about equipping ourselves with the skills and knowledge to navigate an increasingly complex world. It is. Who knows? Maybe you'll even discover a new passion along the way.
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That's the beauty of learning, isn't it? It is. It's a journey of discovery, growth, and ultimately empowerment. Absolutely.
(12:48 - 12:50)
Thanks for joining us for this deep dive. It's been fun.
