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)
TOEFL Speaking vs Academic Presentations: Key Differences Explained
Preparing for the TOEFL Speaking section but wondering how it compares to real-world academic presentations? In this episode, we dive deep into recent research comparing the expectations of TOEFL speaking evaluators and university professors grading academic presentations. Discover surprising insights into what matters most—beyond grammar and pronunciation—including the importance of clarity, engagement, and effective idea organization.
We also explore how AI tools like MySpeakingScore are leveling the playing field, providing personalized feedback to help students develop critical communication skills for both the TOEFL and academic success. Whether you're prepping for the TOEFL or aiming to refine your presentation abilities, this episode is packed with strategies to help you shine.
Tune in to learn how to connect with your audience, organize your thoughts, and let your passion drive your communication skills!
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All right, so you're prepping for the TOEFL, right? And you really want to know, like, how well that speaking section lines up with what universities are actually looking for. Yeah, it's a good question, right? We're going to deep dive into some research here that really gets into comparing how the TOEFL speaking section is evaluated and how university professors grade presentations.
(0:51 - 0:56)
And this research is interesting because it looks at first year university students. Oh, cool. Yeah.
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And it's across a bunch of different fields, so business, health sciences, and even science and engineering. So not just, like, you know, specialized vocabulary. Right, exactly.
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But broader communication skills. Exactly. And that's why I think it's relevant for, you know, anybody who's listening, who's thinking about the TOEFL no matter what they're going to study.
(1:15 - 1:30)
Yeah, that makes it super relevant. Yeah. And the other thing that's really interesting about this is they looked at not just, like, you know, the official grading rubric, but they used this technique called verbal reports where they had professors actually talk through the process of how they were grading.
(1:30 - 1:36)
Oh, so they could see what they were actually thinking about. Yeah, like what's really going on in their minds, not just what's on the paper. Gotcha.
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So what did they find? Well, you might be surprised to hear that, like, language fluency wasn't the biggest deal. Oh, really? Yeah. Professors consistently said that they prioritized the content, like how well students were presenting their ideas, if they use evidence effectively, and if they seem like they were really engaged in the topic.
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So it's like, even if your grammar and your pronunciation are perfect, if you sound bored or your ideas aren't well organized, you could still totally bomb a presentation. That's what the research is suggesting. Yeah.
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Wow. One of the professors even mentioned, like, being super impressed by a student who, like, presented without even looking at their notes once, even though their language wasn't perfect. Oh, wow.
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And another one pointed out that a student who had, like, really fantastic information totally lost the audience because they just spoke in, like, a monotone. It's like, if you have all the ingredients, but you don't know how to put them together. Exactly.
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You're not going to impress anyone. You're not going to win any cooking shows. And I think that's one of the places where this has big implications for TOEFL prep, especially globally, is that, you know, a lot of students might focus really heavily on, you know, grammar and pronunciation.
(2:42 - 2:48)
Right. But they might not get the same emphasis on these, like, broader communication skills. Yeah.
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Because it is standardized, right? So it's supposed to be this, like, even playing field. But then if it's not capturing everything that universities are looking for, then that's kind of a problem. And I think it raises some questions about how well the TOEFL speaking test really prepares students for academic success and especially students who maybe haven't had the same opportunities to practice these skills in their home countries.
(3:11 - 3:16)
Yeah. And obviously, the TOEFL can't, like, you know, test everything. Right.
(3:16 - 3:30)
You can't expect people to, like, you know, do in-depth research on the spot or debate complex topics. Right. But, like, maybe there's room to think about how to incorporate tasks that focus a little bit more on these, like, broader communication elements.
(3:30 - 3:42)
Yeah. I think that's a good point. And I think that's where the role of AI in education becomes really crucial because we're starting to see all these tools now that go beyond just, like, you know, drilling grammar and vocab.
(3:42 - 3:57)
Yeah. They're using AI to give personalized feedback on the very skills that this research highlights, like how clear are you? How well organized is your speech? Are you engaging as a speaker? So, like, this is where tools like MySpeakingScore come in. Exactly.
(3:57 - 4:09)
This is something that you've talked about a bunch. Yeah. MySpeakingScore uses this AI-powered technology called SpeechRater, which is the same technology that's used by over 100,000 students to get personalized feedback on their speaking.
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And it doesn't just look at pronunciation. It actually looks at your clarity, your organization. So it's like having a virtual coach almost.
(4:17 - 4:22)
Exactly. They can, like, pinpoint what you need to work on to sound more confident and more persuasive. Exactly.
(4:23 - 4:38)
And that's especially valuable for students who, you know, may not have access to those kind of resources in person. And I think the beauty of AI is that it makes these kinds of resources available to students all over the world no matter where they are. Really helps level the playing field.
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Yeah, exactly. It helps level the playing field. And it empowers students everywhere to develop the skills they need to succeed.
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And it's not even just about TOEFL prep. You know, if you think about the bigger picture, like, these communication skills, they're so essential for success in university and beyond. You know, we're talking about, like, being able to, like, make an argument to present your ideas in a way that's persuasive, you know, to engage an audience.
(5:05 - 5:21)
Yeah. These are skills that are valuable in any field. It's almost like we get so focused on, like, OK, can you speak English correctly that we forget to teach people how to, like, actually use it? It's like you give somebody, like, a toolbox full of tools, but no instructions on how to use them.
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Right. They might know what the names of the tools are, but they're not going to be able to build anything. So how do we bridge that gap then? Right.
(5:27 - 5:50)
Like, how do we help students to develop those skills alongside, you know, their language proficiency? Well, I think for starters, we have to shift our focus, right? So instead of just, like, you know, drilling grammar rules and vocabulary lists, we need to create opportunities for students to practice these, like, real world communication skills. So less memorization and more application. Exactly.
(5:50 - 6:09)
Like, imagine if instead of just, you know, describing a picture or repeating a prompt on the TOEFL speaking test, like, what if they had to, like, analyze a short video clip and then present, like, a concise summary of the main arguments? Oh, that's interesting. Or even, like, participate in, like, a simulated seminar discussion. That would be cool.
(6:10 - 6:19)
Right? Like, that would be way more engaging and it would actually assess their skills that this research shows that professors care about. Yeah. And you can even use, like, AI to give feedback on that, right? Exactly.
(6:19 - 6:29)
So, like, you know, really personalize that feedback and help people figure out their strengths and weaknesses. Yeah. AI is, like, opening up all of these incredible possibilities for education and test prep.
(6:29 - 6:45)
It's pretty wild. I think it's allowing us to create learning experiences that are more engaging, more effective, and to make those experiences accessible to students literally all over the world. It's like we're on the cusp of, like, an educational revolution.
(6:45 - 6:54)
I think you're right. And AI is, like, leading the charge. And I think the most exciting part is that we're really just, like, at the very beginning, like, we're just scratching the surface of what's possible.
(6:54 - 7:08)
Oh, for sure. Like, as AI technology keeps evolving, we can expect even more, like, innovative and impactful tools to emerge. So it's not just passing the test, right? It's about becoming, like, a truly effective communicator.
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Exactly. And being able to thrive in, like, any academic or professional setting. Exactly.
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And that's a future I'm really excited to be a part of. Yeah. It really feels like we're moving away from just, you know, like, learning English.
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Right. To, like, learning how to use English, like, effectively. That's a great way to put it.
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And I think that shift has, like, huge implications, especially when we talk about, like, improving TOEFL scores globally. It's not enough to just focus on, like, you know, grammar drills and pronunciation. Right.
(7:37 - 7:43)
You really need to empower students with these, like, broader communication skills. So they can, like, really shine. Exactly.
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Like, it's about more than just checking a box on an application. It's about setting yourself up for success in your field. Long term.
(7:51 - 8:02)
Yeah, exactly. And, like, recognizing that communication isn't just, like, a means to an end. It's a fundamental skill that shapes how you learn, how you collaborate, how you contribute to your field.
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It's like the backbone, almost. Yeah. Of academic success.
(8:05 - 8:09)
Yeah. And without it, like, even the brightest minds are going to struggle. Totally.
(8:09 - 8:22)
And that's why I think this research is so empowering, you know, because it highlights that these skills, they're learnable. Right. And with tools like MySpeakingScore, you know, you can actually practice them and refine them until you feel really confident.
(8:22 - 8:32)
And it goes back to that accessibility piece, too, right? Yeah. Like, not everybody have a personal speaking coach or access to, like, you know, these really advanced courses. Absolutely.
(8:32 - 8:44)
And that's where AI is really leveling the playing field. Yeah. MySpeakingScore, for example, uses AI-powered speech reader technology, which is the same tech that's been used by over 100,000 students.
(8:44 - 8:56)
Wow. To give you personalized feedback on your speaking and not just pronunciation, it looks at your flow, your clarity, the organization of your speech. So it's like having that coach, like, in your pocket.
(8:56 - 9:01)
Yeah, exactly. Available 24-7, no matter where you are in the world. I love it.
(9:01 - 9:29)
And as AI technology continues to evolve, I think we can expect even more, like, sophisticated tools, you know? Oh, for sure. To make this kind of support even more accessible and personalized. So knowing all of this, what's, like, the one piece of advice that you would give to somebody who's prepping for the TOEFL speaking section, especially if they're, like, feeling a little bit overwhelmed by, like, you know, the sheer amount of resources and strategies out there? I think I would just say, like, you know, remember, the heart of communication is connected with your audience.
(9:29 - 9:41)
So even on the TOEFL, like, imagine you're actually talking to, like, a real person. Somebody who's interested in what you have to say, let your passion for your topic shine through. You know, make sure your thoughts are structured clearly.
(9:42 - 9:47)
And like, don't be afraid to let a little bit of your personality come out. Yeah. It's not just about saying the right words.
(9:47 - 9:58)
It's about conveying that message with, like, you know, clarity and enthusiasm. Exactly. And tools like MySpeakingScore can help you practice that.
(9:58 - 10:18)
You know, think of it as, like, your training ground to build the confidence and the fluency that you need to really shine, not just on the TOEFL, but, like, in any speaking situation. Awesome. So to wrap things up, it sounds like the key takeaway here is to go beyond the mechanics of language and really focus on those, like, human elements, the clarity, the passion, the engagement.
(10:18 - 10:26)
Absolutely. And remember, those skills aren't just for acing the TOEFL. They're the building blocks for success in any field where communication matters.
(10:27 - 10:30)
And I would say that's, like, pretty much every field. Pretty much. Yeah.
(10:30 - 10:32)
I couldn't agree more. Thanks so much for this deep dive. Yeah.
(10:32 - 10:38)
My pleasure. This was super insightful. I'm sure our listeners walking away with a whole new perspective on TOEFL prep.
(10:38 - 10:39)
Till next time.
