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.
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TOEFL Speaking (for the AI Era)
Enhancing TOEFL Speaking Skills Through Digital Storytelling
In this episode of the TOEFL Speaking Prep Podcast, we explore how Authentic Digital Storytelling (ADS) is revolutionizing language learning and enhancing TOEFL Speaking skills. Dive into the research from a university in Ecuador, revealing how ADS helps students express themselves more effectively by integrating storytelling with multimedia tools.
Discover how tools like SpeechRater and other AI-powered platforms provide personalized feedback on pronunciation, fluency, grammar, and organization—key aspects of the TOEFL Speaking section. Learn how these technologies break down barriers, making high-quality language learning accessible to everyone, no matter where they are.
We also discuss the broader implications of AI and ADS, including their potential to redefine fluency, reduce learning anxiety, and create equitable opportunities in education. Plus, get practical tips on how to use ADS and AI to practice effectively, find your unique voice, and gain the confidence to communicate in English beyond just passing a test.
Whether you're preparing for the TOEFL or looking for innovative ways to improve your English, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration. Tune in and take your speaking skills to the next level!
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Okay, so let's face it, the TOEFL Speaking section, it can be pretty intimidating for English language learners all around the world. We're taking a deep dive today into some research that actually explores this really interesting gap between what teachers know about how to teach speaking effectively and what actually happens in classrooms. So if you're getting ready for the TOEFL, this might be especially relevant.
(0:50 - 1:08)
Yeah, and you know what's fascinating? This research, it was done at a university in Ecuador. But what they found, it's actually relevant, I think, way beyond Ecuador. They found that even when teachers, they understand the value of using interactive speaking activities, they're not actually putting that into practice very often, like in the classroom.
(1:08 - 1:18)
And actually, the full 50% of the teachers who were surveyed admitted that they never had their students record their own voices for self-assessment. 50%. That's a huge number.
(1:18 - 1:34)
I'm really curious, how does this lack of real-world speaking practice, actually using your voice, affect students, especially when it comes to something like the TOEFL? It is all about communicating spontaneously. Right. And that's a key point to bring up, the TOEFL speaking section.
(1:34 - 1:55)
It requires you to express your own personal opinions and experiences in a way that's clear and fluent. You can't just kind of like recite, memorize answers. So if you're not consistently practicing real speaking tasks, you're kind of walking into the test without really being prepared for the specific skills that they're looking for.
(1:55 - 2:05)
Yeah. It's kind of like trying to learn how to swim by just reading about it in a book. But that's where this idea of authentic digital storytelling comes in, where ADS is where the research starts to get really cool.
(2:06 - 2:18)
Can you tell us what ADS is all about and how it actually addresses these challenges that we've been talking about? Absolutely. ADS, at its core, is about empowering learners to become storytellers. They use all sorts of multimedia tools to create these digital narratives.
(2:18 - 2:26)
They're weaving together images, audio, text. It's all about sharing their experiences and perspectives. So it goes way beyond just drilling grammar rules.
(2:27 - 2:34)
It really encourages learners to find their voice and express themselves creatively and in a way that's really engaging. Okay. Yeah.
(2:34 - 2:41)
I can see how that lines up with what the TOEFL Speaking section requires. It's not just about being accurate. It's about how well you can communicate, how fluent you are.
(2:42 - 3:02)
Did this research show that ADS actually helps to improve TOEFL scores? The results are really pretty impressive. The students who used ADS, as part of their learning process, they saw significant improvements across multiple areas of the TOEFL Speaking rubric. Things like organization, language use, delivery, the whole package, really.
(3:02 - 3:10)
And what's really exciting is that this approach, it can actually be supercharged using AI-powered tools. Okay. Now we're getting into the future of all of this.
(3:10 - 3:22)
We've talked about AI on the show before, but I'm really curious about how AI can actually be used to give someone really personalized feedback on their speaking skills. Can you give us a specific example? Sure. Let's look at speech reader technology.
(3:22 - 3:40)
This is a platform powered by AI. It analyzes the way you speak, and it gives you incredibly detailed feedback on all these different areas that are essential for doing well on the TOEFL Speaking test, like pronunciation, fluency, your vocabulary usage, even grammar. It's like having a personal speech coach.
(3:40 - 3:51)
Yeah. But all the time, I can see how that would be incredibly helpful, especially for students who maybe don't have access to traditional tutoring or language classes. Exactly.
(3:52 - 4:13)
That's what makes this technology so game-changing. It's breaking down barriers, barriers that have always been there, geographical barriers, economic barriers, things that used to prevent people from accessing, quality resources for learning languages. Now with just a smartphone and an internet connection, anyone can use these tools and get personalized guidance to improve their speaking.
(4:13 - 4:21)
That reminds me of this student I worked with once who ... Yeah. I bet his story really shows how powerful that personalized feedback can be. It really does.
(4:21 - 4:33)
He was so smart, and he really wanted to learn, but his pronunciation was holding him back. Traditional methods just weren't working for him. But once he started using one of those AI-powered speech analysis tools, it was like a light bulb went off.
(4:34 - 4:50)
He could actually hear exactly what he needed to change, and then he could practice with that very specific feedback in mind. That's such a good example of how AI can bridge that gap between understanding something and actually being able to do it. It's not just generic advice.
(4:50 - 4:59)
It's tailored guidance that actually addresses what that individual needs. Right. I think that's what's so revolutionary about what AI can do for education.
(4:59 - 5:11)
It's not just about getting ready for a test like the COFL. It's about creating this learning experience that's truly personalized, and it can empower anyone, anywhere, to reach their language goals. Yeah, exactly.
(5:11 - 5:28)
Imagine if every student had access to a tutor, a virtual tutor that could analyze their strengths, their weaknesses, how they learn best, and then it could adapt the material to fit their unique needs, the kind of power that AI has to transform things. It's like having your own personal learning path. That's just for you.
(5:28 - 5:40)
But let's go back to ADS for a second. I'm curious, beyond all the technical stuff, how does the actual storytelling part, how does that help improve someone's speaking skills? That's a great question, remember. The TOEFL speaking section.
(5:41 - 5:52)
It's not just about grammar. It's about being able to communicate your ideas clearly in a way that's engaging and organized. And storytelling is a fundamental human skill.
(5:52 - 6:04)
It's how we connect with other people, how we share experiences. So when you practice telling stories, you're basically developing those same skills that are crucial for doing well in the TOEFL speaking section. Exactly.
(6:04 - 6:17)
When you're putting together a story, you have to think about how to structure your ideas, how to use language effectively, and how to deliver your message so that it has an impact. And all of those are transferable skills. They go way beyond just taking a test.
(6:18 - 6:28)
That makes a lot of sense. When I think about digital storytelling, I kind of picture it as requiring a lot of technical know-how and maybe special equipment. Is that really necessary? Not at all.
(6:29 - 6:48)
Remember, ADS is all about giving learners the power to use what they have available to them. It could be as simple as using your smartphone, to record a voice memo, and then add a few images to it, to create a visual story. The focus is really on the storytelling itself, not on how fancy the production is.
(6:49 - 6:55)
That's great to hear. That means that even students who don't have a lot of resources can still benefit from ADS. Absolutely.
(6:56 - 7:03)
And I think that's what makes this research so important. It's an approach to language learning that's accessible, engaging, and ultimately it really works. Right.
(7:04 - 7:18)
But let's not forget about AI and the role it plays in making this approach even better. I'm thinking specifically about how platforms like SpeechRater can give such detailed feedback on pronunciation, which I know can be a big challenge for a lot of English language learners. That's a key point.
(7:18 - 7:33)
Pronunciation is often something that gets overlooked in traditional language learning settings, but it's actually crucial for fluency and for being understood. And that's where AI tools can really make a difference. They can pick up on those tiny details in pronunciation that a human ear might miss.
(7:33 - 7:47)
And that gives learners specific feedback that they can use to really fine tune their speech. It's like having a microscope for your pronunciation. But beyond all that technical feedback, do you think AI can also help with the... Extrapotential.
(7:47 - 7:52)
Extrapotential side of language learning? Yeah. Building confidence? Mm-hmm. And reducing anxiety? Absolutely.
(7:53 - 8:06)
One of the biggest things that holds people back from learning a language is the fear of making mistakes. But when you have a tool that can give you feedback, that's objective and not judgmental. It creates the space where it's safe to experiment and to practice.
(8:07 - 8:14)
And people can see their progress over time, which builds a confidence and motivates them to keep going. Yeah. That's a really important point.
(8:14 - 8:23)
It's not just about correcting mistakes. It's about creating a learning environment that's positive. And that encourages people to grow and to become more fluent.
(8:23 - 8:48)
But thinking beyond just individual learners, do you think AI can have a bigger impact on education systems as a whole? I think we're only just beginning to understand what AI can do for education. Imagine a world where AI could help teachers to personalize instruction, to identify students who are struggling, and to provide the support they need. AI could completely change the way we assess learning.
(8:49 - 9:07)
We could move away from these standardized tests and towards something that's more authentic and more individualized to measure progress. It's amazing to think about how AI could make quality education available to everyone, no matter where they live, what their background is, or how they learn best. And I think that's what makes this conversation so exciting.
(9:07 - 9:19)
We're talking about tools and approaches that have the power to empower learners all over the world. We can break down barriers and create a future for education that's more equitable and accessible to everyone. That's a really powerful thought.
(9:19 - 9:32)
But let's bring it back to you, the listener. What does all of this mean for you? And for your own language learning journey, whether you're getting ready for the TOEFL or just want to improve your speaking skills. Think about it.
(9:32 - 9:46)
You don't have to be stuck in a traditional classroom or pay for an expensive tutor. You can use AI-powered platforms and get creative with ADS no matter where you are or what you're trying to achieve. Right.
(9:46 - 9:57)
It's like having this customized toolkit just for you. You can practice speaking, get that feedback that's tailored to you, and build the confidence you need to be successful. And here's the really cool part, these tools.
(9:58 - 10:10)
They can help you go way beyond just passing a test. You can use English creatively and confidently in the real world. Like imagine yourself traveling to a new country, connecting with people from different cultures, maybe even giving a presentation in English.
(10:10 - 10:19)
It's totally possible. And remember what that research showed. It's important to find your own voice and to share the stories that are unique to you.
(10:20 - 10:33)
That's what makes learning a language really engaging and meaningful. It's not about memorizing a bunch of words or grammar rules. It's about using language to connect with others, to express yourself and to make your mark on the world.
(10:33 - 10:37)
That's such a powerful thought. Yeah. And it brings us to our final question for today.
(10:37 - 10:59)
Something to think about. Now that AI can analyze how we speak in such detail, what possibilities does this open up for language learning? Beyond just the TOEFL? Yeah. Like does it change what it means to be fluent? Could it help to break down those cultural barriers by making accents less of a problem? What about making language learning more accessible for people with disabilities? There's so many questions to explore.
(10:59 - 11:08)
The potential is really limitless. We encourage you to dive into that world, the world of AI-powered language learning tools. Embrace the power of ADS.
(11:08 - 11:18)
You might be surprised by what you discover about yourself and your ability to communicate in English. Who knows? Maybe you'll even inspire others along the way. Happy learning.
