Toefl Test Speaking Practice Ideas
Speaking Tasks to help ESL Students Prepare for the Toefl Exam
Sep 25, 2009
Part of preparing students for a Toefl test, is ensuring that they understand the format, question configuration, and section breakdown of the test. This process usually includes use of a worthy textbook, software for practice, if possible, and as much repetition and training that students can undertake.
Toefl Text Books for Preparation
There are many Toefl textbooks, such as Deborah Phillips Longman’s Preparation Course for the Toefl Test [Pearson ESL, 2005] to name one. Online, students can also find many resources to guide them into the test preparation. The ETS website offers students opportunities to practice tests.
The teacher, however, can suggest some activities that will help the students understand the structure of the test, through lighter, more enjoyable tasks. These activities will help all students improve their speaking skills, whether they are undertaking the Toefl test or not. This kind of practice would not replace regular exercises, but does enable students to comprehend the meaning of a limited time cut-off point given to the testers, in which to prove their knowledge.
The Toefl Speaking Section
Most answers that students have to give verbally, after reading or listening, demand a 45 second to one minute answer. Therefore, an interesting way of rehearsing for this section is to include talking tasks in the classroom that call for an answer limited to this time allotted.
Fun Activities for the Toefl Speaking Practice Section
Below are some ideas that the teacher can implement into the warm up, ending, or middle part of a lesson, to help students relax, smile and reduce tension.
“Just a Minute”: This is an activity in which each student is given a random topic, such as “umbrellas”, “my house”, “contact lenses” for example. The student must speak for one minute on the subject. This assignment is fun and helps students sense what a one minute talk entails, and how much content can be fitted into such a 60 second presentation.
“Pass the Picture”: Students work in pairs. The teacher hands out two color picture to each pair. The students have 15 seconds to prepare (Toefl preparation time) and then each student describes his picture to his or her partner. Students then pass on their pictures to the next “pair” and the process begins again with the new pictures.
“One Minute Synonym List”: The teacher tells students they have 45 seconds to create a list of synonyms for a given adjective. For example, the teacher says, “good”, and the students write down their list: wonderful, excellent, brilliant, acceptable, well, nice, fine etc. The students can share their words with the class or in pairs.
“One Minute Homonym List”: The same as the above, but with the use of homonyms (words that have the opposite meaning) instead.
“One Minute Association Game”: The teacher gives a word to a student, and he or she has to list associative words in 45 seconds. For example, if the teacher says “chocolate”, the students could say, “love, I eat it every day, my dogs steals mine, brown, sweet, fat, I must go on a diet soon”.
“Absurd Comparisons”: Whereas in a typical Toefl test, in a paired choice question, the student may have to answer something like, “Would you rather be single or married?” in this fun exercise, the choice is absurd and ridiculous, but makes for excellent practice and amusement. Here are some examples:
- Would you rather drive a car, or eat a peanut butter sandwich?
- Would you rather keep a pet in your house, or paint the garage?
Suggestions for Creative Ideas for the Toefl Teacher
Ideas and creativity are not always at one’s fingertips. Keep the following in your classroom to make for easy access and quick ideas.
A Topic Box:
Students can be asked to write topics on slips of paper, suggestions for the talking activity, which are kept in the box and drawn out at future one minute talks
Prop Prompts Collection:
Teachers should keep a box with many odds and ends, such as small tins, toys, cereal box trinkets, old pieces of jewelry, or pieces of colored fabric. These can be used in the same way as the suggestions from the topic box, except that the props are more tangible. Props stir the imagination and add creativity to lessons.
The Toefl brings with it tension and anxiety, however, the ideas in this article are light and fun, but very much relevant to the practice of the speaking section of the Toefl test. Often, with less stress, there is more learning.
Toefl Test Practice Ideas
|
