The Test of English as a Foreign Language, TOEFL, is an English-language test designed to evaluate the proficiency of non native English speakers or users of English as a second language (ESL). It tests your ability to read, write, speak and listen in English. The TOEFL Test is mainly Internet-based, but a paper-based test is also available. According to ETS, the test makers, "the TOEFL test is the most widely respected English-language test in the world, recognized by more than 7,500 colleges, universities and agencies in more than 130 countries" and can take you wherever you want to go. The Speaking Test is only available on the Internet-based test. You will respond to six speaking tasks and your answers will be recorded on a database. The tasks will be split into independent tasks and integrated speaking tasks. To do well in the TOEFL Speaking Test therefore calls for some good test-taking strategies.
Know the Test
Understand what is expected of you. The first critical step is to familiarize yourself with what the questions test, how they are presented, what kinds of responses these questions require, the strategies that can be used to handle them, and then methods for excelling at them. The ETS TOEFL website has detailed information on the TOEFL Test structure as well as preparing for the exam.
Build Your Vocabulary Over Time
Systematically devote yourself to building your vocabulary over time. Read widely in English and check out the meanings of words you are unsure of. This will feed you the specific words you will need to carry out an academic, specialized or even general conversation.
Practice With a Native Speaker
Speak, speak, speak. Preferably with a native speaker. Non native speakers are also an alternative. Speak frequently to build fluency and do not be afraid of making mistakes. Instead, concentrate on getting progressively better. Think aloud and speak to your reflection in the mirror rather than not practicing at all. Voice your thoughts and reproduce your thoughts in loud English speech.
Join a club or try to start one where you invite and engage native speakers to speak in English about movies, music, travel or anything else of topical or familial interest. The TOEFL independent task will test your ability to discuss familiar topics, such as a description of your family, interests, city, country or an event. It will be important to state your personal opinion/preference and back it up with sound reasoning, examples and details. Be succinct. The TOEFL test will assess your ability to speak with precision. Try to state an opinion or preference within a 1-minute time limit.
Try to think in English and thus avoid directly translating from your native language into English. Practice common English collocations so that you may string your sentences in English with the same accustomed ease and assurance that you do in your native language.
Listen -- and Record Yourself
Good writing comes from good reading. Therefore good speaking also comes from good listening. Try to listen to how native English speakers pronounce English words and copy their stress, intonation patterns and pauses. Buy authentic English-language tapes and repeat what you hear from them aloud to yourself. Try to read aloud, too, if that will help.
Record your speaking by keeping an audio journal. Then go over your recordings with your English teachers or even friends or fellow learners, who will give you critical and helpful feedback on your performance. Listen to your past recordings and compare them with new ones to see if you are making progress.
Synthesize
Find listening and reading material on similar themes and combine the concepts in the passages. The TOEFL Speaking Test measures academic listening skills, which require you to synthesize. That is, to combine ideas or information from two or more sources, listen for the salient or practical points in a speech or extract practical understanding from an academic conversation, just like you would do in a class or lecture. Therefore, as well as synthesizing ability, you should be prepared to demonstrate well-developed listening and nuancing skills and form reasoned conclusions.
The integrated speaking task will test your ability to orally summarize a passage, state your opinion or suggest a solution to a problem presented in the passage or reading, if there is one.
Diction, Grammar and Accuracy
This is where you can access the highest marks in your TOEFL Speaking Test. Raters will be checking for your overall speaking quality, and this is where even the most fluent will be severely tested. You should sprinkle your speaking responses with a healthy dose of appropriate and accurate idioms to show your high proficiency. Beware -- a poorly constructed or used idiom will have the opposite effect of letting you down.
Master appropriate and correct use of English grammar. Organize your speech. In the TOEFL Speaking Test you are given a short time to think about how you want to approach your speech. Write down the main points you want to follow and support these main points with details. You will have 15 seconds to make this layout.
At the Exam
Do not panic. You have done a lot to get to this stage, already. Relax and know that you will give it your best. Try to manage your time throughout the exam so that you have enough time to finish your speaking tasks. Remember: you can make mistakes and still obtain a perfect score. The test is designed that way. Also, try to block out the noise that other test makers who may have already started before you will be making as they will be doing their own speaking test. And finally, do not worry about your accent, but try to speak as clearly as you can. Good luck!
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