Four critical points to remember Four critical points to remember when answering TOEFLwhen answering TOEFL® ® Speaking Speaking

questionsquestions

Dr. Pamela J. SharpeDr. Pamela J. SharpeAuthor of the bestseller Author of the bestseller Barron’s TOEFLBarron’s TOEFL® ® iBTiBT

(c) Dr. Pamela Sharpe/teflprep 2010(c) Dr. Pamela Sharpe/teflprep 2010

Strategy 1Strategy 1

Give your opinion ifGive your opinion if

you are asked for you are asked for oneone

It’s not all about you!It’s not all about you!

Tasks 1 and 2 ask Tasks 1 and 2 ask for YOURfor YOUR opinionopinion

Task 3 asks for Task 3 asks for THE SPEAKER’S THE SPEAKER’S opinionopinion

It’s not all about you!It’s not all about you!

Task 4 asks for a Task 4 asks for a report, not an report, not an opinionopinion

Task 5 asks for a Task 5 asks for a preference, not preference, not an opinionan opinion

Task 6 asks for a Task 6 asks for a report, not an report, not an opinionopinion

(c) Dr. Pamela Sharpe/teflprep 2009(c) Dr. Pamela Sharpe/teflprep 2009

Strategy 2Strategy 2

Use familiar vocabulary and grammarUse familiar vocabulary and grammar

Don’t try a new road!Don’t try a new road!

Use vocabulary Use vocabulary that you know that you know how to usehow to use

Use grammar that Use grammar that you have you have already learnedalready learned

Strategy 3Strategy 3

Use natural, spoken English—Use natural, spoken English—

neither too formal nor too informalneither too formal nor too informal

Stay in the middle!Stay in the middle!

Language that is Language that is too formal too formal sounds artificialsounds artificial

Language that is Language that is too informal too informal sounds sounds inappropriateinappropriate

What do you mean?What do you mean?

Strategy 4Strategy 4

Stop when you Stop when you have have

finished answeringfinished answering

the questionthe question

Please, Thank you, and I’m Please, Thank you, and I’m sorry!sorry!

Do NOT express Do NOT express appreciation appreciation

Do NOT apologize Do NOT apologize for language for language

(c) Dr. Pamela Sharpe/teflprep 2010(c) Dr. Pamela Sharpe/teflprep 2010

Best wishes for success on the TOEFL!

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