SteadmanTOEFL Practice

Fall 2007LOW INT OCS

TOEFL Practice Session: SPEAKING Questions 1 & 2 / Independent Speaking

The speaking section of the TOEFL takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

You will be asked 6 speaking questions. The first two are about familiar topics and do not require reading or listening to material first.

  • You will have a short amount of time to prepare your response.
  • Then you will be given a short amount of time to speak into a microphone.

(Remember, next week…we will record our speaking on microphones and analyze our speech!)

Questions 1 and 2: Familiar Topics

For TOEFL Speaking Questions 1 and 2 you will be asked to give an opinion or explanation about a familiar topic. / Independent Speaking

ForTOEFL Speaking Questions 1 and 2 you will be asked to give an opinion or explanationabout a familiar topic.

1. Read the question. Think about the main points of your response. Then, respond to the question.

Preparation time: 1 Minute
Response time: 1 Minute

What do you think your life will be like after retirement? Use reasons and details to support your response.

SAMPLE SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE—Why is it successful?
I think my life after retirement will be very similar to my life now. I like to keep busy, and I have trouble relaxing. If I want to spend a few hours reading or listening to music I usually schedule it into my agenda. I usually have to force myself to relax. Even if I do not want to make money doing medicine in the future, I will probably volunteer in a medical way later, perhaps in a third world countrysuch as Sri Lanka or Africa. I'm lucky that that I like my job right now, but if I don’t like it later, my plans for retirement may change.

Now YOU try!

NOW TRY AGAIN!

Would you prefer to study in a classroom or take an online course? Use reasons and details to support your response.
Preparation time: 1 Minute
Response time: 1 Minute

SAMPLE SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE--Why is it successful?
I would prefer to study in a classroom. I think it takes a lot of self-discipline to study at home, and I amsometimes lazy and easily distracted. While my roommate has no problem turning off her phone while she is studying, I'm the type of person who worries that I will miss an important call. Even when I'm studying for exams or writing essays, I have to do my work in the library where I can't be interrupted. In addition I learn better when I hearor seesomebody giving the information. I think I would get a lower grade if I took an online class...

One More Time!

How would your life be different if you were poor?Use reasons and details to support your response.

Preparation time: 1 Minute
Response time: 1 Minute