Speaking Skills

The following skills will help you to implement these strategies in the Speaking section of the iBT TOEFL test.

INDEPENDENT TASKS There are two independent speaking tasks. These two independent speaking tasks are a free choice response and a paired-choice response.

Speaking Skill 1 : PLAN THE FREE-CHOICE RESPONSE The first and most important step in the independent free-choice task in the Speaking section of the iBT TOEFL test is to decode the question to determine what the intended outline is. Independent free-choice questions generally give clear clues about how your answer should be constructed. It is important to follow the clues that are given in the topic when you are planning your answer. You will probably not be given too much credit for a response that does not cover the question in the way that is intended. Study the following question. Question Where would you like to be professionally in ten years? Use details to support your response. As you read this topic, you should quickly determine that you should state clearly where you would like to be professionally in ten years and support that statement with details. You will have a little bit of time before you speak to plan your ideas. Study the following plan for the response to the question. TOPIC STATEMENT: I would like to won my own business. SUPPORT: how I will work toward owning my business (details): - will get masters in business (entrepreneurship) - will work in company while planning my business - will start my own business when I am ready

In this plan, there is a topic statement about owning my own business and supporting details about the steps I will take to work toward this goal. The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about planning the response.

PLANNING THE RESPONSE How to decode the question Each question in the independent free-choice task shows you what you should discuss and how you should organize your response. You must decode the topic carefully to determine the intended way of organizing your response. You must include a topic statement and support. Support your topic statement e question with the kinds of support that the question asks for (such as reasons, details, or examples), and try to personalize your response as much as possible. The more support you have, the better your response will be.

How to develop supporting ideas

SPEAKING EXERCISE 1: For each of the following questions, prepare a plan that shows the type of information you will include in your response. 1. What are the characteristics of a good neighbor? Use reasons and details to support your response. TOPIC STATEMENT: The two most important characteristics are friendliness and helpfulness. SUPPORT: why these characteristics are important (reasons): friendliness because I want to live in a place where people are friendly helpfulness because it is important for neighbors to help in times of need

2. Who is your best friend? Describe this person and say why he/she is your best friend

3. What is your favorite place to visit on weekends? Describe it and explain why it is your favorite place to go.

4. Talk about a person in your life who has inspired you. Describe the person and explain why you found him/her inspirational.

5. Where is a good place to have fun in your city or town? Describe this place and explain why it is fun.

6. What is your favorite book or movie? Describe it and say why it is your favorite.

7. What is your happiest childhood memory? Describe it and give reasons to explain why it is your happiest memory.

8. Talk about an important national holiday in your home country. Describe it and explain why it is important

9. What is your favorite style of clothing? Describe it and explain why it is your favorite.

10. Talk about an interesting tourist attraction you have been to. Describe it and say why it was interesting

11. Name a person whom you truly admire. Describe the person and say why you admire him/her.

12. Talk about an experience in your life that made you feel embarrassed. Describe it and say why it was embarrassing.

13. What is your most important possession? Describe it and say why it is so important.

14. Where do most like to go to eat out? Describe this place and say why you like it most.

15. Who do you feel close to in your family (or extended family)? Describe this person and say why you feel close to him/her.

16. What is your favorite season of the year? Describe the season and explain why you like it so much.

17. Describe a resource that helped you to do something better than before. Describe it and explain why it was helpful to you.

18. What is your favorite way of getting around? Describe it and explain why it is your favorite means of transportation.

19. Talk about a positive experience with learning or using English. Describe the experience and say why it was a positive one.

20. Which place has fond memories for you? Describe this place and explain why it is memorable to you.

21. Talk about an event from the past that you would like to relive. Describe the original event and say why you would like to relive it.

22. What was your favorite subject at school? Describe it and explain why this subject was your favorite one.

23. Where would you like to go to spend a vacation? Describe this place and say why you would like to holiday there.

24. Name a famous or influential figure who has inspired you. Describe this person and say why he/she has been inspirational to you.

25. What custom from your home country are you most fond of? Describe the custom and explain why you are fond of it.

26. Talk about a difficulty you have overcome in your life. Describe the experience and say why it was difficult to overcome.

27. Who is the most intelligent person you know? Describe the person and say why you think he/she is intelligent.

28. Name a place in your country you would recommend others to visit. Describe this place and explain why you would recommend it.

29. Talk about a time when you experienced success. Describe the experience and say why it was a success for you.

30. Where is your favorite place to study? Describe this place and say why it is a good place for you to study.

31. What is your favorite kind of food? Describe it and explain why it is your favorite.

32. Which person are you most likely to go to with a personal problem? Describe this person and say why you would go to him/her in particular.

33. What is your most useful study aid? Describe it and explain why it is useful in helping you to study.

34. Talk about something you and your family enjoy doing together. Describe it and explain why you all enjoy it.

35. Where would you most like to live? Describe this place and explain why you would like to live there.

36. Talk about a teacher who had a positive influence on you. Describe this person and explain why he/she was so influential to you.

37. What is your favorite recreational activity? Describe it and say why you enjoy doing it.

38. When have you been happily surprised by something? Describe the experience and say why the surprise was a happy one for you.

39. Who is an important person in your country? Describe this person and explain why he/she is important.

40. Describe a person from your countrys history. Why do you think this person was important?

41. Think of a place that makes you feel relaxed and peaceful. Describe it and explain why it is relaxing and peaceful for you.