Nama : Erni Rismayana
NPM : 22211475
TOEFL Strategies for Listening Section
TOEFL listening section, tests the ability
of a student, especially a non-native English speaker, to understand spoken
English (accentuated) in educational setting. Listening is an important skill
to understand the concepts and ideas. Only when the concepts are understood
completely it becomes a lighter task to score in the listening section of TOEFL
test. In order to develop the listening skills for TOEFL, there are certain set
of listening strategies or steps. They are explained in detail given below.
Requirements for TOEFL Listening Strategy
Listening strategies for TOEFL aims
at providing each and every minute detail that are required to respond to all
the questions within the given time in this section. Responding to the
questions in time is very important because, it will help TOEFL candidates to
save time, which they might spend on, one specific part of the test section.
There are certain steps in
strategies that would help in managing time in each part of listening test
section (recordings). There are some basic requirements for listening skills
which serves the steps in TOEFL listening strategies as detailed below:
- Basic Comprehension
When
students listen to a recorded lecture or a conversation, they should understand
the central or main idea in it. Then they should skim the recording for key
points, important facts, purpose and the relevant details that connects the key
points.
- Practical Understanding
It may also be called as “pragmatic understanding” where the meaning of a
word should be taken, according to the context. Students are needed to find the
intended meaning of the speaker i.e. from his point of view. A wide range of
vocabulary is necessary for this process because, the recordings in listening
test are usually from academic background. Practical understanding also becomes
a must to find the purpose of a lecture or a conversation.
- Relate Ideas given in multiple information sources
Relating ideas is the final state where the key points and the important
facts are compared to find the relationship between them. This method would
initially lead to construct an argument. Then a string of supportive and non
supportive elements are categorized and as a result the causes for the events
are traced. This is where a student would end up identifying the conclusion
which is expressed indirectly.
- Inference
Inference is to find the implied conclusion in recordings from the author’s
point of view. The conclusion might be implied or expressed indirectly anywhere
in the passage.
These are the basic requirements necessary, in each part of the strategy of
listening section, which consists of two recorded lectures and one long
conversation. These fundamentals are to be followed, in the following few
preparatory steps.
Strategies in Preparation
- Spoken English From Various Sources And Accents
There are variations between the accents of English. It is the best to
listen to English from various sources like television, music, radio etc. And
also it is good to listen to the native speakers of English with different
pronunciation and dialect. By doing this students would be able to improve
their listening skills and also they will get used to different kinds of
accents. It will be helpful very much if they listen to academic passages or
conversations.
- Making Notes
While listening to a recording, notes should be jot down. These notes would
help you to remember the important points given by speaker. The reason is also
that, during the test you will be given only one chance to listen to a passage.
Note making will help you to remember the details and the clues effectively.
- Main Idea
The main idea of a passage should be identified in a recording, as a first
task while taking notes. Main idea of a lecture is usually given in the
introductory part. The other details would be given in the rest of a lecture.
Once the main idea is found it becomes a lighter task to find the purpose of
the speaker.
- Pointer Words, Important Facts And Relationship Between The Facts
The pointer words may be defined as signal words or clues, given by the
speaker. These keywords should be collected along with important facts and
events. This should be done in order to compare them and identify the
relationship between them. In turn this would give you the cause of the events.
- Summary of Observation
Give a summary of the recording which was listened, using the notes that
are taken down. During this process, only important facts, relevant details,
main idea and the key facts are covered. This is a good time saving technique,
to prevent going through the notes again and again.
- Building your Vocabulary
Above all it is also important to build a student’s vocabulary, to find the
meaning of a word, according to the context of the speaker. Students should get
familiar with the words which they consider as new ones and practice them in
their everyday life.
The steps and the requirements in TOEFL strategies for listening section,
which are elaborated above should be followed and practiced to manage time
while taking up the test. The most important part in listening section is to
concentrate on the subject of the speaker, and a student does not have to be
distracted by the accent.
There are three sections in
Listening Comprehension sessions. These parts are :
1.
Part A. This section consists of thirty
short conversation (short conversations) between two people, both men and
women. Each conversation ended with a question. You are required to choose one
of the answer choices (A, B, C, and D) the most precise available on the
question paper. The questions in Part A number ranging from 1 to 30.
2.
Part B. This section consists of two long
conversations (longer conversations) between two people, both men and women.
Each conversation is followed by four questions. You are welcome to choose the
best answer (A, B, C, and D). The questions in Part B starting from number 31
to 38.
3. Part
C. The final section consists of three long speeches (talks) and only
involves one person (monologue). Usually in the form of academic lectures or
describe someone who was giving a lecture. Each talk is followed by four
questions. You are required to answer by selecting one best answer. The questions
in Part B starting from number 39 to 50.
For most
people, Listening Comprehension is the hardest part when TOEFL tests. This time
I will try to summarize what strategies should be done in order to answer the
questions in the Listening Comprehension well.
Part A :
Short Conversations, a strategy that should be done is :
This section
consists of short conversations between two people (dialogue), both men and
women. The conversation is usually the theme of daily life, from the workplace
to the academic environment. Here is an example of a conversation in Part A.
Example :
You will
hear the conversation of two people as follows :
(man) : What’s the matter? You don’t
look too good.
(woman) : I was frightened by a loud noise.
(narrator) : WHAT DOES THE WOMAN MEAN?
In the
booklet you will get the following answer choices :
(A)
She was not allowed to fight.
(B)
Something scared her.
(C)
She mad a loud noise that frightened some people.
(D)
Some loud neighbors had a fight.
Answer (B)
is the most appropriate. I was Frightened by a loud noise means something is
scaring her.
Part B:
Longer Conversation, a strategy that should be done is :
In part B
you will hear longer conversatios between 2 people and every 1 long dialogue
followed by some questions. After conversation, you will be asked some
questions. The conversations and quetions will be spoken by just one time. They
will not be written out for you, so you will have to listen carefully in order
to understand and remember what the speaker says.
When you hear
a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and decide which
one would be the best answer to the question you have heard. Then, on your
answer sheet, find the number of the problem and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
Tips and
trick of part B :
1. When the narrator read the instructions for part B.
you should read the answer choices perpetually fleeting and then record it and predict
what will be the theme of conversation.
2.
When listening to the conversation. you must know the theme or topic.
3.
Beware of each question.
4.
Look at the conditions and situations that occur during the conversation, the
conversation regarding the place and time, what and who is concerned.
Script Part B :
Man : I can’t believe we have to
read this entire book by Monday.
Woman : Some teachers think you have
nothing else to do besides prepare for their class.
Man :
Well, my boss thinks the same thing about my job that it’s the only thing i have
to do.
Woman : Oh, I didn’t know you were
working. What do you do?
Man :
I do bookkeping work for a small company on Saturdays. This weekend, I have to
prepare end of the quarter reports to give to do the accountant on Monday.
Man : You’d better start reading soon.
The question :
1. What does the man
imply about the assignment?
2. What does the man
imply about some teachers?
3. What does the woman
suggest that the man do?
4. What does the amn say
about his work?
Writting in your test book:
1. A. It is too much to read in such a
short time.
B. He has already read the material.
C. He can read at work.
D. The teacher knows that he has a job.
2. A. They are understanding.
B. They give thought provoking assignment.
C. They act like taking their class is the only thing
a student has to do.
D. They are unprepared.
3. A. Skip work.
B. Begin work on the assignment as soon as possible.
C. Quit the class.
D. Stay up all night.
4. A. He does manual labor.
B. He dislikes his job.
C. His employer is very understanding.
D. He works with figures.
Discussion to the questions above:
1. Answer : A
Keyword : can’t believe.
Discussion : the idiom of can’t believe indicates that the disclosed a remarkable thing.
2. Answer : C
Keyword : some teachers think you have nothing
else to do besides prepare for their
class.
Discussion : the sentence of keyword implies that
teachers are not overly concerned with the preoccupations of students, and the
teachers think that the students are just following their class.
3. Answer : B
Keyword : you would better start reading soon.
Discussion : the sentence of keyword indicates that the
man should immediately begin work as soon as possible.
4. Answer : D
Keyword : end of the quarter reports to give to
the accountant.
Discussion : the man say that week that he had to
finish a report for accountant. So the
work associated with the figures.
Part C: Talks
In Part C,
you will hear several talks. After each talk, you will be asked some question.
The talks and questions will be spoken just one time. The will not be written
out for you, so you will have to listen carefully in order to understand and
remember what the speaker says.
When you
hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and decide
which one would be best answer to the question you have heard. Then, on your
answer sheet, find the number of the problem and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
Tips and
trick of Part C :
1.
If you have time,
take a look at the answer choices listed in a booklet and find the key word.
2.
Watch out for
the talks in the first sentence because it usually will be the topic for the
next sentences
3.
Focus your
hearing on matters relating to the 5W questions ( what, who, when, where, why) and
how.
4.
Make conclusion or make inferences about the situation when the conversation is done.
5.
After the several talks is done, you will hear once
spoken question. questions usually begin with question word especially:
(What, How,
Where, Why, Who, Whom)
Script of part C :
Today, we
continue talking about vegetable and fodder plants. We spoke of other types of
these, including kale and collards, previously. Today we will review what is
normally referred to as cabbage in common conversation.
Cabbage is a
common vegetable native to England and northwestern France but now grown in
many part of Europe, Asia, and the American continents. There are three kinds
of cabbage, all with the same basic characteristic: the leaves grow very closed
together, forming a hard, round head. The three types of cabbage are white,
savoy, and red. While the white and red cabbage, have prominent eins in their
leaves, savoy has rinkled and blistered leaves. All forms of cabbage have
succulent leaves covered th a waxy coating. They are low in calories, have
little fat, and are an excellent source of ascorbic acid, minerals,and bulk,
which help digustion.
Cabbage
seeds are quite small. Farmers normally sow the seeds in rows that are about 36
inches apart. After young plants have sprouted, the rows are thinned to allow a
space of 18 to 24 inches between plants.
Cabbage is
biennial, meaning that it grows vegetatively one season, and its flowering and
seed production occurs in the second season, after which the plant dies.
Cabbage plants grow best in mild to cool climates, although they will tolerato
frost and maybe even colder climates. Very hot weather affect the quality of
the cabbage and impairs growth.
Please read
the materials provided, and then we will discuss brussels sprouts, cauliflower,
and broccoli.
1.
Q. Narrator : According
to the speaker, what is biennial?
2.
Q. Narrator : According
to the speaker, where was cabbage originally found?
3. Q. Narrator: According
to the speaker, what is the main difference between the types of cabbage
mentioned?
4. Q. Narrator : According
to the speaker, which of the following is not a characteristic of all cabbage
types?
5.
Q. Narrator : which
type of plant does the speaker say was discussed previously?
1.
Q. Narrator : According to the speaker, what is
biennial?
a.
A plant able to fertilize seeds without another plant.
b.
A member of the cabbage family.
c.
A plant that grows over two year period, alternating
between producing plants and seeds.
d.
A plant that cannot withstand cold temperatures.
Answer : C
Key word :
biennial : grows vegetatively one season, and its flowering and seed production
occurs in the second season, after which the plant dies.
2.
Q. Narrator : According to the speaker, where was
cabbage originally found?
a.
All over the world.
b.
In France and England.
c.
In Europe, the Americas and Asia.
d.
In Asia.
Answer : B
Key word :
native.
3.
Q. Narrator : According to the speaker, what is the
main difference between the types of cabbage mentioned?
a.
Taste.
b.
Method of cultivation.
c.
Appearance.
d.
Ability to withstand cold.
Answer : C
Key word :
three kinds of cabbage; same basic characteristic;white, savoy, and red.
4.
Q. Narrator : which type of plant does the speaker say
was discussed previously?
a.
Kale and collard greens.
b.
Brussels sprouts.
c.
Broccoli.
d.
Cauliflower.
Answer: A
Key word :
continue talking, including kale and collards, previously.
Source
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