TOEFL LISTENING TIPS AND STRATEGIES

The Listening section of TOEFL measures your ability to understand spoken English in academic settings. In TOEFL  the listening is done for 3 major purposes:

1.      Listening for basic comprehension.

2.      Listening for pragmatic understanding.

3.      To connect and combine ideas presented in multiple information sources.

Each part of the Listening section (2 or 3 parts) consists of 1 long conversation and two lectures. The test takers hear each lecture or conversation only once. Lectures and conversations are 3-5 minutes long. During the listening the time is not running. The allotted time of 10 minutes for each part is only for answering the questions.

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.

Directions and Practice Questions

Directions and examples of the types of questions you will find in the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL® test are below.

There are three parts to this section, with special directions for each part. Answer all questions based on what is stated or implied by the speakers you hear.

Do not:

• take notes or write in your test book at any time
• turn the pages until you are told to do so.

Part A

Directions: In Part A, you will hear short conversations between two people. After each conversation, you will hear a question about the conversation. The conversations and questions will not be repeated. After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the best answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Here is an example.

On the recording, you will hear:

(woman)	I don't like this painting very much.
(man)	Neither do I.
(narrator)	What does the man mean?

In your test book, you will read:

A. He doesn't like the painting either. B. He doesn't know how to paint. C. He doesn't have any paintings. D. He doesn't know what to do.

You learn from the conversation that neither the man nor the woman likes the painting. The best answer to the question, "What does the man mean?" is A, "He doesn't like the painting either." Therefore, the correct choice is A.

Part B

Directions: In this part of the test you will hear longer conversations. After each conversation you will hear several questions. The conversations and questions will not be repeated.

After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the best answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Remember, you are not allowed to take notes or write in your test book.

SAMPLE CONVERSATION AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS

(narrator)	Questions 4 through 7. Listen to a conversation about a trip.
(man)	Are you ready for "The Big Apple"?
(woman)	Excuse me?
(man)	You know, New York City. You are going to New York with us, aren't you? I wanted to show everybody around my old neighborhood.
(woman)	Oh...sure! I wouldn't miss it especially when the tour guide is a native New Yorker.
(man)	I thought we could start at the Museum of Modern Art. Right now there's an exhibit on twentieth-century American painters.
(woman)	Fine with me...but what were you saying about...a big apple?
(man)	"The Big Apple." It's a nickname for New York. I think I heard once that it started with jazz musicians in the 20's.
(woman)	Oh.
(man)	Whenever they played a concert in a city, they called that city an "apple." In those days, New York was the biggest city in the country, so they called it "The Big Apple."
(woman)	Hey, I have an idea! Let's go to a jazz club while we're there.
(man)	Sounds good.

Questions:
4. You will hear:
(narrator)	What is the man planning to see?

You will read:	A. An art exhibit.
	B. A Broadway play.
	C. A modern dance production.
	D. An opera.

Part C

Directions: In this part of the test you will hear several talks. After each talk, you will hear some questions. The talks and questions will not be repeated.

After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the best answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Here is an example.

On the recording, you will hear:

(narrator)

Listen to an instructor talk to his class about a television program.

(man)

I'd like to tell you about an interesting TV program that'll be shown this coming Thursday. It'll be on from 9 to 10 p.m. on Channel 4. It's part of a series called "Mysteries of Human Biology." The subject of the program is the human brain — how it functions and how it can malfunction. Topics that will be covered are dreams, memory, and depression. These topics are illustrated with outstanding computer animation that makes the explanations easy to follow. Make an effort to see this show. Since we've been studying the nervous system in class, I know you'll find it very helpful.

Here is an example.

You will hear:
(narrator)	What is the main purpose of the program?

In your test book, you will read:

	A. To demonstrate the latest use of computer graphics.
	B. To discuss the possibility of an economic depression.
	C. To explain the workings of the brain.
	D. To dramatize a famous mystery story.

The best answer to the question, "What is the main purpose of the program?" is C, "To explain the workings of the brain." Therefore, the correct choice is C.

Here is another example.

You will hear:
(narrator)	Why does the speaker recommend watching the program?

In your test book, you will read:

	A. It is required of all science majors.
	B. It will never be shown again.
	C. It can help viewers improve their memory skills.
	D. It will help with course work.

The best answer to the question, "Why does the speaker recommend watching the program?" is D, "It will help with course work." Therefore, the correct choice is D.

References :

https://www.ets.org/toefl/pbt/prepare/sample_questions/listening_comprehension_practice_section1

http://www.studyabroad18.com/articles/toefl-strategies-for-listening-section.php

TOEFL Test Strategies. 2004. Eli Hinkel, Ph. D. Barron’s Educational Series.