Minggu, 18 Maret 2018
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.
TOEFL Listening Question Types
1. Main Idea Questions
Main idea questions assess your understanding
of the overall topic or basic idea of a lecture or conversation. You are
supposed to understand the speaker’s general purpose of giving a lecture or
having a conversation as well.
§ In a lecture or discussion, pay attention to
expressions that indicate the topic:
“Today’s talk is on…”
“Today, we’re going to discuss…”
“Now, we’re going to talk about…”
§ In a conversation, listen for cues that will
indicate the speaker’s main purpose:
“How can I help?”
“What do you need?”
“Can you help me with…?”
§ Listen for key words that are emphasized or repeated.
2. Detail Questions
Taking notes of major points and important
details of a lecture or conversation is important to solve detail questions
§ Since answers to questions are found in order
in the passage, take notes in order of what you hear.
§ Listen for signal expressions that identify
details, such as for example, the reason is, on the other hand,
however, I would say, etc.
§ Detail questions do not require inference.
Choose what speakers actually say.
Incorrect choices may repeat some of the
speaker’s words, but do not reflect correct information from the lecture or
conversation.
3. Function Questions
In this type of question, you listen again the
part of the lecture or conversation, and then answer the question. Function
questions assess your understating of what a speaker is trying to achieve
through what is said.
§ You should be careful about the tone of voice, intonation and sentence stressthat a speaker uses to show his or her
intended meaning.
§ Listen for the overall organization of the
lecture or conversation and think about whether the purpose is to describe,
explain, compare, or give an opinion.
4. Stance Questions
Stance questions ask about the speaker’s
general feeling about what is discussed.
§ You should recognize words or phrases that
indicate the speaker’s feeling or opinion.
§ You should also recognize tone of voice, intonation, and sentence stress that the speaker uses to show his
or her feeling or opinion.
5. Organization Questions
Organization questions assess your
understanding of organization of information in a lecture or conversation.
§ You are supposed to recognize the sequence of
information as well as the main steps of a process.
§ Use diagrams, arrows and outline format while
taking notes to indicate the organization of information.
§ Listen for transitions that indicate
sequencing of information, such as first, now the first step is,
next, then, so now, the last step is, finally.
6. Content Question
Content questions assess your ability to
determine if a certain point is discussed in relation to a category.
Identifying key category words is required to solve these questions.
§ Take notes while listening as questions with
tables will only appear after the lecture or conversation.
§ Pay special attention to category words, the
characteristics of categories and examples.
§ Keep in mind that there are different types of
tables to complete. Some in which you need to click YES or NO, and others in
which you need to click the correct category.
7. Inference Questions
Inference questions assess your ability to
guess the implied meaning or to draw a conclusion based on the main points of a
lecture or conversation. Inference questions include the words,infer, imply or suggest.
§ Try to guess the implied meaning of the given
information. The correct answer is not directly stated.
§
Pay attention to clues
expressed by certain words, word stress, intonation, or pace of what is said.
Refferences :
https://www.prepscholar.com/toefl/blog/toefl-listening-test-tips/
http://www.seckinesen.com/blog-detay/toefl-listening-strategies
https://www.prepscholar.com/toefl/blog/toefl-note-taking-tips/
http://utharymaladhika.blogspot.co.id/2015/03/toefl-strategies-for-listening-section.html
