Wednesday, December 2, 2009

More TOEFL ideas

1) englishtips.org is a great place to download TOEFL resources

2) Work on specific conversation types & their grammar/language counterparts. (This is actually great for language students of all levels!) For example, one major skill that TOEFLers need to complete the Speaking Section of the TOEFL is to be able to describe a problem, explain the solution given in the conversation they hear, and give their opinion about what the student in the recording should do. So one activity I've used on occasion is problem description using Dear Abby columns. I give the students several, then have them explain the problem, the solution and their opinion about it. It's good practice describing problems. And this activity can be accompanied with language and grammar needed for explaining problems. For example, so and so says/states/describes, etc. So and so talks about/discusses, etc. such and such a problem. Grammar focuses could include using advice language like should/If I were you/etc.

3) Other conversation types are debates: skill to focus on: arguing/defending a point. (This is a pretty common language-learning activity.)