TOEFL Speaking Type 3

Integrated Type 3: Campus Situation – Fit and Explain

Time to prepare: 30 seconds
Time to respond: 60 seconds
Reading Section: Yes (45 seconds to read)
Listening Section: Yes (listen 1x)
Opinion: NO


OBJECTIVE

The announcement gives information relating to campus life, while the listening consists of two people discussing that announcement. Synthesize the information from the announcement and the listening, making sure to directly answer the question. Use information from both the reading and the listening.


STRUCTURE

1) State person’s opinion within the context of the announcement
2) Briefly focus on the content of the announcement
3) State the reasons why the person has their opinion
A. Acknowledge the other person’s point of view
B. **Keep focus on person’s opinion that is asked for in the question**
4) Conclude by restating opinion in regards to the announcement


SAMPLE QUESTION

Reading Passage

Friday Lunchtime Lecture Series

This fall, the Political Science Department is pleased to announce a series of lunchtime lectures by our visiting scholars. This Friday, Professor Davis of Western University will be discussing his current research on the future of labor activism in North America. The lecture series is open to graduate students and faculty in the Political Science, History, English, and Economics Departments. The lectures will be held in Walker Hall, room 202. The discussions will begin at 12. Please bring a brown bag lunch with you. Contact Nancy McKnowles at the Department of Political Science by Thursday afternoon if you are planning to attend.


Narrator

Now listen to two students as they discuss the announcement:

Listening Passage

Man: Did you hear about the new lecture series? I can’t believe Prof. Davis is going to be speaking. His work is so famous! Want to go together?

Woman: Yeah, I saw the announcement. I would love the chance to hear Prof. Davis speak. But I don’t think I’ll be going.

Man: Why not? It’s a great chance to meet him and spend some time with some of the other students and professors, too.

Woman: I know it’s a good opportunity and Prof. Davis’s work on unions is really groundbreaking. But I just don’t have time. I have 3 papers due this month, and I am still doing research for one of them. I just found out this morning that one of my coworkers is sick, so I’ll need to work a couple of extra shifts at my part-time job this week.

Man: Well, it is only an hour a week and you have to eat anyways. I think you should come along.

Woman: I’d love to, but I just don’t have time. Maybe I’ll be able to fit it in next semester. This term I want to focus on getting all my work finished before I have to start studying for exams. Hopefully next term I will have more spare time.


Question: The woman expresses her opinion about the announcement by the Political Science Department. State the woman’s opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.


SAMPLE RESPONSE

The woman is disappointed that she will not be able to attend Professor Davis’s lecture (WOMAN’S OPINION).

The announcement states that the Political Science Department is offering a series of lunchtime lectures, and Professor Davis will be lecturing at 12 o’clock on labor activism in North America (BRIEF BREAKDOWN OF ANNOUNCEMENT).

Though the man asks the woman to see the lecture together (ACKNOWLEDGE OTHER PERSON’S POINT), and the woman is aware of Davis’s important work, she simply does not have enough time (FOCUS REMAINS ON WOMAN’S OPINION). She has three papers due this month, and must also work extra shifts at her job because her co-worker is sick. While the man points out that it is only an hour a week (ACKNOWLEDGE OTHER PERSON’S POINT), the woman says that she must focus on finishing her work before she begins studying for exams (FOCUS REMAINS ON WOMAN’S OPINION). She will try to watch the lectures next semester.

In short, the woman would like to attend Davis’s lecture, but she must finish other work first and does not have enough time this semester (CONCLUSION).


Remember, the reading section DISAPPEARS after 45 seconds, so you must rely only on your notes to give information about the reading passage. Be sure to clearly state the person's opinion and the reasons for that opinion. If possible, acknowledge the other person's point of view, but FOCUS on the main person's arguments.

TOEFL Speaking Type 2

Independent Type 2: Choice

Time to prepare: 15 seconds
Time to respond: 45 seconds
Reading Section: None
Listening Section: None
Opinion: YES

OBJECTIVE

Using at least 2 reasons with examples/details, choose from one of the two choices offered, and explain the reasons behind the choice.

STRUCTURE (ALMOST IDENTICAL TO TYPE 1)

1) Introduction (Restate topic + State preference

2) Body 1
A. Topic Sentence (Transition + Specific Reason)
B. Specific details/example

3) Body 2
A. (Same as body 1)

4) Conclusion
A. Transition + Restate topic + restate opinion


SAMPLE QUESTION

Some people prefer to eat out at restaurants. Others prefer to eat at home. Which do you prefer and why? Use specific details and examples to support your answer.

SAMPLE RESPONSE

Although some people prefer eating at restaurants, I prefer to eat at home (RESTATE TOPIC + STATE OPINION) for the following reasons.

To begin with (TRANSITION), eating at home is less expensive (REASON #1). For example, a pasta dish at a local Italian restaurant might cost me ten to twelve dollars. However, I can buy spaghetti noodles, sauce, herbs and spices, etc. for less than ten dollars, and I could also prepare enough for more than one meal (PERSONAL EXPERIENCE)!

Additionally (TRANSITION), my home offers a more comfortable atmosphere (REASON #2). At restaurants, waiters are always running around, and other customers are talking around me. At home, I can listen to music that I enjoy. I can also turn on the television and eat while watching my favorite TV shows (PERSONAL EXPERIENCE). The dining experience is far more enjoyable to me this way.

To sum up (TRANSITION), I would rather eat at home than go out (OPINION + RESTATE TOPIC).


You should notice that I stated both choices and then selected my preferred choice. Some testtakers might say "Some people prefer to eat at home. Others prefer to eat out. If I had to choose, I would choose..." This format is TOO LONG. Your content is the most important part of your speech, so you do not want to spend too much time in your introduction (or conclusion).

"I prefer X rather than Y."
"I enjoy X more than Y."

These sample structures allow you to state both choices AND your opinion within the same short sentence. This allows testtakers to focus on their reasons and their support.

TOEFL Speaking Type 1

Independent Type 1: Personal Preference

Time to prepare: 15 seconds
Time to respond: 45 seconds
Reading Section: None
Listening Section: None
Opinion: YES

OBJECTIVE

Using at least 2 reasons with examples/details, answer an open-ended question that asks speakers to draw from personal experience for their response.

STRUCTURE

1) Introduction (Restate topic + State opinion + Segue into main content)

2) Body 1
A. Topic Sentence (Transition + Specific Reason)
B. Specific details/example

3) Body 2
A. (Same as body 1)

4) Conclusion
A. Transition + Restate topic + restate opinion


SAMPLE QUESTION

If you could travel to any country in the world, where would you travel and why? Use specific details and examples to support your answer.

SAMPLE RESPONSE

If I could travel to any country in the world (RESTATE TOPIC), I would travel to Japan (STATE OPINION) for the following reasons.

First of all (TRANSITION), I love Japanese food (REASON #1). When I was growing up, some of my favorite foods were Sushi, Ramen noodles, and beef dumplings. I would look forward to dinner every time Japanese food was served, and if could travel to Japan, I could eat Japanese food three times a day (PERSONAL EXPERIENCE).

Furthermore (TRANSITION), Japan has some of the most amazing cities in the world (REASON #2). My brother has traveled to countries all over the world, and he still ranks Kyoto as the most beautiful city he has ever seen (SECONDHAND EXPERIENCE). I have been to Tokyo myself, and was amazed by how futuristic it felt (PERSONAL EXPERIENCE). I would love to see these and other Japanese cities again.

To sum up (TRANSITION), I would definitely fly to Japan (OPINION) if I could travel anywhere on earth (RESTATE TOPIC).


You should notice that the examples are very SPECIFIC. I do not just say "Japanese food is great, and I like eating it." I meantioned SPECIFIC foods like ramen and dumplings to illustrate my reason. For my second reason, I did not just say "there are many beautiful cities in Japan, and I would learn about their culture." I mentioned Kyoto and Tokyo SPECIFICALLY. Your support must always be specific.

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