Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
TOEFL Listen and Repeat: a short description tells you the situation, always something on campus or in an academic setting, for example helping new students at the university library. Then you hear a speaker in that place say seven sentences. You hear each sentence once and repeat it exactly, with no preparation time and about 8–12 seconds to respond. The sentences start short and get longer and more complex.
TOEIC Read a text aloud: you see a short text, such as an announcement or an advertisement. You have 45 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to read it aloud.
Both tasks test the same things: clear sounds, word stress, natural pauses and intonation. TOEFL also tests whether you can hold a whole sentence in your memory.
Don't try to remember single words. Listen to the meaning and the chunks: small groups of words that belong together. Each chunk usually has one strong word.
Pause briefly between chunks, never in the middle of one. Commas and full stops are good places to pause.
| Usually strong (stressed) | Usually weak (short and quiet) |
|---|---|
| Nouns: library, books, desk | Articles: a, an, the |
| Main verbs: borrow, ask, leave | Prepositions: to, at, of, for |
| Adjectives and adverbs: quiet, quickly | Helping verbs: can, are, was, have |
| Numbers and negatives: ten, don't, never | Pronouns: you, it, them |
Look at how the longer sentences break into chunks. CAPITALS show the strongest words.
Notice the weak words: can sounds like /kən/ and to sounds like /tə/. Notice the linking too: pick up a sounds like one word, pi-ku-pa.
A strong speaker doesn't memorise the words one by one. They remember the mental picture (printers, student cards, no cash) and the rhythm, then rebuild the sentence.
Imagine you are a new student on a tour of your university's science museum. Listen to each sentence once, then repeat it exactly. The sentences get longer.
Listen to each sentence, then record yourself saying it the same way. Copy the rhythm, stress and intonation.
1.Good morning, everyone.
2.Please stay together as a group.
3.Our first stop is the space gallery.
4.You're welcome to take photos, but please don't use flash.
5.This rocket engine was built more than fifty years ago.
6.If you look up, you'll see a model of every planet in our solar system.
7.At the end of the tour, there'll be time to visit the gift shop on the ground floor.
Long sentences are easier if you build them from the end. Repeat each line. Each one adds a new chunk to the front.
Listen to each sentence, then record yourself saying it the same way. Copy the rhythm, stress and intonation.
1.on Friday.
2.until five on Friday.
3.is open until five on Friday.
4.The new computer lab is open until five on Friday.
5.next to the bus stop.
6.is the building next to the bus stop.
7.The sports centre is the building next to the bus stop.
These are the sentences of the TOEIC text in the next task. Repeat each one, copying the stress, the pauses between chunks and the intonation.
Listen to each sentence, then record yourself saying it the same way. Copy the rhythm, stress and intonation.
1.Good morning, and welcome to Riverside Shopping Centre.
2.We'd like to remind shoppers that our summer sale starts today.
3.You'll find great discounts on clothing, shoes, and home electronics on the second floor.
4.If you're looking for somewhere to relax, our new rooftop café is now open from nine in the morning until eight in the evening.
5.Free parking is available for up to three hours.
6.Thank you for shopping with us, and enjoy your visit.
You have 45 seconds to prepare. Mark the pauses and the stressed words in your head. Then read the text aloud in 45 seconds.
Read this announcement aloud:
“Good morning, and welcome to Riverside Shopping Centre. We'd like to remind shoppers that our summer sale starts today. You'll find great discounts on clothing, shoes, and home electronics on the second floor. If you're looking for somewhere to relax, our new rooftop café is now open from nine in the morning until eight in the evening. Free parking is available for up to three hours. Thank you for shopping with us, and enjoy your visit.”
45 s preparation · 0:45 speaking
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“Say the sentence in short chunks.”
“Your intonation should rise at the end of a yes/no question.”
“Make a short pause at each comma.”
“We'd like to remind passengers to keep their bags with them.”
“Students get a ten per cent discount.”
“Free parking is available behind the hotel.”
“Meet me at the main entrance.”
“Can I borrow your charger?”
“The space gallery is on the first floor.”
“We had dinner at a rooftop restaurant.”
