tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10488988008901601762024-03-13T12:46:14.426-07:00TOEFL SPEAKING ADVICE: Daniel GaussTOEFL help from an Ivy League grad and experienced English teacher and TOEFL tutor. Feel free to contact me at: danielgauss31@gmail.com Good luck!Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-7512057010753113132022-01-29T13:03:00.000-08:002022-01-29T13:03:23.766-08:00CrAzY Conversation topics to help you practice for the TOEFL<p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>When I used to tutor folks for the TOEFL, they often wanted to learn "short-cuts" or formats to cheat their way to a better score. I used to say that the best way to do well on the TOEFL was the improve one's English. I still feel that way.</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>To that end, here are a number of sometimes crazy conversation topics so that you have things to talk about while preparing for the TOEFL speaking section. Ideally, you should get a native speaker to ask you these questions and to correct your grammar mistakes.</b></span></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>If a friend told you that she was pregnant with her
boyfriend’s child, but she didn’t want to keep it and she wasn’t going to tell
him about the abortion, what advice would you give?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Let’s say you were a close friend of the guy. Would you tell
him?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>If you could read another person’s mind, would you prefer to read the mind of a
person who hated or liked you?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Doctors can determine the sex of a baby. Do you think that
prospective parents have a right to decide the sex of their baby?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>You have two choices of places where you can search for a
boyfriend/girlfriend, a church or a singles bar. Which would you choose?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>If your boyfriend left you, would you be more angry if it
was a gay man he left you for or another woman?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Are you a hunter or a gatherer?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What kind of tree would you want to be?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Would you prefer to be invisible or to fly?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>An elephant was given to you as a gift…how would you use it?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Should we really have to wear a seatbelt?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Do you wanna play offense or defense?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Why are manhole covers round?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>How lucky are you?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Intelligent life in the universe?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Go to Mars?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Which actress/actor should play you?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Last gift you gave?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Funny thing that happened to you lately.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>You are the only survivor of an airplane crash…what do you
do?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>You have 2,000 new email messages and only have time to
answer 300. How would you do this?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Too many accessories or too few?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Which magical power do you want?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What kitchen appliance would you be?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What kind of car would you be?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Qualities you least and most like in your friend?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>6 months with nothing to do. What do you do?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What special meal would you prepare for a friend of a
friend?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>You work at a bank. Would you lend money to your parents?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Be right or be liked?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>You win the lottery. Do you still want to work?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>If you were offered a new job in Canada, would you take it?
Why/why not? 3 reasons<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>A friend has bought you a voucher to receive several free
dancing classes. You can choose from 1) ballroom dancing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>modern nightclub/techno music dancing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>or 3) traditional Chinese dancing. Which type of dancing would you
choose?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>When did you get your ears pierced? Why did you want them
pierced? How do you feel about men with pierced ears?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Have you ever tried Facebook? Which Chinese app is most like
Facebook? If you could, would you use Facebook?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What do you like the most about Tik Tok? <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Would you enjoy gambling in Macao? How much would you be
willing to lose? Have you tried gambling? How do you feel about the lottery?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Tiger Woods got into a lot of trouble a few years ago
because his wife sneaked a peek at his cell phone messages. Would you ever
sneak a peek at a partner’s cell phone messages? <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Do you think that fingerprints and retina scans are better
than ID cards?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>China seemed like a very safe country to me. In the USA lots
of people get thrown in jail…what type of criminals go to jail in China?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Tell me a few things about kangaroos.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>English is the current world language. Is it a good choice
for world language? Why or why not? 3 reasons.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Would you prefer reading a magazine about your favorite
hobby or topic or reading about it online?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>In the USA there are many manicure and pedicure shops. Does
China have these shops as well? Do Chinese women care about decorating their
nails very much?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What do you think of the 16/8 diet? You can eat as much as
you want between 8 hours of every day but must not eat during 16 consecutive
hours.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-87073534219296232072019-01-24T11:23:00.002-08:002019-01-24T11:28:59.497-08:00A possible format for the TOEFL independent essay<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>I was thinking that if you have to write an essay based on two choices, the following might be a good format to help you save time.</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<b style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Write one or two reasons for the choice you are going to reject. Then state your choice with no reasons. The reasons will come in the next two paragraphs. </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<b style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="color: #073763;">So let's say the question is: There is a wilderness area with endangered species that can be developed economically to provide more food for a city's population. Should this area be preserved or turned into farm land? </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="color: #073763;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><b>Personally, I would argue that the area should be preserved, but let's say you disagree with my point of view. Here is a possible intro and guide to writing an essay to support this type of argument.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<b style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<b style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Sample:</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Introduction: The preservation of endangered species is felt by some to be a moral imperative; it is asserted that we have no right to eliminate species from the face of the earth. It has also been asserted that the elimination of species can adversely affect ecosystems. Yet, when there is a conflict between preserving endangered species and developing land for economic reasons, I feel that wilderness areas should be sacrificed.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Reason 1: The human population continues to grow and we must provide for this growth. Explanation/example.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Reason 2: It is possible to preserve endangered species or relocate endangered species while pursuing economic development. Explanation/example.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<b style="color: #20124d;">Conclusion: In an ideal world we would be able to preserve wilderness areas and pursue economic development. At times, however, there is a conflict in regard to this issue. In this case, I would have to argue that the welfare of human beings trumps that of endangered species.</b><br />
<b style="color: #20124d;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #20124d;">------</b><br />
<b style="color: #20124d;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #20124d;">By the way, "to trump" is a verb and has nothing to do with the current president of the US. "to trump" something means to take precedence over something else, to be more important than something else. This verb has existed in the English language since the 1500s.</b><br />
<b style="color: #20124d;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #20124d;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #20124d;">Here's a song that I like. It has nothing to do with the TOEFL. Please enjoy it.</b><br />
<b style="color: #20124d;"><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-53104538056466548612017-11-16T14:26:00.000-08:002017-11-16T14:37:47.365-08:00Practice/example for Question # 3, TOEFL Speaking<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Please read this letter to the school newspaper from a person who lives near Urban College.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dear Editor at UC Student News,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">I live in your neighborhood. Your students are a real asset here; I wish we could interact with them more </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">often and more meaningfully.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">Has your administration ever thought of building student housing on campus? UC is DEAD from 5pm Friday until 9am Monday. This is such a shame. If you had campus housing I think this whole neighborhood would develop around UC and you'd have bars, music venues, art galleries, better restaurants, bowling alleys, cafes, you name it. Right now there are so few places to eat or have fun here.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">Student life would be so much more enriched!!!! The neighborhood would be so enriched!!!! Think of the new jobs you would create!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">Right now you've got a commuter college - and that kind of sucks. College is so much more than getting on a bus and schlepping to and from school. Also, getting to UC is such a pain in the behind. It is necessary to take a bus to the nearest subway. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you had student housing, it would FILL UP in no-time, especially if, unlike other colleges/universities, you did not price gouge students. Create nice, affordable housing and the lives of students and the whole neighborhood would be improved.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please consider this?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joe, a guy who lives near UC.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">--------------------</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: magenta;">Dialogue between students:</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Jon: Hey, Tess, I'm so glad that someone from the neighborhood is proposing student housing at UC. He's right, I like the school and students but this place is just dead most of the time.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Tess: Well, Jon, I have to agree to disagree with you on this issue. I say leave UC alone, it's good enough.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Jon: What the heck! I thought you were kind of open-minded and open to seeing things change?</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Tess: Well, I am, but not in this case. First of all, look around this neighborhood. It's all middle class housing. I don't see any room, any physical room for development. What are they going to do, tear some houses down to bring in art galleries and bowling alleys? I think the people here might be happy with a nice, quiet domestically-oriented neighborhood. They want houses, not a party atmosphere. The whole area around the school is just filled with houses.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Jon: Well, nobody said there's going to be a party atmosphere, just more things to do, more businesses, more jobs! </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Tess: Also, a commuter college is not, in itself, a bad thing, for one, it's cheaper. Let's be realistic, student housing is always much more expensive than off campus housing. Price gouging is almost inevitable. You and I know that colleges are a business, they'll build student housing, charge a fortune for it, and only the wealthiest students will live on campus and the rest of us will commute from home. This way, as it is now, everyone is in the same boat and everyone can save money. I eat breakfast and dinner at home, and save a ton in rent. I'm sure that I'm not alone. There are enough of us who like the situation as it is that we need to keep it this way. Also, I live in a giant city, I don't need a college campus to have fun, I have the entire city to explore. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Jon: Yeah, let's agree to disagree on this one. I think you are way wrong, but that's cool. Let's get some Chinese take-out at the only place near campus for lunch today - can we agree on that?</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Tess: We sure can! </span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;">-----------------</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: magenta;">Sample answer:</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">In this letter to the student newspaper, someone from the Urban College neighborhood proposes that student housing should be built at Urban College. He thinks this would benefit the school and neighborhood.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">However, in the dialogue, the female student disagrees.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">First, she points out there is literally no room for student housing in the neighborhood. It is filled with middle-class housing. She also feels some of this housing might have to be destroyed for student housing or to build places to benefit the students. Basically she feels the residents have a right to a peaceful neighborhood as it already is.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">She also feels that commuting to school is just fine. In fact she saves money this way. Furthermore, she doesn't need lots of fun places around campus because she lives in a huge city and can move about freely.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">So student housing might benefit both the neighborhood and the school, but the current situation for students and the neighborhood might not warrant change.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">-----------------</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Just for fun, one of my favorite 90s bands:</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bitstream vera serif" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span></b>Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-87483552184696913622017-03-24T22:18:00.002-07:002017-03-24T22:23:44.177-07:00Pieces of advice for the TOEFL speaking questions<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>For questions # 1 and #2</b></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>1) Your reasons should be as short as possible and not longer than a sentence. </b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>i.e. I go swimming in the summer because it is good for my health. Then: example. </b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>I also swim because it is a good social opportunity. Then: example.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Describe a common drink that you drink.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>I drink tea because it is good for my health./ It is cheap. / It is stimulating. / It is a social custom in my country. (Short reasons)</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>2) Make sure your example is different from your reason. Some students just repeat their reason in different words. This does NOT work. You lose points by doing this. An example is different from a reason.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>3) By the 25 second mark you should be switching to your second reason.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>4) Keep your examples realistic and DETAILED.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>For question #3</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>1) Identify what the reading passage is from: an announcement, a flyer, an email message sent by the professor, a letter to the school newspaper etc..</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>In this <u>announcement from the university</u> we learn that... </b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>In this <u>letter to the school newspaper</u> a student proposes that...</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>2) Be aware that something will be created, changed or eliminated according to the reading. You can use these verbs in your answer: In this memo from the Provost's Office we learn that the university is changing its policy concerning ____________. Now students will have to _____________.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>3) When you talk about the reading, talk about what is happening and why. Do not talk about the reading for more than 15 or 20 seconds. You can talk about the reading in two or three short sentences.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>4) Catch important verbs and key words in the dialogue that you can use in your answer</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>5) You can transition from speaking about the reading to speaking about the dialogue by saying: In the dialogue the male/female student agrees/disagrees with this __________________. First he/she says....</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>For question #4</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>1) Be able to define the topic of the reading in your own simple words. Use subject + verb + object if you can.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>"In this academic reading passage we learn that ________ is a __________"</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>The professor gives 2 examples of this.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>2) "When" is useful in defining a term. i.e. Mutualism is when two organisms help each other.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>3) Listen for useful verbs and keywords in the lecture that you can use in your answer.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>For question # 5</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>1) Identify which piece of advice sucks the least. Neither piece of advice is going to be a good piece of advice - they want you to think and so they give you two less than desirable pieces of advice. If one piece of advice is impossible, recognize that. Please, use common sense - one piece of advice is often impossible or really bad. Do NOT choose the worst piece of advice.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<b><span style="color: blue;">2) Learn how to use recommend and suggest properly</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> <a href="http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-to-use-recommend-or-suggest.html" target="_blank">http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-to-use-recommend-or-suggest.html</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>3) Do not say 'advices' - pieces of advice. Advice is uncountable.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>4) State the problem + 2 pieces of advice + I think the student should....+ Further I would not recommend that....... Please study this</b></span><span style="color: #222222;">:<a href="http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-answer-toefl-speaking-question-5.html" target="_blank"> http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-answer-toefl-speaking-question-5.html</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>For question #6</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>1) Determine the purpose of the professor's lecture PRECISELY. The purpose of this professor's lecture is to teach us two ways that plant/insect mutualism occurs. Don't say, This lecture is about mutualism. This shows that a student is lazy and sloppy.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>2) The professor will give two examples of his topic. In each example there will be an explanation and after each explanation the professor will probably also give an example of the explanation. Get the explanation and the example and use them both in your answer.</b></span></div>
Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-5913079794675592152017-03-19T16:11:00.000-07:002017-03-20T07:41:53.710-07:00Common Mistakes on the Integrated Writing Section<span style="color: blue;"><b>Here is an example of common mistakes that students make on the integrated writing portion of the TOEFL exam. Please study this carefully. This is an essay from one of my students with my corrections.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>The reading passage provided 3 ways to protect frog populations from decline and the lecturer criticized the practicality of those three proposals.</b></span><br />
-------------------<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>The student's essay with corrections:</b></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>The reading and lecture are both about protecting the frog population from extinction. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">NO!!!!!!! This first sentence is not true. The reading proposes three initiatives to stop the frog population from declining and the
lecturer addresses whether each of these initiatives will be possible or practical. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">To say that both the
reading and lecture are about ‘protecting the frog population from extinction',
therefore, does NOT cover <u>what is really happening</u>.</span> <span style="color: red;">You have to be PRECISE on this exam. If you are sloppy or imprecise, you will NOT score high.</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>The author of the
reading proposes three methods to deal with the
declining population of frogs. The lecturer casts doubt
on the methods mentioned by the author and believes that none of them will work. </b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>This STILL isn't good enough. The lecturer does not say these methods won't work. She says these methods are, generally, impractical. These methods, in fact, DO WORK.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>My suggestion for an intro: </b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Protecting frogs and their habitats is
essential for us since frogs help to eliminate harmful insects from human
environments. Yet, just how to protect frogs is debatable. For example, in the
reading passage we get three proposals as to how we can preserve frog populations. <u>The practicality of these proposals is impugned, however, in the lecture. </u></b><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">First of all, the author points out that pesticides have a great
impact on the declining population of frogs. It is mentioned that pesticides affect the nervous systems of frogs
and lead to their deaths. It is also claimed by
the author that if harmful pesticides are banned in the areas close to frogs the population of frogs can be protected from being
harmed. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The lecturer casts doubt on this claim. </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>No
she doesn’t!!!!!! She does NOT cast doubt on this claim. She does NOT say that
pesticides do not kill frogs. She admits that pesticides DO kill frogs BUT she says it isn’t practical to stop using them. If they are not used, farmers will lose money. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">She thinks that prohibiting farmers from
using pesticides would result in economical disadvantages. That is, if farmers
do not use pesticides the amount of their crops </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">will
drop </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">and they </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">will not</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> remain </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">successful </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">in </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">a </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">competitive market.</span></b></span></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Secondly, the author suggests that anti-fungal treatment on a large scale should be used to deal with
fungal infections in frogs. The author mentions
that a fungus contributes to a declining frog
population by dehydrating them. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The lecturer rebuts this argument. </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>No she
doesn’t!!!!!!!! The argument is sound – if you use the anti-fungal treatment, you will
cure the frogs. The problem is that this solution is also impractical to the
lecturer. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">She argues that it is not practical to use </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">such a </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">treatment </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">on such a</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> large scale. Instead, the treatment </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">would have to be
given to one frog at a time, and this is absurd. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">She elaborates on this by mentioning that </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">even </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">if treatment </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">is </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">applied
to the frogs, the offspring </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">will not be affected; therefore the
problem will </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">still exist.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Finally, the author states that we can protect frogs from
extinction by protecting their habitats from specific
human threats like excessive water usage.
The article establishes that wetlands and water areas are the main habitats of
frogs and they lay their eggs there so these areas must be protected from overuse by
people.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>The lecturer, on the other hand, posits that the draining of wetlands is not caused by people but it is
a consequence of global warming. She puts forth the idea that we cannot slow
down the declining population of frogs by protecting their habitats from human development
but only by combating global warming.</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Yes, the final two paragraphs hit the nail on the head and ring the bell. They are right on target. That's how to write for this test.</b></span></div>
Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-74112592330601670842017-02-21T10:25:00.000-08:002017-02-21T10:27:19.648-08:00Assessing TOEFL text books for the speaking section: which are good and which suck<span style="color: blue;"><b>All of these test preparation books for the TOEFL exam are super expensive. Therefore, I'm going to provide my personal assessment as to which of these books are really useful so that you can study for the speaking section more efficiently and inexpensively.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Try to get your TOEFL books from ebay or amazon - I have most of the TOEFL books which have been published and got them at huge discounts (or students whom I helped to pass the exam gave them to me).</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>THE BEST BOOK FOR THE TOEFL SPEAKING EXAM</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLWWUTXm6u3ZyCLZM5MlEdFOHsvPEWFit8wWs2k_ukWJRelmXgm-0WPpVHQBWHWst3ZBtk2levUAdXQdQFGt__1OVTsCt93sTYJiuqVpN7IHn9TOPLVCgAlZ1ctFvgNc3CXGZE6rvhgU/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLWWUTXm6u3ZyCLZM5MlEdFOHsvPEWFit8wWs2k_ukWJRelmXgm-0WPpVHQBWHWst3ZBtk2levUAdXQdQFGt__1OVTsCt93sTYJiuqVpN7IHn9TOPLVCgAlZ1ctFvgNc3CXGZE6rvhgU/s320/002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Hackers Actual Test Speaking contains 12 practice speaking tests and 1 warm-up speaking test. For the most part, all 6 questions follow the actual format of the real TOEFL exam (with just a few exceptions). This company did a great job for students trying to pass the speaking section. Kudos to Hackers. You made my job as a TOEFL teacher much easier with this great test prep book - some of my students have scored in the high 20s and even reached 30 with the help of this book.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMzKiqCbWA8vBO47CjrV-xxA_xSJYd5YA9GqqsINp7SriDYna-KgHY9040BNWQQpryidcZ18pm8K6Q7KCd7ifCGK6WXTdzdO_n3fjb_8XeQkV5Y6P1Kii4_dNdiWtmRJaixMRW2Wou_E/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMzKiqCbWA8vBO47CjrV-xxA_xSJYd5YA9GqqsINp7SriDYna-KgHY9040BNWQQpryidcZ18pm8K6Q7KCd7ifCGK6WXTdzdO_n3fjb_8XeQkV5Y6P1Kii4_dNdiWtmRJaixMRW2Wou_E/s320/006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>This book gives you 5 complete speaking tests which were actually administered in the past. With Hackers and this book, you'll have 18 practice speaking tests.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5IvYE_iCmbgi_rlf2dblI9at1lfiZBzhZNtOc6ysAdJxpRgRCV13xqZvDlBVleJJ1AOPjcjsoBhgvDgfC42dtcD-_A1BzMR1LeckONTCQsp0SmIRVspfqrk-R7JVLmSEONN7qNTW9BA/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5IvYE_iCmbgi_rlf2dblI9at1lfiZBzhZNtOc6ysAdJxpRgRCV13xqZvDlBVleJJ1AOPjcjsoBhgvDgfC42dtcD-_A1BzMR1LeckONTCQsp0SmIRVspfqrk-R7JVLmSEONN7qNTW9BA/s320/003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>This book provides 2 complete speaking tests and about 150 independent writing topics, which can be used as TOEFL speaking questions for question number 1 or 2. The independent writing topic seems to follow the format of TOEFL speaking question 1 or 2. So if you buy Hackers, the previous book and this book you'll now have 20 complete speaking tests and over 150 number 1 or 2 questions to work with.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapDDzATyYFG6uSkb8RXkTlrykGRfxvYQItw2GTAHX4TkNjoi0PeDexVfHJQOrYJd4ViVTUWW4dHrkh7brtW1aBIG4FP0MaAAuC92YB_VtVZjTzBrn8qyDMlt1WTaqf6cSMUJMB-as5NU/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapDDzATyYFG6uSkb8RXkTlrykGRfxvYQItw2GTAHX4TkNjoi0PeDexVfHJQOrYJd4ViVTUWW4dHrkh7brtW1aBIG4FP0MaAAuC92YB_VtVZjTzBrn8qyDMlt1WTaqf6cSMUJMB-as5NU/s320/004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>This book has numerous TOEFL speaking questions but questions 4 and 6 in this book do not always follow the format of the actual TOEFL exam. It would be an ok book for questions 1,2,3,5 - but be careful because it seems that sometimes the number 5 questions can deviate from the format a bit. Interestingly, if you have a good tutor (like me :P) he/she can play around with the scripts that this book provides so that the material can be made to fit the actual test format. For example:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJHCTsUr3hEFgFWUpnS5OlX0CF3yN5EAF0O2TbVb98FKTxluIiJjbPSU2PC9BttLumAEE3Y2rM7wOG374AHmLm0mSSMTglHXF2GVvwgCAH9NXQJO-hUbphaAoJqEjW6ZaDpCZc7u4-Cg/s1600/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJHCTsUr3hEFgFWUpnS5OlX0CF3yN5EAF0O2TbVb98FKTxluIiJjbPSU2PC9BttLumAEE3Y2rM7wOG374AHmLm0mSSMTglHXF2GVvwgCAH9NXQJO-hUbphaAoJqEjW6ZaDpCZc7u4-Cg/s320/008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYpJ6JLf4ABOSUZ1tlOYKXlGudSPInBKrtvWcFsH0PPZ0nOQpXC6i0Sr1h8NmY532giQGT6IVNbjtuDmIQuYR4WFw4aJnbqqQ0ASLgrIZSKHVY2LjLyzJYvVF-_80i0lxuUElzdxhWiA/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYpJ6JLf4ABOSUZ1tlOYKXlGudSPInBKrtvWcFsH0PPZ0nOQpXC6i0Sr1h8NmY532giQGT6IVNbjtuDmIQuYR4WFw4aJnbqqQ0ASLgrIZSKHVY2LjLyzJYvVF-_80i0lxuUElzdxhWiA/s320/005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Again, 1,2,3,5 often seem ok, but 4 and 6 don't always follow the actual test format.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKUfIp6W9E9GZN8EN9KZJwTe1oHC4cMkgzEr7T9LWuZk1KU5PVXJhZnwxmjoJyeTeb-K6knZ_Kc41XngDS7S0QhDFoD9dB5slsTqOLShI0Jl9vvBZ-BR8JrlW-6EFnlow9XSTs1yRaNY/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKUfIp6W9E9GZN8EN9KZJwTe1oHC4cMkgzEr7T9LWuZk1KU5PVXJhZnwxmjoJyeTeb-K6knZ_Kc41XngDS7S0QhDFoD9dB5slsTqOLShI0Jl9vvBZ-BR8JrlW-6EFnlow9XSTs1yRaNY/s320/007.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Yet again, 1,2,3,5 are mostly OK, but questions 4 and 6 regularly seem to deviate from the actual test's format.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>I hope this helps! Drop me a line at djg51qu@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to recommend a good text for the TOEFL speaking section.</b></span>Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-74453104292226925092016-12-15T21:12:00.000-08:002016-12-16T15:38:34.468-08:00TOEFL speaking question #3 - sample<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>This sample is based on a situation which happened at an all-women's college in New York:</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Notice from the Office of College Security Concerning Dorm Building Safety</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">As you may have read in the news, there have been two violent assaults against college-age women in our neighborhood within the past three weeks. In coordination with the Office of the Dean, the Office of Security is instituting the following changes within the dormitory system to ensure maximum security for all students of this college.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">As has been the case, entry to the dorms will be allowed only if a student has a proper school ID. Visitors are welcome, but they must also show a valid form of ID (State ID or Driver's License or other University ID). The new policy will, however, involve visitors to the dorms. A visitor must now be met at the security desk by the person being visited. The time the person arrives and the time the person leaves will be recorded. Male visitors to our all-female campus must be escorted by a registered student or member of our community at all times. Again, male visitors must not be allowed to move about any of the dorm facilities unless they are escorted by someone from the college community. Unescorted male visitors may be removed from the premises by security and students responsible for these unescorted visitors can be disciplined with a fine or other measures.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">We hope these new measures will help ensure maximum safety at our campus. We apologize for any inconvenience.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Dialogue:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Meagan: Kelly, someone told me you got fined by the college. What happened?</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Kelly: My boyfriend came over to visit. We were hanging out in my dorm room and, basically, at one point he left my room to go to the bathroom.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Meagan: But didn't you read the notice from Security? Guys can't walk about the dorms freely any more.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Kelly: Oh come on. He walked down the hallway to go to the bathroom. I am supposed to escort my boyfriend to the bathroom and stand outside waiting for him? How absurd is that? That is totally messed up. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Meagan: I can see your point, I'm just wondering where the school needs to draw the line.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Kelly: Well they need to draw the line at what's reasonable and what isn't. They aren't doing that now. The bathroom is literally 10 yards from my room. Security acted as if he was a terrorist when they saw him walking back to my room. They grabbed him by the arm and took him to my room to see whether I knew him, then they wrote me out a ticket right there and then for $100. Why be so damn ridiculous? This was no big deal.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Meagan: Yeah, I have to admit it seems a bit excessive to bust a guy for going to the john. (explanation: 'going to the john' means going to the bathroom).</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Kelly: Also, these frigging security guards have too damn much power now. They act like damn fascists. Yesterday I went down to meet my boyfriend at the security desk and the guard said, "Oh you're seeing him again tonight, huh?" I was so pissed off! This new system robs us of our privacy and allows these damn guards to act like our moral superiors.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Meagan: I agree. I'm glad I live off campus and don't have to put up with this crap. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">--------------------</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>How does Kelly feel about the new security regulations at the dorms?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">--------------------</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;"><b>Sample Answer:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Due to a couple violent assaults against college-age women in the neighborhood. a college has changed its security policy for its all-female dorms. Basically, male guests must have a valid ID and must be escorted at all times in the dorms.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Kelly has just had a terrible experience because of this policy and is dead set against it. First of all, she doesn't think that the policy has a clear-cut line as to what is reasonable and unreasonable behavior. Her boyfriend was stopped and humiliated by security just because he went to the bathroom, which was only about 10 yards from Kelly's room. She feels it is ridiculous to punish her for something so minor.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Secondly, Kelly feels that this new policy is too invasive and takes away a student's right to privacy. Basically these security guards seem to be making inappropriate and rude comments to students based on who their visitors are and how frequently they come. Therefore they seem to be making moral judgments based on their belief, perhaps, that the students are having sexual relations with the guys they bring into the dorm. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Clearly, the administration's desire to provide absolute security for its students seems to have some personal freedom glitches.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-73741941557448734472016-12-12T01:57:00.000-08:002016-12-12T02:07:32.534-08:00TOEFL Speaking Question #3 - Sample<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>A Notice from the Dean's Office:</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Office of the Dean wishes to announce that our university will now participate in Safe Space programs. A "Safe Space" is a place on campus where communities of agreement may meet without worrying about people of other opinions creating conflict or arguments. We are experimenting with these safe spaces since this seems to have become a trend on contemporary US campuses and the university administration has been approached by various student populations who wish for this program to exist. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The point of a "Safe Space" is to ensure that like-minded individuals, or individuals of similar identities and experiences can come together in a space where self-respect and dignity are protected. If a Safe Space is violated, this will be considered a violation of the student code of conduct and severe disciplinary measures, including expulsion from school may result. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To apply for a Safe Space for your group, please fill out a proposal form which can be obtained from the Dean's Office and submit it by December 1st for the opportunity to have a Safe Space by the January term. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Now listen to a dialogue between two students as they discuss this Notice:</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Barry: Can they do this? I don't think they can do this. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angela: Do what?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Barry: Did you read the Notice from the Dean? They want to create Safe Spaces on campus where you can't argue about things. Everybody who goes to the space has to have the same opinion ahead of time on the issue or topic or be from the same identity group or share the same experience. So if I create a group called "Polish guys who like cats" and some Russian guy who likes dogs shows up, I can have him thrown out of my Safe Space and get him into a lot of trouble.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angela: Well, that's going to suck. What's the point of that?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Barry: I don't know, it sounds kind of stupid to me. But legally can they do this? Don't we have a right to disagree with people and to express that?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angela: This is a private university, so the U.S. Constitution doesn't apply here. You are protected from the government taking your right to speak freely away, unfortunately, this university can definitely stop you from exercising your freedoms and rights. You basically lose all your rights when you agree to be admitted here.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Barry: It's stupid. What's the point of going to a university if you are not going to learn how to argue with civility or express opinions freely? We supposedly have a free country and my university doesn't seem to want to prepare me for it. Nuts.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angela: I'm with you there. Such a nutty idea. Safe Spaces. Nuts.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Barry: Furthermore, these spaces aren't even necessary. Let's say that I have my Polish guys who like cats group and a Russian dog lover shows up and deliberately causes trouble. He doesn't just express an opinion, but he tries to cause conflict and trouble. We already have the right to call Security and get the guy thrown out. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angela: Yep, I hear you loud and clear. It's a really tragically stupid idea and probably people will wake up and realize this sooner or later.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>What is Barry's attitude toward the Dean's Notice concerning Safe Spaces?</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>For the reading passage, it might be a good idea to simply talk about </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">what is happening </u><b>and </b><b style="text-decoration: underline;">why</b>. ***<b>So when you read, just read for what is happening and why.*** For this answer we also want to explain what a Safe Space is.</b></span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">In this announcement from the Dean's Office, we learn that Safe Spaces on campus will be created. This is being done because it is a new trend around the US and various student groups have requested it.In a Safe Space, students who agree with each other or are like each other will not be bothered by people who are different from themselves or who hold different opinions.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Now transition into the listening section.</b></span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">However, Barry, in the dialogue, strongly objects to this new program.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Now explain why he is upset.</b></span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">First of all, he is upset because he feels students need to be able to argue well and to discuss important issues with civility. He believes that an important function of a US university is to provide this experience. Safe Spaces are not preparing students for a democratically free society in which people have to argue about issues.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Secondly, he believes that these spaces are totally unnecessary. As he points out, if someone deliberately disrupts a student meeting, that person can be removed by Security. So every student group is already protected and safe from uncivil conflict. </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Do you need a conclusion? Probably not (based on what I've seen elsewhere), but here's a quick one anyway:</b></span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Obviously the university is trying this program as an experiment but both students express strong concerns that this program might be counter to legitimate educational purposes and restrictive of a type of freedom of speech which should be occurring on all US college campuses.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Do you like the Blues Brothers?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Funny video:</b></span><br />
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Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-64499360757471515292016-12-12T00:47:00.000-08:002016-12-12T00:50:04.913-08:00TOEFL Speaking Question #1 sample<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><b>What was the most difficult class you had to take in your school career and how did you get through it?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>In this case, you really can't strictly use this formula: Intro + Reason 1 + Example 1 + Reason 2 + Example 2. You will have to revise the formula somewhat.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Example answer:</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Intro: Calculus was the most difficult course I took in college and I got through it by doing two things.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>We will have to revise the reasons in this case to become reasons why the course was difficult, then our examples will be examples of how you overcame the obstacles.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Reason 1: This course was difficult for me because the professor was a non-native English speaker and I seriously could not understand half of what he said due to his accent.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Example 1: Therefore, I literally worked through each chapter of our text ahead of time so that I could better understand what he was writing on the board. Even without understanding his English, I understood the equations.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Reason 2: Furthermore, I have always felt that any math class was tedious and boring so it was hard for me to study for the tests.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Example 2: So I put together a weekly study group to help me go through the chapters and notes and tests and we had beer and chips and really enjoyed ourselves. Misery loves company, after all.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Conclusion: There are always ways to get around obstacles, you just have to be creative and maybe work a little harder. </span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Yes, Daniel Gauss is probably the best TOEFL coach in this part of the universe outside of Uranus.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>I love the music of Joni Mitchell - please enjoy this video:</b></span><br />
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<br />Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-79650722547787387702016-07-20T14:52:00.001-07:002016-11-20T22:56:46.147-08:006 thoughtful #1 and #2 speaking questions<span style="color: #073763;"><b>1. God tells you that you have a choice: you can live life as a homeless beggar or as a wealthy corporate executive whose company will pollute the environment and ruin the lives of its workers. Which life would you choose?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>2. Super technologically advanced aliens come to Earth. They need manual laborers on their planet. Even the most brilliant Earthling is not competent to work high level jobs on their planet so you will be stuck at a menial and physical job there, but you will be able to witness a spectacular new world (but not participate in it). Would you stay on Earth or go with the aliens and become a laborer?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>3. <span style="background-color: white;">In an upcoming election both candidates really suck. You can't stand either of them, but you feel you should be a good citizen and vote. How will you decide which person to vote for? Should you not vote at all?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>4, You are in a bar and the bar-tender goes into the kitchen. You see a guy walk behind the bar and pour himself a free beer. What will you do? </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>5. In a play by Jean Paul Sartre a young man, during World War 2, feels he should fight against the Nazis who have occupied France. Yet, his mother is very ill and needs him to care for her. What should this young man have done - fought or cared for his mother (there was no possibility of hiring someone else to care for the mother)?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>6. In the short story Billy Budd, Billy is a young, innocent sailor who accidentally kills a brutal officer who is physically abusing him. You are Captain Vere, captain of the ship. According to naval law, Budd must be executed - there are no exceptions to this: the killing of a first officer requires execution. Yet, most of the crew begs you to show mercy and not execute Budd because he was being abused and the death of the officer was an accident. If you pardon Budd, you may lose your naval career. What will you do?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>Please enjoy a crazy video of Steve Goodman singing: Men Who Love Women Who Love Men</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>Daniel Gauss - the TOEFL King</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGcje98M2P2oJRWcF6TUQnwlcVCyRLSQ5oZq_c5MTGsxjhLIcuZ-idIDtmhIwsnPSVyyn1KmrgZQGB8VTFOFhxhzMmo4U8gR-844G1v7Z-2T2YBQifRXCcRE0l51TTUOVMR_Ktj9CY3c/s1600/450x800_568531774494568448_30890925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGcje98M2P2oJRWcF6TUQnwlcVCyRLSQ5oZq_c5MTGsxjhLIcuZ-idIDtmhIwsnPSVyyn1KmrgZQGB8VTFOFhxhzMmo4U8gR-844G1v7Z-2T2YBQifRXCcRE0l51TTUOVMR_Ktj9CY3c/s1600/450x800_568531774494568448_30890925.jpg" /></a></div>
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Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-47218894992949435402016-07-04T08:03:00.003-07:002016-07-04T08:07:04.380-07:00More challenging Topic 1 and 2 TOEFL practice speaking questions <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>There are two new schools in your neighborhood – one has a traditional curriculum and grading system, but the other offers a new program where there will be no tests and learning will be fun and based on what a child is motivated to learn. Which school would you say is better for a child?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Describe the best way to catch a mouse.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>You are the coach hired to create a new soccer/football team. Should you focus on developing a good offense or defense initially?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Describe the one quality every leader should have.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Describe something you don’t need in your neighborhood and would like to see disappear.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Describe what you would do if a group partner in an academic project won’t participate with the group.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Your flight has been delayed 5 hours, and you are stuck in an airport. What will you do?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Which is better: an easy-going parent or a strict parent?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Will books disappear because of the internet?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>A person you know threatens suicide, and you kind of believe
he/she may do it. Describe what you will say or do.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>You are a park ranger. A bear has killed a man because he
tried to take a photo of its cub (baby) even though there are signs saying that everyone should stay away
from the bears and especially their cubs. People point out the bear to you and
demand that you kill it. Should you?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>You catch a burglar in your house and you have a gun.
According to the law, you have the right to shoot and kill him. You see that he was
carrying rope and intended to tie you up. What would you do?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Your boss invites you to go deer hunting and tells you that
the government wants 50 deer in an area to be killed because the deer
population has become too extreme for the deer’s own good. Will you go hunting?</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-9549103845807133582016-06-20T23:20:00.000-07:002016-06-20T23:20:13.004-07:0010 thoughtful #1 and #2 TOEFL practice speaking questions<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Do you think a company should provide free exercise facilities, or is it up to the individual to find his/her own health club?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Should women be allowed to breast feed their babies publicly, or does this cause too much embarrassment to potential observers?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Have smart phones enriched our lives or have cell phones reduced the quality of our lives?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Describe your last frivolous (unnecessary) purchase.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>What should a parent do if he/she notices that his/her child seems to be gaining too much weight?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>NASA is looking for volunteers to go to Mars and work as farmers. If they wanted you, would you go? (You can take family members with.)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>If you spoke English perfectly, which language would you like to learn next?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Describe one negative factor in society that can be attributed to the advertising industry.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Should universities give extra consideration to students who come from poorer backgrounds or should universities just take the best performing students?</b></span></div>
Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-23808497809827316792016-06-04T19:51:00.000-07:002016-11-20T22:57:36.154-08:0012 More Type 1 and Type 2 Speaking Questions<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Describe a hobby that you can make money from?</b></span><br />
(for example, coin or stamp collecting)<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Would you prefer to use the library or the internet for a research paper?</b></span><br />
(I would choose the library since the knowledge gained from books is more reliable than most web sites and, actually, books are often grouped together by topic, so it can be easier to obtain all the books you need at one time.)<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>What personal trait do you want to be admired for?</b></span><br />
(Honesty, being a hard-worker, a problem-solver, being compassionate...)<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Would you prefer a multi-choice or essay test?</b></span><br />
(Multi-choice requires more memorization while an essay test requires the processing of information. So you are choosing between a tedious but easy process or a more meaningful but more difficult process)<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Describe a place which has great meaning for you?</b></span><br />
(It could be personal meaning: your grandmother's house - or historical meaning: the tomb of Alexander Hamilton.)<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Should you stay at home after college or move immediately?</b></span><br />
(Do you value independence or financial security?)<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Should the national anthem be played before a baseball game?</b></span><br />
(Do you think politics should be removed completely from sports?)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Describe a situation that helped you realize you were stronger than you thought.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Other than passing the TOEFL describe a situation that would make you feel very satisfied.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Are art and music are more important than vocational (job) studies?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>If you could only do one thing a day to get exercise, what would you do?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Competition is generally good or bad?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvfKRZsNoz-sTca4WvWv_v7OcJ0T78tQHPXpTqwpufQ3-jn5kG5tX1yXI03rlR5iH_xlUN56Aq0vi6FZYHExc9pj68XqGarcBouEK4bfrM1oLiws-TrI8RHaMNpZn9ObZ41tBTa6XIX0/s1600/10350542_10203839948747929_771831276305020760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvfKRZsNoz-sTca4WvWv_v7OcJ0T78tQHPXpTqwpufQ3-jn5kG5tX1yXI03rlR5iH_xlUN56Aq0vi6FZYHExc9pj68XqGarcBouEK4bfrM1oLiws-TrI8RHaMNpZn9ObZ41tBTa6XIX0/s320/10350542_10203839948747929_771831276305020760_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Daniel Gauss</b></span></div>
Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-18758658622227638692016-03-25T03:11:00.002-07:002018-07-02T22:26:48.863-07:00How to answer TOEFL speaking question 3<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>Example of academic policy reading passage:</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">The Office of the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences would like to announce that starting with the current freshman class, there will be an 'African American Experience' course requirement. In order to graduate, each student will be required to take one three-credit course dealing with this topic. Various academic departments will be collaborating to design various courses to help students meet this requirement. LAS has made this decision because the African American experience has been traditionally neglected in US history text books. Furthermore, recent developments in US history reveal lingering racial tensions and conflicts and LAS feels its students should be aware of the causes of contemporary historical conflicts as well as possibilities for resolving them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>Example of a dialogue between two students concerning this new policy decision:</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">Joe: I'm really upset about this new African American experience class.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: Why? I think the university is right on top of things. This is definitely necessary these days with all the protests and events in the news.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Joe: Well, that's my point. This is a politically motivated class they are shoving down my throat. A few students start protesting on campus and I have to add one more class, it's ridiculous. The university is under pressure by protesters and I need to do what a bunch of trouble-makers want me to do. I should try to organize counter-protests.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: I think the protesters just brought an important and neglected issue to everyone's attention.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Joe: Also, what if Latino students start complaining? Or Asian students? Every time a different ethnic or racial group protests I need to take another course about that group? Nonsense. Let them fix the American history class so that I get the info I need, instead of tacking extra courses on. I want to know the truth so find a text book that helps me learn in the first place.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: Well, I'm looking forward to the class. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">---------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>For the reading passage, it might be a good idea to simply talk about </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">what is happening</u><b> and </b><b style="text-decoration: underline;">why</b>. ***<b>So when you read, just read for what is happening and why.***</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">In this academic policy announcement from the Dean's Office, we learn that students, starting from this freshman class, will have to start taking an African American experience course. This is due to the fact that US history textbooks have neglected this topic and students need to know about what is causing current events.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Now transition into the listening section.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">However, the male student in the dialogue strongly objects to this new policy initiative.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Now explain why he is upset.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">First of all, he is upset because he perceives this new class to be politically motivated. He feels that the university is only trying to placate protesters. The university is not interested in providing the truth, but in making a group of trouble-makers happy. He implies that he is being forced to learn something only because of disruptive protests.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Secondly, he is concerned about the consequences of the university doing what protesters want it to do. He states that other ethnic or racial groups may also protest in order to change the curriculum. He asserts that the university should focus on the real problem instead: the US history text books. Instead of making him take another class, the school should find a history text that provides the truth.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Do you need a conclusion? Probably not (based on what I've seen elsewhere), but here's a quick one anyway:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Obviously the university is trying to address a controversial problem and this student's objection should be no surprise.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">--------------</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">If you need to get in touch with me for any reason, you can email djg51qu@gmail.com</span>Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-10464260809057113522016-03-23T14:45:00.000-07:002016-03-23T14:55:34.047-07:00How to answer TOEFL speaking question 5<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>Example of a dialogue:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: Hey Joe, you look so tired.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Joe: I am. I can't get any sleep.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: What's wrong?</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Joe: My dorm roommate asked me for a favor. He said his dad was coming to town to visit him and the dad didn't want to spend money on a hotel.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: So you agreed to let the dad sleep with the two of you in your dorm room?</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Joe: Yes, for one week. He sleeps on a blanket on the floor in our room; we have the two beds. And he snores. He snores like a wild animal! In fact, I think he snores louder than a wild animal. He wakes me up 6 or 7 times a night with his loud snoring. I can't take it any more.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: Well, just buy some earplugs. It's only for a week. And, you promised to help. Sometimes helping a person requires a little pain and sacrifice.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Joe: I bought some but I hate wearing them at night. They feel so weird in my ears. I have a little trouble going to sleep with that stuff in my ears and then it's hard to hear the alarm in the morning.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: Well, you look terrible. You have bags under your eyes. You need to tell your roomie to have his dad spend money on a hotel room or you'll just report him to the school and get his dad thrown out. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Joe: I can't do that. I am stuck with him as a roommate. I don't want to sleep in the same room with a guy who hates me. That would be hell. I need to come back to my room for peace and quiet, not conflict. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Maggie: Well, do something because you look bad.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">--------------------------</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>The key to answering a question number 5 is that both choices to solve the problem usually suck, but one choice is often slightly better than the other. Or, sometimes one choice is impossible and the only choice left sucks, but it is the only option.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>In this case one choice is impossible: he can't offend his roommate because he lives with the guy. Therefore he cannot get the dad kicked out of the room or ask the dad to leave.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>A good format to answer this type of question is: </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>State the problem very simply.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>State the two suggestions or options very simply (with no reasons)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>State which option you'd choose and why (use reasons from the dialogue if you can)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>State why you would reject the other option</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Possibly make one concluding sentence or sentences</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span style="color: #4c1130;"><u><i>For example:</i></u></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>In this dialogue a student can't get enough sleep. As a favor, he has allowed his roommate's father to sleep for a week in their dorm room and the dad snores very loudly. The snoring wakes the student up a lot.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>First his friend recommends that he should wear earplugs.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>When Joe is hesitant to do this because earplugs are uncomfortable, she recommends that he simply ask the student to ask his father to leave, or he can report the dad to the school.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>If I were Joe I would just wear ear plugs. After all, it is just going to be for a week and he promised the roomie he would help him. </b>(notice you can often get your reason/s from the dialogue itself) <b>Sure the earplugs are uncomfortable but he can sleep with them. He will just have to place the alarm closer to his bed.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Furthermore, the other solution is just a bad idea. He made a promise and if he backs out now his roommate will be very angry. If he reports the roommate to the school, this will create a horrible situation. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>In the meantime, if he suffers through this week, his roomie will really be happy and grateful to him. </b></span><b style="color: #351c75;">He just needs to suffer through this.</b>Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-2141795806040520872015-02-26T10:25:00.000-08:002016-02-05T14:17:55.502-08:00Formats and the TOEFL Speaking SectionOne of the more frustrating aspects of helping people get high scores on the TOEFL is that sometimes I get students who have watched a lot of (stupid) youtube videos and who are convinced that they just have to memorize 'formats' and certain phrases to do well on the TOEFL.<br />
<br />
Basically, it's tough to work with these types of students because they are looking for ways to cheat on the TOEFL exam instead of just fixing their English.<br />
<br />
If you see some guy on youtube telling you that he has taken the TOEFL exam 20 times himself and is an expert on it and that all you have to do is memorize his phrases and follow his instructions, you would be an idiot to do that. The better your English sentence structures, the better your vocabulary, the better your score is going to be.<br />
<br />
So should you ignore all formats?<br />
<br />
No. Nobody 'just talks'. Before any intelligent person speaks, he/she organizes his/her thoughts a bit. So I think if you look at the formats on this blog, you'll see that they are formats which help you to quickly and effectively organize your thoughts for answers.<br />
<br />
I think the formats you find on this blog are, actually, among the most useful formats out there.<br />
<br />
Daniel Gauss<br />
English Teacher/Tutor<br />
<a href="http://djg51qu.wix.com/gauss" target="_blank">http://djg51qu.wix.com/gauss</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Want something fun to read that will improve your vocabulary? Try my very inexpensive English vocabulary building book, please: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/York-Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/York-Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS</a></b></span>Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-11237238595420671182014-09-01T21:55:00.000-07:002015-01-25T19:51:11.650-08:00How to use "recommend" or "suggest" correctly for speaking question number 5Many foreign students, in fact, most foreign students of English, do not use 'recommend' or 'suggest' correctly.<br />
<br />
And, question number 5 kind of requires you to use 'recommend' or 'suggest'.<br />
<br />
Be careful using recommend and an object pronoun. For instance, this is wrong, wrong, wrong: He recommended me to go to the museum. <---- 100% wrong.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><b>He recommended the museum to me.</b></span><br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><b>He recommended that I should go to the museum.</b></span><br />
<br />
It's the same with suggested.<br />
<br />
Wrong ------> He suggested me that restaurant. <------Wrong<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><b>He suggested that restaurant to me.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><b>He suggested that I should go to that restaurant.</b></span><br />
<br />
So you have to use recommend or suggest plus AN OBJECT plus an INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN<br />
<br />
Now, if you begin to speak English really well, you can use a trick that native speakers use. They often drop the "that" and "should".<br />
<br />
For instance: <br />
<br />
They recommended that we should visit the planetarium. <---- correct<br />
<br />
But, a native speaker might shorten this to: They recommended we visit the planetarium.<br />
<br />
Do you see how they drop the "that" and "should"?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Now, be careful! Sometimes you can use 'recommend' and 'suggest' with an object pronoun. For example: "He recommended me for the position of teacher to the principal." "me" works here because it really should be an object.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Here it doesn't work: "He recommended me to apply for a job." "me" is NOT the object here but the indirect object. "He recommended applying for the job to me." Or: He recommended that I should apply for the job. Or: He recommended I apply for the job. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span style="color: lime;">So how can recommend or suggest be used in question #5? </span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span>You might have to say, "In the listening section we hear that the student's friend recommends two pieces of advice to him."</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Fix these mistakes using the three correct forms above:</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">1. I recommended him to eat his veggies.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">2. She recommended you to call your mother.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">3. We suggested them to climb the mountain.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">4. You suggested us to drive slowly.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">5. They recommended us to see the opera.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Answers are below:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>1. I recommended eating veggies to him. I recommended that he should eat his veggies. I recommended he eat his veggies.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>2. She recommended calling your mother (to you). 'to you' isn't really necessary here because of the possessive pronoun 'your'. She recommended that you should call your mother. She recommended you call your mother.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>3. We suggested climbing the mountain to them. We suggested that they should climb the mountain. We suggested they climb the mountain.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>4. You suggested driving slowly to us. You suggested that we should drive slowly. You suggested we drive slowly.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>5. They recommended seeing the opera to us. They recommended that we should see the opera. They recommended we see the opera.</b></span><br />
<br />
---------------------------------<br />
Hey! Guess what? I wrote a cool book for foreign learners of English about how badly New York City sucks. I would recommend that you should buy it. :P :P :P (Sorry, just trying to give you more practice with 'recommend'.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/York-Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/York-Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS</a><br />
<br />
But I think it's a pretty good book. If you want a free copy via pdf file attached to email, please drop me a line. I'll be happy to zip a copy over. Please be aware this book is not designed to help you on your TOEFL, it is meant to help you fix your grammar mistakes and improve your vocabulary.<br />
<br />
Also, please be aware that the book has some dirty words in it - curse words.<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------<br />
<br />
I'm also the guy who used to teach English to a famous (well, they used to be famous) Korean pop group, I didn't think these performers were being treated well and I said something about it:<br />
<a href="http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742" target="_blank">http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100512000682" target="_blank">http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100512000682</a><br />
<br />Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-55203253550684106662014-08-24T13:34:00.002-07:002014-09-01T21:40:38.059-07:00New 'tricky' element to Speaking Question #5 on the TOEFLSomeone recently told me that when he took his TOEFL recently he noticed something strange about Speaking Question #5.<br />
<br />
Instead of the 'friend' offering two pieces of advice, the friend offered one piece of advice and the person with the problem came up with another possible solution.<br />
<br />
This should pose no real problem, however. Instead of saying something like, "...the friend offers two pieces of advice.." you can just say, "...there are two possible solutions offered among these students..." ETS is always throwing these little tricks in. Why? I don't know either.<br />
<br />
So using the format below, after you state the problem in speaking question number 5, you can say, "The friend offers one piece of advice. The friend recommends that...." Then you can say, "The student, himself, also presents the second piece of advice..."<br />
<br />
By the way, please remember to use "recommend" correctly.Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-38594541841791210422014-08-19T16:54:00.000-07:002016-11-20T22:58:33.139-08:00The best format for Speaking Question 5<span style="color: #20124d;">I've been working with students on the TOEFL exam for a few years now and we all tend to agree that this is the best format for question number 5.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>1. Briefly state the problem.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>2. Simply state the first piece of advice, with no explanation.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>3. Simply state the second piece of advice, with no explanation.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>4. State which option you would choose and explain why (do NOT mention the other option at all)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>5. State the option you reject and explain why (do NOT mention the previous option)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, here's a sample dialogue:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>M. Hi Beth, you look a little worried.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>W. Well, I am. I am having some problems at the Student Job Center, where I work part time.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>M. But I thought you were doing a great job there.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>W. I have been doing a great job - everybody says so. But apparently I've been doing too well and the director feels that too many students are saying too many good things about me. So she has moved me from the information desk into the back office where I now have to do data entry. It's boring work and I think I was the best information officer this center ever had.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>M. So the director feels that you are outshining her work and the work of the center? Wow, that sometimes happens. It's called professional jealousy.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>W. She's never going to let me work with my fellow students again. She told me other students need to have the experience I was having and the staff has to be rotated, but I can tell she's upset with me. More students have started coming to the center now that I work there.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>M. Well, let's problem solve. At this point you have nothing to lose, so go over her head and email her supervisor and just tell the truth. Let it all hang out. Spill the beans. Tell her boss that she's messing up the job center by removing the best information officer ever.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>W. I've thought of that, but I think I'd get fired. My boss is very good friends with her boss and they would just stick together and fire me. That would look bad on my record and I kind of need the money.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>M. OK, just stay there then. My advice would be to do nothing. Just do the data entry and take your check and accept this situation as a learning experience.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>W. No. I think I have to do something. This really seems wrong to me. I have been removed from my duties because I was doing a great job. That is insane.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;"><b>So now let's use our format:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Problem</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Advice</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Advice</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><b>positive</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">negative</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>P = The student's problem is that she has been removed from her duties as an information officer because the director of the Student Job Center is jealous of how popular she has become.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>A = Her friend recommends that she should protest this by writing to her boss' boss.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>A = He also recommends that if this is not a good option, she should just shut up and do the work she is given.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>positive = If I were in this woman's shoes, I would definitely email the supervisor's supervisor. If what the woman is saying is true, this is a terrible injustice and nobody should remain silent for an injustice, regardless of how small it might seem. Furthermore, she is NOT going to get fired. If the university fires her for bringing a legitimate grievance to their attention, she can take them to court and sue them. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>negative = Furthermore, the other option is just unacceptable. If she does not say anything she is going to be miserable and she is going to be doing a job that she is not well-suited for. She hates data entry but loves working with students. It is clear that she not only has a right but also an obligation to speak up.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span style="color: magenta;">So, isn't that a good format?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: lime;">I think it's a good format because usually one option is usually just very unrealistic or even impossible. Usually there is just one possible option and one impossible or nearly impossible option.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">---------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">---------------------------</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b>Yes, I am the guy who reported to the Korean press that pop stars were not being treated as well as I felt they should have been in New York City:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742" target="_blank">http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100512000682" target="_blank">http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100512000682</a><br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Daniel Gauss</div>
Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-48481255119126976912014-07-12T13:52:00.000-07:002014-07-14T14:12:02.879-07:00Unusual (New) TOEFL Speaking Questions - 1 and 2<span style="color: #20124d;">Today I learned that on last week's TOEFL exam in Manhattan, there were slight changes in the first two speaking questions. Apparently the questions were not simple one sentence questions. Instead, a situation was described and the TOEFL taker was asked to make a choice and support it in regard to the situation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">For instance:</span> <span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Let's say that you are accepted to two university graduate programs. One program is considered prestigious, but they can only offer you a loan to pay for your very expensive tuition, while the other program is an average program, but they are willing to give you a scholarship. Which program would you choose to attend? </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">You can handle this type of question using the same format that I recommended for other types of 1 and 2 questions: </span><a href="http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2013/04/toefl-speaking-topics-1-and-2.html" target="_blank">http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2013/04/toefl-speaking-topics-1-and-2.html</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Intro</b></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Reason 1</b></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Example 1</b></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Reason 2</b></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Example 2</b></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Conclusion, using 'Although..."</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>An example:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Intro: If I were admitted to a prestigious school, which offered no financial aid other than a loan, or an average school, which offered a scholarship, I would choose the prestigious school for two reasons.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>R1: First of all, I want the best educational experience possible.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>E1: I think it would be a real shame to choose a school just due to financial considerations. You only live once and should not allow money to determine your choices. If I am lucky enough to get into a great school, I would be foolish to turn that experience down.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>R2: With great credentials, I can pay off my loans easily.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>E2: OK, it's true I'll go deep into debt, but it will be worth it. I'll learn amazing things, meet amazing people and if the school is really great, everyone will want to hire me and I'll get a job easily and pay off the loan quickly.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Conclusion: Although it's true that living with debt is stressful and we should do what we can to avoid going into debt, education is especially meaningful to me. I want to go to the best school possible regardless of the cost and paying off a loan does not have to be a terrible experience.</b></span><br />
<br />Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-16262493611300575652014-04-27T16:27:00.001-07:002014-04-27T20:56:31.660-07:00Some more CrAzY TOEFL type 1 and 2 speaking topics<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>If you need some sample questions to work on, please try these. You will definitely not find these questions on the TOEFL, but these are challenging questions which will make you think and speak quickly. In fact, some of these questions are pretty fun.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>To answer these questions, please use this method:</b></span> <a href="http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2013/04/toefl-speaking-topics-1-and-2.html" target="_blank">http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2013/04/toefl-speaking-topics-1-and-2.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>1) In Mexico City there are yellow cabs and pink cabs. The yellow cabs are for everyone. The pink cabs are just for women and are driven by women. This is to help women feel safe while taking a taxi cab. Is this a good idea or does this discriminate against men? Use reasons and examples to support your answer.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>2) Last year a young Brasilian woman, who claimed to be a virgin, auctioned her virginity in order to raise money for her poor village. A man 'purchased' her virginity for $700,000. She gave 90% of this to her village and kept 10%. Some people claimed she was a hero while some people claimed she was a prostitute. Was she a hero or prostitute? Use reasons and examples.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>3) Last year a 39 year old woman became pregnant. With one month to go before delivering her baby, her boyfriend left her, she became depressed and she tried to kill herself by taking poison. The poison did not kill her, but it killed her unborn baby. Should this woman be arrested for murder? Why or why not?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>4) In some Asian countries students go to school and after school programs and are away from home and engaged in 'learning' from about 8am to 8pm. Is this a good system or a bad system? Why? Why not?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>5) Let's say that a known terrorist has been arrested and, by torturing him, you might be able to acquire information that would save the lives of 100 people. He may or may not have useful information. Should this person be tortured? Why? Why not?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>6) Some people who value the ownership of guns believe that we should used armed guards to protect our schools. They say that only a good guy with a gun can protect us from a bad guy with a gun. Do you agree or disagree?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>7) Last year an Italian man, in NY City, forgot to bring his wallet to a restaurant and the restaurant staff had him arrested by the police because he could not pay his bill. If you were a restaurant manager and a customer did not have his wallet with him, and nobody could bring his wallet to him from his hotel, what would you do? Support your answer with reasons and examples.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>8) In some European countries there are 'baby boxes.' If a woman who has given birth wants to, she can place the baby in the box and hospital staff will take the baby and put it up for adoption. Some people claim that baby boxes encourage mothers to abandon their babies (so hospitals and adoption agencies can make money) while others say these boxes save the lives of unwanted babies. Should baby boxes exist? Why? Why not?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>9) In America when you eat at a restaurant you are expected to leave a tip for the waiter/waitress. Do you think this is a good system?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>10) In the city of Amsterdam, marijuana is legal and no social problems seem to have arisen because of this situation. Yet, some people say America is different from Holland and significant social problems might occur if a drug like marijuana were legalized. Do you think marijuana should be legal in the USA?</b></span><br />
<br />Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-46007987896666474242014-03-23T13:09:00.001-07:002014-04-25T04:50:16.444-07:00Should you take notes in your native language or in English?Today I had an interesting discussion with one of my TOEFL students. He told me that he takes his notes, for the speaking section, in his native language. He feels that when he has to read back from these notes he can better understand what he wrote - after he writes something in English he sometimes can't read his handwriting and he no longer remembers what he wrote.<br />
<br />
What do you think of this approach? I have always advised my students to write in English. He feels that translating back from his native language to English is actually more comfortable for him. I disagree. People are always looking for 'tricks' or 'short-cuts' to 'pass' the TOEFL exam. Fixing your English and speaking more fluently is always the best way to score high on this test.<br />
<br />
If you have an opinion, feel free to comment or drop me a line at my e-mail above. Thank you!Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-13924768858729005902014-01-26T23:17:00.001-08:002014-01-29T22:45:19.522-08:00Advice for TOEFL speaking question #3<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Lately my students and I have devised what we feel is a pretty good 'format' for answering the third type of speaking question.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Initially we decided that about 20 seconds should be devoted to the brief reading passage and about 40 seconds to the listening section. We felt this was necessary because it shows you understood the reading section and it shows good organizational skills.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #20124d;">It also shows you can transition from talking about the reading section to talking about the listening section.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #20124d;">However, we have revised this format and made it a little more precise.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Now, my students are trying to, basically, speak about the reading section in just 3 sentences.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">First sentence: In general, what is happening?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Second sentence: Specifically, what is happening?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Third sentence: Why is this happening?</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">For example, let's say the reading passage is about a change in university policy. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">"Previously professors provided 'incomplete' grades to students who could not finish a class, and this decision was made by the professor, based on the professor's own judgment of a student's situation. The university has discovered, however, that too many students are not finishing their courses on time and this is causing problems for the students, who have extra work to do during the next term, and professors, who also have extra administrative work to do due to this situation. From now on students who receive an "incomplete" grade must first provide a written explanation for why they are not able to complete the class on time and they must provide a specific date by which they will submit all final materials to the professor or the date on which they will take their final exam. Failure to comply with this new policy will mean a grade of "F" in the class. This written and signed document must be submitted to the professor and approved by his department chairperson." </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">So if you want to speak about this reading passage briefly before speaking about the listening section, here's what you can say:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>1) A university has decided to change its policy concerning 'incomplete' grades. 2) Specifically, now a student must submit a written and signed document to his/her professor asking for an incomplete grade, and this must be approved by the department chairperson. 3) The university is doing this because too many students have been requesting incomplete grades and this causes problems for the students and their professors.</b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Now comes the transition. Usually in the listening passage a student will not like the new policy change. (Let's say in the listening passage the student provides two reasons against this new policy - you can read the two reasons below in my sample answer.) So your transition can be:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>However, in the listening section we learn that a student has very strong reasons for not liking this new policy.</b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Now comes the body of your answer:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>First of all, the student feels that if you don't have enough time to prepare for the final test or hand in a final paper, how will you have time to complete a formal written request to get an incomplete grade? The student points out that students who need an incomplete grade are already under immense stress and should not have to worry about extra paperwork. Getting an incomplete grade should not be so formal.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Second of all, the student feels that the old policy is not being abused. He points out that he has only asked for one incomplete grade in 3 years and that was due to an unusual combination of events. Most students definitely do not want to take an incomplete grade because it just extends the stress of a class into a new semester. Most students will do almost everything they can to finish a class on time. </b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Your conclusion can be something like:</span></b> <b>So although the university feels that this new policy is necessary, we can see that not every student is happy about it. Indeed, according to this student the new policy causes more stress and is not even necessary.</b><br />
<br />Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-42990313791031495042013-07-15T16:27:00.000-07:002013-08-03T02:28:31.463-07:00Recent speaking question types from the July 2013 test in ManhattanSomeone informed me that TOEFL seems to have changed it's format for Type 1 and Type 2 speaking questions.<br />
<br />
He stated that the first question for the Type 1 question provided 3 choices. i.e. If you were to do volunteer work, which type of work would you choose: 1) Talk to elderly people to make sure they are not lonely. 2) Visit patients in a hospital. Or, 3) (the person could not remember the third choice)<br />
<br />
For the second question the person was asked whether he would like to work at a job in which he worked alone, or with a small group of people.<br />
<br />
If this information is true, TOEFL does not always provide a 'descriptive' question followed by a 'choice' question. Therefore you should be aware of that...Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048898800890160176.post-1088275206780425252013-06-10T16:30:00.000-07:002013-06-10T18:37:21.038-07:00Latest TOEFL Speaking Questions (1, 2) from June 2013<span style="color: black;"><strong>Someone informed me that on the latest TOEFL exam in NY City, last weekend, the first two speaking questions were:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>1) If you want to learn about a different country, should you take a university course or should you travel to the country?</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>2) If someone donates money to a not-for-profit organization in your neighborhood, and you can either build a garden or a playground, which would you prefer?</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: black;">I'm a little confused, though, because both of these questions seem to be 'either/or' questions. Usually one question asks for a type of 'description' while the other asks an 'either/or' question.</span></strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Maybe the person was a little confused. <u>If we want to change the first question to a descriptive question, we can ask: What do you think the best way to learn about another country might be?</u> Support your answer with reasons and examples. My sample answer below would still work for this question.</strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>Sample answers:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="color: #b45f06;">1)</span> Many people feel that it is essential for a person to travel in order to broaden his/her horizons and to develop a more open mind. Yet, I feel that if I really want to learn about another culture, a university class, taught by an experienced instructor, would be better than traveling, for two reasons.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>First, the instructor can give me an overview of the entire culture. For example, he can provide me with the history, the artistic trends, the politics and the current economic situation of the country.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>Second of all, based on his experiences, he can give me insights into the people and culture of that country based on many, many trips and experiences with natives. Let's say I want to learn about Indonesia. I can't even speak the language. So if I travel to Indonesia, I will not be able to speak to many natives (unless they can speak English) and I might not really learn much beyond what I can see.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>So although some people might say that it is silly or foolish to suggest that studying a country is better than traveling to the country, I disagree. I want to benefit from the years of study of an expert and gain his/her valuable insights. Then I can go and see whether what I learned is accurate.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="color: #b45f06;">2)</span> If someone were kind enough to donate money to an organization in my neighborhood for either a garden or a playground, I would prefer that a playground be built for a couple reasons.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>First, I feel that it's essential for children to play outdoors in a safe environment. For example, there is an obesity problem in America. Children are not getting enough exercise. If a park were built, children could get some needed exercise every day.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>Second of all, children need to socialize with other children to develop important social skills. If we build a park, this will be a perfect opportunity for the neighborhood's children to get to know each other, develop relationships and learn how to play and cooperate with each other.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>Although I would really love a garden as a place where I could relax and enjoy nature, I think our children have needs which are more important than mine. The park will help them exercise and socialize.</strong></span>Daniel Gausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158256979767078123noreply@blogger.com0