New 'tricky' element to Speaking Question #5 on the TOEFL

Someone recently told me that when he took his TOEFL recently he noticed something strange about Speaking Question #5.

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.

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.

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..."

By the way, please remember to use "recommend" correctly.

The best format for Speaking Question 5

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.

1. Briefly state the problem.
2. Simply state the first piece of advice, with no explanation.
3. Simply state the second piece of advice, with no explanation.
4. State which option you would choose and explain why (do NOT mention the other option at all)
5. State the option you reject and explain why (do NOT mention the previous option)


For example, here's a sample dialogue:

M. Hi Beth, you look a little worried.
W. Well, I am. I am having some problems at the Student Job Center, where I work part time.
M. But I thought you were doing a great job there.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

So now let's use our format:

Problem
Advice
Advice
positive
negative

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.

A = Her friend recommends that she should protest this by writing to her boss' boss.

A = He also recommends that if this is not a good option, she should just shut up and do the work she is given.

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. 

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.


So, isn't that a good format?

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.

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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:

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100512000682

Daniel Gauss

Unusual (New) TOEFL Speaking Questions - 1 and 2

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.

For instance:  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? 

You can handle this type of question using the same format that I recommended for other types of 1 and 2 questions: http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2013/04/toefl-speaking-topics-1-and-2.html

Intro
Reason 1
Example 1
Reason 2
Example 2
Conclusion, using 'Although..."

An example:

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.

R1: First of all, I want the best educational experience possible.

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.

R2: With great credentials, I can pay off my loans easily.

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.

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.

Some more CrAzY TOEFL type 1 and 2 speaking topics

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.

To answer these questions, please use this method: http://danstoefl.blogspot.com/2013/04/toefl-speaking-topics-1-and-2.html


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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

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?

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?

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?

Advice for TOEFL speaking question #3

Lately my students and I have devised what we feel is a pretty good 'format' for answering the third type of speaking question.

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.

It also shows you can transition from talking about the reading section to talking about the listening section.

However, we have revised this format and made it a little more precise.

Now, my students are trying to, basically, speak about the reading section in just 3 sentences.

First sentence: In general, what is happening?
Second sentence: Specifically, what is happening?
Third sentence: Why is this happening?

For example, let's say the reading passage is about a change in university policy.  

"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." 

So if you want to speak about this reading passage briefly before speaking about the listening section, here's what you can say:

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.

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:

However, in the listening section we learn that a student has very strong reasons for not liking this new policy.

Now comes the body of your answer:

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.

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.

Your conclusion can be something like: 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.