To make this practice more like the TOEFL, close each question while you are listening to the audio. You may take notes, and you may use your notes to help you answer the questions. When you hear the question, you may look at it and begin preparing your response. Record your response for each exercise.

The audio transcripts are below. At the real TOEFL iBT test, you do not have access to the transcripts. We’re including them here so you can learn from them, but you should look at them after you complete the tasks.

Exercise 3.8.A

For this task, you will listen to part of a lecture. You will then be asked to summarize important information from the lecture. After you hear the question, you have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Click for question

Preparation Time – 20 seconds
Response Time – 60 seconds

Exercise 3.8.B

For this task, you will listen to part of a lecture. You will then be asked to summarize important information from the lecture. After you hear the question, you have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Click for question

Preparation Time – 20 seconds
Response Time – 60 seconds

Exercise 3.8.C

For this task, you will listen to part of a lecture. You will then be asked to summarize important information from the lecture. After you hear the question, you have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Click for question

Preparation Time – 20 seconds
Response Time – 60 seconds

Exercise 3.8.D

For this task, you will listen to part of a lecture. You will then be asked to summarize important information from the lecture. After you hear the question, you have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Click for question

Preparation Time – 20 seconds
Response Time – 60 seconds

Exercise 3.8.E

For this task, you will listen to part of a lecture. You will then be asked to summarize important information from the lecture. After you hear the question, you have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Click for question

Do not look at the transcripts until after you finish the tasks.

Transcript for Exercise 3.8.A

Transcript for Exercise 3.8.B

Transcript for Exercise 3.8.C

Transcript for Exercise 3.8.D

Transcript for Exercise 3.8.E

Extension

1

Listen again to the sample lecture. As you listen, fill in the missing information on the blank lines in the script. Do not try to write down every word. Take brief notes about only the key information. Check your notes with the audio script above.

Listen to part of a talk in a world history class. The professor is talking about ___________________________________________________.

In the nineteenth century, there were several periods when large numbers of people _____________________________________________________________________. These mass migrations were ______________________________________________________________. One major movement was _____________________________________________________. This migration of Europeans involved around _______________________________________. Another mass migration was ____________________________________________________. Another was ____________________________________________________.

These large movements of people were made possible by _____________________________________________. Another important factor was _______________________________________________________________. In some places, immigrants were _________________________________________________. This is what encouraged a lot of people—both immigrant and native–born—_________________________________.

The majority of the people in these mass migrations came from _____________________________________________________________________. The immigrants were motivated mainly by ________________________________________________________________________________. Since most of the immigrants were unskilled workers, ______________________________________________________.

2

Listen to your recorded response to one of the speaking tasks in Exercise 3.9.A through 3.9.E. Analyze and evaluate your response by answering the following questions:

a. Does my response accurately summarize the main idea and major points from the lecture?

b. Does my response include relevant supporting details and explanation from the lecture?

c. Is my response coherent? Would it be easily understood by other listeners?

d. Does my response answer the question effectively? Why or why not?

e. How can I improve my responses for this type of question in the future?

3

Share and discuss your recorded response to one of the speaking questions in Exercise 3.9.A through 3.9.E. Work in a group of three or four students. Listen to each student’s recorded response. Discuss each response by answering the following questions:

a. Does the response accurately summarize the major ideas from the lecture?

b. Does the response include relevant supporting details and explanation from the lecture?

c. Is the response coherent? Why or why not?

d. Can the response be easily understood? Why or why not?

e. Does the response answer the question effectively? Why or why not?

Make suggestions that will help each student improve in the future.

4

Obtain a recording of a real college or university lecture. Topics in history, anthropology, sociology, and psychology are good choices. Bring the recording to class. With the whole class, listen to two minutes of the recording. While you are listening, takes notes about important information in the lecture. Do not try to write down everything. Write only the key words and phrases that you think are important to remember.

Then break into groups of three or four students. Compare your notes with the notes taken by the others in your group. Listen again to the same two–minute recording. In your group, discuss the key points made in the lecture. Choose one person to read your group’s list of key points to the whole class.



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