TOEFL Writing Tip

The TOEFL Independent essay forces TOEFL students to come up with specific examples to support your personal examples.

This TOEFL Writing tips video explains a small part of the essay.

Some basic notes to go along with the video.

Two tips : 

Professional Examples/ Academic Example- TOEFL revolves around academic work. So, it is best to speak the test graders' language. Try to come up with these kinds of examples whenever possible

                  

True: Try to come up with a true example if you can. But, if you are good at making up a story, don't be afraid to do so.

How to learn to come up with example:

Take a TOEFL example question:

People attend college or university for many reasons. (for example: new experience, career preparation, etc.) Why do you think people attend university?

Your job: Come up with two keywords.

Example:  Social experience: make friends, personal experience

                  Career: Connections , learned how to teach

                       

TOEFL Integrated Essay Video Lecture

Hello,
The TOEFL integrated essay video lecture, along with notes to make it easier for you.

TOEFL Integrated Essay (Factual essay)

** Comes at the end**

Basics

·        Reading passage (200 words/ argument/)

·        Intro

·        3 body paragraphs ( 3 minutes to read it)

Example: Intro states they are in favor of hydrogen cars. Then, three reasons why

Goals

·        Find the POV (point of view) – last sentence of the 1^st paragraph

·        3 Arguments- Topic sentence (1^st sentence) should show the argument, get some details

After 3 minutes, listening passage comes on

Listening passage (opposite of reading passage)

Same 3 arguments (but opposite of reading passage)

Goals 1.) Listen and write speaker’s POV

1.)  Write down the opposing arguments

** NO OPINIONS***

*** Only Say What’s On Paper**

Example Notes:

Reading                               / Listening

POV                                            POV

1.     Major/Minor             1. Major/Minor

2.                                          2.

3.                                          3.

TOEFL Reading Lecture Part 2 & 3

Here are my notes on the TOEFL reading lectures I previously posted.

TOEFL Reading Lecture Part 2

TOEFL Reading Lecture Part 3

Basic Process (Detail Questions 3-4)

1.     Find the keywords in the question

·        Very important

2.     Find the keyword sentence in the reading

·        Look for Synonym language (Questions normally have synonyms)

3.     Read only the keyword sentence in the passage( This is for, Basic questions: detail questions, purpose questions, inference)

·        If the next sentence starts with connecting language

·        Answers come after the connecting language

·        If keyword sentence starts with connecting language, answer is in previous sentence

4.     Read the proper answer and pick the answer that matches the same meaning

Example Question: Who was the first president of America?

Now, we know the keywords are something like: first president

Don’t forget to be aware of synonyms,  the question could be: Who was the first leader of America? ( Leader= synonym)

Now, go to the passage.  Find the words: First president and you know that is where your answer is.

Purpose Question (Example terms: mention, say- What does he mean when he says/mentions this)

1.)   Find the keywords in the question

2.)  Find the keyword sentence

3.)  Read the sentence before the keyword sentence ( Example- If someone is late to class, to find out why they are late, you must look before.)

4.)  Find the matching purpose in the answers

Inference Question ( what inference must be true)

*** Might be true, possibly true= Impossible***

·        Pick the answer that must be true

Example: Two weeks ago, somebody says if I don’t come to class, I decided to get married. Two weeks later, the student is not in class.

Answer choices 1.) Car accident 2.) Got married 3.) Student is scared 4.) Student is sick

Pick the answer that must be true

Example 2: What can we infer by paragraph 3?

Inference question uses one of the following words usually: What does it suggest? What does it imply?

Negative Factual ( True/False Question- All of the following are true except….)

1.)  Find the keywords in the answer choices

2.)  Find the keywords in each paragraph to determine if the answer is true or false

Example:  All of the following for people are running for president except

A.) The cowboy from Taiwan B.) The governor of Mexico C.) The banker from Massachusets D.) The lawyer from Japan

Keywords= cowboy, governor, banker, lawyer

Use each keyword and see if they are running for president.

If it says the cowboy from Taiwan is running for vice-president. There is your answer.

Vocabulary Questions

1.)  Learn lots of vocabulary (obviously)

2.)  Study vocab in synonym groups- Example: Write the word intermittent on the front of a notecard, and five synonyms on the back

3.)  Look at the root word- (take off prefix and suffix)

4.)  Context- look the sentence before and after

5.)  Context clues- Example:  or means the word will mean the same-, but- means the word will mean opposite

6.)   Look at the verb

7.)   Substitution ( take out the vocab word, put your own word, (not an answer choice) then finding the matching word

 ** Never go off what sounds right. They are all meant to sound right***

Read the question and see the vocabulary word

·        Don’t look at the answer yet (if you’re unclear)

·        Look at the word in the sentence and find the meaning using one of the strategies

**Connecting language/ transition- so, now, this means, that means, for example, as a result,

TOEFL Vocabulary Video

Hello,

This TOEFL vocabulary video gives very clear  explanations of the following words:

Awed

Bitter

Captivated

Cruel

Dejected

Distinguished

Despondent

If you are not 100 percent sure of the words, I highly suggest you watch the video.

Root Words Song (TOEFL Vocab)

As mentioned previously, learning root words is a great way to increase your vocabulary greatly. This root words song can help you have some fun while you are learning Root Words

TOEFL Vocabulary

It is suggested that you need to learn about 2,000 new vocabulary words when taking the TOEFL. Root words are a great way to increase new vocabulary quickly.

Here is a list: Root Words

TOEFL Reading Part 1 Video Lecture Summary

Hello,

I posted the TOEFL reading lecture part 1 on Saturday. Here are my notes on the topic.

1.      Reading Basics    

·         4 passages

·         700 words each

·         20 minutes

·         13-14 questions

2.       Important Skills

•  Vocabulary
•  Synonym language ( recognize)
•  Key Words ( recognize)
•  Reading only what is necessary
•  Scan
• Recognize Question Types
• Confidence

Answering Question

1.)    Recognize Question Type

2.)    Recalling the strategy for that question

3.)    Applying that strategy

Question Types

1.)    Attitude

2.)    Purpose

3.)    Negative Factual

4.)    Detail (3-4 questions)

5.)    Vocabulary (2-4 questions)

6.)    Summary

7.)    Reference

8.)    Chart

9.)    Inference (2/3 on one passage maybe)

10.)                        Paraphrase

11.)                        Method- Difficult- Example- How are paragraphs 1 and 2 related?-

Basic Question Answering

How TOEFL people find good/bad answers

1.)    Good answer (except for negative factual/ or inference questions)

·         Come from one sentence

·         Your job is to find that sentence

2.)    Bad answers

·         Come from surrounding sentences

Example: Paragraph

1.)

2.) A

3.) Keyword sentence- answer normally comes from here C

4.)B

5.)D

6.)

If you find the keyword sentence, you can read just the one sentence and get the correct answer.

** Remember if you find the answer for let’s say question 4, you know question 5 comes after that. ***