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TOEFL IBT. Listening Section. Overview. The listening section is the second part of the test 2-3 conversations – 5 questions each 4-6 lectures – 6 questions each. Listen Actively.
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TOEFL IBT Listening Section
Overview • The listening section is the second part of the test • 2-3 conversations – 5 questions each • 4-6 lectures – 6 questions each
Listen Actively • You must listen, take notes, anticipate, learn, connect ideas, organize, generalize, infer, assume, and conclude all at the same time. Whew! • Ask yourself questions while listening: • What are they talking about? • How do they feel about it? • What are the problems or key points? • Why did he say that? • What are they going to talk about next?
Anticipate key points • Using your knowledge about the main topic to anticipate makes listening easier
Taking Notes • You must write notes very quickly when listening, so use symbols, and abbreviations whenever possible • Don’t try to record everything • Connect details to main idea
Unique elements of spoken English • Interruptions • Confusion and Clarification • Self Correction • Fragments
Question 2 – Detail Questions • Listen for descriptions, definitions, numbers, comparisons, contrasts, locations, times, examples, explanations • Take notes on details related to the main idea or supporting ideas • In conversations, take notice of questions to predict details. Ex. – Who should I see about this? (listen for a person)
Distracters • Exact vocabulary, clauses, phrases – correct answers paraphrase when possible • Details rearranged – Ex. The student is noisy. (really the student’s roommate is noisy)
Question 3 – Function Question • Why does the speaker say this? • Recognize the type of passage (argument, comparison, explanation) • Recognize the context (reviewing for a test, explaining a concept, introducing new information, correcting a mistake)
Distracters • Wrong verb • Ex. – “to explain the three concepts” instead of “to compare the three concepts” • Too specific • To complain about his roommates taste in music. • Too general • To complain about the residents of the dormitory
Question 4 – Stance Question • Excerpts may be replayed, but not always • Infer the speaker’s attitude • Listen for key words that express opinion • Ex – brilliant, genius, revolutionary, overrated • Intonation • Rising – positive feeling, acceptance, surprise, question • Falling – negativity, sarcasm, disapproval • Watch for changes in attitude
Distracters • Answer choice is too extreme • Happy / ecstatic, upset / furious
Question 5 – Structure • How does the professor organize….? • Ways of organizing a lecture
Distracters • Answer choice reverses the correct organization (cheapest > most expensive) • Answer uses minor details
Question 6 – Organization of details • Why does the professor mention…? • How does the professor illustrate her point about…? • Rhetorical Actions
Distracters • Infinitive + object + by + gerund • To define the Space Shuttle by describing how it looks and how it travels to and from outer space • Makesure that both parts are the correct answer
Inference Questions • Details • Pay attention to details and how they go together • Don’t take Professor Martin’s class. Bill almost failed his class last semester and Bill’s a genius! • Once the colonies of New England and others were well established along the eastern seaboard, it didn’t take long for explorers to begin looking for the Pacific. • Recognize use of idioms
Content Questions • Pay attention to Sequence, Categorization, and Multiple Details • 3 types of questions: Yes / No, Category, Sequence