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TOEFL listening section, tests the ability of a student, especially a non-native English speaker, to understand spoken English (accentuated) in educational setting. Listening is an important skill to understand the concepts and ideas. Only when the concepts are understood completely it becomes a lighter task to score in the listening section of TOEFL test. In order to develop the listening skills for TOEFL, there are certain set of listening strategies or steps. They are explained in detail given below.

Listening strategies for TOEFL aims at providing each and every minute detail that are required to respond to all the questions within the given time in this section. Responding to the questions in time is very important because, it will help TOEFL candidates to save time, which they might spend on, one specific part of the test section.

There are certain steps in strategies that would help in managing time in each part of listening test section (recordings). There are some basic requirements for listening skills which serves the steps in TOEFL listening strategies as detailed below:

When students listen to a recorded lecture or a conversation, they should understand the central or main idea in it. Then they should skim the recording for key points, important facts, purpose and the relevant details that connects the key points.

It may also be called as “pragmatic understanding” where the meaning of a word should be taken, according to the context. Students are needed to find the intended meaning of the speaker i.e. from his point of view. A wide range of vocabulary is necessary for this process because, the recordings in listening test are usually from academic background. Practical understanding also becomes a must to find the purpose of a lecture or a conversation.

Relating ideas is the final state where the key points and the important facts are compared to find the relationship between them. This method would initially lead to construct an argument. Then a string of supportive and non supportive elements are categorized and as a result the causes for the events are traced. This is where a student would end up identifying the conclusion which is expressed indirectly.

Inference is to find the implied conclusion in recordings from the author’s point of view. The conclusion might be implied or expressed indirectly anywhere in the passage.

These are the basic requirements necessary, in each part of the strategy of listening section, which consists of two recorded lectures and one long conversation. These fundamentals are to be followed, in the following few preparatory steps.

Strategies in Preparation

There are variations between the accents of English. It is the best to listen to English from various sources like television, music, radio etc. And also it is good to listen to the native speakers of English with different pronunciation and dialect. By doing this students would be able to improve their listening skills and also they will get used to different kinds of accents. It will be helpful very much if they listen to academic passages or conversations.

While listening to a recording, notes should be jot down. These notes would help you to remember the important points given by speaker. The reason is also that, during the test you will be given only one chance to listen to a passage. Note making will help you to remember the details and the clues effectively.

The main idea of a passage should be identified in a recording, as a first task while taking notes. Main idea of a lecture is usually given in the introductory part. The other details would be given in the rest of a lecture. Once the main idea is found it becomes a lighter task to find the purpose of the speaker.

The pointer words may be defined as signal words or clues, given by the speaker. These keywords should be collected along with important facts and events. This should be done in order to compare them and identify the relationship between them. In turn this would give you the cause of the events.

Give a summary of the recording which was listened, using the notes that are taken down. During this process, only important facts, relevant details, main idea and the key facts are covered. This is a good time saving technique, to prevent going through the notes again and again.

Above all it is also important to build a student’s vocabulary, to find the meaning of a word, according to the context of the speaker. Students should get familiar with the words which they consider as new ones and practice them in their everyday life.

The steps and the requirements in TOEFL strategies for listening section, which are elaborated above should be followed and practiced to manage time while taking up the test. The most important part in listening section is to concentrate on the subject of the speaker, and a student does not have to be distracted by the accent.

Think about the topic of the text you are going to listen to. What do you already know about it? What could possibly be the content of the text? Which words come to mind that you already know? Which words would you want to look up?

If you have to do a task on the listening text, check whether you have understood the task correctly.

Think about what type of text you are going to listen to. What do you know about this type of text?

Relax and make yourself ready to pay attention to the listening text.

It is not necessary to understand every single word. Try to ignore those words that you think are less important anyway.

If there are words or issues that you don't understand, use your general knowledge as well as the context to find out the meaning.

If you still don't understand something, use a dictionary to look up the words or ask someone else for help.

Focus on key words and facts.

Take notes to support your memory.

Intonation and stress of the speakers can help you to understand what you hear.

Try to think ahead. What might happen next? What might the speakers say, which words might they use?

Think about the text again. Have you understood the main points?

Remember the speculations you made before you listened. Did they come true?

Review your notes.

Check whether you have completed your task correctly.

Have you had any problems while listening? Do you have any problems now to complete your task? Identify your problems and ask someone for help.

Listen again to difficult passages.


LISTENING COMPREHENSION

In this section of the test, you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to understand
conversations and talks in English. There are three parts to this section. Answer all the questions on
the basis of what is stated or implied by the speakers you hear. Do not take notes or write in your test book at any time. Do not turn the pages until you are told to do so.


Directions: In Part A you will hear short conversations between two people. After each conversation,
you will hear a question about the conversation. The conversations and questions will not be repeated. After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the
best answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Listen to an example.

On the recording, you hear:
(man) That exam was just awful.
(woman) Oh, it could have been worse.
(narrator) What does the woman mean?

In your test book, you read:
(A) The exam was really awful.
(B) It was the worst exam she had ever seen.
(C) It couldn't have been more difficult.
(D) It wasn't that hard.

You learn from the conversation that the man thought the exam was very difficult and that the woman disagreed with the man. The best answer to the question, "What does the woman mean?" is (D), "It wasn't that hard." Therefore, the correct choice is (D).

1
(A) Taking the car out for a test drive
(B) Listening to the noises
(C) Fixing the car herself
(D) Getting the car repaired

2.
(A) Martha s jobs are easy.
(B) It's easy to hold two jobs.
(C) It's better for Martha to have two jobs.
(D) Martha should slow down.

3.
(A) The plane took off just after he arrived.
(B) He arrived just after the plane took off.
(C) He wasn't in time to catch the plane.
(D) He arrived too late to catch the plane.


Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear longer conversations. After each conversation, you
will hear several questions. The conversations and questions will not be repeated.
After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the best
answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
Remember, you are not allowed to take notes or write in your test book.

4.
A) From a lecture.
B) In a magazine article.
C) In a book.
D) On a television program.

5.
A) 17,000 pounds
B) 3,000 tons
C) 3,000 pounds
D) 300 tons

6.
(A) She will be able to travel in space.
(B) The problem will take care of itself.
(C) Scientists will find solutions to the problem.
(D) The junk will fall to Earth.


Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear several talks. After each talk, you will hear some
questions. The talks and questions will not be repeated.
After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the best
answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Here is an example.
On the recording, you hear:
(narrator) Listen to an instructor talk to his class about painting.
(man) Artist Grant Wood was a guiding force in the school'of painting known as American regionalist, a style reflecting the distinctive characteristics of art from rural areas of the United States. Wood began drawing animals on the family farm at the age of three, and when he was thirty-eight one of his paintings received a remarkable amount of public notice and acclaim. This painting, called "American Gothic," is a starkly simple depiction of a serious couple staring directly out at the viewer.

Now listen to a sample question.
(A) (narrator) What style of painting is known as American regionalist?  .

In your test book, you read:
(A) Art from America s inner cities
(B) Art from the central region of the United States
(C) Art from various urban areas in the United States
(D) Art from rural sections of America

The best answer to the question "What style of painting is known as American regionalist?" is (D),
"Art from rural sections of America." Therefore, the correct choice is (D).

Now listen to another sample question.
(A) (narrator) What is the name of Wood's most successful painting?

In your test book, you read:
(A) "American Regionalist"
(B) "The Family Farm in Iowa"
(C) "American Gothic"
(D) "A Serious Couple"

The best answer to the question, "What is the name of Wood's most successful painting?" is (C),
"American Gothic." Therefore, the correct choice is (C).

Remember, you are not allowed to take notes or write in your test book.

7.
A) In winter
B) In spring
C) In summer
D) In fall 50.

8.
A) Seasonable, with warm summers and cold winters.
B) Fairly constant and moderate.
C) Very humid.
D) Extremely hot year-round.

9.
A) They come from the Southwest.
B) They come most days of the year.
C) They are the hardest during the night.
D) They increase the humidity.

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