Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

I am going to be preparing my students for this test. I got a workbook, and my plan is to look at the test questions and try to figure out what they questions are asking, etc.

Does anyone have any experience teaching this? If so, what were some methods that worked for you.

p.s. I am excited because I am also teaching 8th grade lit for these kids, and it seems they are pretty advanced for their age.

yip!

[Hater Depot]

Best of luck, it is a very, very tough test. They need to be prepared to write creatively on difficult subjects under very restrictive time conditions. If it were graded alphabetically, most American 12th-graders would get a B, let alone 8th-graders like you have. They must be a pretty special bunch!

[Missile Command Kid]

At my academy, kids prepare for the TOEFL exam starting in MS1 (we just started a pre-TOEFL program) and are generally ready to take it in HS2/3. How much time do you have before they write?

Hater Depot is right: the test is bloody hard. There's not a lot of preparation ("cramming") that can be done, aside from thoroughly learning English - and I'm not being cheeky. If you're fluent in English, have a wide range of knowledge on a variety of subjects, can take notes under pressure, and deliver reasonable, well thought out answers to difficult questions in a short amount of time, you'll do fine.

[dogshed]

One semester I worked in a testing center. There isn't a lot of last minute preparation that would be helpful except for the psychological. At our center we told people they could come by and see the testing facility beforehand. If they are relaxed and don't freeze up then they will most likely get a score that represents their ability.

It was sad when they couldn't understand the box that said something like click here to start the test. We were only allowed to check that the computer was working. We were not allowed to tell them what to click on.

There were three kinds of people who took the toefl. First, the fluent people who needed it as a formality because their passport was not from the right country. Second, the semi-fluent who had really worked for it and were a little nervous. Third, the people who could barely make the appointment using English.

[dogshed]

Something else I forgot. It's been a couple of years and the test could have changed but there was a writing portion where they could choose between typing or writing. If that is still the case then they need to make sure what the current procedure is. When I was doing the tests if the writing portion of the test was started in the typing mode and then the test taker requested the paper form it was a little bit of a mess. -Jeff

[archer904]

I teach iBT TOEFL exclusively.

There are some short term things you can do to help them improve their scores. You can teach most kids proper essay structure in a week or two:

5 paragraphs.
Introduction, which includes a thesis statement and one sentence introducing each main point paragraph.
Main Point 1 paragraph
Main Point 2 paragraph
Main Point 3 paragraph
Conclusion, which includes a summary.

Each section of the TOEFL is worth 30 points. Having a properly organized essay will help their writing score considerably.

Also, have them practice listening to conversations or lectures on tape or CD, and taking lecture-style notes. Good note taking will help them with the listening and speaking portions of the test. Repetition is key here. If they are younger (middle school) kids, let them listen to the same recording 2 or 3 times so they get it all. Teach them how to abbreviate. I did an excercise today where I told them they couldn't write more than 3 letters of any word when they took notes. They were amazed at how much they could remember from their fragmented notes, and they are taking faster notes now, because they are not missing the 8 words that come after "psychology," since now they just write psy. or some just P. They will need to practice the note taking every time you teach them for maximum retention.

For speaking, give them controversial (to them) topics and have them speak extemporaneously about them. For example "Do you think it is fair that schools make students cut their hair? Why not?" They've got plenty to say on that subject. Correct their pronunciation as they talk.

What will be hard to help them with in the short term is their vocabulary. You can only learn the meaning of so many words, so fast.

That's what comes to mind offhand. Hope it helps.

If you have questions, let me know.

[mumblebee]

I just started teaching an iBT speaking prep class for elementary students. One of the things I do is take a sample question, write it one the board, and give them 1 minute to make notes. Then I give small prizes to the brave kids who volunteer to speak for about 30 seconds. The kids need practice in thinking on their feet, not just in speaking...

The acutal test allows 15 secs prep, and requires 45 secs speaking. I am going to ramp up to this, starting with more prep time, and less speaking time, then giving less prep and more speaking time until they get to the actual test requirements.

[MollyBloom]

Thanks for the tips!