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Friday, January 21
Thursday, January 20
Independent Essay v. Integrated Essay
What is the difference between the TOEFL independent essay and the integrated essay? Lots.
For the independent essay, you have 30 total minutes to write. This task measures only one skill: your ability to demonstrate OPDUL=C in an opinion-based essay. ETS says "your independent essay should be about 300 words - but you can write more if you want!" Do you need to write more? No, thank you.
Remember: For TOEFL, longer does not mean better. Quite the contrary.
Remember: The independent essay is the last task on the TOEFL iBT. When you start to write, you will have been sitting in front of the computer for 3 1/2 hours.
Remember: The raters don't care about your opinion or your writing style (see style).
For the integrated essay, you will integrate (combine) 4 skills: you will take notes as you read a passage for 3 minutes, then you will take notes as you listen to a 2-3 minute lecture on the same topic. You will then write a 20-minute essay summarizing (and combining) the points in the reading passage and in the lecture, demonstrating "how the lectures casts doubt on the points made in the reading." The total task time is about 25 minutes. When you write your integrated essay, you will see the reading passage on your computer screen; however, you will hear the lecture only once, so note taking is critically important. This task measures your ability to demonstrate OPDUL=C in an integrated essay. ETS says "your integrated essay should be 225 words - but you can write more if you want!"
Remember: If you write more, a lot more, that will send a signal to the raters. That signal says this test-taker is losing focus, thinking more is better. Au contraire. When I see a long integrated essay - you know, just look at it - I know before reading it that it lacks coherence (OPDUL=C), and, ultimately, it does.
Remember: Note taking is an essential TOEFL strategy (see note taking). Good notes = higher score and essays around 225 words.
Okay, so which essay is the most challenging? You probably think the integrated essay, right? Right? More tasks = more challenge, right? Wrong. Classroom experiences proves that a majority of test-takers score higher on the integrated essay. This fact always surprises me too. Once my TOEFL students understand the writing game specific to the integrated essay, they score 4s and 5s, no problem.
So what, you ask, is the secret to getting a high-scoring integrated essay and a high-scoring independent essay - and what is all this OPDUL=C stuff?
The Pro
Global warming is happening now.
Do you agree or disagree?
Wednesday, January 19
Sample Question #3
There is one grammatical mistake in the following sentence.
Hi, Jill. It's me, Ann. I have a question. I was reading this TOEFL blog and this guy says that screaming is a really good way to relax, especially if I am nervous when speaking. What do you think? Really? You scream all the time? No way.
The Pro
TOEFL Tip #16
One challenge test-takers face is speaking into a microphone on test day. Actually, the problem is not speaking into a microphone. No. The problem is recording your voice, then hearing yourself speak (Oh, my God! Is that me! I sound like a bird in a can!)
How can you overcome your embarrassment? Simple. When you practice speaking, record your voice and play it back, again and again and again. Repetition will soon breed familiarity which produces indifference. Translated, that means after you hear your recorded voice a million times, you will no longer care. And really, the only person who is worried about your voice is you, right? So record your voice and play it back, again and again. In one or two days, your worries will be gone - and you will be test ready.
But what if hearing your recorded voice is not the problem? What if you are just too nervous? Then scream. Serious. If you are too nervous (shy) to speak into a microphone, that means nervous energy is trapped inside. How can you free that nervous energy? Scream. I mean, really scream. Go into a closet and scream. Scream into a pillow. Scream at yourself in the mirror. Scream like The Exorcist. Scream like Home Alone. Scream like The Scream by Edvard Munch. Scream like Homer Simpson realizing all the pink donuts are gone. Scream so hard you can't breathe, then scream some more. Believe me, it works. When recording, and you make a mistake, scream some more, and start again.
Remember: When going to the test center on test day, if you are nervous, scream. Don't worry. People won't care. They know you are going to take the TOEFL test.
Why is screaming an essential TOEFL strategy? Because screaming opens the door through which nervous energy escapes. So do it. Scream. You will relax, be test ready - and get a higher TOEFL score.
The Pro
_______________________________© Bruce Stirling 2011
Tuesday, January 18
The Future of Computers - Watch This!
Sixth Sense - A Must-See Video
Click here to watch the future of computing
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The Pro
Click here to watch the future of computing
Click here for more about Sixth Sense
The Pro
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