One the biggest challenges when teaching the TOEFL iBT is how to manage class time when doing speaking exercises so that every student gets a chance to speak and have their responses analyzed.
For the two independent speaking tasks, this is what the Pro does. Let's say the class has 20 students.
1. Find 20 independent speaking task #1 single-question prompts, you know, such as, "What does your dream house look like?" or "Why do people eat out?", etc. Type each prompt on a separate sheet of white paper. For example, "What does your dream house look like?" is the only thing on a white page. Do this for all 20 single-question prompts.
2. Find 20 independent speaking task #2 paired-choice prompts, you know, such as, "Do you agree or disagree? Exercising is a good idea" or "Do you prefer going to a concert or a sporting event?", etc. Type each prompt on a separate sheet of orange paper. For example, "Do you agree or disagree? Exercising is a good idea" is the only thing on an orange page. Do this for all 20 paired-choice prompts.
3. After you have taught your class how to answer both types of independent prompt using my argument map, give each student a white page prompt and an orange page prompt. Make sure both pages are turned over so the students can't see the prompts.
4. Get a clock and start practicing. Pick a student and say, "Okay, Miguel, turn over the white sheet. You have 15 seconds to read the prompt and 45 seconds to respond. When you are finished, immediately turn over the orange page and do the same with that prompt." Tell the listening students they are TOEFL iBT raters. They will rate Miguel's 2 responses when he is finished and give him advice.
5. When Miguel stops speaking, the listening students will analyze each of his responses using OPDUL=C. Make the listening students explain why Miguel's responses were proficient or not according to OPDUL=C. I put OPDUL=C on the board in big letters so the rating students can follow it.
6. When Miguel is finished, go on to the next student. Do the same for all twenty students.
This is a highly effective method of doing two independent speaking prompts consecutively while giving each student a chance to speak and rate while you, the teacher, act as guide.
The Pro
© Bruce Stirling 2011
