Toefl

Index

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………2
Practice With Cohesion…………………………………………………………………...3
Organizing Ideas…………………………………………………………………………..3
Using Transitional Expressions………………………………………………………….3
Defining unknown terms………………………………………………………………….4
Rephrasing or replacing key words……………………………………………………..4
Using consistent tense, person, and number…………………………………………..5
Strategies toUse for Building Speaking Fluency………………………………………6
1. Practice Speaking in English……………………………………………………..6

2. Avoid translating…………………………………………………………………...6

3. Become comfortable with using native English speakers pausing techniques………………………………………………………………………….6

4. Try to relax when speaking……………………………………………………….6

5. Use natural speed and rhythm…………………………………………………...66. Train yourself in fluency…………………………………………………………..6

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………..7

Introduction

In this work we are going to talk about some methods to improve our communication and fluency in some conversations in English. This information is based on the book “Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL Test” Fourth Edition (Jolene Gear – Robert Gear)

Practice WithCohesion
Cohesion: Refers to how well the ideas in your spoken response fit together. You will sound more fluent and get a higher score on the speaking task if your responses are cohesive. You can achieve cohesion by using the techniques described in this section.
Organizing Ideas
Your listeners will understand your talk better if you organize what you say in a logical sequence or linear pattern.This mean that you tell the listeners what you are going to talk about and then go through the points you want to make.
The most common pattern of organization is outlined below:
1. Introductory Statement
2. Point 1
3. Point 2
4. Point 3
5. Concluding Statement
An Example of this pattern is shown below:
Breeding butterflies has many advantages for the collector.
1. Way of obtainingspeciments.
2. Spares can be released into the wild.
3. Helps survival because butterflies have been protected from natural predators.
The experience is a learning experience for the collector and a benefit to the species.
Using Transitional Expressions
Connecting ideas by using transition words and phrases tells your listeners the relationship of one idea to the next. You can signal to yourlistener that you are going to put events in a sequence, add information, or make a comparison. You can signal that you want to emphasize or clarify a point. Using transition words and phrases helps your listener follow the flow of your ideas. Read the following example without transitional expressions:
In my physics class, we did lots of experiments that helped clarify scientific principles. Iunderstood those principles better by doing those experiments.
These sentences would flow better if the speaker used transitional expressions as in the following example:

In my physics class, we did lots of experiments that helped clarify scientific principles. As a result, I understood those principles better.
Defining unknown terms
In order to help your listeners understand, you may need todefine a term that you use in your response. Read the following example:
My hobby is telemark skiing.
If the speaker does not define the term the listeners do not know what telemark skiing is, they might not understand the rest of the passage. Sometimes listeners can guess the meaning throught the context of the passage, but sometimes thay cannot. Here is the definition this speaker gave oftelemark:
That means skiing using telemark skis.
Even thought the speaker defined telemark skiing, listeners still may not understand what it means because the speaker defined the term with the same word. To effectively define a word, use a three-part definition:
1. State the word or phrase to be defined
2. Give the category that the word or phrase fits into.
3. Tell how the word id...