TOEFL LISTENING - PART 1 - Nora Herrera

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STRATEGIES FOR TOEFL
LISTENING SECTION – PART 1
TYPES OF LISTENING EXERCISES
 SHORT CONVERSATIONS (between 2 people, usually
two students).
PRAGMATIC UNDERSTANDING
 Function
Q: Why does the student ask for the location of the library?
A: Because she needs to do research.
Attitude
Q: What is the student’s attitude about the people he currently works
with?
A: He likes them.
USE OF NEGATIVES
Be expected to hear negative verbs and negative prefixes. On theTOEFL, 
they usually mean the opposite.
 They didn’t drive slowly. (They had an accident because they were speeding.)
 I am not upset at the election results. (I am happy about it.)
 My brother is insane. (in – negative = not sane = crazy).
 Nothing ever comes from being lazy. = Don’t be lazy.
CONDITIONS
Conditional sentences, wish clauses, and inverted orders are very common
on theTOEFL exam. Think about what is really being said.
 I wish I had time to help. (= I am unable to help.)
 I wish the exam had been last week. (= The exam is this week.)
 If she weren’t at work, she could go with us. (= She is at work.)
 Had I eaten earlier, I wouldn’t be hungry right now. ( = I didn’t take the time to eat at noon.)
VOCABULARY
Study colloquial vocabulary that is likely to be heard in an informal conversation between
two friends or classmates.
 Listen for phrasal verbs.
Why was the meeting called off? (canceled)
 Listen for idiomatic expressions.
I am a full-time student and I work. I am burning the candle at both ends. (I am doing too
much.)
www.lexile.com/TOEFL is a good resource.
http://www.lexile.com/TOEFL
CHALLENGES & STRATEGIES
 Speakers tend to reduce speach (be familiar with contractions).
 Similar sounds (avoid similar sounds, the answer is more likely a synonym).
 The conversations are very fast – of 3 lines (the answer is in the second line.)
RESOURCES FOR PRACTICE
In addition to this Power Point presentation which was prepared by PALE CUCEA in reference to the Longman and ETS TOEFL study
guides, students can:
Do free online practice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQGDN8-pw18
Study the tutorial on Moodle from www.learnexacademy.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxqs23j1onE
Use interesting, current sources that you would likely find on a university campus. Predict your own questions, watch/listen, and 
answer your own questions. Try with the resource on the next slide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQGDN8-pw18