TOEFL

A Standardized Test, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) assesses the English Proficiency of people, whose native language does not happen to be English. It tests the ability to understand North American English. Most Educational Institutes in the US and Canada (approximately 2400) ask applicants for their TOEFL Scores. Institutes in other countries, where the mode and language of instruction is English, also use TOEFL.

Most people take the TOEFL test as a prerequisite for admission into colleges and universities where English is used or required. In addition, many government, licensing, and certification agencies and exchange and scholarship programs use TOEFL® scores to evaluate the English proficiency of people for whom English is not their native language.

The TOEFL Internet-based Test (IBT) tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The structure of the TOEFL iBT is as follows:

• Reading (60-100 min) (36-70 questions) (0-30 scoring scale)
• Listening (60-90 min) (34-51 questions) (0-30 scoring scale)
• Speaking (20 min) (6 tasks) (0-4 points converted to 0-30 scoring scale)
• Writing (50 min) (2 tasks) (0-5 points converted to 0-30 scoring scale)The TOEFL paper-based Test (PBT) is available in limited areas. Scores are valid for two years after the test date, and test takers can have their scores sent to institutions or agencies during that time.
• Listening (30 – 40 minutes)

The Listening section consists of 3 parts. The first one contains 30 questions about short conversations. The second part has 8 questions about longer conversations. The last part asks 12 questions about lectures or talks.

• Structure and Written Expression (25 minutes)

The Structure and Written Expression section has 15 exercises of completing sentences correctly and 25 exercises of identifying errors.

• Reading Comprehension (55 minutes)

The Reading Comprehension section has 50 questions about reading passages.

• Writing (30 minutes)

The Writing section is one essay with 250–300 words in average

Key learning points:

Module 1:

• Introduce yourself & meet members of the class
• Getting familiar with the course websites
• Getting familiar with the TOEFL
• Diagnostic tests

Module 2:

• Discussion Forum: Reading obstacles & strategies
• TOEFL Reading question types & how to answer:
• Basic information and inference
• Reading to learn
• Reading practice

Module 3:

• Discussion Forum: Listening obstacles & strategies
• TOEFL Listening question types & how to answer:
• Basic comprehension
• Pragmatic understanding
• Connecting information
• Listening practice

Module 4:

• Discussion Forum: speaking obstacles & strategies
• Speaking task types & how to answer:
• Independent speaking tasks
• Integrated speaking tasks
• How your speech is evaluated: Scoring rubric
• Speaking practice

Module 5:

• Discussion Forum: reading obstacles & strategies
• Writing task types & how to answer:
• Integrated writing task
• Independent writing task
• How your essay is evaluated: Scoring rubric
• Writing practice

Module 6:

• Review & Practice Test
• Discussion Forum: Review of class

TOEFL Paper-Based Test (PBT)

Key learning points:

Module 1:

• Introducing TOEFL Reading skills
• Text orientation
• Skimming/scanning
• Identifying main ideas

Module 2:

• Improving global reading skills
• Paraphrasing
• Identifying opinion/attitude
• Extensive examination practice
• Introducing TOEFL Listening skills

Module 3:

• Text orientation
• Listening for specific information
• Identifying detail
• Identifying main ideas
• Seeing beyond surface meaning
• Meaning in intonation

Module 4:

• Extensive examination practice
• Introducing TOEFL Writing skills
• Planning an essay
• Essay structure
• Writing a reasoned response
• Cohesion in writing
• Developing an academic argument
• Collocation and phrasing
• Extensive examination practice