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Advanced TOEFL Preparation Level Five

Summer Quarter 

Class Period: TR 10:00-11:50 am

Instructor: Michael Buckhoff 

ºThree ring binder/notebook, 200 sheets loose leaf college ruled notebook paper, and reinforced index dividers for each of your classes.

ºSkills and Strategies: Longman TOEFL Prep Volume A

ºSkills and Strategies: Longman Practice Tests Volume B

ºTestDen Internet TOEFL Trainer

ºHead phones that plug in to the computer. You will need to use these on Fridays when you practice listening comprehension in the Computer Lab.

Each year, many international students come to the US to study English. Others study English as an international language in their own country. Because English is not their first language, these students try to demonstrate their competency in listening, grammar, reading, and writing by taking the TOEFL test. The test is administered by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey. A record number of 844,993 test-takers from all over the world took the TOEFL test in 1994-1995 ("Number of Test-Takers at an All-time High" p. 1). A high score on this test "is an essential step in being admitted to graduate or undergraduate programs at almost all colleges and universities in North America" ( Rogers p. ix).

The purpose of this class is:

1). Be familiar with the directions and test-taking strategies for all sections of the computer based and paper based TOEFL test.

2). To solve listening, grammar, reading, and writing problems for the difficult TOEFL test questions.

3). To apply your existing English abilities, TOEFL knowledge, and test-taking strategies to two TOEFL practice tests.

4). Help you become accustomed to TOEFL test-taking conditions by working on timing and concentration while taking the practice tests.

5). To prepare you with a general knowledge of English.

6). To help you to apply the above five skills to an official paper based institutional and computer based international TOEFL test.

You will take three practice tests during this quarter. The practice tests will serve as a diagnostic to measure your progress from the first week of the quarter until the tenth week of the quarter. You will be given a score by which you can begin to mark your progress. Work hard to improve your TOEFL test scores.

You must be present to take these tests. After taking the practice tests, we will have a review in which we will discuss the incorrect answers as well as the correct answers. Please submit the answer sheet to me so that I may calculate your practice test score.

We will also discuss how we are using the TOEFL test strategies to determine correct and incorrect answers. Because of time constraints, we will not discuss all the incorrect answers on the test. It is your responsibility to review the entire test at home focusing on the areas of the test that are the most difficult. Concentrate on the TOEFL exercises covering your weaknesses as indicated by the diagnostic and practice tests.

To further increase your English language skills, you are required to purchase the password to the TestDen TOEFL Trainer for a cost of $69.00. Please make payment at the ACLP office immediately so I can get you the password to this Internet TOEFL Training Program. We will begin using this program during the second week of the Spring 1999 Quarter. Using the computer labs in EE103, you will complete the TOEFL Trainer pretest and evaluation test for the listening, grammar, and reading sections of the TOEFL test. This will give you computer based practice for the computer based TOEFL. After these first two diagnostic tests, the TOEFL Trainer will give you a list of priority listening, grammar, and reading language skills that you need to study. You may work on these during Friday’s class, during Open Hours in the Computer Lab, during lab hours in the Computer Lab in the Phau Library, or at home with your own PC. This new program has many advantages and is well worth the cost:

It is the first and only personal TOEFL study tool available on the Internet.

This unique service creates a tailored study program that shows you what to study to achieve a high TOEFL score. Because the TOEFL Trainer individualizes the instruction and because of copyright infringement laws, please do not share your password with another student.

A personalized form of TOEFL instruction, the TOEFL Trainer offers you unlimited access to over 7,000 questions.

There is over 15 hours of listening comprehension practice on the TOEFL trainer.

Two experienced composition instructors will independently score your TWE according to the following guidelines. In case of a discrepancy, a third instructor will read your essay. Use the Scoring Guide for the TWE to determine if your essay passed or did not pass:

6 = Pass  4 = Pass

6- = Pass 3 = No Pass

5+= Pass 3- = No Pass

5 = Pass 2+= No Pass

5- = Pass 2 = No Pass

4+= Pass 1 = No Pass

Tips for Taking the Test of Written English (TWE)

Immediately after you read the essay question, think about it before you start to write. Making a brief outline or some notes on a separate piece of paper may help you to organize your essay. You will be allowed to make notes in the TWE test book.

How well you write is much more important than how much you write, but to cover the topic adequately, you will probably want to write more than one paragraph.

Write neatly and legibly. You will not be graded on the neatness of your handwriting, but the raters who evaluate your essay must be able to read your handwriting.

Be sure to check your work. Read over your essay and make any necessary changes.

After you take the TWEs, you are encouraged to visit the writing center located in UH 387. There are many knowledgeable, interested and friendly tutors in the center who are ready to help you according to your needs. One bonus point will be awarded to each visit to the writing center and a maximum of 5 points may be earned to account for the participation in your final grade. You must bring signed slips from the tutors in order to get the credit.

If score lower than 4-, you are required to have a personal conference with me so that I can show you why your essay did not pass. Based on our discussion, you may rewrite the TWE again to see if you can get a higher score. Remember that practice makes perfect!

Scoring Guide for TWE

Superior 6 demonstrates superior writing, but may have minor flaws. An essay in this category:

C addresses the topic clearly and responds effectively to all aspects of the task;

C explores the issues thoughtfully and in depth;

C is coherently and logically organized, with ideas supported by apt reasons and well-chosen examples;

C is generally free from errors in mechanics, usage, and sentence structure.

Strong 5 demonstrates clear competence in writing. It may have some errors, but they are not serious to distract or confuse the reader. An essay in this category:

C clearly addresses the topic, but may respond to some aspects of the task more effectively than others;

C shows some depth and complexity of thought;

C is well organized and developed with appropriate reasons and examples;

C displays some syntactic variety and facility in the use of language;

C may have a few errors in mechanics, usage, and sentence structure.

Adequate 4 demonstrates adequate writing. It may have some errors that distract the reader, but they do not significantly obscure meaning. An essay in this category:

C addresses the topic, but may slight some aspects of the task;

C may treat the topic simplistically or repetitively;

C is adequately organized and developed, generally supporting ideas with reasons and examples;

C demonstrates adequate facility with syntax and language;

C may have some errors, but generally demonstrates control of mechanics, usage, and sentence structure.

Marginal 3 demonstrates developing competence, but is flawed in some significant way(s). An essay in this category reveals one or more of the following weaknesses:

C distorts or neglects aspects of the task;

C lacks focus, or demonstrates confused or simplistic thinking;

C is poorly organized or developed;

C does not provide adequate or appropriate details to support generalizations, or provides details without generalizations;

C has problems with or avoids syntactic variety;

C has an accumulation of errors in mechanics, usage, and sentence structure.

Inadequate 2 is seriously flawed. An essay in this category reveals one or more of the following weaknesses:

C indicates confusion about the topic or neglects important aspects of the task;

C lacks focus and coherence, or often fails to communicate its ideas;

C has very weak organization, too little development;

C provides simplistic generalizations without support;

C has inadequate sentence control and a limited vocabulary;

C is marred by numerous errors in mechanics, usage, and sentence structure.

Incompetent 1 demonstrates fundamental deficiencies in writing skills. An essay in this category reveals one or more of the following weaknesses:

C suggests an inability to comprehend the question or to respond meaningfully to the topic;

C is unfocused, illogical, incoherent, or disorganized;

C is undeveloped;

C provides little or no relevant support;

C has serious and persistent errors in word choice, mechanics, usage, and sentence structure.

You will be able to benefit from a thorough review of the practice tests. For that reason, I have set aside class time after each test for a review. In order to have effective review sessions, keep in mind the following points:

1. As we review practice test, we will discuss the most frequent TOEFL language errors on the listening, grammar, reading, and writing sections of the test that the class had difficulty with. We will talk about how you can determine if an answer is correct or incorrect.

2. As we review the practice tests, it is important to understand how TOEFL test strategies could have been used to determine correct and incorrect answers.

3. When we review the listening exercises, we will refer to the tapescript to discuss each question. Be sure to bring your "User’s Guide" to class.

After we discuss TOEFL listening, grammar, reading, and writing skill building and test-taking strategies in class, I will assign homework so that you can reinforce and build your skills sufficiently to answer TOEFL test questions competently. After you finish your homework assignments, use the answer key to check your answers.

It is probably not necessary for you to complete all of the homework exercises outlined in my syllabus. Moreover, you do not need to complete every exercise in this book in preparation for the TOEFL. Concentrate on the exercises covering your weaknesses as indicated by the diagnostic pre-tests and practice tests that we will take in this class. In addition, you may find that an exercise is too easy for you. If that is the case, go on to an exercise that will be more challenging

Reading is a critical skill needed by second language students not only for TOEFL but also for academic success. Extensive reading (reading large amounts of English only texts) provides ESL students the means for developing the background knowledge necessary for more speculative thinking. In a survey obtained by Ostler, ESL students considered reading the most important skill for future academic success (Ellis, 1985).

Reading is not a skill that you just get or understand. You must do large amounts of extensive reading both from a text and from a computer screen in order to develop and learn the skill. Timing and concentration are extremely important skills for the reading section of the TOEFL. As you work in class on the extended readings, I want you to be aware of the following "bad habits" that you may have as a non native reader of English which may prevent you from learning to read the same way we do as native readers. Some of these "bad habits" are:

;The best way to read is to translate all the words from English into your own language.

;In order to understand what you read, you use the dictionary to look up all the words you don’t understand.

;In order to understand what you read, you look closely at each word and translate it.

;In order to read well, you think that you need to understand all the words on a page.

;In order to concentrate well when reading, you read slowly and carefully. You also write the meanings of all the words on the page.

;You believe that there is only one way to read. As a result you read the newspaper the same way as you would read a textbook.

Many of you have been reading for 10 years or more and you have your own reading habits. Habits are very difficult to change. Ten weeks is a short time to learn new reading habits. But you will begin to learn how to read more quickly and easily during this term. Read, read and read some more! That’s how you get better.

Deborah Phillips says in her book, Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL Test Skills and Strategies:

An understanding of the TOEFL strategies and skills presented in this text can improve your TOEFL score. However, skills and strategies alone will not make you successful; a good basic knowledge of the English Language is also necessary. Therefore do not forget the general study of the English language as you work to prepare for the TOEFL test (xv).

Bruce Rogers states in his book that the best way to increase your general knowledge of

English is to use English as much as you can. He says:

You can’t learn all the English you’ll need to do well on TOEFL from this guide or in a TOEFL preparation class. Other classes will be useful, as will any opportunities to speak, read, write or listen to English. Some people who are preparing for TOEFL think that conversation classes and practice are a waste of time because speaking skills are not tested on the exam. In fact, one of the best ways to get ready for the exam is to speak English whenever you can. Not only will you improve your ability to listen to everyday English, but you will learn to think in English....(xxiv)

In addition to the comments by Phillips and Rogers, Keep in mind the following ten points about TOEFL study:

 Go to http://www.kaplan.com/intl/toefl/tips.html  to find out what to do or not when you are preparing for or taking a TOEFL test.

In order to help you stay current with new testing trends, I have included some tips from TOEFL online, "Are You Prepared to Take the Computer-Based TOEFL," in order to help prepare you for the new computer-based TOEFL that will be offered beginning in June 1998.

Go to http://www.toefl.org/cbabttfl.html# suggestions to out about how to take the Computer Based TOEFL Test.

The below chart shows the similarities and differences of the paper-based and the computer-based TOEFL. Use it as a quick reference.

("Two TOEFL Testing Formats pp. 1-3).

Consider the following advice ETS gives to students who access the TOEFL website:

No single school, textbook , or teaching method is best to help prepare someone for the CBT, because the test is not based on specific courses of study. Language proficiency and writing ability can only be achieved after a relatively long period of study and practice. An attempt to study English for the first time shortly before taking the test will not be helpful ("TOEFL 1998-1999 Information Bulletin for Computer Based Testing": n. pag.).

Many students have not realized the potential benefits of using the Internet for overall and TOEFL language solving problems. Because the new TOEFL is becoming a computer based test, it is more important than ever to take advantage of the vast amounts of TOEFL and English language information available via the Internet. I will include two kinds of web sites for you to "explore" as you work on learning the TOEFL listening, grammar, reading, and writing skills that are available via the Internet. Keep in mind that web sites are constantly changing, and some are better than others. As you "surf the web", you will find the web sites that you like.

A. Academic and informative websites

1. Discovery channel online

2. Dine net

3. Electric Minds. Com

4. Imdb.com

5. Mind.com

6. Epicurious.com

7. Kidsworld.com

8. Showbiz.com

10. Salon magazine.com

11. The Onion.com

12. Almanac.com

13. Swoon.com

14. Spectacle.com

15. Suck.com

16. ESPN.com

17. Looksmart.com

18. Moma.org

19. Why files.news.wisc.edu

20. Word.com

21. Smash.com

22. ESPN Sports Zone

B. ESL Websites

1. CNN & ESL Vocabulary

2. Dave’s ESL Café - Student E-mail boards, ESL exercises

3. Dear Christy - Online advice for international students

4. ESL on the Web

5. Exchange - ESL/EFL students writing published; cross cultural information; links to resources.

6. Frizzy University (Fun) ESL writing assignments, E-mail schmooz, on line references

7. Grammar Clinic - Ask questions about grammar and get answers

8. Grammar Safari - How to find contextualized examples of word/structure in electronic texts

9. Hypergrammar - , On line grammar course from U. Ottawa

10. Schmooze U - Students have group/one on one on line conversations; access to language games, dictionary, other resources

11. Virtual English Language Center - E-mail penpals, weekly idioms, fluency through fables, software catalog

12. Word Watch - Vocabulary builder

13. TOEFL [many websites under this general heading]

Though the TOEFL success journal is not an assignment, it is an individual exercise in which you consciously think about your TOEFL language solving progress. In order to help you mark your progress, I recommend that you keep a personal TOEFL Success Journal. By keeping a personal journal, you will encourage yourself to think about your learning. And hopefully, you will make your thoughts become actions as you do specific things that will help you increase your TOEFL score.

You should write the journal based on your experiences with the TOEFL test taking strategies/ exercises that you read and study in my class. Include in the journal how you are doing on the TOEFL practice tests as well as what kinds of "out of class" preparations you are doing to help build your listening, grammar and reading language skills. Which of the test taking strategies are/or are not working for you? Ask yourself the following questions about TOEFL :

C What magazines have you read this week?

C What have you done this week to improve your listening comprehension?

C What have you done this week to improve your structure and written expression skills?

C What have you done this week to improve your reading comprehension skills?

C What parts are the most difficult for you with the listening section of the TOEFL (i.e. short, extended conversations, or mini-talks)?

C What test taking strategies can you apply that will help you improve your listening skills for the TOEFL?

C What parts are the most difficult for you with the structure and written expression section of the TOEFL (i.e. word forms, word order, adjective clauses, complements)?

C What test taking strategies can you apply that will help you improve your structure and written expression skills (i.e. intuitive, analytical, reading out loud)?

C How many native speakers do you talk to every day?

C What parts are the most difficult for you with the reading comprehension part of the TOEFL (i.e. language, inference, main idea, or detail questions)?

C What test taking strategies can you apply that will help you improve your reading comprehension skills?

C How many words can you read in a minute? Is this faster or slower than your reading speed last week?

C How many hours do you spend a week reading both from a text and from a computer screen? Do you enjoy it? Do you translate into your native language when you read or do you use vocabulary in context?

The weekly journal will give you a complete record of your language and TOEFL preparation progress.

Practice tests submitted after the due date will not be accepted. In other words, you will receive no points. I will only allow you to make up missed work if you have a written documented excuse from someone stating the urgency of the situation (e.g. Doctor’s note, CHP accident report, etc.).

Your attendance is required at all class meetings. Only written documented excuses for an absence may result in your making up an assignment or graded daily work. Absences endanger your grade simply because you are missing out in the learning process. Two absences will result in an overall reduction of one full letter grade and Four absences will result in a failing grade for this class. Come to class on time. Three tardies will be counted as an absence. If you arrive fifteen minutes late or more, you will be counted absent for that class period. If you do come late to class, please enter quietly so as not to distract the other students. Do not explain to me why you are late. Please note the following calculations:

0 absences = 40% of attendance grade

Extra credit on final grade calculations)

1 absence = 30% of attendance grade

2 absences = 20% of attendance grade

3 absences = 10% of attendance grade

4 absences = Failure in class

The number letter grading scale is set as follows:

A 95-100

A- 90-94

B+ 87-89

B 84-86

B- 80-83

C+ 76-79

C 70-75

NC 69& below

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

Attendance and Participation 10%

Practice Test 3+TWE 30%

Practice Test 4+TWE 30%

Practice Test 5 + TWE 30%

Total 100%

The practice test scores will not have an adverse effect on your grade for this class since I will have scores ranging from the 490s to the mid 500s depending on the English language abilities of the students in this class. However, your grade will be adversely effected by your failure to take the test. In other words, if you fail to complete a practice test and consequently you do not turn in a score to me, your overall grade for this class will be deducted by 15%.

Upon satisfactory completion and if you score an A for this class, I will gladly write you a recommendation to help you enter an undergraduate or graduate program, or a professional vocational program of your choice.

 TOEFL Preparation Level Five

Summer Quarter 

Course Syllabus

(This schedule may be subject to change throughout the quarter).

Tentative Course Outline

July 1 Hand out & discuss TOEFL Syllabus

Week one Introduction to the TOEFL

6 Practice test three (Bring the small book to class)

8 TWE Practice test three (Bring the small book to class); Practice test three review

Week Two Review Diagnostic Pretests; begin TOEFL trainer

13 TOEFL Listening skills and strategies; TOEFL Grammar skills and strategies

15 TWE norming: "the good, bad, and the ugly"; TOEFL Trainer Practice: complete the pre-tests and evaluation tests by July 22

Week three TOEFL Skills & Strategies

20 TOEFL Listening skills and strategies; TOEFL Reading skills and strategies

22 TOEFL Listening skills and strategies; TOEFL Grammar skills and strategies; TOEFL Trainer Practice: work on priority one listening, structure, and reading TOEFL language problems. Begin with your weakest section. Individual TOEFL Trainer course outline due

Week four TOEFL Skills & Strategies

27 TOEFL Reading skills and strategies; TOEFL Grammar skills and strategies

29 TOEFL Listening Skills and Strategies; TOEFL Reading skills and strategies; TOEFL Trainer Practice: work on priority one listening, structure, and reading TOEFL language problems. Begin with your weakest section.

Week five Practice test four

Aug 3 Practice test four (Bring the small book to class)

5 TWE Practice test four (Bring the small book to class); TWE norming: tips for writing well organized essays; TOEFL Trainer Practice: work on priority one listening, structure, and reading TOEFL language problems. Begin with your weakest section.

Week six TOEFL Skills & Strategies

10 Practice test four review review (Bring the small book to class)

12 TOEFL Listening skills and strategies; TOEFL Reading skills and strategies; TOEFL Trainer Practice: work on priority one listening, structure, and reading TOEFL language problems. Begin with your weakest section.

Week seven TOEFL Skills & Strategies

17 TOEFL Grammar skills and strategies

19 TOEFL Listening skills and strategies; TOEFL Reading skills and strategies; TOEFL Trainer Practice: work on priority two listening, structure, and reading TOEFL language problems. Begin with your weakest section.

Week eight Practice test five

24 Practice test five (Bring the small book to class)

26 TWE practice test five (Bring the small book to class); TOEFL Trainer Practice: work on priority two listening, structure, and reading TOEFL language problems. Begin with your weakest section.

Week nine TOEFL Skills & Strategies

31 Practice test five review

Sept 2 TOEFL Listening skills and strategies; TOEFL Trainer Practice: work on priority two listening, structure, and reading TOEFL language problems. Begin with your weakest section.

7 TOEFL Grammar skills and strategies

9 TOEFL Reading skills and strategies; TOEFL Listening skills and strategies; TOEFL Trainer Practice: work on priority three listening, structure, and reading TOEFL language problems. Begin with your weakest section.

Listening Cassettes: I will place copies of the listening tapes in the Language Lab so that you can spend additional time during the LL open hours working on the listening areas that are the most problematic for you.

Works Cited

Educational Testing Service. "Are You Prepared to Take the Computer-Based TOEFL Test." (March 1997): no pag. Online. Internet. Available: www. toefl.org

Educational Testing Service. "Number of TOEFL Test Takers at a All-Time High." (March 1997): pp. 1-2. Online. Internet. Available: www. toefl.org/tsttkrs

Educational Testing Service. "TOEFL 1998-1999 Information Bulletin for Computer Based Testing": n. pag. Online. Internet. 17 March 1998. Available: www.toefl.org

Educational Testing Service. "Two Testing Formats." (March 1998): pp. 1-3. Online. Internet. Available: www.toefl.org/2formats

Ellis, R. (1985). Understanding Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Rogers, B. (1993). The Complete Guide to TOEFL. Boston: Heinle and Heinle Publishers.

Phillips, D. (1996). Longman Preparation for the TOEFL Test: Skills and Strategies (2nd ed). White Plains, NY: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.