新托福(iBT-TOEFL)口语突破
第六题没有阅读,以2分钟的听力段子为基础,讲述某一事物的几个特点,几个步骤,几个特征。准备时间为20秒,然后用60秒的时间复述。比如汽车和收音机对形成美国全国性统一文化起了至关重要的作用,然后分别详述汽车和收音机作了那些贡献。
值得注意的是,三至六题有标准答案可循,其标准答案就是听力中的key words and key phrases. 考生需要做的是从听力中pick up these words and phrases, 然后将其准确无误地复述出来,不需要添油加醋,不需要煽情。
对大多数中国考生来讲,三至六题是心头之痛,因为首先听不懂,其次记不下来,即使记下来,记的东西都不是有用的key phrases. 有些同学听就不能记,记就不能听,好像一动手写字,耳朵就关闭了似的。其实这正是英文实力所在,也是考生必须逾越的鸿沟,最终的目标是听懂听清,边听边记,然后清清楚楚地说出来。
如果想顺利在新托福口语这条路上过关斩将,必须完成以下八步:
1. Make sure you clearly UNDERSTAND the listening materials 听懂If not, you will have to work really hard on LISTENING, because this is the FOUNDATION of the whole test, try “READ AFTER THE RECORDING,” SENTENCE BY SENTENCE, WORD BY WORD – 如果听不懂,必须恶补听力,因为听力是整个口语考试的根本。逐字逐句地练习跟读和跟说,让耳朵和嘴巴同步前进2. Make sure you take some NOTES while you are listening 边听边记如果做不到,必须练习听抄和听写3. Make sure your notes contain useful KEY PHRASES, main verbs and adjectives 笔记中有关键词、主要动词和形容词If not, go back to step 2 如果做不到,回到第二步4. Make sure you can put your notes together by adding transitional words, subjects, and conclusion 快速整理笔记,添加衔接词、主语和结论句This part requires some WRITING skills, try to write down transitional words until you can add them automatically while speaking, i.e. so that, as for, on the other hand, therefore…… 此步骤要求运用一定的写作技巧,现人为添加转折词,直到能在说的过程中自动添加5. Make sure you can READ the passage clearly and coherently 清楚有条理地朗读If not, you will have to practice each passage at least 10 TIMES 如果做不到,练习10遍6. Make sure you can SAY it clearly and coherently under TIME PRESSURE清楚有条理地在规定时间内说If not, you will have to practice each passage at least 10 TIMES如果做不到,练习10遍7. Make sure you can say it clearly and coherently by referring to your NOTES ONLY instead of a complete written passage 只看简单而潦草的笔记,练习连辞呈段If not, you will have to practice at least 5 times如果做不到,练习5遍8. Make sure you RECORD your passage and listen to yourself 录音You will find all the flaws when you are listening to yourself, then you know where to go from there 旁观者清,一听就明白自己是怎么回事GUESS WHAT？ YOU ARE NOW READY FOR iBT Speaking Test, GOOD LUCK！
关于发音
ETS认为,只要你说的英语Easy to Understand就OK,这么说吧,只要你的发音不会引起误会,你就真的OK. 比如Quarter 还是Court, Ash Tree 还是Ash Tray, Feel 还是Fill.虽然发音只差了那么一点点,但是人家绝对被你弄晕了,不知道你是要钱,还是要打官司。中国考生来自五湖四海,新疆的,福建的,广东的,东北的,四川的,云南的。说起英语来,都带着浓重的地方口音:山东英语,东北英语,广东英语,内蒙英语。托福考官一听就找不着北了,中国学生不服气,说“我这英语至少比印度人强吧？” 偏偏呢,老美倒觉得印度英语Easy to understand,因为不管是来自新德里还是旁遮普,一张嘴说英语就是滴里嘟噜的那个味儿。再说,印度英语已经被西方人接受了好几百年,而中国改革开放不过二三十年,闭塞而固执的美国考官还需要一些时间才能慢慢熟悉中国学生五花八门的口音。改变别人是很难的,只有改变我们自己。同胞们,只有努力纠正发音了。多模仿,多听,多练。最有效的办法是跟读加跟说,这是唯一能同步练习耳朵和嘴巴,又能纠正发音的方法。
最后送大家一句话:Luck Favors the Prepared Minds （好运只给那些万事俱备的人）,准备新托福,一定要打有准备之仗。
在加拿大阳光国际学院的新托福口语课上,我会帮助大家实实在在的提高英语口语,大家在准备新托福过程中若有任何问题,可以来找我。