TOEFL LISTENING STRATEGY

Listening comprehension section on the TOEFL test is often a frightening specter for the test participants. The first part of the TOEFL test is often made ​​of participants failed to pass the test. Although it was much too smart to speak English is not passed. When learning English at school or in a place where the course is rarely learn how pronunciation correct English, so that when on hearing native speakers so hard to understand what he was saying.

Although it is difficult not to be discouraged in doing because in addition to English language support capabilities, appropriate strategies can also help in answering these questions:

There are 3 kinds of the material to be tested listening Short Conversation, longer Conversation, and Talk. Before getting into the tips on how to answer each question. Here are general tips to do all parts of the listening.

1. Understand the forms of the command (Direction on each piece (part) well before the day).

2. Read-choice answers each question when the narrator was reading direction and example problems (Direction already read before the day).

3. Listen to full concentration and focus your attention on the conversation you are listening.

4. maximize the ability of listening to the first issues of each part.                            

After General Tips Above, the following is a Special Tips on each part question:

PART A : Short Conversation

- Focus on the speaker to hear the second.

- Don’t panic if you don’t understand the conversation word for word in a complete, just need to capture the    ideas and content of the conversation.

- If you can’t understand what is said second speaker, choose the best answer is different from what you          hear.

- Understand the functional forms of expression (agreement, suggestion, suprise, etc.), idiomatic expressions    and situations when the conversation is done.

PART B : Longer Conversation

- When the narrator discuss the direction part B should read the answer choices at a glance and then record    it and predict what the theme will be discussed.

- When you listening to the conversation, you must know the theme / topic being discussed.

- Beware on each question.

- Pay attention to the conditions and situations that occur during a conversation regarding the place and time      of the conversation, what and who discussed.

PART C : TALK

- If you have many time, take a look at the answer choices listed in a booklet and find the key word.

- beware talks in sentences first because usually the topic for the next sentences.

- Focus on listening to things related to 5-W 1-H questions (What, Why, Who, When, Where) and How.

- make a conclusions on the situation that occurs when the conversation is done.

Example: In a matter of Short Conversation dialog are as follows:

1.  (woman) Is there any more typing paper ?
     (man) Not that I know of
     (Narrator) WHAT DOES THE MAN MEAN?

If a test taker is able to capture the sentences above, he will be able to quickly get the information. The first sentence reads “Is there any more typing paper?” and the second person responded with “Not that I know of”. If the second sentence is put together it will be withdrawn 'key information' There is no more typing paper (Paper has run out). Choices right answer to the question number, should lead to a 'key information' which has been concluded or diparafrasa earlier, which essentially reads (no more paper for typing).

Let us consider the option to answer question number 1 above.

(A) He does not know how to type

(B) He does not want to type anymore

(C) He has not typed the paper.

(D) He Believes they're out of paper

Choices (A) is not appropriate because it does not lead to key information. This choice leads to other information, that is 'don’t know how to type'.

Choice (B) is not appropriate because it does not lead to key information. This choice leads to other information, that is 'don’t want to type anymore'

Choices (C) is not appropriate because it does not lead to key information. This choice leads to other information, that is 'not typing'

Choice (D) is the right option because it leads to key information, which is 'out of pape

Consider the following example of number 2:

2. (man) What’s the matter? You don’t look too good.

(woman) I was frightened by a loud noise.

(narrator) WHAT DOES THE WOMAN MEAN?

Information on Question 2 begins with the question What's the matter? You do not look too good. Then responded to a second person with the answers I was Frightened by a loud noise. If two such information can be pulled together the key information: She was frightened by loud noises so it does not look like usual. Correct answer choice must lead to this key information.

Let us consider the option to answer question number 2 .

( A ) She was not allowed to fight

( B ) Something scared her

( C ) She made ​​a loud noise that some people Frightened

( D ) Some loud neighbors had a fight

Choices ( A ) is not appropriate because it does not lead to key information . This choice leads to other information , that is ' not allowed to fight '

Choices ( C ) is not appropriate because it does not lead to key information . This choice leads to other information , in contrast to key information, that is ' He made ​​a loud sound so intimidating others '

Choice ( D ) is not appropriate because it does not lead to key information . This choice leads to other information , that is ' neighbors fight '

Choice ( B ) is the right choice because it leads to key information , that is, something had frightened her. Even if the answer is option is not explicitly written what is scary but this is the closest piliohan with key information . So , option ( B ) must be taken.

B. LONG DIALOGUES AND TALKS 

Long Dialogues (Long Conversations) in the TOEFL test is intended to test the ability of test takers to understand long conversations about the situation in the academic and non-academic. In this part of the test participants will hear two dialogs, each of which contains four of the questions, while Talks are intended to test the ability of test takers to understand monologue (a talk) long academic nuances. At the talks, participants will listen to 3 pieces Monologues, which generally contain respectively 5, 4, and 3 questions.

To solve this problem suggested the test participants noticed key words scattered on the answer option. These key words can be used to create a picture of the information to be conveyed in the text. Test participants ability to make an idea of ​​what will be discussed in the Long Conversation or what will be delivered in Talks would make it easier to capture the essence of the message and Talks Long Conversation.

Here is presented on how to utilize keywords to anticipate Long Conversations and Talks were taken from Tactical Steps to Prepare for TOEFL (Sutrisno, 2003: 116-122).

B.1. Exercise Utilizing Keyword

When working on the Long Conversation (Part B) and Talks (Part C), test participants are faced with the issue of where he should follow the information in the English language with high speed read, understand, remember as well. Of course this is not an easy task to do because of the test participants had to deal with long texts containing about academic life in the United States. To perform this task, participants test requires an efficient way, both in terms of capturing the information and answer questions.

One way to consider the test participant is to use keywords that are scattered in the answer options. Skills utilizing keywords is indispensable in anticipation of the information submitted on Long Conversations and Talks. Understanding about the key words in the options before the text is played will help participants follow the information that was read by the narrator. Note the key words are scattered in the following response options, and use these words to build a possible topic to be discussed.

Example: 

35. (A) Fire damage to some apartments
      (B) How to prevent fires
      (C) An apartment fire and what one can learn from it
      (D) An early morning news story

36. (A) One was damaged more severely than the others
      (B) All the apartments were completely destroyed
      (C) There was one thousand dollars of damage
      (D) All twenty apartments suffered some damages

37. (A) They were killed
      (B) They were taken to the hospital
      (C) The damage to the apartments was more serious than the harm to the
             residents
     (D) They weren’t frightened

38. (A) Call the fire department
      (B) Rush to the hospital
      (C) Listen for a smoke alarm
      (D) Have an alarm and extinguisher in good condition

Glimpse of the key words above gives a general overview of the topics that will be played Long Conversation. At least, that agile test participants will immediately capture the relationship of words-apartment-fire-damage hospital. It's good until this moment the mind is not developed anywhere until we hear the information that appears in the Conversation.

Narrator: Questions 35 through 38. Listen to a conversation about a tragic event.

Woman : Did you hear the story of the news this morning about apartment fire down
                street ?
Man : I heard something about it. What happened exactly ?
Woman : A fire started about three o’clock in the morning in an apartment complex
               with about twenty apartments. One of the apartments was completely
               destroyed, and several of the others were damaged.
Man : Do they know how the fire started ?
Woman : They are not sure at this point, but they believe that it was started by
                someone smoking in bed. It’s a shame that one careless person can cause
                so much trauma for others, not to mention the thousands and thousands of
                dollars of damage.
Man : Even more serious than the damage to property is the harm to the
          apartments’ occupants. I hear that several residents were rushed to the
          hospital, but at least none of them died.
Woman : It’s all so frightening. Do you know of anything I can do to keep this from
                happening to me ?
Man : I guess the best thing to protect yourself is to make sure that you have a
          smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher in good working condition. The smoke
          alarm will give you an early warning that a fire has started, so you can call
          the fire department. If it is a small fire, maybe you can use the fire
          extinguisher to help put out the fire before the fire trucks arrive.
Woman : That’s a good advice. I think I’ll go home and check my smoke alarm.