Study for the TOEIC Speaking Test

There are many ways to study for the spoken portion of the TOEIC. The most effective ways will involve conversing with a partner, preferably a native English speaker. Take advantage of the practice tests and questions online to get a sense of how good your English really is. If you wish, you could enroll in a TOEIC study course. Finally, you could watch videos and listen to audio in English, join an English club, or incorporate English into your everyday life.

Steps

Conversing With a Partner

1. Respond to a series of questions. Part of the TOEIC requires listening to three questions, then responding to the questions quickly. Have your language tutor or conversation partner devise a series of questions regarding everyday situations, then, without knowing the questions ahead of time, answer them.
   • For instance, your conversation partner might ask, “Where did you go on your most recent vacation?” or “What is your favorite school subject and why?”
   • The time limit for these questions varies from just 15-30 seconds, so answer the questions immediately and succinctly.
2. Answer questions using written information. Part of the speaking portion of the TOEIC involves reading a brief passage, then conversing with a partner about what you read. Have your language tutor or a partner draft several such documents so you can hone your language comprehension and summarization abilities.
   • For instance, you might read a flyer advertising a new film. The flyer might contain information about the show time, the director, the stars of the film, and a brief plot summary. Your conversation partner can then ask you about these details, and you can respond appropriately.
3. Practice your problem-solving skills. One of the exercises you’ll be faced with during the TOEIC is listening to a brief statement by someone with a problem. For instance, you might hear a voicemail message left by someone with a flat tire, or someone who has been locked out of their home. You will have to listen carefully to this problem in order to identify it.
   • After listening to the problem, you’ll have to offer an appropriate response. Try several of these problem-solving exercises by first listening to a language partner’s problem, then suggesting a solution.
   • For instance, using the above example of someone who was locked out of their home, you might reply, “I would call them back and tell them to sit tight. Then I would bring my set of keys to them so they could get inside.”
4. Express your opinions. Part of the speaking portion of the TOEIC involves expressing an opinion on a current event or other social issue. Practice phrases like “I like public libraries because…” and “I think universal health coverage is a bad policy because…” Familiarize yourself with the vocabulary used to discuss issues that affect society, including taxes, voting rights, and climate change. This will enable you to proffer an intelligent response when faced with these opinion-based questions.
5. Get lots of conversation practice. Spend additional time with your language tutor in freeform conversation. Engage in question-and-answer sessions similar to those you might encounter in the TOEIC speaking test, but ask questions of your own, as well. The more you practice using English, the more confident you’ll be when it comes time to taking the speaking portion of the TOEIC.
   • Role-playing with your language tutor is of great help in perfecting your English. Act out a situation in which you or your language partner is the owner of a pet store, a star athlete, or a traveler speaking with hotel staff.
   • Aim to converse smoothly and keep your answers direct.
   • Always encourage your language tutor to correct your pronunciation when necessary.

Practicing for Other Portions of the Speaking Section

1. Recite a written passage. Part of the TOEIC speaking test is a recitation test. To prepare for this portion of the speaking test, read aloud from an English-language periodical or newspaper. Have a native English speaker listen to you and correct your intonation and pronunciation.
   • If, as you read, you find that you cannot understand certain words or sentences, ask your language tutor for aid or break out a dictionary to identify the words you don’t know.
2. Explain what’s going on in a photo. Another sort of exercise question you might encounter on the TOEIC speaking test is the photo description. To practice for this type of question, leaf through a magazine and look at the images. Try to talk about random images for at least 30-45 seconds.
   • If you find that you’re having trouble adequately describing the picture, break out a dictionary and identify the words you don’t know.
3. Take a sample test. ETS, the company that administers the TOEIC, offers a sample test on its website. To study effectively for the TOEIC speaking section, take this sample speaking test. You can access the sample speaking test at the ETS website.
4. Enroll in a study course. Many institutions offer formal TOEIC preparation classes. These classes can help you become more familiar with both the speaking and writing sections of the TOEIC. Depending on your location, you might be able to get a free or low-cost study course at a church or library. Paid study courses are often available through local colleges or academies. Look for ways to take a TOEIC study course by conducting an online search or inquiring at local educational institutes.

Strengthening Your English

1. Join an English club. In an English club, you and others who are studying English as a second language can practice your skills, usually under the direction of a native English speaker or someone who is fluent in English. This will help you polish your abilities, and you might even be able to gain some insight into what the test is like by speaking with people who have taken it.
   • If there are not English clubs near you, start one or locate an English-language chatroom where you can practice your speaking skills.
2. Use multimedia. Watching English-language shows and movies (especially with subtitles) or listening to spoken English will expose you to new vocabulary and help you get a better sense of how natural English sounds. There are countless hours of both audio and video online. Start your search for useful foreign-language multimedia there.
   • When you encounter new or useful phrases in your multimedia sources, write them down and repeat them word-for-word daily. This will enable you to memorize and deploy them later.
3. Seek opportunities to use English each day. There are many ways to incorporate English into your everyday life. For instance, you might volunteer for an activity or project where you have to communicate with English speakers. You could also set your phone or computer to display alerts and menu information in English.
4. Focus on perfecting words you struggle with. If there are certain words that you know you have a hard time using or pronouncing, write them on a list. Read each word from the list aloud daily, and make a sentence using each. This will quickly familiarize you with the meaning of the word and its use.

Sources and Citations

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