Tips in teaching TOEFL

TOEFL strategies


Understand differences between the Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Paper Test
Computer vs. Paper
Test Format
Scoring
Strategies

General Testing Strategies
Timing
Test Anxiety
Mental preparation
Concentration
Overconfidence
Perfectionism
Guessing

Strategies for Listening
Short conversations
Long conversations
Academic lectures

Strategies for Structure
TOEFL Grammar
1. Understand Basic Sentence Structure.
2. Understand Conjunctions and Linking Words, Coordinators, and Subordinators.
3. Understand Subject-Verb Agreement and Passive Voice.
4. Understand Reduced Relative Clauses and Reducing Adverbial Clauses.
5. Understand Participial Phrases and Introductory Phrases.
6. Understand Parellelism and Inversions.
7. Understand Noun Clauses and Embedded Questions.
8. Understand Parenthetical Statements, Gerunds, and Infinitives.
9. Understand Stative Passives and Prepositions.
http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/toefl_grammar.html

Sentence Completion
Subject-Verb agreement
Underlying sentence structure
Active vs. passive
Introductory phrases
Clauses and reductions
Inversions

Error Correction
Tenses
Modals
Articles
Pronouns
Singular and plural
Preposition Collocations

Strategies for Reading
Main ideas
Organization
Specific details
Inference
Vocabulary in context
General questions

Strategies for Writing
Idea Generation
Organization
Grammar and Editing
Typing
Scoring

Tips for the TOEFL Writing Section

1. Use present tense
For facts and observations
Cars are essential for life in the U.S.
Most people can benefit from higher education.

Opinions
I think (that) . . .
I believe (that) . . .
In my opinion . . .

2. Use past tense
To describe previous experiences
When I was in high school, . . .
My brother worked in a factory.

3. Use modals correctly
Guns should be banned from campus.
Cars can cause serious problems.

4. Check S - V relationship
Most of the people who live in Utah need cars for their everyday lives.
I lived on campus, and it was easy to get around without a car.

5. Check plurals and articles
Cars are important to most Americans.
The used car I bought was a bad investment.

6. Give details and examples to support your opinions
When I moved off campus, I had to buy a car. Whenever I left my house to go shopping or run errands, I had to travel a great distance. My car was the only means of transportation because I lived too far from the bus stop.