TOEFL Speaking Practice: How to Become Pro at It?

It is hard to prepare for the TOEFL test, and specially the speaking section. It's not simply knowing English. You also need good TOEFL speaking practice and provide proper answers within a time limit. So, to achieve good marks, you have to know about speaking tasks and practice how to respond confidently. Thus, this article walks you through easy steps, tips, and practice suggestions to enable you to speak more fluently and be an expert in the speaking section. 

Know How to Become Good with TOEFL Speaking Practice?  

While practising, there are many things you should keep in mind. Thus, do you want to know what are those? If yes, then take a look at the points stated below. 

Familiarize with the Speaking Section Format 

The first thing is to know what the speaking section format is. There are four tasks altogether. Two are opinion-based on your own, and two are reading or listening-based. Thus, you will be speaking into a microphone, and your responses will be taped. The duration of each response is brief, so you have to think quickly. Thus, knowing what you are getting yourself into can help you prepare better. This makes the whole TOEFL speaking exercise more efficient and not as intimidating. 

Practice Speaking Daily 

To practice speaking proficiently, you have to speak frequently. It should be a routine to speak English daily. So, you can discuss your day, describe a picture, or explain a topic. The idea is to speak clearly and not with long pauses. Even 15–20 minutes a day will do a lot of good. You don't need any partner to practice the same. Rather, you can record yourself and listen later. Above all, the more TOEFL speaking practice, the more natural your speech will become in the long run.

Learn to Think in English 

Most students start thinking in their native language first and then they think it out in English. This requires a little more time and there's a delay in that. Every second matters at the time of the test. So, you might as well think straight away in English. You can prepare for that with some basic questions. Like, "What's your favourite food?" or "Tell me about your best friend." Answer yourself out loud. Thus, this will get your brain into English thinking mode, making TOEFL speaking practice easier and quicker.

Time Your Answers 

Every speaking question has an exact time limit. You have 15–30 seconds to think and 45–60 seconds to talk. Thus, you need to learn to organize and speak within a limited time. Practice with a stopwatch. Attempt to complete your response within the time. So, if you talk less or more than required, you might lose marks. Mastering how to save time wisely is one of the key aspects of TOEFL speaking success.

Have a Simple Structure for Answers 

It's simpler to talk when your response is structured. Begin with a brief introduction. Next, provide 1–2 examples or reasons. Finally, end with a closing sentence. This easy format is suitable for all speaking activities. It keeps you focused and from going astray. When you apply this technique in TOEFL speaking practice, your answers sound more structured. Thus, it creates an excellent impression on the grader.

Record and Review Your Practice 

A good practice is to tape your answers. After speaking, listen to it. You may hear grammatical errors, mispronunciations, or time errors. You might even notice places where you can put more information. Thus, feedback is most helpful. Then you can focus on your weaknesses. So, keep previous recordings and compare them after weeks. This will indicate how far you've gone with your practice.

Practice with Sample Questions  

There are lots of free TOEFL sample questions on the internet. Use them to make your practice more realistic. So, attempt to mimic the test environment. Give yourself only the specified time to prepare and talk. Answer various question types, such as personal opinion or summary questions. By practising numerous topics, you're ready for anything that the actual test will throw at you. Regular practice using sample tasks will enhance the effectiveness of your TOEFL speaking practice and raise your confidence levels.

Learn to be Calm and Confident 

Most students have the correct answer but are anxious during the test. This results in low performance. So, remaining calm is extremely important. Practice breathing slowly before each task. Keep reminding yourself that it's acceptable to commit small errors. The aim is not to be flawless but to speak clearly. Thus, practice under stress, such as timing yourself or speaking before people. This makes you remain cool and confident once the actual test comes.

Observe and Learn from Native Speakers 

Another useful tip is to listen to English videos. Pay attention to how native speakers talk. Observe their tone, speed, and sentence pattern. You can listen to English TV shows, news, or TED Talks. So, try to imitate what they say. It helps you to learn natural speech patterns. As time passes by, you'll sound more natural. Thus, this listening exercise also assists you in other TOEFL sections, such as listening and writing. It provides excellent value to your speaking skills too.

Conclusion  

It will take time and effort to develop your speaking. But if you practice speaking TOEFL every day, you will improve day by day. Practice with simple structures, real questions, and feedback. Thus, record your answers, be confident, and learn from your errors. Practising English daily will also benefit you in everyday life. Once you're ready, see if you fulfil all the TOEFL exam eligibility guidelines before scheduling your test. With a proper plan and practice, you can ace the speaking section and score well!