托福口语备考策略1

American colleges have traditionally ranked among the most popular destinations for students worldwide. According to a recent survey from the Institute of International Education, American colleges are still attracting large numbers of foreign students, including students from China. Here at Longre, we see students who are coming to sign up for TOEFL training courses everyday with their American dreams.

Since most people take the TOEFL as part of their application to college, some material on the exam draws on this area of knowledge. Knowing about campus life in the United States is crucial for all TOEFL test-takers, even if you are taking it for other reasons, such as professional certification. Both the listening and speaking sections of TOEFL have passages and questions about college life. Even if you have not been educated in the United States yet, you can score well in these campus-related questions by just knowing a few general points about how college campuses work.

2. Differences between Chinese and American campus cultures

There certainly are many differences between campus culture in China and the United States. We will only be discussing a few aspects as follows.

l Sports

In China, universities that specialize in sports, such as Shanghai University of Sport, have the most robust on-campus sports facilities and cultures. However, highly reputable non-sports colleges such as Peking and Fudan University offer their students recreational sports activities similar to those offered by most U.S. schools. A number of American colleges, such as Duke and University of Michigan are not only academically prestigious, but famous for their sports teams as well. Sports play an important role in the everyday social scene at American colleges and universities. University sports programs are offered at the intercollegiate (organized competition) and the intramural (club-like, less competitive) levels. Many universities offer sports scholarships at the intercollegiate level to students who are both academically qualified and skilled in a particular sport. Athletic scholarships are awarded for everything from archery to wrestling, with an eye on gender equality to achieve a balance between men’s and women’s scholarships.

Playing for a college team on scholarship is one way students help pay for the cost of earning an undergraduate degree. About $1 billion in athletic scholarships are awarded through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) each year. Over 126,000 student-athletes receive either a partial or a full athletic scholarship. These scholarships are awarded and administered directly by each academic institution, not the NCAA. Award amounts vary from a few thousand dollars to nearly $30,000 for one academic year and do not necessarily cover the full cost of tuition and living expenses. Scholarships are offered on a percentage basis, and universities have strict limits on the total amount they can award each year.

l Dormitories

On Chinese college campuses six to eight students can occupy a single room. In some dorms, students walk to a separate building to shower. American college dorms are not always spacious, but usually house two to three students at most and showers are located in every dorm. Students in Chinese dormitories most abide by curfews and visitation rules. Most American colleges do not have curfews, though some may have rules regarding visitors. American college dorms are often co-ed, while in China, we are single sex.

l Leisure

While campus life in China is generally more conservative, there are colleges in the United States where drinking and carousing are a central part of campus culture. Students on Chinese campuses get together to play popular online games such as Starcraft, but are not likely to throw wild parties.

l Teaching Methods

In Chinese classes, students only sit down quietly, listen to their teachers carefully, take notes on what is important, answer questions if necessary and finish the homework. Teachers become the main actors of the whole class. If students study according to the textbook, it can usually get them to pass the exams.

However, the education system in American emphasizes the thought of each student and their own opinions. As a student here, you will encounter a variety of American teaching styles and methods. Our teaching methods will help shape your learning experience, making sure you are exposed to a variety of learning styles:

Ø Class lectures delivered by expert professors who are also leading practitioners in their professional fields

Ø In-class discussions promoting interaction to help students improve verbal skills and to learn through dialogue and debate

Ø Class presentations encourage students to take a leadership role, share their knowledge, and improve public speaking skills

Ø Challenging opportunities to participate in advanced research and formulate opinions

Ø Course readings that require students to expand their perspective and synthesize new material

Ø Peer student feedback that promotes learning through constructive criticism of each other’s work

3. American Campus culture related to TOEFL

The speaking section of the TOEFL has 2 tasks based on real campus life. Both the Task 3 and Task 5 reading and listening materials are related to American campus life.

On the TOEFL, conversations between professors and students, or between two students, will be supportive, helpful, and friendly in tone. In an ideal world, professors and other university employees (such as financial aid counselors or librarians) would never say mean things to students or be annoyed at them. Likewise, students appreciate advice given by another student. Questions abou