LONG TALK LISTENING IN PAPER TOEFL TEST NARGIS, M.HUM

In long conversation, you hear conversation between two speakers, when you hear it, you must able to summarize the main ideas. You must also be asked to recall important details. each conversation last from thirty to ninety seconds.

The topic in Long Talk The conversations are often about some aspect of school life (how difficult a class is, how to write a research paper, how to register for a course). The conversations can also be about topics currently in the news in the United States (desalination of the water, supply, recycling of used products, damage from a storm or some other type of natural phenomenon).

The introductory comments These comments tell you which talk refer to and provide some information about the conversations/talks. They also tell you how many questions in your test book to preview at one time. Moreover, they give you a general ideas of what to expect as you listen and is usually asked in the first question in the long talk.

The questions Type questions Topic question Question about setting (time and location) Questions about the speakers Sample questions What are the speakers discussing ? When/ where did the conversation take place? Who are the speakers ? What are the probable relationship between the speakers ?

PROCEDURES FOR THE LONG CONVERSATIONS (Paper TOEFL® Test) 1. If you have time, preview the answers to the questions. While you are looking at the answers, you should try to do the following: Anticipate the topics of the conversations you will hear. Anticipate the questions for each of the groups of answers. 2. Listen carefully to the first line of the conversation. The first line of the conversation often contains the main idea, subject, or topic of the conversation, and you will often be asked to answer such questions.

3. As you listen to the conversation, draw conclusions about the situation of the conversation: who is talking, where the conversation takes place, or when it takes place. You will often be asked to make such inferences about the conversation. 4. As you listen to the conversation, follow along with the answers in your test book and try to determine the correct answers.

Detail questions are generally answered in order in the conversation, and the answers often sound the same as what is said on the recording. 5. You should guess even if you are not sure. Never leave any answers blank. 6. Use any remaining time to look ahead at the answers to the questions that follow.

ANTICIPATING QUESTIONS IN THE LONG TALK If the answer choices are the name of the place . If the answer choices are the times of the days or dates. If the answer choices are the main idea “where does the conversation take place ?” “when” “what is the main topic of this conversations ? What are these people primarily discussing ?

DRAW CONCLUSIONS ABOUT WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE As you listen to each long conversation, you should be trying to set the situation in your mind. You should be thinking the following thoughts: • Who is talking ? • what is the man/woman’s occupation ? What is one speaker’s attitude toward the other speaker ? • What is the source of information for the conversation ?

LISTEN FOR ANSWERS IN ORDER There are two possible methods to use while you listen to a long conversation: 1. You can just listen to the conversation (and ignore the answers) Some students prefer to just listen to the conversation while it is being spoken, and if that method works well for you, then that is what you should do.

2. You can follow along with the answers while you listen. Other students find that they can answer more questions correctly if they read along with the answers while the conversation is being spoken. Because the detail questions are answered in order, it is possible to read along while you listen to the conversation on the recording.

Example from the Paper TOEFL® Test On the recording, you hear: (narrator) Questions 1 through 4. Listen to a conversation between a professor and a student. (man) : Hello, Professor Denton. Are you free for a moment? Could I have a word with you ? (woman) : Come on in, Michael. Of course I have some time. These are my office hours, and this is the right time for you to come and ask questions. Now, how can I help you ? (man) : Well, I have a quick question for you about the homework Assignment for tomorrow. I thought the assignment was to answer the first three questions at the top of page 67

Example from the Paper TOEFL® Test (man) : in the text, but when I looked, there weren't any questions there. I'm confused. (woman) : The assignment was to answer the first three questions at the top of page 76, not 67. (man) : Oh, now I understand. I'm glad I came in to check. Thanks for your help. (woman) : No problem. See you tomorrow.

Questions: 1. On the recording, you hear: (narrator) Who is the man ? In your test book, you read: (A) A professor (B) An office worker (C) Professor Denton's assistant (D) A student

2. On the recording, you hear: (narrator) When does the man come to see Professor Denton? In your test book, you read: (A) During regular class hours (B) Just before class time (C) As soon as class is finished (D) During office hours

3. On the recording, you hear: (narrator) Why does the man come to see Professor Denton ? In your test book, you read: (A) To turn in an assignment (B) To ask a question (C) To pick up a completed test (D) To explain why he did not attend class

Next.. 4. On the recording, you hear: (narrator) What incorrect information did the man have? In your test book, you read: (A) The date the assignment was due (B) The page number of the assignment (C) The length of the assignment (D) The numbers of the assignment questions

Example from the Paper TOEFL® Test Questions 31 through 34 based on the following conversation. Example Man : Did you see that TV program last night about the sky diver whose parachutes Didn’t open after he had jumped from his plane. Woman : No I didn’t. Did he die ?

Man : No, it’s really unbelievable how he could survive such a free fall, much less live to tell about it on television. Woman : What happened ? Man : Neither of his parachutes opened as he plummeted to the ground. When they Found him, they thought he was dead. Doctors said he’d never walk again, but he proved them wrong.

Woman : How long he recuperating ? Man : He spent 18 months in the hospital: while his broken bones were mending. He was sooner discharged that he jumped out of a plane again. Woman : Gee, some people sure do the crazy thing.

Questions 31. Why was the man in the hospital ? A. he was crazy B. he had many broken bones C. They thought he was dead D. he fell out of a plane.

32. Where did the interview take place ? A. on a plane B on the ground C. on Television D. in a hospital

33. What caused the man’s accident ? A. He fell out of the plane B. He fell while walking C. His two parachutes didn’t open D. A parachute fell on him.

34. What caused the man’s accident ? A. He fell out of the plane B. He fell while walking C. His two parachutes didn’t open D. A parachute fell on him.

Reference books Deborah Philips (2001) Complete Course for the TOEFL Test. Preparation for Computer and paper test. Longman ELI-GMU JAKARTA TOEFL TWO. knowledge is power. (2015)