5.3 SPEAKING CLEARLY AND COHERENTLY 3.3 Speaking Clearly and Coherently QFocus Look at the following independent speaking task and a student's response to it: Describe a person that you admire. Exp! ‘examples to support your explanation, why you admire this pers “1 admire Nelson Mandela for several reasons. First, he is an excellent speaker, and his ideas inspire many people. Second, he spent over twenty years in jail as a political prisoner. However, that experience didn't stop his dream. Third, he became the president ‘of South Africa when he was seventy years old. | admire Nelson Mandela because he ‘was a strong leader for his country at a time of change." Which of the following statements apply to the student’ response? Check all ofthe statements that are true: The student's opinion is difficult to understand. Each sentence conveys a complete thought. ___ The student uses some words incorrectly. Each point is developed with appropriate details The student expresses ideas coherently. Without taking the student's pronunciation into account, most people would think the student has provided a clear and coherent response. The student's opinion is clearly stated at the beginning: “1 admire Nelson Mandela for several reasons.” ‘The student then clearly states three reasons: “First, he is an excellent speaker, and his ideas inspire many people.” “Second, he spent over twenty years in jail as a political prisoner. However, that ‘experience didn't stop his dream.” “Third, he became the president of South Africa when he was seventy years old.” Each sentence conveys a complete thought, and each point is developed with appropriate details. The student expresses ideas coherently. The transitions first, second, and third help to make the student’s points clear and coherent. % DO YOU KNOW...? 1, Two trained evaluators will listen to your responses to the independent speaking tasks. They will rate your speaking on how well you: state and support an opi - develop points with appropriate details and explanation; _* express ideas coherently; and - make yourself understood by spe: ing clearly and fluently. Deuta’s Key 10 THE Next GENERATION TOEFL® Test 299 NVAIG 3)3.3 SPEAKING CLEARLY AND COHERENTLY 2. To convey your opinion, you must speak clearly and coherently. Think of your listeners and try to make your response easy for them to understand. Your speech will be easier to understand if: each sentence conveys a complete thought; your sentence structure is fairly simple; you use vocabulary correctly; -* you pronounce words clearly and correctly; and you speak at a normal speed. 3. Your response will be easier to understand if your speech is coherent. Coherence is the quality of order in speech. When speech is coherent, it is more likely that listeners will understand the message. The following transitions will help you convey examples and reasons coherently. Give Examples for example ‘one example also. such as ‘another example in addition Give Reasons because cone reason ‘so (that) another reason 4, Your response will be easier to understand if you speak in phrases. This means grouping words into idea units—aecording to their meaning and connection to each other. For example, look at this sentence: “1 admire Nelson Mandela because he was a strong leader for his country at @ time of change.” This sentence is easier to understand if it is spoken in phrases, like this: “| admire / Nelson Mandela / because he was / a strong leader / for his country / ata time / of change.” Your response will be easier to understand if you pronounce words clearly and correctly, especially key transitions and content words: nouns, verbs, and adjectives that convey important information. Use voice stress to emphasize key words “1 admire Nelson Mandela for several reasons. First, he is an excellent speaker, and his ideas inspire many people. Second, he spent over twenty years in jail as a political prisoner. However, that experience didn’t stop his dream. Third, he became the president of South Africa when he was seventy years old. | admire Nelson Mandela because he was a strong leader for his country at a time of change.” 300 Deuta’s Key To THE Next GENERATION TOEFL® Test3.3 SPEAKING CLEARLY AND COHERENTLY 2 PRACTICE Exercise 3.3.4 For each independent speaking question below, allow 15 seconds to prepare your response and 45 seconds to speak, Record your response on a cassette, Preparation Time ~ 15 seconds Response Time ~ 45 seconds 1. How do you like to spend your leisure time? Choose a leisure activity and explain why you like to do it, Include details and examples in your explanation, 2. Some students like to take classes early in the morning. Others prefer having classes later in the day. Which time of day is better for you and why? Include details and examples in your explanation. 3. What type of animal would you like to have, either as a pet or for some other reason? Choose an animal and explain why you would like to own this type of animal. Include details and examples in your explanation. 4. Some people plan every detail of their vacation in advance. Others prefer to leave most details flexible or open to chance. Which do you think is better and why? Include details and examples in your explanation, What place or landmark in your country do you recommend that other people visit? Explain why you think people should go there. Include details and examples to support your explanation 6. Some people like to eat most of their meals with other people, Others prefer eating most of their meals alone, Which do you prefer and why? Include details and examples in your explanation. Qexension 1. Share and discuss your recorded response to one of the speaking questions in Exercise 3.3.A, ‘Work in a group of three or four students. Listen to each student's recorded response. Discuss each student's response by answering the following questions: Answers to Exercise 3.3.A will vary. a, Does the speaker clearly state an opinion about the topic? What is the speaker's ‘pinion? Is the opinion supported? b. What examples, explanation, or other details are included? Do they successfully develop the topic? cc. Can the response be easily understood? Why or why not? . Is the response coherent? Why or why not? ‘e. Does the response answer the question effectively? Why or why not? Make suggestions that will help each student improve in the future. Deuras Key To THE Next GENERATION TOEFL® Test 301 NEES y)