Need advice for TOEFL Speaking Section

[florenti]

Hello,
I am Florenti and I am writing in order to get some help from this great forum...
I am going to take the TOEFL iBT on October, so I would really appreciate anyone who advises me how to rise my score on Speaking section, because I really have difficulties in that part of the test...(by the way, my mind often get BLANK), when I take practice questions.
God bless anyone who helps me! God bless everyone who helps anyone!
Bye!

[Silvana_]

Hi florenti,nice to meet you!
don't worry Speaking section seems to be difficult for most non-native english speakers
My score wasn't very high( 23) but was more than my expectations were.
I will tell you how i prepared for speaking.If you find anything helpful for you,i will be glad.
First,I was trying to speak everything i can according to the time but I didnt succeed.I have a texbook for TOEFL with a disc(sure you have too) that is why I started to listen the speaking questions and try to WRITE a proper answer,no matter the time it was taking me.
Then I just compared my respond with those written in the answer key of the book.I tried to learn to answer as well as possible.Then I just started to speak what i wrote and tried to fit in time that is required.
So after time and trainings I used to identify the structure of the speaking answers that is best for an answer.For example:Independent questions-One or two sentences to explain my thesis or statement.Then I pointed out two strong examples and details(very short,because of the time)and again depending on time-one or two sentences for conclusion.
Finally after I passed all speaking parts in my book,I started to answer to questions that are most often met in these sections.
One more thing in addition-According to me,writing and speaking are much similar in structure exept time and size.So it will be better for you to prepare them together.
Wish you luck and hard work!
Best regards, Silvana
_________________
skype-silvana_petkova

[florenti]

Hi Silvana, nice to meet you, too!
Congatulations for your success on TOEFL and I also wish you succeess on college and on life.
Thank you very much for your advice. I am sure I will find your suggestions helpful, since they are very easy to follow. By the way, I am really working hard and I think that, with the help of friends like you, I will succeed too.
Take care of yourself, and thanks again.
Bye!

[Silvana_]

Hello again,florenti
Thank you very much for your nice words.It is pleasure for me to help as much as possible
If I can do anything else for you,just write me.
Good luck and hard work!
_________________
skype-silvana_petkova

[florenti]

Hello Silvana,
You are really helping and encouraging me to succeed on TOEFL...
And I'm going to tell you something: A friend of mine told me that if I went to Bulgaria to learn English for TOEFL, then I would have a better chance to go to study in the U.S.. Is that correct?
Please, tell me something about this. I would really be grateful. (I am grateful now by the way).
Have a good time and take care of yourself!
Bye!

[Flame]

Hey um I'm a newbie here but I have a lot of experience with the Speaking. At the course I took we were 14 people in a small room and on every speaking we were 7 people talking at the same time so I think I have found a nice strategy to crack the speaking. TALK FAST! Just let your thought flow and follow the short plan you have made in the preparation time. The logic is quite simple: when you speak you hear only yourself and you can't hear everyone else and get confused. So when the preparation time runs out I just start speaking as fast (and as fluently!!!!!!) as possible and cover the question thoroughly and most often still have 5 to 10 seconds left. The teacher said there was nothing wrong with having time left if you answer the question thoroughly and when he graded my answers I always got 4 points.

Don't know if my "talk quickly and correctly and answer fully" tactic will work for you because everyone's different. Hope I helped.