5 TOEFL Listening Mistakes Every Student Makes

Summary

In this video, the speaker outlines five common mistakes TOEFL students make in the listening section and provides strategies to avoid them. These mistakes include trying to understand every detail, letting visual distractions interfere, taking bad notes, prematurely focusing on the main idea, and thinking like a student instead of a teacher. The speaker emphasizes the importance of focusing on key information, improving note-taking skills, staying focused, and adopting a strategic mindset. By following these tips, students can improve their listening skills and perform better on the TOEFL exam.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on understanding key information, not everything. Prioritize the most important details and anticipate the types of questions you'll be asked.
• 😀 Pay attention to the structure of the listening passage. Knowing the question types beforehand helps you know what to listen for.
• 😀 Don't rely on your eyes too much during the listening section. Keep your focus on the computer screen and your notes to avoid distractions.
• 😀 When taking notes, only jot down the essential nouns and verbs, skipping unnecessary details like articles and prepositions.
• 😀 Avoid writing down the main idea immediately. Wait until the end of the passage to better identify the main idea and its context.
• 😀 Think like a teacher, not a student. Focus on what the speaker wants you to understand and why certain details are emphasized.
• 😀 Practice listening with the goal of answering questions, not just understanding every word.
• 😀 Don't stress about getting every single detail right in your notes. Focus on key words that will help you answer the questions afterward.
• 😀 The TOEFL graders do not check your notes, so focus on making them brief and legible for yourself.
• 😀 Don't let external factors or distractions (like other students or technical issues) affect your focus during the listening test.
• 😀 Stay motivated and maintain a positive mindset throughout your TOEFL preparation. Small but consistent practice will lead to improvement.

Q & A

What is the first common mistake students make in the TOEFL listening section?

The first mistake is trying to understand everything. Students often focus too much on comprehending every word, but the goal is to understand the most important pieces of information and anticipate the types of questions they will be asked.

Why is it important to anticipate the questions in the TOEFL listening section?

Anticipating the questions helps students know what to listen for, making it easier to pick out the key information during the listening. The questions directly relate to how well the student listens and understands the main ideas.

What advice does the speaker give regarding distractions during the TOEFL listening test?

The speaker advises that students should avoid distractions like looking around the room or focusing on other students. They should concentrate solely on the screen and the notes in front of them to maintain focus.

What is the significance of not writing down everything during the listening test?

Writing down everything can overwhelm students and distract them from focusing on the key details. Instead, students should focus on writing down verbs, nouns, and other crucial information that might relate to future questions.

What is the best approach to note-taking during the TOEFL listening section?

The best approach is to write down only verbs, nouns, and key phrases, avoiding unnecessary words like prepositions, articles, and personal pronouns. This allows students to take quick and efficient notes without getting bogged down in details.

What does the speaker mean by 'thinking like a teacher' during the TOEFL listening test?

Thinking like a teacher means focusing on why the information is being presented in a certain way and what the speaker wants the student to learn from it. This mindset helps students better understand the structure and content of the listening, leading to more accurate answers.

Why should students not focus on writing down the main idea immediately during the listening?

Students should not focus on writing the main idea immediately because they may not fully understand it until the listening is finished. It's better to listen to the entire passage and then determine the main idea based on the complete information.

How should students handle situations where they are unsure of a piece of information during the listening test?

If students are unsure about a specific detail, they should trust that they will be able to recall the key information from their notes after the listening is over. It's important to focus on the overall structure and not get caught up on every minor detail.

What is one of the main reasons why focusing on only the answer can be frustrating during the test?

Focusing only on finding the right answer can be frustrating because it causes students to miss the larger context and structure of the listening. Instead, understanding the reasoning behind the information being presented is more helpful in answering questions correctly.

What extra resources does the speaker mention for TOEFL preparation?

The speaker mentions a TOEFL emergency course on their website, which provides step-by-step guidance and strategies for improving TOEFL scores in just three days. This course includes tips, tricks, and a structured study plan.