TOEFL English

Is TOEFL English any particular kind of English? Well, in fact it is. The language you will be tested on in the TOEFL exam is actually standard North American English. What's more, the exam also includes the kind of North American English you will find in academic settings.

Understanding TOEFL English

Many of my EFL and ESL students have some degree of trouble understanding the accent of British or Australian speakers. To tell you the truth, I sometimes do too. I can remember the impression I felt after arriving in London and discovering I could hardly understand anything people were saying. But, how could that be possible if I had been studying English for most of my life?

Actually, the same can happen even among speakers of North American English. Some people find it difficult to understand the way people speak in certain regions of the US. Accent, rhythm, pace, vocabulary--all of these elements can have an impact on your understanding of a language. But this is not an insurmountable obstacle. To overcome it all you need is sufficient exposure to those particular elements.

Constant and adequate exposure to TOEFL English is something you will acquire by attending a practice course. Studying for the test a couple hours for a few weeks should do the trick. Make sure to study all of the sections--vocabulary, intonation, cadence, and patterns you will find in the actual test. And instead of having your mind pop up with the "huh?" I produced in the London underground, on the day of the exam you are more likely to feel the confidence and satisfaction of knowing "mind the gap, please" is what was being announced on the subway.