Vocabulary TOEFL

speaking#1

Posted on March 12, 2023 (Last modified on March 18, 2023) 2 min read  • 344 words
speaking#1

I’d like to note down some vocabulary to prepare for TOEFL speaking and to practice discussion in English.

Discussion in English

Remembering more than one way to say “about” saves you from having to use the same word over and over again.

  • casual
    • about …
    • on … (sometimes used for specific topics or specialized explanations. e.g. the book on …)
  • formal
    • as for …
    • regarding …
    • concerning …

Another conversational expression that can be used is “as far as I can remember.”

  • As far as I can remember/recall,
  • To the best of my memory,
  • To my knowledge,
  • As I recall/remember,
  • From what I can remember/recall,
  • If I remember correctly,
  • As best I can recall.

However, “To the best of my recollection” is also a phrase that is often used, especially in legal terms and in formal situations, so such an expression may not be appropriate in certain contexts.

Speaking Test

In speaking, I always state the conclusion first. Next, give reasons, and if there is time, repeat the conclusion.

Example: What are the challenges of making presentation material for an international conferences?

Let me think about it as I talk. The first thing that came to my mind was that I couldn't tell jokes or anything funny. If you look at videos of presentations from overseas, they often use funny diagrams and images. Sometimes people use such diagrams at meetings as well. But I don't really have a sense of what kind of things I should use. In other words, I don't quite understand what is allowed and what is not.

Second, sometimes there are words I don’t know in conversations or slides. If I don’t know a word, I can just look it up, but the problem is that the presentation gose on even while I’m looking it up. Therefore, I sometimes miss the presentation.

Third, it might be difficult to deal with sudden problems and such. For example, communication problems or sudden schedule changes. It is difficult to explain a situation in English or to respond on the spur of the moment.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I like coffee and butterflies.