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IMPROVING YOUR READING SKILLS FOR THE TOEFL
iBT
By Nova Language Consultants
Santiago de Chile, June 2007
Spanish version at EstudiosUSA.com
Introduction – About the New Reading Section in TOEFL
The Reading Section in TOEFL iBT consists of 3 and up to 5 reading texts (or passages) where you will be given 20 minutes to answer 13 or 14 questions corresponding to each text. As it turns out, you can spend a minimum of one hour and up to one hour and forty minutes answering the first section of TOEFL iBT, Reading.
Each passage’s length is about 700 words. It is important to note that all passages correspond to academic texts of basically three kinds: exposition, argumentation and historical narrative. Topics will vary in each passage since texts can deal with sciences, social sciences, arts, business, etc. No previous knowledge in any specific topic is necessary to answer the test questions. One fundamental aspect about the reading for TOEFL iBT is that you need to demonstrate that you CAN learn from each reading passage. In fact, for the last question in each passage you will not be able to read the text anymore. Instead you will need to draw on what you have learned in order to answer correctly.
Reading Tips
Many students believe that if they prepare for TOEFL (or any other English exam) the lessons should be enough to improve their reading skills. In our experience as instructors we have found that those students who read out of the class and on a day to day basis also get higher scores. The best way to improve your reading skills is by reading more. It sounds obvious yet we often forget or do not know how / where to start. For those of us who live in a country where English is not the first or second language, finding good English reading sources is fundamental.
The Internet probably is the greatest “library” available these days, which has some disadvantages (such as that of finding quality and trustworthy content) yet it also offers significant advantages for both students and instructors.
What follows is a list of suggested reading activities and websites to visit and use.
Practice extensive reading
First of all, extensive reading is silent reading (not reading out loud). Extensive reading has to do with reading for pleasure -- getting general information and meanings only. Extensive reading can and needs to be practiced everyday. Make it part of your daily routine. You will increase your ability to get main ideas (skimming), to find details (scanning), and you will also increase your speed.
Read
the morning news everyday at the office or at home.
Browse newspapers online from your desktop
http://rss.msn.com
http://www.nytimes.com
http://news.yahoo.com/i/721
Get the news in your Palm, Blackberry or any computer, anywhere.
Read on the bus, the train or plane. For Palm users Avant Go is
the best website to visit http://avantgo.com
Sign up for a couple of newspaper newsletters and receive them
on your mailbox / email
http://www.cnn.com/EMAIL
Read more about History, Animals and the Environment
Sign up for National Geographic content
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/index.rss
Get
the scoop of what is going on in Australia, India, Japan…
without leaving home.
Visit the Internet Public Library and read magazine articles which
are more in-depth than those of newspapers.
http://www.ipl.org/div/serials
Practice intensive reading
Intensive reading is reading carefully for an exact understanding
of text. Generally speaking, your task when reading intensively
is to understand the original message and probably intentions
of the writer. For example, you normally practice intensive reading
when reading a contract (if you have a Yahoo account, please see
this http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/utos-173.html).
You may also practice intensive reading when participating in
an online forum; we suggest you sign up with TOEFL ETS forum at
http://toeflpractice.ets.org
In any case, you need to read intensively at least twice a week. Choose an article, paper or story and then get ready to write or give an oral summary to a classmate, a friend who is preparing with you, with and / or your instructor.
Three easy steps to get started with your intensive reading
Search and choose articles of your interest; you could download
them or get them sent to your email;
When reading, pay attention to all details in the article’s
content. Make sure you understand the meaning of words and how
they are used in the text. Find also the author’s intentions
and purposes when stating his/her ideas. Finally, identify those
details and examples used to illustrate the author’s ideas
and concepts;
Use easy tools for quick reference:
Written
by Mauricio Miraglia