新托福口语解析

　　新托福的口语部分模拟了北美大学课堂的学术气氛及学生在校园生活的方方面面,要求考生能够做课堂笔记、发表自己的意见和看法,并具备对教授推荐的参考书写读书报告、阐明论点的能力,以及其它处理校园生活中可能遇到的各种情况的能力。

　　现行的托福虽然不设口语测试,但其姐妹篇TSE（Test of Spoken English）恰好弥补了这方面的不足。新托福的口试也将在现行TSE考试的基础上孕育产生。

　　相对于TSE而言,新托福的口试在形式与内容上有了继承的发展。

　　TSE的形式与内容

　　TSE考试全部过程约为60分钟,但实际考试时间仅为20分钟,而考生录到磁带上的答题录音累计时间则更短,仅为6分钟左右。

　　试题的指导说明在试题册和制好的试题磁带上,考生对试题的回答将和题干一并录入空白的答题磁带上。

　　现行TSE考试试题共分为七部分:

　　（1）用录音提问一些考生本人的基本情况。每一问题之后,有短暂的答题时间,在实际考试中,答题时间每题约为15秒钟。

　　（2）题册上给出一篇短文。考生先用一分钟时间阅读,然后用一分钟时间朗读。要求发音准确,口齿清晰,朗读流畅。

　　（3）题册上给出一系列不完整的句子,考生可随自己的思路加以补充完成。答案可以不同,但完成的句子要意思完整,语法准确。实际考试时,完成每个句子允许用10秒钟时间。

　　（4）题册上给出一组系列故事的连环画。考生进行看图说话。考生可先用一分钟看这些画面,然后再用一分钟叙述故事,叙述时应尽可能准确和详细。

　　（5）题册上给出一副画和就此画提出的4个问题。在听问题之前可以看图一分钟,然后仔细听题并作答。回答时,考生应在允许的时间里尽可能多说一些,每一题回答时允许用12秒钟时间。

　　（6）要求考生描述某些事物或就国际上普遍关注的话题发表意见。考生在允许时间里对每一问题要尽可能多加评论。评分取决于考生如何表达思想的方式,而不取决于观点本身。考试中,回答每个问题的时间为45秒钟。

　　（7）题册上给出班级、俱乐部或会议等的活动日程或通知。考生可先仔细阅读一分钟后,用一分钟时间解释这些日程或通知。解释时一定要包括所有重要的细节,并要设想自己是对很多听众作解释,而不能仅仅翻译这些日程或通知。

　　可见,现行的TSE通过对以上七部分内容的测试,基本上可以判断出考生的英语口头表达能力,包括语音、语调及语法的掌握程度。

　　新托福口语的形式与内容

　　我个人认为TSE考试在托福改题之后仍会继续考察一段时间,从而逐步淡出历史舞台。而取而代之的新托福可以说是TSE考试的加强版。这个部分共有6道题,持续约20分钟,包括独立回答题,读听后回答题和先听后答题等三种题型,以考察学生的阅读理解,听力理解和口语表达等综合能力。下面我们就结合ETS对新托福口语部分的指导说明来揭开新托福口语的“神秘面纱”:

　　Speaking Section Directions In this section of the test, you will be able to demonstrate your ability to speak about a variety of topics. You will answer six questions by speaking into the microphone. Answer each of the questions as completely as possible.

　　In questions one and two, you will speak about familiar topics. Your response will be scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently about the topics.

　　第1题和第2题为独立回答题,要求考生就某一话题阐述自己的观点。准备时间为15秒,回答问题时间为45秒。问题会被朗读出来,同时会出现在屏幕上。比如:

　　Narrator Describe a class you have taken in school and explain why the class was important to you. Include details and examples to support your explanation.

　　Please begin speaking after the beep. [2 secs beep]

　　[Appearing on screen]

　　1. Describe a class you have taken in school and explain why the class was important to you. Include details and examples to support your explanation.

　　Preparation time: 15 seconds

　　Response time: 45 seconds

　　In questions three and four, you will first read a short text. The text will go away and you will then listen to a talk on the same topic. You will then be asked a question about what you have read and heard. You will need to combine appropriate information from the test and the talk to provide a complete answer to the question. Your response will be scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently and on your ability to accurately convey information about what you read and heard.

　　第3题和第4题则以试题中的阅读和听力材料为基础,要求考生回答相关问题。具体步骤是首先让考生在45秒内阅读一篇短文,一般只含一个自然段,随后短文隐去,播放一段与短文相关的对话或课堂演讲,其长度大约为1分半钟。最后,要求考生根据先前阅读的短文和播放的对话或课堂演讲回答相关问题,考生有30秒钟的准备时间,然后进行60秒钟的回答,考生可以在听录音的过程中做笔记来帮助答题。比如:

　　Reading Time: 45 seconds

　　Announcement from the president The university has decided to increase tuition and fees for all students by approximately 8 percent next semester. For the past 5 years, the tuition and fees have remained the same, but it is necessary to increase them now for several reasons. The university has many more students than we had five years ago, and we must hire additional professors to teach these students. We have also made a new commitment to research and technology, and will be renovating and upgrading our laboratory facilities to better meet our students' needs.