Overview of the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section The TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) Speaking section is an essential part of the exam that evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in academic settings. As a prospective student, your ability to express opinions, summarize information, and articulate ideas clearly is crucial … The post Template for TOEFL Speaking Part 1 appeared first on Moving English Lessons ..read more

Body Paragraphs in your TOEFL Independent Essay Let’s talk about writing essays and the structure of the body paragraph. In my HS English classes, I teach the idea of an “argument sandwich” for the body paragraph…they make a claim (topic sentence), provide data (examples are fine), and provide a warrant (explanation). Nonetheless, the TOEFL independent essay doesn’t necessarily follow that model. In a high-scoring TOEFL essay, the personal example dominates the body paragraph and the paragraph could even end with the example rather than a concluding sentence that explains the example. Is ..read more

Now that it is summertime, we are all longing for a vacation and to travel. Are you going anywhere fun this summer?  Maybe we can start talking about travel plans and preferences again, even if we simply remember some of our best trips and discuss our top 5 destinations. In American English, we spell “traveler” with one “l” and in British English, it is spelled with two: “traveller”. In American English, “traveling” is the common spelling, whereas in British English “travelling” is the preferred spelling of the word.  This travel post is for B2 (upper-intermediate) or C1 (advanced ..read more

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a widely recognized assessment of English language proficiency. For those aspiring to study in English-speaking countries, a high score on the TOEFL can open doors to prestigious institutions and better career opportunities.  One of the most critical sections of the TOEFL iBT is the Academic Writing Discussion Board Task.  You have only 10 minutes to write 100+ words.  In this blog post, we will delve into five essential tips that will help you achieve a high score in this demanding task. Tip 1: Provide a General Statement a ..read more

If you’re a TOEFL IBT test-taker, you may be nervous about the speaking section of the exam. This is a normal feeling, but with the right strategies and preparation, you can improve your chances of success. In this blog post, I’ll provide you with 5 tips to succeed on the speaking section, and show you how technology can help you improve your speaking skills. 1. Practice, practice, practice One of the most important things you can do to improve your speaking skills is to practice speaking as much as possible. You can practice speaking English with friends, family, or classmates, or even record ..read more

•When you paraphrase, you write or say something that someone else has written or said, in your own words. •Paraphrasing is an important skill for you to practice because it shows your ability to express the idea of another person using different words, without copying the exact text or speech. •When you paraphrase properly, you avoid plagiarism, which is a form of academic theft that is considered unethical. •Paraphrasing can be done in the following ways: by substituting keywords with synonyms, by changing the sentence structure, and by transforming the parts of speech of certain voca ..read more

At the beginning of a new semester or quarter, it is always a good idea to reflect on your language learning goals and set some new goals.  Goals motivate us to study and have discipline.  Many times, we set goals that aren’t specific enough. Other times, we don’t set a deadline to complete them by. I am going to give you some examples of SMART goals for the language classroom in different skills: Reading, Fluency, Listening, and Writing.   Honestly, I recommend focusing on one of these areas at a time so that you don’t get overwhelmed.  Setting 1 language learning ..read more

Celebrating a late fourth of July with family at a lake in Arkansas. After a summer vacation in the USA, I reconnected with my cultural roots and identity.  Here are three realizations that I had:  Immersion is the best way to learn a language Our first meal back in Iowa: Corn on the cob, greens, and cornbread. Firstly, immersion is still the best way to learn a language. My 4-year-old son, who primarily speaks Galician, began speaking 100% English after the second week in the States.  Now, he feels more comfortable talking to me in English, which I ADORE! His intonation still ..read more

Illustrated by Jonny Duddle I literally couldn’t put Harry Potter down when I was reading it because the pages were full of suspense, magic, and mystery. I was transported to another world and it felt like a great escape, where the creative twists and turns literally blew me away.   To get a full sensory experience of the books, consider also listening to the audio books on audible; the American version is read by Jim Dale and The British version is read by Stephen Fry.  In addition, there is a fun, quirky band called, Harry and the Potters, which plays music about the book an ..read more

 What are Phrasal verbs? Phrasal verbs are phrases that have a verb and another element, typically either an adverb, as in break down, or a preposition, for example, sleep in, or a combination of both, such as break up with. What kinds of phrasal verbs are there? There are four different kinds of phrasal verbs. Some of them have prepositions or adverbs that can move and change position, falling right after the verb, or at the end of the sentence. In addition, some phrasal verbs require objects while others do not.  Examples of Phrasal Verbs in Sentences:  (preposition moves around ..read more