對于廣大準(zhǔn)備到海外求學(xué)的托福考生而言，2006年9月15日實施的新托福無疑是個陌生的領(lǐng)域，而其中的口語部分由于首次在托福考試中亮相而倍顯神秘。

新托福的口語部分模擬了北美大學(xué)課堂的學(xué)術(shù)氣氛及學(xué)生在校園生活的方方面面，要求考生能夠做課堂筆記、發(fā)表自己的意見和看法，并具備對教授推薦的參考書寫讀書報告、闡明論點的能力，以及其它處理校園生活中可能遇到的各種情況的能力。

現(xiàn)行的托福雖然不設(shè)口語測試，但其姐妹篇TSE(Test of Spoken English)恰好彌補了這方面的不足。新托福的口試也將在現(xiàn)行TSE考試的基礎(chǔ)上孕育產(chǎn)生。

相對于TSE而言，新托福的口試在形式與內(nèi)容上有了繼承的發(fā)展。

TSE的形式與內(nèi)容

TSE考試全部過程約為60分鐘，但實際考試時間僅為20分鐘，而考生錄到磁帶上的答題錄音累計時間則更短，僅為6分鐘左右。

試題的指導(dǎo)說明在試題冊和制好的試題磁帶上，考生對試題的回答將和題干一并錄入空白的答題磁帶上。

現(xiàn)行TSE考試試題共分為七部分：

（1）用錄音提問一些考生本人的基本情況。每一問題之后，有短暫的答題時間，在實際考試中，答題時間每題約為15秒鐘。

（2）題冊上給出一篇短文?？忌扔靡环昼姇r間閱讀，然后用一分鐘時間朗讀。要求發(fā)音準(zhǔn)確，口齒清晰，朗讀流暢。

（3）題冊上給出一系列不完整的句子，考生可隨自己的思路加以補充完成。答案可以不同，但完成的句子要意思完整，語法準(zhǔn)確。實際考試時，完成每個句子允許用10秒鐘時間。

（4）題冊上給出一組系列故事的連環(huán)畫。考生進(jìn)行看圖說話。考生可先用一分鐘看這些畫面，然后再用一分鐘敘述故事，敘述時應(yīng)盡可能準(zhǔn)確和詳細(xì)。

（5）題冊上給出一副畫和就此畫提出的4個問題。在聽問題之前可以看圖一分鐘，然后仔細(xì)聽題并作答?；卮饡r，考生應(yīng)在允許的時間里盡可能多說一些，每一題回答時允許用12秒鐘時間。

（6）要求考生描述某些事物或就國際上普遍關(guān)注的話題發(fā)表意見?？忌谠试S時間里對每一問題要盡可能多加評論。評分取決于考生如何表達(dá)思想的方式，而不取決于觀點本身?？荚囍?，回答每個問題的時間為45秒鐘。
（7）題冊上給出班級、俱樂部或會議等的活動日程或通知。考生可先仔細(xì)閱讀一分鐘后，用一分鐘時間解釋這些日程或通知。解釋時一定要包括所有重要的細(xì)節(jié)，并要設(shè)想自己是對很多聽眾作解釋，而不能僅僅翻譯這些日程或通知。

可見，現(xiàn)行的TSE通過對以上七部分內(nèi)容的測試，基本上可以判斷出考生的英語口頭表達(dá)能力，包括語音、語調(diào)及語法的掌握程度。

新托福口語的形式與內(nèi)容

我個人認(rèn)為TSE考試在托福改題之后仍會繼續(xù)考察一段時間，從而逐步淡出歷史舞臺。而取而代之的新托福可以說是TSE考試的加強版。這個部分共有6道題，持續(xù)約20分鐘，包括獨立回答題，讀聽后回答題和先聽后答題等三種題型，以考察學(xué)生的閱讀理解，聽力理解和口語表達(dá)等綜合能力。下面我們就結(jié)合ETS對新托福口語部分的指導(dǎo)說明來揭開新托?？谡Z的“神秘面紗”：

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題和第2題為獨立回答題，要求考生就某一話題闡述自己的觀點。準(zhǔn)備時間為15秒，回答問題時間為45秒。問題會被朗讀出來，同時會出現(xiàn)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.

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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題和第4題則以試題中的閱讀和聽力材料為基礎(chǔ)，要求考生回答相關(guān)問題。具體步驟是首先讓考生在45秒內(nèi)閱讀一篇短文，一般只含一個自然段，隨后短文隱去，播放一段與短文相關(guān)的對話或課堂演講，其長度大約為1分半鐘。最后，要求考生根據(jù)先前閱讀的短文和播放的對話或課堂演講回答相關(guān)問題，考生有30秒鐘的準(zhǔn)備時間，然后進(jìn)行60秒鐘的回答，考生可以在聽錄音的過程中做筆記來幫助答題。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.

Narrator

Now listen to two students as they discuss the announcement. [2 seconds]

Student A
Oh great, now we have to come up with more money for next semester.

Student B
Yeah, I know, but I can see why. When I first started here, classes were so much smaller than they are now. With this many students, it’s hard to get the personal attention you need...

Student A
Yeah, I guess you’re right. You know, in some classes I can’t even get a seat. And I couldn’t take the math course I wanted to because it was already full when I signed up.

Student B
And the other thing is, well, I am kind of worried about not being able to get a job after I graduate.

Student A
Why? I mean you’re doing really well in your classes, aren’t you?

Student B
I’m doing ok, but the facilities here are so limited. There are some great new experiments in microbiology that we can’t even do here... there isn’t enough equipment in the laboratories, and the equipment they have is out of date. How am I going to compete for jobs with people who have practical research experience? I think the extra tuition will be a good investment.
[2 seconds]

Narrator
The woman expresses her opinion of the announcement made by the university president. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

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

3. The woman expresses her opinion of the announcement made by the university president. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

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Preparation time:
?30 seconds
Response time:
?60 seconds?

In questions five and six, you will listen to part of a conversation or a lecture. You will then be asked a question about what you heard. Your response will be scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently and on your ability to accurately convey information about what you heard.

第五、六題要求考生先聽一段聽力材料，然后回答相關(guān)問題。聽力材料通常一段是情景對話，另一段是課堂演講，其長度大約為1分半鐘?？忌?0秒鐘的準(zhǔn)備時間，之后進(jìn)行60秒鐘的回答。比如：

Narrator
Please Listen Carefully

Narrator
You may begin to prepare your response after the beep.
[2 secs beep]

Narrator
Now listen to a conversation between two students.

Student A
Hey Lisa, how’s it going?

Student B
Hi Mark. Uh, I’m OK, I guess, but my schoolwork is really stressing me out.

Student A
[sympathetically]
Yeah? What’s wrong?

Student B
Well, I’ve got a paper to write, and two exams to study for. And a bunch of math problems to finish. It’s just so much that I can’t concentrate on any of it. I start concentrating on studying for one of my exams, and then I’m like, how long’s it gonna take to finish that problem set?

Student A
Wow sounds like you’ve got a lot more work than you can handle right now. [Not wanting to sound too pushy] Look have you talked to some of your professors...I mean, you know , try to explain the problem. Look, you could probably get an extension on your paper, or on the math assignment...

Student B
You think? It would give me a little more time to prepare for my exams right now.

Student A
Well, I mean another thing that you might do ... I mean have you tried making yourself a schedule? I mean that’s what I do when I’m feeling overwhelmed.

Student B
What does that do for you?

Student A
Well, I mean it helps you to focus your energies. You know, you make yourself a chart that shows the next few days and the time till your stuff is due and...

Student B
Uh-huh [meaning “I’m listening”]

Student A
I mean think about what you need to do, and when you have to do it by. You know then start filling in your schedule--like, all right 9:00 [nine] to 11:30 [eleven-thirty] A.M., study for exam. 12:00 [twelve] to 3:00 [three], work on problem set. But I mean don’t make the time periods too long. Like, don’t put in eight hours of studying--you know, you’ll get tired, or start worrying about your other work again. But if you keep to your schedule, you know you’ll just have to worry about one thing at a time.

Student B
Yeah, that might work. [somewhat noncommitally]

Narrator
The students discuss two possible solutions to the woman’s problem. Describe the problem. Then state which of the two solutions you prefer and explain why.

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

[Appearing on screen]

5. The students discuss two possible solutions to the woman’s problem. Describe the problem. Then state which of the two solutions you prefer and explain why.

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Preparation time:
?20 seconds
?
Response time:
?60 seconds

You may take notes while you read and while you listen to the conversations and lectures. You may use your notes to help prepare your response.Listen carefully to the directions for each question. The directions will not be written on the screen.

For each question you will be given a short time to prepare your response. A clock will show how much preparation time is remaining. When the preparation time is up, you will be told to begin your response. A clock will show how much response time is remaining. A message will appear on the screen when the response time has ended.

考生可以在聽音過程中記筆記以幫助答題。在準(zhǔn)備和答題時，屏幕上會顯示倒計時的時鐘。每個回答的得分是0－4分，分?jǐn)?shù)范圍是0－30。其評分以回答的質(zhì)量、完整性和準(zhǔn)確性為依據(jù)。

?