TOEFL iBT Preparation Course

Instructor: Trischa Duke

E-mail: tduke3@uic.edu
Phone: (312) 315-5030

SUMMER 2010
Saturday 9:30 1:30

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to provide advanced preparation and practice in all four testing skills measured in the
TOEFL iBT. Students become familiar with all test sections, independent and integrated tasks, and test strategies.
Students are given opportunities to take simulated exams while improving the underlying reading, listening, speaking
and writing skills.
Class meets once a week for ten weeks. However, students are also expected to complete the assigned homework:
take practice tests, write essays, or do grammar exercises, as well as study vocabulary. Each class will include a short
vocabulary quiz and a pronunciation tutorial.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the course students will be able to:
Apply effective strategies for the reading, listening, speaking and writing on the TOEFL iBT
Identify the types of questions used
Improve pronunciation
Improve sentence structure in writing
Increase vocabulary comprehension
MATERIALS
Students must bring the following materials to every class:
Textbook: The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test iBT Edition by Bruce Rogers
Flash drive to save your work
ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY, AND CLASSROOM POLICY:
Coming to all class sessions will help you learn best. Please, complete all homework assignments, so that you can
fully participate in any review activities we might do at the beginning of a class session.
Punctuality is also very important. Students who come to class late disrupt the flow of the lesson. You are asked to
be in your seat and ready to begin by 9:30am and to return from breaks on time.
Please be respectful of others and turn off your cell phone.
TENTATIVE SYLLABUS:
WEEK

CLASS WORK

1. Introductions
2. Introduction to the TOEFL iBT
3. Blackboard tour
4. TOEFL iBT Speaking and Writing Diagnostic Test (Practice Test 1)
5. Introduction to TOEFL iBT Writing
6. Integrated Writing Task
7. Vocabulary Exercise 1
1. Quiz: Vocab 1-3
2. Homework evaluation and peer feedback
3. Introduction to TOEFL iBT Speaking
4. Independent Speaking Task and Preview Test
5. Independent Speaking Lesson 15 (Personal Preference) and 16 (Paired Choice)
6. Integrated Writing Lesson 21 (Taking notes and Planning) and 22
(Summarizing, Paraphrasing, Citing , and Synthesizing)
7. Pronunciation Tutorial: Vowels I

HOMEWORK

1. Vocabulary
Exercise 2 & 3
2. Study Vocab
Lesson 1-3
3. Integrated Writing
task Preview Test
1. Vocab Exercise 4
and 5
2. Integrated Writing
Task Practice
3. Grammar
Exercise 1

10

1. Quiz: Vocab 4 and 5

2. Grammar Exercise 1 Review
3. Integrated Speaking Task and Preview Test
4. Integrated Writing Lesson 23 and 24 (Writing, Checking, and Editing)
5. Integrated Speaking Lesson 17 (Announcement/Discussion) and 18
(General/Specific Task)
6. Independent Writing intro
7. Pronunciation Tutorial: Vowels II
1. Quiz: Vocab 6 and 7
2. Grammar Exercise 2 Review
3. Evaluation and peer feedback on Independent Writing Task
4. Independent Writing Lesson 25 (Pre-writing)
5. TOEFL iBT Reading and Listening Diagnostic Test (Practice Test 1)
6. Integrated Speaking Lesson 19 (Problem/Solution)
7. Pronunciation Tutorial: Problematic Consonants
1. Test: Vocab 1 through 9
2. Grammar Exercise 3 Review
3. Independent Writing Lesson 26 (Giving Opinions and Connecting Ideas)
4. Integrated Speaking Lesson 20 (Summary Task)
5. Introduction to Reading and Preview Test
6. Reading Lesson 1 (Factual and Negative Factual Questions)
7. Pronunciation Tutorial: Word and Sentence Stress (Lessons 1-8)
1. Quiz: Vocab 10 and 11
2. Grammar Exercise 4 Review
3. Independent Writing Lesson 27 and 28 (Writing, Checking, and Editing)
4. Introduction to Listening and Preview Test
5. Listening Lesson 9 (Main Topic and Main Purpose Questions)
6. Pronunciation Tutorial: Rhythm (Lessons 9-11)
1. Quiz: Vocab 12 and 13
2. Grammar Exercise 5 Review
3. Reading Lesson 2 (Vocabulary), 3 (Inference), and 4 (Purpose, Method, and
Opinion Questions)
4. Listening Lesson 10 (Factual, Negative Factual, and Inference), 11 (Purpose,
Method, and Attitude), and 12 (Replay Questions)
5. Pronunciation Tutorial: Thought Groups (Lessons 12-14)
1. Quiz: Vocab 14 and 15
2. Grammar Exercise 6 Review
3. Reading Lesson 5 (Sentence Restatement), 6 (Reference), and 7 (Sentence
Addition Questions)
4. Listening Lesson 13 (Ordering and Matching) and 14 (Completing Charts)
5. Pronunciation Tutorial: Focus Words (Lessons 15-16)
1. Quiz: Vocab 16 and 17
2. Grammar Exercise 7 Review
3. Reading Lesson 8 (Completing Summaries and Charts)
4. Writing and Speaking Practice Test 2
5. Pronunciation Tutorial: Intonation (Lessons 17-19)
1. Test: Vocabulary 1 through 17
2. Grammar Exercise 8 Review
3. Review Speaking Responses from Practice Test 2
4. Reading and Listening Practice Test 2
5. Evaluations

1. Vocab Exercise 6
and 7
2. Independent
Writing Task
Preview Test
3. Grammar
Exercise 2
1. Vocabulary
Exercise 8 and 9
2. Study Vocab 1-9
3. Reading Practice
Test
4. Grammar
Exercise 3
1. Vocabulary Exe
10 and 11
2. Integrated Writing
Practice
3. Grammar
Exercise 4
1. Vocabulary
Exercise 12 and 13
2. Independent
Writing Practice
3. Grammar
Exercise 5
1. Vocabulary
Exercise 14 and 15
2. Reading Practice
Test
3. Grammar
Exercise 6
1. Vocabulary
Exercise 16 and 17
2. Listening Practice
Test
3. Grammar
Exercise 7
1. Study Vocab 1-17
2. Reading Practice
Test
3. Grammar
Exercise 8