How to Help Students Prepare for a Speaking Test
Are any of your students getting ready for a speaking test? There are many reasons they may be taking it: strong test results on a résumé can help them get a job, and a good score may be necessary when applying to move to a foreign country. On the other hand, they may simply want to get a clear idea of what their skill level is.
No matter their reasons for taking the test, preparation is necessary for them to get the best results they can. So in this article, we've collected some tips and suggestions you can offer to help them get ready. There are several things to think about, so where they focus most of their time will depend on their unique strengths and weaknesses. As a tutor, you can help them to identify the areas that would be most beneficial for them to concentrate on.
Take advantage of practice tests
Our first tip is the most basic, but it's worth mentioning anyway. No matter what test a student is taking (IELTS, Versant and TOEIC are some of the most well known), there is a good chance they can find a practice version of it online. Encourage them to find them and use them! Once they know the kinds of things they can expect to see on the real test, they will have a much better idea of what to focus on as they prepare. Their time is important, so they shouldn't waste it by studying things that won't help improve their score.
Aim for practical grammar skills
Naturally, students need strong grammar to score well on a speaking test. However, strong grammar doesn't have to be advanced grammar. The goal of this test (and of learning a new language at all) is communication, so the important point is that they can express their ideas clearly, accurately and naturally. Students can do this even without using very formal English or fancy, high-level vocabulary.
Instead, it would be better for them to master the grammar they know so that they can speak comfortably about a variety of topics. In addition to the lessons they have with you, encourage your students to find as many opportunities as they can to speak with others, practicing until they can speak their minds without hesitating or wondering about correct sentence structure or other details.
The goal should be for them to be able to speak English easily and without having to think about it. Higher-level expressions and idioms are great to know, but they aren't exactly necessary.
Vocabulary: more than memorization
If your student has taken a practice test, they should have an idea of the kinds of topics they will be asked to talk about. Help them to learn and master the vocabulary related to these topics so they will be ready. Similar to our previous tip on grammar, being able to use what they know skillfully is better than trying to impress the judges with impractical words or expressions.
Also, your student may be tempted to simply memorize a long list of new words, but that alone isn't enough. They should also speak out loud while they study and get used to actually saying the words. In your lessons, challenge them to make sentences with their new vocabulary and to use it all in various tenses. Knowing the words is great, but can they express their ideas with them? Simply memorizing vocabulary isn't enough; they must have control over it!
Brush up pronunciation (and listening) skills
Having strong grammar and vocabulary is fantastic, but they're preparing for a speaking test, which means the way they say everything is also very important. So to help them get the highest score possible, they will need to make sure their pronunciation is clear and accurate.
This is a great opportunity for you and the student to practice "shadowing," which is a study technique in which a learner listens to a speaker, then repeats them while trying to match the pronunciation and rhythm. You can give them a model to follow, then have them repeat it — not only for individual words but for full statements. Let them get a feel for how words and sounds naturally flow from one to another.
Of course, your student can also do this outside of lessons using things like podcasts and YouTube videos. YouTube also has a handy feature that lets users slow down a video's speed, which can be helpful for sounds that may be especially difficult for learners.
The extra benefit of this pronunciation practice is that it will also help them improve their listening ability, so they can kill two birds with one stone.
One more thing: If you are tutoring Native Japanese speakers, you may also want to take a look at this article on common mistakes to watch out for.
Structure and time
Your student has taken care of everything on this list, so now they’re ready, right? Well, perhaps not yet. Can they use all of those skills together to speak about a topic clearly and with a good structure?
This skill isn't only useful for taking tests; no matter the language, the ability to communicate one's ideas in a straightforward and easy-to-understand way can help when giving speeches, writing academic papers and more. A good structure usually includes an introduction of the main point followed by two or three pieces of information to support it. Also, be sure to remind your student to use important words such as "also," "however" and "therefore," which help to create a smooth link between points and will give their responses a more organized, professional feeling.
Another important thing to remember is that time matters during the actual test. You can help students prepare by timing them as they give their responses. Make suggestions on how they can adjust their responses to fit the time limits of the particular test they are preparing for. Depending on the student, this may mean saying things in a more efficient way, but it may also require adding things to "pad" a response and make it longer. Naturally, they can continue this exercise on their own, as well. Encourage them to record themselves, then listen back for areas where they feel they can improve.
In the end, they should be able to form a complete response to the test prompts, stating all of their points within the time limit and without feeling rushed.
Put it all together
If your student has followed our tips, they should have command of their grammar, a good vocabulary and clear pronunciation before it's time for their test. Rather than trying to be perfect in every aspect (and likely stressing about it), encourage them to use what they know skillfully and confidently. That means they will not be searching for the correct words or constantly repeating themselves in order to pronounce them properly. Once speaking English has become second nature to them, they will know they have prepared themselves well.
