对于广大准备到海外求学的托福考生而言，2006年9月15日实施的新托福无疑是个陌生的领域，而其中的口语部分由于首次在托福考试中亮相而倍显神秘。

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.

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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.

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、六题要求考生先听一段听力材料，然后回答相关问题。听力材料通常一段是情景对话，另一段是课堂演讲，其长度大约为1分半钟。考生有20秒钟的准备时间，之后进行60秒钟的回答。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.

考生可以在听音过程中记笔记以帮助答题。在准备和答题时，屏幕上会显示倒计时的时钟。每个回答的得分是0－4分，分数范围是0－30。其评分以回答的质量、完整性和准确性为依据。