Rationale
English is a global language used by millions of people all over the world Obviously, English connects people, shorten the distance and makes everybody closer and closer
In today's world, English is an essential language for effective communication across diverse cultures Mastering English opens up numerous opportunities, significantly enhancing our chances of achieving success in life.
The TOEIC exam assesses proficiency in business English across four main areas: reading, listening, grammar, and vocabulary Many students struggle to achieve their desired scores due to the challenging vocabulary used in the questions and the demanding listening comprehension required Specifically, sections like Questions-Responses and Short Conversations present significant difficulties, often hindering students from attaining high scores.
There are 2 basic reasons make the students poor listening: they are objective situation and subjective situation
• Poorly equipped TOEIC and listening materials
HPU students’ limited listening competence
Insufficiency of vocabulary and grammar
Low speculation ability of situations
I have chosen to focus on the research paper titled "How to Improve Listening Skills for Non-English Major Students in TOEIC Test Level 2," specifically examining questions-responses and short conversations This study aims to enhance the listening abilities of students who are not majoring in English, providing valuable insights for effective learning strategies in preparation for the TOEIC test.
In my view, the key to improving listening skills for the TOEIC test lies in enhancing the ability to speculate on various situations Due to my limited English proficiency and the constraints of my graduation paper, I have created a concise presentation focusing on specific scenarios in English This approach aims to empower students to take the initiative in their listening practice I hope that my research paper will contribute to strengthening your listening abilities and help you achieve a higher score on the TOEIC exam.
Aim of the study
The primary objective of my research paper is to offer a suggested glossary to enhance listening skills for students, specifically focusing on the Questions-Responses and short conversations sections of the TOEIC test level 2 for non-English major students To achieve this goal, the study outlines specific objectives aimed at improving comprehension and performance in these areas.
To study the theory of Listening comprehension, focusing on listening part 2 and 3 in TOEIC test, structure of each part and some tips to do it
To get know about the reality of listening in TOEIC test to non- English major students at HPU with specific facts and figures
To provide functional English with specific communicative situations to enhance communicative skills as well as listening skills in TOEIC test.
Scope of the study
Improving listening skills for the TOEIC test, particularly in parts 2 and 3, involves various methods that require significant time and effort However, this study will concentrate on the most effective strategies for students in social communicative situations, focusing on formulating questions and responses to enhance listening comprehension specifically for TOEIC level 2.
To complete this graduation paper, a series of methods have been applied:
Collected references, books and websites related to TOEIC test and documents were analyzed in details to form the theoretical background this paper
A survey questionnaire is conducted for non-English major students at Hai Phong Private University, the information from which has invaluable
Suggestions experience from my supervisor Mr Mai Van Sao, M.A and my understanding at Hai Phong Private University and gained experience in training course
The study is divided into three mains:
Part one is INTRODUCTION that indicates the rationale for choose this topic, pointing out the aim, the scope as well as the methods of the study
Part two named THE STUDY, which consists of three chapters:
Chapter 1: Theoretical Background explores listening comprehension within the TOEIC test, specifically emphasizing Part 2: Questions-Responses and Part 3: Short Conversations Additionally, it highlights my understanding of social English, which is essential for providing effective suggestions.
- Chapter 2: “the study on TOEIC level 2 students’ difficulties at Hai Phong Private University and suggested solutions” refers to the survey questionnaire and analyzed findings of questionnaire’s results
Chapter 3 focuses on enhancing the listening skills of non-English major students preparing for TOEIC test level 2 at Hai Phong Private University It introduces 18 social communicative structures within specific contexts to familiarize students with common daily expressions By mastering these structures, students will be better equipped to anticipate questions and formulate responses, particularly in the listening comprehension sections 2 and 3 of the TOEIC exam.
Part three is CONCLUSION in which all the issued mentioned above are summarized
Part 1 of the research paper outlines the rationale, aims, scope, methods, and design of the study In Part 2, the focus shifts to examining the challenges faced by TOEIC level 2 students at Hai Phong Private University and proposing effective solutions to address these difficulties.
PART II: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER ONE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1.1 General definition about TOEIC test
The TOEIC, or Test of English for International Communication, is a widely recognized English language assessment developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Its primary goal is to evaluate proficiency in basic business English, making it the preferred choice for corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions to assess English language skills Unlike traditional academic tests, the TOEIC focuses on the ability to communicate effectively in international business and real-world scenarios.
Many students take the TOEIC exam to enhance their English skills, while others need it for admission into intensive English courses or to meet job requirements Different institutions have varying expectations for English proficiency among their employees and students.
The TOEIC test is divided into two sections: listening comprehension and reading, each containing 100 questions Test-takers receive separate scaled scores for each section, ranging from 5 to 495, while the total score ranges from 10 to 990 This assessment effectively measures candidates' English language proficiency, with mean scores correlating well with the respective TOEIC section scores.
Here are some of the topics on the TOEIC:
Part I: Photographs (10 questions) Part II: Question-Response (30 questions) Part III: Short Conversations (30 questions) Part IV: Short Talks (30 questions)
Part V: Incomplete Sentences (40 questions) Part VI: Text completion (12 questions) Part VII: Reading Comprehension-Single Passages (28 questions) Double
II Listening comprehension in TOEIC test
The exam will include an audio CD and a booklet Your answers will be recorded with paper and pencil
Scoring: Scored by ETS trained raters
Many test-takers find the Listening section of the TOEIC to be the most challenging, despite lasting only about 45 minutes This difficulty arises because in Parts One and Two, questions and answer choices are only auditory, making it harder to follow In contrast, Parts Three and Four offer questions that are either spoken or printed, providing a slight advantage to test-takers.
1 Part one : Pictures description (10 questions)
In this part you will see a photograph and you will hear four sentences describing the photo You must choose the sentence that most closely
8 matches what you see You will hear the sentences once
In analyzing the photo, you will identify various elements such as people, objects, actions, and specific or general locations Additionally, you will make informed assumptions based on visual clues, even if the exact context of the scene remains unclear.
2 Part two: Questions and Responses (30 questions)
In this section, you will listen to a question accompanied by three potential answers Your task is to select the response that most accurately addresses the question Each question and answer will be played once.
The question may ask about people, location, time, an activity, an event, emotions, reasons or opinions In short, the question could be on almost subject
3 Part Three : Short conversations (30 questions)
In this section, you will listen to a brief dialogue followed by a question and four answer options in your test booklet You need to select the answer that best responds to the question Please note that the dialogue will be played only once.
The questions will primarily focus on the overall theme of the conversation rather than specific details You will need to identify key elements such as an activity, an emotion, a relationship, or the location of the speakers Occasionally, you may also be required to perform minor calculations based on measurements mentioned in the dialogues.
4 Part Four : Short talks (30 questions)
In this section, you will listen to a brief monologue, after which you will find two or three questions in your test booklet For each question, select the correct answer from four options provided Please note that the monologue will be played only once.
The discussions may include recorded announcements, weather forecasts, and special bulletins The questions will focus on identifying key details such as the location, speaker, time, event, or reason behind the announcements.
CHAPTER TWO THE STUDY ON TOEIC LEVEL 2 STUDENTS’
DIFFICULTIES AT HAIPHONG PRIVATE UNIVERSITY
- Poorly equipped TOEIC and listening materials
- HPU students’ limited listening competence
Insufficiency of vocabulary and grammar
Low speculation ability of situations
2 The design and focus of the English the book “Reward”
Non-English majors at the school are utilizing a new pilot textbook that features forty theme-based units along with eight consolidation units Each unit is designed with specific components to enhance learning.
Reading and vocabulary: presents a 350-400 word text that helps students get acquainted with the theme of the unit, provide grammar, vocabulary… And developing reading skill
Design of the study
The study is divided into three mains:
Part one is INTRODUCTION that indicates the rationale for choose this topic, pointing out the aim, the scope as well as the methods of the study
Part two named THE STUDY, which consists of three chapters:
Chapter 1: Theoretical Background delves into listening comprehension in the TOEIC test, specifically examining Part 2: Questions-Responses and Part 3: Short Conversations Additionally, it emphasizes my understanding of social English to provide effective suggestions.
- Chapter 2: “the study on TOEIC level 2 students’ difficulties at Hai Phong Private University and suggested solutions” refers to the survey questionnaire and analyzed findings of questionnaire’s results
Chapter 3 focuses on enhancing the listening skills of non-English major students preparing for TOEIC test level 2 at Hai Phong Private University It emphasizes the use of 18 social communicative structures that reflect specific situations, enabling students to familiarize themselves with common daily expressions By mastering these structures, students can effectively predict questions and formulate answers in the listening comprehension sections 2 and 3 of the TOEIC exam.
Part three is CONCLUSION in which all the issued mentioned above are summarized
Part 1 of the research paper outlines the rationale, objectives, scope, methodology, and design of the study In Part 2, the focus shifts to examining the challenges faced by TOEIC level 2 students at Hai Phong Private University and proposing potential solutions.
DEVELOPMENT
What is TOEIC test?
1.1 General definition about TOEIC test
The TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication), administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), is one of the most widely recognized English language assessments globally Its primary objective is to evaluate proficiency in speaking, reading, and understanding essential business English Consequently, the TOEIC is the preferred choice for corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions seeking to assess learners' English skills This exam focuses on the ability to operate effectively in international business and real-world contexts, rather than in academic environments.
Many students take the TOEIC to enhance their English skills, while others require a TOEIC score for intensive English courses or job applications Each institution has its own expectations regarding the level of English proficiency needed from employees or students.
The TOEIC test comprises two sections: listening comprehension and reading, each containing 100 questions Candidates receive separate scaled scores for each section, ranging from 5 to 495, while total scores range from 10 to 990 This test effectively assesses candidates' English language proficiency, with mean scores demonstrating a consistent correlation with the corresponding TOEIC part scores.
Here are some of the topics on the TOEIC:
Part I: Photographs (10 questions) Part II: Question-Response (30 questions) Part III: Short Conversations (30 questions) Part IV: Short Talks (30 questions)
Part V: Incomplete Sentences (40 questions) Part VI: Text completion (12 questions) Part VII: Reading Comprehension-Single Passages (28 questions) Double
Listening comprehension in TOEIC test 1 Part one: Pictures description
The exam will include an audio CD and a booklet Your answers will be recorded with paper and pencil
Scoring: Scored by ETS trained raters
Many test-takers find the Listening section of the TOEIC to be the most challenging, despite its duration of about 45 minutes This difficulty arises because the questions and answer choices in Parts One and Two are only auditory, making it harder to process In contrast, Parts Three and Four offer questions that are either spoken or printed, providing a slight advantage to test-takers.
1 Part one : Pictures description (10 questions)
In this part you will see a photograph and you will hear four sentences describing the photo You must choose the sentence that most closely
8 matches what you see You will hear the sentences once
In this exercise, you will analyze the elements present in the photo, including people, objects, actions, and both general and specific locations You will also make educated assumptions based on visual clues, even if you cannot definitively confirm what is happening in the image.
2 Part two: Questions and Responses (30 questions)
In this section, you will listen to a question followed by three possible answers Your task is to select the response that most accurately addresses the question Each question and its corresponding answers will be played once.
The question may ask about people, location, time, an activity, an event, emotions, reasons or opinions In short, the question could be on almost subject
3 Part Three : Short conversations (30 questions)
In this section, you will listen to a brief dialogue followed by a question and four answer options in your test booklet Your task is to select the answer that best responds to the question Please note that the dialogue will be played only once.
The questions will generally seek to capture the overarching theme of the conversation rather than delve into specific details You may be required to identify key elements such as an activity, an emotion, a relationship, or the location of the speakers Occasionally, minor calculations based on measurements mentioned in the dialogue may also be necessary.
4 Part Four : Short talks (30 questions)
In this section, you will listen to a brief monologue followed by two or three questions in your test booklet For each question, select the correct answer from four provided options The monologue will be played only once.
The discussions may include recorded announcements, weather forecasts, and special bulletins You will be required to identify details such as the location, speaker, time, event, or reason based on the questions provided.
CHAPTER TWO THE STUDY ON TOEIC LEVEL 2 STUDENTS’
DIFFICULTIES AT HAIPHONG PRIVATE UNIVERSITY
- Poorly equipped TOEIC and listening materials
- HPU students’ limited listening competence
Insufficiency of vocabulary and grammar
Low speculation ability of situations
2 The design and focus of the English the book “Reward”
Non-English majors at the school are utilizing a new pilot textbook designed for their curriculum This textbook features forty theme-based units along with eight consolidation units, each containing various components to enhance learning.
Reading and vocabulary: presents a 350-400 word text that helps students get acquainted with the theme of the unit, provide grammar, vocabulary… And developing reading skill
Listening exercises provide text or dialogues relevant to the unit's theme, aimed at enhancing listening skills Additionally, this component aids in improving pronunciation and reinforcing grammatical structures.
The speaking section includes various activities designed to enhance speaking skills, such as pair work, group work, and individual exercises Students will engage in communication that aligns with the linguistic functions and themes presented in each unit.
Writing: this part has many exercises that can support students’ writing skill up to different types of paragraphs such as: letter, narration, data
Language focus: is formed from two subparts: pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary
Pronunciation: is to review the way of pronouncing vowels and consonants
Grammar: refers to grammatical structures that are focused in that unit
It can be practiced in the form of exercise or communicating
Eight consolidation units are presented in the test yourself form These are designed so that students can check their own knowledge after learning 1-
5 units and help teachers design a 45-minutes test.
Survey questionnaires 1 Method of survey
This survey utilized a questionnaire to gather information from non-English major students at Hai Phong Private University who participated in the TOEIC Level 2 test.
There are 10 questions conducted in order to study:
Their general attitude toward TOEIC test
Their general attitude to ward listening comprehension in TOEIC test How do they do to improve listening skill in general as well as in TOEIC test?
Their though about ―questions-responses‖ and ―short conversations‖ section in TOEIC test
The relationship between speaking and listening
This study aims to examine the significance of listening in communication and its impact on the TOEIC test The focus is on identifying effective strategies to enhance listening skills specifically for TOEIC level 2, particularly in the context of questions-responses and short conversations.
This survey has following purposes:
To do research listening skill in TOEIC test, the case of: Questions- responses, and short conversations
To study how to improve listening skill in TOEIC test, the case of: Questions-responses and short conversations
A total of eighty-six students participated in the survey, all enrolled at Hai Phong Private University The participants included both English-major and non-English-major students who took the TOEIC test.
3.1.1 Role of listening in social communication is very important
Very important Important Not very important Not important
Question1: (Appendix1) How do you think about listening in social communication?
This question to find role of listening in social communication and most students see the importance and the role of listening in social communication
3.1.2 The relationship between speaking and listening is close relationship
Close relationship Not close relationship
Question 2: How do you think about relationship between listening and speaking?
Research shows a strong connection between speaking and listening skills Becoming a proficient speaker enhances your ability to listen effectively Typically, individuals who speak English well are also capable of understanding it better Thus, improving your speaking skills can lead to significant advancements in your listening abilities.
3.2 The surveyed students’ general opinion toward TOEIC test
3.2.1 Students’ opinion that TOEIC test is difficult
Question 3: (appendix1) How difficult is TOEIC test to you?
In a recent survey of TOEIC test-takers, only 5% of students considered the exam easy, suggesting that these individuals may be strong candidates Conversely, the majority of students perceive the TOEIC test as challenging.
3.2.2 It’s very difficult to get over 800 points in TOEIC test
Question4: (Appendix1) Have you got over 800 points in TOEIC test?
At HPU, only 7% of students achieve over 800 points on the TOEIC test, while 52% score between 500 and 595 points, highlighting a significant disparity in performance This inequality can be attributed to several factors, including insufficient vocabulary knowledge, inadequate listening resources, and a lack of test-taking skills.
3.2.3 Listening comprehension is more difficult than reading comprehension
Question 5: (Appendix) As for you reading and listening comprehension, what is more difficult?
A recent study at HPU revealed that 81% of non-English major students find listening comprehension more challenging than reading comprehension in the TOEIC test, highlighting a significant obstacle in achieving high scores.
3.3 Most of the students are not good English speakers
Question 6: (Appendix1) are you a good English speaker?
As you know, listening and speaking are close relationship, 81% students said that listening comprehension is more difficult than reading section, while 75% showed that they aren’t good speaker?
Listening and speaking are essential skills for English learners, particularly in the context of the TOEIC test The TOEIC is a standardized assessment that evaluates both listening and reading abilities, making listening proficiency a critical component for success.
3.4 The problems you have faced when listening in TOEIC test 3.4.3.Speed of the speaker is very fast
Fast So fast Slow Another ideas
Question 7: (Appendix1) How do you feel of speed of Speakers in TOEIC test?
Getting information in test is very important, the result indicate that 76% the students felt that speed of the speed of the speaker is very fast
In some methods to improve listening skills in TOEIC test, the students should predict answers and responses, this help the students can do test effectively
3.4.4 Short conversations part is a difficult part
Question8: (Appendix1) What is the most difficult in listening comprehension in TOEIC test?
The Listening Comprehension section of the TOEIC exam often presents a challenge, particularly when it comes to short conversations In this segment, test-takers will hear a brief dialogue between two individuals Following the conversation, they will need to answer three questions related to the dialogue, with each question offering four potential answers to choose from.
The rapid pace of speech and similar pronunciation patterns are two primary factors that make short conversations challenging for students Without grasping essential information, responding to questions becomes significantly more difficult.
3.4.5 The dialogs occupy over 50% in the listening comprehension of TOEIC test
Question 9: (Appendix1) How many percent dialog occupy in listening comprehension?
In the TOEIC listening comprehension test, parts 2 and 3 consist of dialogues that account for 60 out of 100 questions, representing 60% of the total points Therefore, focusing on dialogues is essential for enhancing listening skills and overall test performance This approach not only aids students in improving their listening abilities but also boosts their speaking skills in communication, making it an effective strategy for learners.
3.5 It’s neccessary to have a research paper about improving listening skill in TOEIC test, the case of: questions-responses and short conversations
3.6 Most of the students do not have a through grasp equal phrases
Question 11: (Appendix 1) Choose the best answer for following question: Have you got the time?
B Yes, what can I help you?
Answer (C) is right but, a large of number student choose (A) and (B) because they lack of knowledge about equal phrase in communicative situations
The phrase "Have you got the time?" essentially means "Do you have a watch?" or "What time is it now?" This highlights the significance of understanding situational English, which can be both valuable and, at times, seemingly trivial.