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---浅析备考新托福应注意的问题
北京新航道学校留美硕士 袁昊
2007年北京的夏天，一如以往的燥热。满街都是各种各样的人们，为了各种各样的目的，向着各种各样的方向，带着各种各样的表情，匆匆来去。在这个城市里，有钱不是奢侈，因为有钱人多得像蚂蚁；有名车也不是奢侈，因为再好的车也只能堵在街上。在这座城市，在这样一个现实主义横行的时代，在这样一个每个人的脸上都写着急功近利的年代，拥有梦想，拥有对梦想的坚持，才是真正的奢侈。
我很高兴我拥有这样的奢侈，而且很多。因为我每天都会面对很多有梦想的人，而且最重要的是，他们不事声张，他们默默耕耘，他们埋下理想，然后用耐心来灌溉。当他们的同龄人还在为争取一个留校的名额你争我抢的时候，当他们的同班同学还举着求职简历转战在各场招聘会的时候，他们的眼光已经延伸到了蔚蓝色的大洋彼岸。他们，就是新航道的托福考生。他们总是行色匆匆，他们总是用面包代替午饭，他们总是起得很早而且在摇晃的地铁车厢里狂背托福单词。我喜欢看到这些年轻的身影，我喜欢看到他们眼中对未来，对梦想的渴望。
一直以来，我都很想为托福的广大考生们写一点东西，分享一下这条寄托大道上的苦乐。我一直觉得，没有留过美的人，教托福总是会有些勉强。因为有太多心路历程，太多悲欣交集的生命感悟，只能在新老TOEFLER之间一代又一代的流传。
2007年的托福考试报名的火爆程度不亚于春运火车票的抢购。七月至十月的考试名额在四月底开始放号就在四个小时内被抢光。十一月到十二月的两万多个考试名额在六月中旬刚刚放号又被抢光。这一点充分说明了托福考试在中国考生心目中的受欢迎程度。据统计，新托福考试在中国大陆地区2007年度总共发放的考试名额在十万左右。根据现在托福考试在中国大陆一位难求，很多考生甚至转考香港的情况看，实际有考托福的愿望的考生远远不只十万。毫无疑问的是，在这十万大军里，每年都会有很多很多人凭借这一次考试永远的改变自己的人生轨迹。也许，这就是新托福考试的魅力所在吧。
那么，我们应该如何备战新托福呢？ 首先，我们必须要搞清楚新托福新在何处。新托福比照老托福考试，一是去除语法部分，二是增加口语部分，三是大幅增加听力在整个考试中的比重。然而，这种种的变化最大的受益者就是托福考生本人。因为中国考生很长一段时间以来已经习惯了把考试内容作为主要的学习方向，而不是把考试作为检验学习效果的手段。老托福考试太过注重对语法知识的考查，结果是相当一部分顺利考过托福的中国考生到了美国以后，既听不懂，又不会说。对自己的留学生活影响很大。新托福考试大幅增加对口语和听力这样注重交流性的语言技能的考查，目的也在于正确的引导中国考生把有限的时间和精力投入到最有价值的英语使用中去。用意不可谓不深。
其次，面对新的托福考试，普通考生应该如何应对呢？新的托福考试包括听说读写四个部分，每个部分的满分都是30分。所以新托福得满分是120分。除了阅读部分以外，每个部分都对听力进行考查。另外，在听说读写四个部分中，对阅读的考查贯穿始终。所以，毫无疑问的是，对于大部分中国考生而言，阅读绝对是重中之重。
阅读之难，难在两个方面：一是生词量巨大，二是阅读时间非常紧，普通考生常常无法按时做完一套题。现在，我们先来谈一谈如何来解决第一大阅读问题。对于托福考试中生词量超大的问题，很多考生容易产生畏难情绪。或者有人累月经年，在一本字典上反复下功夫，最后累得吐血，但是效果却不见得好。实际上，托福考试阅读部分中出现的生词绝大部分都是不需要背的。 因为，托福考试考查的一个很重要的对象叫做\"READ TO LEARN ABILITY\"， 即考生通过阅读来学习新知识的技能。这一技能对于即将开始全新的美国生活的外国学生而言，尤为重要。因此，ETS有意在托福考试的阅读部分设置大量的生僻词汇， 一方面是考查考生绕过生僻词汇获取信息的能力，另一方面也是考查考生通过上下文已知内容推导未知信息的能力。真正对于词汇量本身的考查，反倒并不是最重要的。
另外，我们再来谈一谈口语问题如何解决。新托福口语考试得分标准：1、详细具体（空洞的形容词和花哨的句子结构不能得分）；2、词汇量和语法现象要多；3、规定时间内尽可能说快一点，多说一点，信息量大一点。
我深深知道，中国学生缺乏大量的语言环境，在仅有15至30秒的准备时间内要完美地做到以上几点是基本不可能的。那么，是不是要因为一个小小的口语考试就放弃我们在加州的阳光下散步的权利呢？当然不会！既然我们不能依赖于现场发挥，那么就通过平时准备，来大大减低现场难度要求。其核心就是--转化原则，在充分领会转化原则的基础上，创建自己的模板，以精练的短句，清楚的表达为主。
独立口语题破解（一）
新托福口语考试六大题型中的第一种是问你一个你所熟悉的人、地方、东西或者事件，你需要在回答中加入具体的例子和细节。例如：
Choose a place you like and explain why you like this place.
请看看袁老师是怎么回答的：
Well, the place I enjoy the most is a small town located in France. I like this small town because it has a very charming ocean view. I mean the sky there is so blue and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can ever be, just relax yourself on the beach, when the sun is setting down, when the ocean breeze is blowing and the seabirds are singing.
Of course I like this small French town also because there are many great French restaurants. They offer the best seafood in the world like lobsters and tuna fishes. The most important of all, I have made friends with some gorgeous French girls. One of them even gave me a little watch as a souvenir of our friendship.
看出奥妙来了吗？
1、这个回答里用的全部是口语化的短句子；
2、按照正常的语速念完正好是45秒；
3、出现了多处非常具体的细节描写（得分点）。
4、有景色描写（beach）、有人物(French girls)、有事件(make friends)，有具体事物（a watch）。为何如此设计，等一下就会讲到。
然后让我们换一个题目再看看，还是用这些内容怎么进行回答：
题目：Choose a restaurant you like and explain why you like this restaurant.
参考答案：Well, the restaurant I enjoy the most is a French restaurant located on a beautiful beach. I like this small restaurant because it has a very charming ocean view. I mean the sky there is so blue and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can ever be, just relax yourself on the beach, when the sun is setting down, the ocean breeze is blowing and the seabirds are singing.
Of course I like this small French restaurant also because it offers the best seafood in the world like lobsters and tuna fishes. The most important of all, I made friends with some gorgeous French girls in that restaurant. One of them even gave me a little watch as a souvenir of our friendship.
在新托福口语考试中，本题型能够涉及到的范围包括事件、人物、具体事物和地方。现在你是不是开始有些明白为什么袁老师的口语模板要包括人、地、事、物？然后我们再来做一些难度稍大的扩展训练，看看转化原则是怎么能够帮助我们以不变应万变。
Choose an important event/ a favorite activity and give reasons explaining why this event is important/ why this activity is your favorite. 从抽象的事物转化成具体的景色描写
Well, one very important event in my life/my favorite activity is a little trip to France. I like this trip so much because we visited a small French town. The town has a very charming ocean view. I mean the sky there is so blue and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can ever be, just relax yourself on the beach, when the sun is setting down, when the ocean breeze is blowing and the seabirds are singing.
Of course I like this little trip to France also because there are many great French restaurants. They offer the best seafood in the world like lobsters and tuna fishes. The most important of all, I have made friends with some gorgeous French girls. One of them even gave me a little watch as a souvenir of our friendship.
注意一定要有两到三句转化句，也叫点题句，即在文中标注出的句子。
扩展训练：
1． Describe one object that is of special values to you and explain why it is of special values to you. Please include specific examples and details in your explanation.
2． Choose a teacher you like and explain why you like him or her. Include specific details in your statement.
3． Everyone has a goal to fulfill. What's your goal and explain why you want to fulfill this goal. Please include specific examples and details in your explanation.
(在看下面的参考答案之前，请自己先用转化原则处理一下上面的题目。这几个题目是袁老师精心收集的还原真题，还原度可以达到90％以上，同学们要好好利用)
参考答案：
1. Well, the object of special values to me is a little watch. 点题，复述原题 I like this little watch because one of my French girlfriends gave it to me as a souvenir of our friendship. This little watch is of very special meanings to me also because it always reminds me of those days I spent in a beautiful French town located by the beach. The sky there is so blue and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can ever be, just relax yourself on the beach, when the sun is setting down, when the ocean breeze is blowing and the seabirds are singing.
2．Well, the teacher I admire so much is a gorgeous French lady. I admire her because she had given me a little watch as the souvenir of our friendship. I like her also because she once invited me to visit her hometown- a beautiful French small town located by the beach. That town has a very charming ocean view. I mean the sky there is so blue and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can ever be, just relax yourself on the beach, when the sun is setting down, when the ocean breeze is blowing and the seabirds are singing.
Also, she brought me to some great restaurants offering the best seafood in the world like lobsters and tuna fishes. I even made friends with some gorgeous French girls there.
3. Ever since I was a kid, I had a dream to travel to France. My parents told me that there is a little French town located by the beach. It has a very charming ocean view. They told me the sky there is so blue and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can ever be, just relax yourself on the beach, when the sun is setting down, when the ocean breeze is blowing and the seabirds are singing.
Of course I want to travel to this small French town also because there are many great French restaurants. They offer the best seafood in the world like lobsters and tuna fishes. The most important of all, there is a good chance to make friends with some gorgeous French girls there.
同学们请谨记一点，袁老师提供的这个模板只是给大家一个参考思路，每个人都要根据自己的具体情况变换模板中的内容，并固定成自己的语言，在地点、事件、人物、物品四个方面多做转化练习。如果只是一味的机械照搬，只能产生一种戏剧化的结果：ETS的老头子们会惊讶的发现原来所有的中国女孩都爱美丽的法国女郎；所有的中国男孩子一辈子的梦想就是到法国乡下的小酒馆里等人送手表！
作者简介：
北京新航道托福项目主任。美国佛罗里达国际大学社会学硕士。1997年考入天津大学法学系，以优异的成绩获得法学和科技英语双学士学位。2001年以GRE近乎满分的成绩，获得中国留学生很难得到的美国政府全额文科奖学金，赴美攻读社会学硕士。2003年回国后，经过45天的准备，以突出的成绩通过全国司法统一考试，取得律师资格。现为中华人民共和国注册执业律师。近年来，一直活跃在英语培训教学的最前沿。尤其擅长使用逻辑分析快速破解托福阅读，口语和听力难题。地道流利的中英文双语授课风格深得广大学生的喜爱。2004年至今，出版了多部英语专著，包括中国大陆地区第一部新托福真题解析-《新托福口语真经》，《新托福写作真经》，及《游学在美国》，《生活在美国》等等。 |
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发表于 2007-11-29 12:38:08