How to Handle Different English Accents on the TOEFL Listening Test?

English is a common mode of communication and is spoken in many ways across different countries. Hence, if you are someone planning to work, study, or live in a predominantly English-speaking country, you will have to speak and listen in English. Here, TOEFL comes into the scene.

Giving your TOEFL scores to the institution/company you wish to get into proves your English proficiency and shows that you can survive in that specific English-speaking country.

The examiners make the TOEFL Listening module to test your ability to understand lectures and as well as casual/formal conversations in English. These audios might be set in a personal, public, or even academic context. Note that, the audio will have accents of speakers from Australia, the UK, New Zealand and North America. 

The listening test will require you to answer 30 to 45 questions and is to be completed within a duration of 20-36 minutes depending upon the number of questions given to you.

As a test taker, how to handle different English accents on the TOEFL Listening test might be a question that would bother you. Hence, we are here with this article that has the four best strategies to ace your test and tackle different accents! 

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About the TOEFL Listening Questions

In the TOEFL Listening section, you will listen to audio that uses the kind of language you can hear in a university setting. The module requires you to listen and answer to test your:

• Basic comprehension skills

• Overall understanding of a speaker's intent and the content they speak about.

• Ability to connect information.

Contents of the Listening Test

• Lectures

No. Of Lectures: 3

Duration: 3-5 minutes per Lecture

No. Of Questions: 6 per Lecture

About: Classroom discussions

• Conversations

No. Of Conversations: 2

Duration: 3 minutes per Conversation

No. Of Questions: 5 per Conversation

Note: You can take notes throughout your TOEFL Listening test and use it to write your answers. 

General Tips for TOEFL Listening

Take a look at the following 3 tips as you prepare for your TOEFL Listening test! 

1. Stay relaxed: Always stay calm and listen to the audio carefully and don’t panic if you feel that you missed a word. Try practicing to find the overall meaning of the content.

2. Take Notes: During the listening test, try to jot down keywords or phrases as you listen. This helps you answer the given questions more confidently.

3. Be Consistent: Improving your listening skills for the test takes time. Make a mindset for it and practice in a routine.

How to Handle Different English Accents on the TOEFL Listening Test?

Getting yourself immersed in a wide variety of accents in English is just like diving into a pool of knowledge in which you will eventually become a strong swimmer as you practice consistently!

Why Does it matter?

Getting to hear different accents constantly will gradually improve your listening skills and at the same time help your brain get used to the pronunciation and tone of certain different speakers. 

For example, the English spoken in the UK which is termed as British English may sound very formal and crisp, whereas Australian English has got its laid-back vibe with unique slang. So, try hearing all 4 accents that will be used in the TOEFL Listening audio. 

How to do it?

Engage With Movies/TV Shows/Podcasts/Songs

First, try watching movies and TV shows from different countries to get used to their accents. Try the following list. 

Podcasts 

Platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts will be much help. These are the ones from where you can pick topics based on love, crime, comedy, etc. 

Reality Shows

You can also try some reality shows based on the accents mentioned. Here is a list of interesting ones for you to try!

Music

Try listening to songs based on different regions. Be sure to include American, British, and Australian accent-based songs to consistently develop your accent-understanding skill. 

All in all, try not to just, listen, but engage! Try to repeat the phrases or words that you find to be unfamiliar and learn their meanings. To begin with, use subtitles. As the days move on, you can switch the subtitles off and try to hear the audio and try to understand their content!

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