How Watching Sports Commentary Can Improve TOEFL Listening and Speaking

TOEFL prep doesn’t always have to be about drills and practice tests. If you're a sports fan, there's a fun and surprisingly effective way to enhance your listening and speaking skills—by watching sports commentary in English.

Sports commentary is fast-paced, descriptive, and packed with real-time reactions. Listening to live or recorded commentary can train your brain to process English faster and help you think on your feet—just like you’ll need to do in the TOEFL Speaking section. Plus, the natural rhythm and expressions used by commentators are a goldmine for learning spoken English. Let’s explore how sports commentary can make TOEFL Listening and Speaking prep more dynamic and impactful.

Why Sports Commentary Is Useful for TOEFL Prep

Here’s why incorporating sports commentary into your routine can help:

Sports commentary mimics real-life conversation but with added speed and vocabulary richness. Since TOEFL Listening often includes academic discussions and lectures, getting used to different speaking styles can improve comprehension. Commentary also exposes you to spontaneous English, which is useful for TOEFL Speaking tasks. Whether it’s a football match, cricket game, or tennis final, you’ll hear plenty of natural English that sharpens your ear and builds your confidence.

How Watching Sports Commentary Improves TOEFL Listening

Here are the listening-specific benefits of sports commentary:

1. Faster Comprehension and Real-Time Processing

Commentary forces your brain to keep up with quick information. This improves your ability to follow TOEFL Listening lectures and conversations without missing key points.

2. Exposure to Native Accents and Intonation

Commentators often speak in regional English accents—British, American, Australian. Listening regularly helps you get comfortable with these variations.

3. Learning Transitions and Connectors

Phrases like “meanwhile,” “back to the action,” and “you can see here” mirror TOEFL academic transitions. Recognising these will help you understand lecture structures during the test.

4. Enhanced Note-Taking Practice

Try jotting down stats, key plays, or opinions during commentary. It’s great practice for capturing main ideas quickly—an essential TOEFL Listening skill.

How Sports Commentary Helps TOEFL Speaking

Now, let’s see how it supports speaking fluency and expression:

1. Improved Spoken Vocabulary

Words like “momentum,” “strategic move,” and “outstanding effort” aren’t just for sports—they’re perfect for TOEFL Speaking when giving opinions or describing events.

2. Better Pronunciation and Rhythm

Commentators speak clearly but with natural speed and intonation. Mimicking them can help improve your own spoken fluency and stress patterns.

3. Thinking and Responding Quickly

In TOEFL Speaking, you have limited time to think and talk. Watching fast-paced commentary conditions your brain to respond faster in English.

4. Building Confidence

Commentary is high-energy and expressive. Listening to that energy regularly can make you more confident and natural when speaking under pressure.

Recommended Sports to Watch in English

Some sports are better than others when it comes to clear and structured commentary. Here are a few good options:

Practice Tips: Making the Most of Sports Commentary

Here are a few ways to turn passive watching into active TOEFL practice:

1. Watch with Subtitles First

Start with English subtitles if you struggle to follow. Then turn them off and rely only on listening.

2. Pause and Summarise

Every 5–10 minutes, pause the video and summarise what you heard out loud. This practices both listening recall and speaking fluency.

3. Shadow Commentary

Repeat lines after the commentator, trying to match tone, pace, and pronunciation.

4. Record Yourself

Try giving your own short commentary (30 seconds to 1 minute) on a game clip. Record and evaluate your tone, grammar, and vocabulary.

5. Learn Contextual Vocabulary

Make a list of words and expressions you hear and try to use them in TOEFL Speaking mock tasks.

Sample TOEFL Speaking Task Using Sports Commentary

Task: Some people think sports are a waste of time. Others think they teach valuable skills. What is your opinion?

If you've been watching sports commentary, you might respond like:

"I believe sports teach valuable skills such as teamwork, focus, and strategy. In a recent football match I watched, the commentator discussed how a player’s strategic decision changed the outcome of the game. This reminded me how decision-making is essential in both sports and real life."

This kind of real-world example adds depth and fluency to your speaking response.

Where to Watch English Sports Commentary

Here are some platforms to explore:

I hope this blog on using sports commentary for TOEFL prep helped you discover a fun and effective way to improve your listening and speaking. By tuning into your favourite games in English, you’re not just enjoying the match—you’re sharpening your comprehension, pronunciation, and fluency. Add a little commentary to your routine, and your TOEFL score might just get a winning edge.