Even though I passed the TOEFL test but I really enjoy watching your videos Michael😊. For others who will ask about the efficiency of these templates in writing and speaking, I will say "YES", they are quit good, I followed them in my TOEFL test and scored 27 in speaking and 28 in writing. The main purpose behind templates is helping students to organise their ideas efficiently and in less time. Thanks for your efforts Michael👍
Usually I don't comment in RUclips, but I couldn't resist commenting here. Got my TOEFL scores today. I didn't do an iota of preparation & didn't even know the format of the exam till the previous night. Literally simply read about the format on ETS site and stumbled upon your videos and watched them for 1-2 hours and that's all. Scored 110 overall (29 in Writing) and I am really grateful for your videos. Keep up the good work Michael! :)
I am a TOEFL tutor and I love Michael's clear logic and structure, sharp color comparison on the slides, and a good rhythm in speaking! The template is also very effective IMHO.
I scored 111 in my TOEFL and you are the reason behind it Michael. Seriously like the way you guide everyone and constantly support them by repeatedly saying, 'Don't be suprised'. Great work man, keep it up! Thank You once again!! P.S.: Would be a real help if you share some insights for the GRE AWA too!😛
@@manalalwahsh6341 Well I am no Proffesional, but from my experience, I would suggest you to go paragraph wise for each question. Trust me, TOEFL reading is easy, just stay calm and collected.
Thank you very much, your templates are really great! I scored 26 on the speaking section and 28 on the writing section using your templates on November 2018 test. I do recommend everyone to use these templates, they really can boost your score.
Thanks Michael, I got a lot of help from your previous videos. I didn’t get any tutoring. I didn’t even try any practice tests. I just watched your videos and I got a really impressive score of 28/30 on the writing section. *edited for typos*
Penki Shashankh Sure, I tried calling your number but its not reachable. You must know, I am not an expert lol, I am a software engineer waiting to start grad school in 2019.
When you took the test In writing section, Did you use ordering words in your your writing. For example, firstly, secondly, finally I ask you this questions because In the latest writing question , the questions says do not use memorized words
Great video as always Michael! And I see you're adding a bit more "color" to your language. My personal favorite is "For more of this kind of crap, visit me at TOEFLResources.com"
Gonna have my test on this 9th of March 2019. Although I have pursued my B. A. in English language and literature BUT I am afraid and very anxious! I try to get +80 for my MA. gonna watch all the tapes for sure to put myself on fire. Hats off professor. keep up the good works!
Hey Michael..I just received my scores ! 118!! I religiously followed your templates for both the writing and speaking sections..can't thank you enough for your help! I sincerely appreciate your generosity!
Sir already secured a place at CASS business school , london, so TOEFL was a condition , which is now fulfilled , thanks to you . So waiting to join the college next thing in September . your blessings for the next endeavour would make the day 😇
May God mercy cover you till the rest of your life. I did exactly like what you explained I just written my exam yesterday. Hope my results are good. Thank you so much, buddy, I really Owe you one.
Hy .please tell me truelly how many marks are minimum in toeffl and tell me if i gain 55 marks in all module it is possible they give me 60 marks .and tell ma what is the passing marks of toeffl
Some young adults want independence from their parents as soon as possible. Other young adults prefer to live with their families for a longer time. Which of these situation do you think is better? All young people have different preferences in their lives around the world. Some want to leave their parents and become independent, whereas others stay and continue live with them for a longer time. Personally, I believe that it is extremely important for young generation to stay with their parents. I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay. First of all, by living with your parents young people acquire more skills which help them cope with any obstacles later in life. All parents possess a lot of experiences and they know much more about this world and how it functions than we do. My own experience is a compelling example of this. When I was at the age of eighteen, I decided to live separate from my parents and left home. I started renting an apartment in the center of my city and at the same time I was working as a ticket seller at the cinema. After working a while, the life became quite complicated for me and I was in a financial predicament because I did not know how to control money and use it wisely. In addition, I was not able to pay for my rent therefore I had to return back to my parents. Since living with my parents for a longer time, I obtained from my parents a few new skills. My parents taught me how to manage money and communicate with people so that I could support myself. After three years later, I went back to city again and lived there easier without problems. I realized that I should have stayed with my family for a longer time. Second, as we all know time is a merciless thing which spares no one, so the people we love get old. When our parents reach the age of sixty or more, they lose the capacity to look after themselves. The more they grow old, the more they desire to spend their lives with their children or grandchildren. For instance, I had a neighbor at the age sixty five and was living alone. Seeing him barely doing the chores, I decided to help him do it. After that I asked him where their children were, He said that they were living in another city. So I thought if they had lived with him, he would not have been living alone. In conclusion, I strongly believe that all young people should live with their parents. This is because they will obtain experience and take care of their parents if they get old.
Dear Michael, thank you for your great videos! I wanted to ask, what do you think about GRE type of answers in TOEFL essays? 1) When you do not take any certain position, but agree only to some extent and try to find both strengths and weaknesses of the statement. 2) When you try to explicitly explain, how your example supports your idea.
Hello! To answer your questions: 1) I generally don't recommend that. I think it is possible to get a good score with an essay like that, but I feel that it fails to answer the question. You could get punished for that. 2) I don't know exactly what you mean, but it SOUNDS like a good idea.
Thank you michael, I took the exam last May and I got "R15,L19,S19,W19". I just saw your videos two weeks before the exam. " I didnt prepare very well. I will take the second attempt on 14th of oct. I use superlearn for reading and listening section. but i still having a problem with reading.
These templates are awesome! We are using them in our TOEFL classes. For the body paragraphs, would it be better to put the explanations after the examples so they can be tied into the topic sentences or is it simply a stylistic issue?
Hello, I'm really happy to hear that you are using the templates in your classes. Whereabouts are you teaching? To answer your question, I strongly recommend putting the explanations after the topic sentences and before the examples (as indicated in the template). I honestly think that the e-rater is programmed to look for the explanations there. I will also mention that there is an updated version of this video - ruclips.net/video/1125jntOqH4/видео.html . The templates in that version are pretty much the same, but it contains slightly different grammar suggestions and general tips.
Greetings from San Antonio, Texas! That's where I'm teaching. Thanks for your prompt reply and your link to an updated version of the independent essay video. I'm wondering if you have written a TOEFL Prep textbook, or if there are textbooks that you recommend?
Sadly, I have not written a book. I think that most TOEFL prep textbooks are really bad because of inaccurate questions. For students, I generally refer to my online guides for the speaking and writing sections (youtube and on my site at toeflresources.com) and then pair those with good practice questions from the Official Test Collections.
great video, Michael. But I have a question. for multiple choice style, do I have to mention all of the choices in the introduction? Should I always refer to the other choices while writing about the chosen one? Or state why is it better than the other choices in the body paragraphs??
No, I don't think you need to. Actually, I touched on this in my NEWEST video (look for the "let's write" one). I think that you should focus mainly on your choice in the introduction.
Thank you for your videos Micheal, I observed that I have some difficulties with the writing, explaining my reasons and supporting it with examples is one of my major set backs. Please, do you have any suggestions on how I can improve on that? Thank you
Krisnberry i don’t exactly remember the “word limit” for the two essays, but I do know that I exceeded it in both . As mr. Michael said, they won’t punish you for writing more than the actual word count
Deepest thanks Michael, your videos are so simple and solid! I have a little question. I start writing my body paragraphs with ''The first key reason/role/cause that.....'' and ''Second key reason/role/cause that....'' Do you think that it a good way to start writing bodies ?
Time wasn’t enough for 4 of 6 of the speaking tasks and I got cut mid sentence 😢 Reading and listening was also felt a lot more difficult. But I still think I have a slim chance to get 95. Fingers crossed.
@@Toeflresources I got 102! 28/30/19/25. Other than speaking fiasco I got better scores in all of the other sections than I expected. Thanks you so much for your videos and thank you for not putting them behind paywalls.
@@LegateRikke How did you remember the templates for writing and speaking sections? Did you write them during 10 min break? Do you think it is possible to write during break time?
Thank you for putting so much effort into making these videos! However, I still have one question. Why don’t you include the ‘compare/contrast ‘ type? It seems quite popular as well.
thank you for your great videos...I am curious about personal examples....I've heard that they are not strong enough for the essay and it is better to use the statistics and quotation about the topic...do you believe this claim?
I strongly recommend examples. I wrote a long response to you, but I don't see it now. Anyways, there are a few things to keep in mind: 1. The question prompt actually ASKS for examples. 2. Examples make it easier to vary your vocabulary. 3. Examples reduce grammar mistakes for most students, since they are used to writing about themselves.
Thank you very much, your work is really helpful. Anyway, I have come across a question type like comparison and contrast between two ideas and stating your preference. Is there any specific template for this type of essay? Thanks
They don't really use that kind of prompt on the actual test. If you get one, though, just pick a side and support it exactly like the template says. Here's such an essay that I wrote a long time ago: www.toeflresources.com/sample-toefl-essays/sample-toefl-essays-xi
This video was just great! But please I have only one question. How important are concession statements? And is it wise to implement them at least once per body paragraph? Thank you
@@Toeflresources Like saying Although a lot of people prefer this, I don't believe that's a good idea, or just conceding that the other argument is sound and can be believed but then continue to prove why your point is more valid
Is the new style TOEFL "advantages and disadvantages" question seen in the speaking section only? Has it been showing up in the writing section as well?
14:50 - I think, a comma is missing in the last sentence, since it is the third conditional and you placed the conditional clause first. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditional_sentence#Third_conditional
Is there a grammatical mistake in the end of the first body paragraph? I think it could be: if I had not attended the aforementioned class, I would not have been thriving in my current career. According to 3rd conditional type which is: had+v3, would have+v3. Please correct me if I made a mistake by this.
No. "I would not be thriving in my current career" refers to the PRESENT. The clue here is "current." Good eye, though! My videos do, sometimes, have grammar mistakes so I am happy when people read them very closely.
Hello Michael, I'm preparing for the exam and I use your website for writing. Can you help me with this sample? Is it okay? Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "Life today is easier and more comfortable than it was when your grandparents were children." In these days many people talk about that the living conditions in the modern world have more advantages, unlike their parent’s youth. Personally, I am of the opinion that this assumption is correct. I feel this way for two main reasons, which I will explore in the following essay. First of all, today, with the technological developments, individuals can reach any kind of information easily and can use it for their own benefits. Unlike the previous generations, almost everyone in the world uses a smartphone with the internet and social media. Thus people all around the world can interact and communicate with each other. My own experience is a compelling example of this. When I was studying at the university, I had to get a high score on the TOEFL for attending to MBA. My grammar and vocabulary knowledge was adequate for the exam but the speaking section of the exam was very challenging to me because I had no experience of communication with foreigners. When I talked about my problem with my elder sister, she suggested an application which it has native and non- native English teachers who can help the students to improve their speaking abilities. So, I downloaded the application, found a native teacher and asked her for assistance. We studied together for two months and I got a really high score. Secondly, with the evolution of democracy and human rights, today’s world is a more peaceful place for minorities. Day by day, racism is decreasing while personal rights become much more important for individuals. Nowadays, in many countries, the outnumbered groups have every civil right and this makes the life easier and more comfortable unlike elder generations had once. For instance, not many just fifty years ago racism was a huge problem in the US. Especially people who have black skin like my grandparents, was seen by the white and wealthy men like animals or other something. They couldn’t travel with white people in the buses or trains, couldn’t attend Ivy League colleges or eat in the same restaurant with whites. Police forces and some dangerous groups who made by white racists have used violence against black people. However, this situation has started to change in the 1960’s with the human rights organizations protests under the leadership of Martin Luther King. From the 1960’s to the present mankind made a great progress against racism. In conclusion, I firmly believe that my generation has much more comfortable and easy life than my grandparents did when they were young. This because I have the chance to access the information whenever and wherever I want and because with the decreasing the racism and violence against minorities life is safer.
Sir, I appreaciate your efforts to help us out and thank you. But, there is one thing that you seem to be missing, which is you don't write open-ended essays. looking forward to it.
Happiness is considered very important in life. Why is it difficult to define? What factors are important in achieving happiness? this sort of questions which have uncertain answers, so it's called open-ended essay questions.
I heard many times that using I or my makes essay weaker but after watching this video and reading comments. I feel like I can use an essay. Is not it make essay weaker? do not give me wrong I just see your examples like in my experience or in my opinion.
Thank you for your videos. I used the 2017 edition for my TOEFL exam ,but I got only 20 on my writing section. What can I do to improve it besides your templates? Thanks
Hi Michael, thank you for your useful tips. I have a question which just came up after watching your video, is it really OK to just have 2 body paragraphs? Cause I've heard that you have to have 3 bodies and I was wondering if its still possible to get a high score (like over 27-28) if you write only 2 body paragraphs. I'll be so thankful if you can clear this out for me.
It is totally okay to have just two body paragraphs. Indeed, if you follow the templates above it is BETTER to have two body paragraphs. Writing three body paragraphs means that you are writing SHORTER body paragraphs. That means you have less room for varied grammatical structures and less room for varied vocabulary. Try writing a short body paragraph that contains more than one compound sentence. It is hard!
Thank you so much. I never looked at it that way. Personally, I've always preferred 2 body paragraphs but thought 3 was a "must" ! ... My exam is in 9 days. Hope I can use all your tips. Thanks again
Thank you so much. I would also like to know if it would be in any way to my advantage to go with passive sentences rather than active ones, for instance is it alright to say " My reasons will be enumerated and explored in the following essay" or should I stick with active forms?
Hello, there is question format like this: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more interesting to read a good book or see a good movie the second time than the first. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. My question is: should I mention about book in one paragraph and about movie in next paragraph or just mention about book or movie in both paragraph exclusively?
I have a question... can i balance between the agreement and disagreement for a question that i dont have that many supporting reasons in perhaps agreeing?
thank you MS. about your great lessons, but one thing I want to mention. why you are repeating the same thing about templates. It makes the video longer.
Hey Michael, I'm a high school student who is writing the TOEFL,in the essay you asked us to imagine a relevant situation and write it as a personal example.if I am still a high school student can i write about my experience in college or Job even though I didn't do those things?
In the Official Guide to the TOEFL Test 5th edition. The independence writing task of Test 4 says "Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Be sure to use your own words. Do NOT use memorized examples". Can you explain what so called "memorized examples" in this situation? Does this mean I must not make up some stories to illustrate the ideas.
It just means that you should not memorize stories BEFORE you take the test. If you do this your stories will probably be off-topic. You will need to come up with stories when you see the prompt. That said, you can hone your skills by practicing with a lot of different stories as you study. Elements and portions of those practice stories might come in handy on test day.
@@Toeflresources hello Micheal. I am using Barron's as my study resource for the TOEFL. I want you to guide me about a study material for the writing and speaking sections as Barron's is not good regarding those two sections. I plan to do the exam during this month. I may do it at 30th of November; nonetheless, I don't think there's a plenty of time to order a new text book and to wait for the shipment to arrive. please advise.
Hi , thank you for this great video, I have a question please, I got 73 on my first Toefl exam, (20 on the writing ) I am wondering how many month I need to get 26-27 if I practice the writing every day? thanks in advance !
I can't really answer that question without seeing some of your work. That said, a seven point jump is REALLY hard. Give yourself as much time as possible.
Hi Michael, what about this transitional sentence: "There are two main reasons that support my opinion"... I'm trying to get as much as options possible to use either in the writing and speaking sections.
@@Toeflresources it was yesterday. Your videos helped me a lot on the speaking and writing sessions. Thank you so much!! Reading session was more complex than I expected, but anyway...
Well, is there anyone who used templates which are mentioned above in your own TOEFL exam. Do you think that it is still getting a higher score when everyone uses this templates?
Same as in the guide. Change nothing. Just start with a hook, write your thesis and then the transition. There is nothing different! All essay styles can be handled in the same way.
First of all am so thankful for your teaching videos. I have an inquiry regarding introduction, as you mentioned we need a hook which is general information, other source mentioned that the hook must be: quote, question, anecdote or statics, otherwise I will lose grades of introduction ! Is that true? I feel am lost . Your answer will be highly appreciated. Best,
The hook can be anything, really. Just try to introduce the general theme of the essay. Do you best to avoid using the exact same words as in the prompt. Use this as a chance to expand your range of vocabulary.
@@Toeflresources To clarify, if they give us a preference style question for independent writing. Ex,) would you prefer usig printed books for research, or use the internet. So , can i start the introduction like this. There is no shortage of opinion on whether we should use printed material or technology for researh. Thats like my hook. But i am trying to follow your template as it seems easier.
Anyone please help me by rating my essay. Telling the truth ? In today's world speaking truth has became a myth .People are more comfortable in saying lies, doing so profits them .As far as I am concerned, saying truth is injurious as it cause lots of negative impact in people .Lies or white lies are more preferable ,which is generally followed in many business, saving people's life and in creating harmony between humans. Most of the business policy is to attract the costumer, saying white lies benefits them as it creates the good impression to the people in buying theirs goods. People will be more attracted by theirs policies and they will agree in purchasing following company's goods .For example; In many advertisement, we see that celebrity are doing ads and they deceive people with their white lies. People are mostly affected by theirs advertisement and buys theirs goods. Business are in bottom line by applying white-lies policy. Not only in business world but also in human life white lies are followed. Additionally, White lies are Occasionally accepted in saving people life and motivating people to do better in future .Creating a false illusion in people while being unable to accept the truth is essential in helping people to retain their good health. For instance; my cousin has a accident and doctor told that he can never walk again in his foot .But instead of telling a truth, we say white lie to his mother. Moreover, after a year my cousin was recovering in his health and his mom help him to gain a good health, which clearly portray the advantage of saying lies. If we had told the truth than his mother would have lost her sense and would not be able to help him in his bad times. White lies are also accepted in human relation as it does in saving a life of patients. Finally ,Harmony is important in any relationship, speaking white lies can help in obtaining accord in human's life. Human life is combination of sorrow and happiness. People are not perfect, they do mistakes accidentally or intentionally but they are in aware of not hampering their relationship with theirs beloved. In such situation people tends to speak white lies in saving relations and in having a good harmony with each other. In conclusion, reveling a truth is not profitable. For maintaining a healthy environment in between the people white lies is necessary, it might be false but it is a good way in saving business, people life and their relationship.
I died at 11:32
Lol
Even though I passed the TOEFL test but I really enjoy watching your videos Michael😊.
For others who will ask about the efficiency of these templates in writing and speaking, I will say "YES", they are quit good, I followed them in my TOEFL test and scored 27 in speaking and 28 in writing.
The main purpose behind templates is helping students to organise their ideas efficiently and in less time.
Thanks for your efforts Michael👍
Awesome. I am so happy to have helped a little bit.
Usually I don't comment in RUclips, but I couldn't resist commenting here. Got my TOEFL scores today. I didn't do an iota of preparation & didn't even know the format of the exam till the previous night. Literally simply read about the format on ETS site and stumbled upon your videos and watched them for 1-2 hours and that's all. Scored 110 overall (29 in Writing) and I am really grateful for your videos. Keep up the good work Michael! :)
Thanks!
Tell us another one :'D
I am a TOEFL tutor and I love Michael's clear logic and structure, sharp color comparison on the slides, and a good rhythm in speaking! The template is also very effective IMHO.
Thanks for the really kind words. They mean a lot to me.
I scored 111 in my TOEFL and you are the reason behind it Michael. Seriously like the way you guide everyone and constantly support them by repeatedly saying, 'Don't be suprised'. Great work man, keep it up!
Thank You once again!!
P.S.: Would be a real help if you share some insights for the GRE AWA too!😛
Aw, thanks for those sweet words. They mean a lot to me. What's next for you?
@@Toeflresources Next, I have my GRE scheduled on this 17th, and then MS in the states!😇
Congratulation, my exam is on sunday. 2days left. How can overcome reading section.
@@manalalwahsh6341 Well I am no Proffesional, but from my experience, I would suggest you to go paragraph wise for each question. Trust me, TOEFL reading is easy, just stay calm and collected.
@@sohamsarda8907 what are the materials you used to prepare for the TOEFL exam?
Thank you very much, your templates are really great! I scored 26 on the speaking section and 28 on the writing section using your templates on November 2018 test. I do recommend everyone to use these templates, they really can boost your score.
Thanks for coming back to share the good news!
What's next for you?
Thanks Michael, I got a lot of help from your previous videos. I didn’t get any tutoring. I didn’t even try any practice tests. I just watched your videos and I got a really impressive score of 28/30 on the writing section. *edited for typos*
Mr Tau S can you tell me what's your total toefl score ?
Penki Shashankh Hi, I gave the test twice. The first time my score was 106 and the second time 110.
can i have a little conversation with you in your leisure time. please text me in whatsapp or normal text +91 8903526648
That is awesome. I'm so happy to have helped a bit.
Penki Shashankh Sure, I tried calling your number but its not reachable. You must know, I am not an expert lol, I am a software engineer waiting to start grad school in 2019.
Thanks Micheal!,I got a 29 in writing because of your templates!
Not true. You got that because of your hard work!!
When you took the test
In writing section, Did you use ordering words in your your writing. For example, firstly, secondly, finally
I ask you this questions because
In the latest writing question , the questions says do not use memorized words
Adjust the speed of this video to 1.25. I promise, it will be more effective :)
Thanks.
I watch him at x1.5-2.0.
Why ELS teachers talk with this pause after each word
@Andrea bcz they are altruistic, they think about everyone who are not as good as you.
I am watching at 2x and wish there's a 2.5x. The content is great though. I am grateful for that.
Great video as always Michael! And I see you're adding a bit more "color" to your language. My personal favorite is "For more of this kind of crap, visit me at TOEFLResources.com"
Hello Michael, Thanks for great work and great templates for both writing tasks. These templates make the tasks easy. Thanks again.
Gonna have my test on this 9th of March 2019. Although I have pursued my B. A. in English language and literature BUT I am afraid and very anxious! I try to get +80 for my MA. gonna watch all the tapes for sure to put myself on fire. Hats off professor. keep up the good works!
Good luck to you! Let me know if I can be of any additional assistance.
Hey Michael..I just received my scores ! 118!! I religiously followed your templates for both the writing and speaking sections..can't thank you enough for your help! I sincerely appreciate your generosity!
Brilliant! I am so glad to have helped a little bit. What's next for you?
@@Toeflresources I am already done with my GRE...so now I will start applying in PhD programs for Fall '19 :)
Hey, that's great. Come back in 2020 and let me know how it all went. :)
got 104 thanks to you sir. only four days of preparation.
Brilliant. What's next for you?
I adjusted the video's speed to 2.0. Thank you, professor.
Smart man!
Make sure to watch the 2019 version.
Thank you sir , this turned out to be the perfect way to structure task 2 ! Got 114/120 W 29 !
Nice work! I'm proud of you. What's next?
Sir already secured a place at CASS business school , london, so TOEFL was a condition , which is now fulfilled , thanks to you . So waiting to join the college next thing in September . your blessings for the next endeavour would make the day 😇
@@siddharthgupta2715 Good luck to you!
May God mercy cover you till the rest of your life. I did exactly like what you explained I just written my exam yesterday. Hope my results are good. Thank you so much, buddy, I really Owe you one.
Come back in a week and let me know the result!
Thanks Michael .. I m greatly thankful to your template structure techniques...it really help to organise sentences in coherence
Wonderful! Have you taken the test yet?
I did not studied as I should and I got lower than required for my masters. I need you!!! Thanks !
Well, visit my website to see how I can help you more: toeflresources.com/
Hy .please tell me truelly how many marks are minimum in toeffl and tell me if i gain 55 marks in all module it is possible they give me 60 marks .and tell ma what is the passing marks of toeffl
Some young adults want independence from their parents as soon as possible. Other young adults prefer to live with their families for a longer time. Which of these situation do you think is better?
All young people have different preferences in their lives around the world. Some want to leave their parents and become independent, whereas others stay and continue live with them for a longer time. Personally, I believe that it is extremely important for young generation to stay with their parents. I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.
First of all, by living with your parents young people acquire more skills which help them cope with any obstacles later in life. All parents possess a lot of experiences and they know much more about this world and how it functions than we do. My own experience is a compelling example of this. When I was at the age of eighteen, I decided to live separate from my parents and left home. I started renting an apartment in the center of my city and at the same time I was working as a ticket seller at the cinema. After working a while, the life became quite complicated for me and I was in a financial predicament because I did not know how to control money and use it wisely. In addition, I was not able to pay for my rent therefore I had to return back to my parents. Since living with my parents for a longer time, I obtained from my parents a few new skills. My parents taught me how to manage money and communicate with people so that I could support myself. After three years later, I went back to city again and lived there easier without problems. I realized that I should have stayed with my family for a longer time.
Second, as we all know time is a merciless thing which spares no one, so the people we love get old. When our parents reach the age of sixty or more, they lose the capacity to look after themselves. The more they grow old, the more they desire to spend their lives with their children or grandchildren. For instance, I had a neighbor at the age sixty five and was living alone. Seeing him barely doing the chores, I decided to help him do it. After that I asked him where their children were, He said that they were living in another city. So I thought if they had lived with him, he would not have been living alone.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that all young people should live with their parents. This is because they will obtain experience and take care of their parents if they get old.
Thank you Michael, your videos helped me a lot in achieving my desired score!
Nice! Have you taken the test already?
Dear Michael, thank you for your great videos! I wanted to ask, what do you think about GRE type of answers in TOEFL essays?
1) When you do not take any certain position, but agree only to some extent and try to find both strengths and weaknesses of the statement.
2) When you try to explicitly explain, how your example supports your idea.
Hello! To answer your questions:
1) I generally don't recommend that. I think it is possible to get a good score with an essay like that, but I feel that it fails to answer the question. You could get punished for that.
2) I don't know exactly what you mean, but it SOUNDS like a good idea.
That’s so helpful ! Thank you very much, I hope I will get a high score.
I hope so, damn it!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help
I just want to say thank u Got 76 i need 71 im a Colombian student thank u love 4ever.
Great work! What's next for you?
@@Toeflresources get my internship thanks again
Good luck! Stop by later and let me know how it went.
Thank you michael, I took the exam last May and I got "R15,L19,S19,W19". I just saw your videos two weeks before the exam. " I didnt prepare very well. I will take the second attempt on 14th of oct. I use superlearn for reading and listening section. but i still having a problem with reading.
My exam is on the 14th as well, good luck Manal!
Good luck 😊
R u Yemeni please?
@@manalalwahsh6341 result?
@@EnormityGamer Hi, it was the worst result ever, I got 70, 15 in both R and L. I did well on S and W
Thank you so much ! I scored 72
I'm here for ya!
These templates are awesome! We are using them in our TOEFL classes. For the body paragraphs, would it be better to put the explanations after the examples so they can be tied into the topic sentences or is it simply a stylistic issue?
Hello,
I'm really happy to hear that you are using the templates in your classes. Whereabouts are you teaching? To answer your question, I strongly recommend putting the explanations after the topic sentences and before the examples (as indicated in the template). I honestly think that the e-rater is programmed to look for the explanations there.
I will also mention that there is an updated version of this video - ruclips.net/video/1125jntOqH4/видео.html . The templates in that version are pretty much the same, but it contains slightly different grammar suggestions and general tips.
Greetings from San Antonio, Texas! That's where I'm teaching. Thanks for your prompt reply and your link to an updated version of the independent essay video. I'm wondering if you have written a TOEFL Prep textbook, or if there are textbooks that you recommend?
Sadly, I have not written a book. I think that most TOEFL prep textbooks are really bad because of inaccurate questions. For students, I generally refer to my online guides for the speaking and writing sections (youtube and on my site at toeflresources.com) and then pair those with good practice questions from the Official Test Collections.
dude are you awesome or what?
I'm just a regular dude!
great video, Michael. But I have a question. for multiple choice style, do I have to mention all of the choices in the introduction? Should I always refer to the other choices while writing about the chosen one? Or state why is it better than the other choices in the body paragraphs??
No, I don't think you need to. Actually, I touched on this in my NEWEST video (look for the "let's write" one). I think that you should focus mainly on your choice in the introduction.
Thank you for your videos Micheal, I observed that I have some difficulties with the writing, explaining my reasons and supporting it with examples is one of my major set backs. Please, do you have any suggestions on how I can improve on that? Thank you
Check out this video: ruclips.net/video/8FBQ18r5NpA/видео.html
Good stuff here!! Thank you
Thank you so, so much! I scored 27 in writing. Literally found your videos 3 days before my TOEFL.
Wonderful! What is next for you?
TOEFL Resources well, I am applying to NYU. I want to study recorded music ☺️
Thanks again! I will recommend this channel to all my friends
Good luck to you! Thanks for sharing the videos! Come back in a few months and let me know how the application went. :)
How many words did your essay sum up to?
Krisnberry i don’t exactly remember the “word limit” for the two essays, but I do know that I exceeded it in both . As mr. Michael said, they won’t punish you for writing more than the actual word count
Deepest thanks Michael, your videos are so simple and solid! I have a little question. I start writing my body paragraphs with ''The first key reason/role/cause that.....'' and ''Second key reason/role/cause that....'' Do you think that it a good way to start writing bodies ?
That's fine, but make sure you don't introduce and grammar problems by over-complicating things!
You are great!!!
I'm taking TOEFL this Friday and I haven't got much of a chance to study yet. Hope I can get +95. Wish me luck!
Time wasn’t enough for 4 of 6 of the speaking tasks and I got cut mid sentence 😢 Reading and listening was also felt a lot more difficult. But I still think I have a slim chance to get 95. Fingers crossed.
How did it go?
@@Toeflresources I got 102! 28/30/19/25. Other than speaking fiasco I got better scores in all of the other sections than I expected. Thanks you so much for your videos and thank you for not putting them behind paywalls.
@@LegateRikke How did you remember the templates for writing and speaking sections? Did you write them during 10 min break? Do you think it is possible to write during break time?
Thank you for putting so much effort into making these videos! However, I still have one question. Why don’t you include the ‘compare/contrast ‘ type? It seems quite popular as well.
Honestly, the compare and contrast type doesn't seem to be used on the actual test. Just in textbooks.
TOEFL Resources thanks!
@@Toeflresources have you ever been videos about these compare and contrast type questions?
thank you for your great videos...I am curious about personal examples....I've heard that they are not strong enough for the essay and it is better to use the statistics and quotation about the topic...do you believe this claim?
I strongly recommend examples. I wrote a long response to you, but I don't see it now. Anyways, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. The question prompt actually ASKS for examples.
2. Examples make it easier to vary your vocabulary.
3. Examples reduce grammar mistakes for most students, since they are used to writing about themselves.
@@Toeflresources I really appreciate your help
very helpful ! thank you
You're quite welcome! Just make sure to watch the 2019 version!
Superb
Thank you very much, your work is really helpful. Anyway, I have come across a question type like comparison and contrast between two ideas and stating your preference. Is there any specific template for this type of essay? Thanks
They don't really use that kind of prompt on the actual test. If you get one, though, just pick a side and support it exactly like the template says. Here's such an essay that I wrote a long time ago:
www.toeflresources.com/sample-toefl-essays/sample-toefl-essays-xi
@@Toeflresources Thank you very much for the immediate reply :)
My pleasure!
This video was just great! But please I have only one question. How important are concession statements? And is it wise to implement them at least once per body paragraph? Thank you
What do you mean by "concession statement"?
@@Toeflresources Like saying Although a lot of people prefer this, I don't believe that's a good idea, or just conceding that the other argument is sound and can be believed but then continue to prove why your point is more valid
@@Toeflresources it means writing the other statement by clarifying why you do not choose it.
Thank you so much for the video. I have a question. Can i state the reason by using a disadvantage of the opposite side of my point?
Yes, that is fine.
Is the new style TOEFL "advantages and disadvantages" question seen in the speaking section only? Has it been showing up in the writing section as well?
Not that I know of.
Could you please add videos about reading section?
14:50 - I think, a comma is missing in the last sentence, since it is the third conditional and you placed the conditional clause first. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditional_sentence#Third_conditional
Good eye. I'll try to avoid the same thing happening in the 2019 version!
Hey, can u plz tell me what are the common questions asked in independent writing section? It would be honoured if u replied!
There are no "common" questions as they don't usually repeat questions. The most common topics and styles are described in this video.
Is there a grammatical mistake in the end of the first body paragraph?
I think it could be: if I had not attended the aforementioned class, I would not have been thriving in my current career.
According to 3rd conditional type which is: had+v3, would have+v3.
Please correct me if I made a mistake by this.
No. "I would not be thriving in my current career" refers to the PRESENT. The clue here is "current."
Good eye, though! My videos do, sometimes, have grammar mistakes so I am happy when people read them very closely.
Good
23:00 co-found is a synonym of partner, right?
No. Co-founded just means that he founded (created) it with someone else.
Hello Michael, I'm preparing for the exam and I use your website for writing. Can you help me with this sample? Is it okay?
Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
"Life today is easier and more comfortable than it was when your grandparents were children."
In these days many people talk about that the living conditions in the modern world have more advantages, unlike their parent’s youth. Personally, I am of the opinion that this assumption is correct. I feel this way for two main reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.
First of all, today, with the technological developments, individuals can reach any kind of information easily and can use it for their own benefits. Unlike the previous generations, almost everyone in the world uses a smartphone with the internet and social media. Thus people all around the world can interact and communicate with each other. My own experience is a compelling example of this. When I was studying at the university, I had to get a high score on the TOEFL for attending to MBA. My grammar and vocabulary knowledge was adequate for the exam but the speaking section of the exam was very challenging to me because I had no experience of communication with foreigners. When I talked about my problem with my elder sister, she suggested an application which it has native and non- native English teachers who can help the students to improve their speaking abilities. So, I downloaded the application, found a native teacher and asked her for assistance. We studied together for two months and I got a really high score.
Secondly, with the evolution of democracy and human rights, today’s world is a more peaceful place for minorities. Day by day, racism is decreasing while personal rights become much more important for individuals. Nowadays, in many countries, the outnumbered groups have every civil right and this makes the life easier and more comfortable unlike elder generations had once. For instance, not many just fifty years ago racism was a huge problem in the US. Especially people who have black skin like my grandparents, was seen by the white and wealthy men like animals or other something. They couldn’t travel with white people in the buses or trains, couldn’t attend Ivy League colleges or eat in the same restaurant with whites. Police forces and some dangerous groups who made by white racists have used violence against black people. However, this situation has started to change in the 1960’s with the human rights organizations protests under the leadership of Martin Luther King. From the 1960’s to the present mankind made a great progress against racism.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that my generation has much more comfortable and easy life than my grandparents did when they were young. This because I have the chance to access the information whenever and wherever I want and because with the decreasing the racism and violence against minorities life is safer.
Sir, I appreaciate your efforts to help us out and thank you. But, there is one thing that you seem to be missing, which is you don't write open-ended essays. looking forward to it.
What do you mean, exactly, by "open ended?" If you let me know what you are thinking of, I can let you know my thoughts.
Happiness is considered very important in life. Why is it difficult to
define? What factors are important in achieving happiness?
this sort of questions which have uncertain answers, so it's called open-ended essay questions.
@@yusufsenol6992 Questions like that are not used on the test.
I have question about advantages and disadvantage.. how i can organize the essay and how many advantages and disadvantages should i write?
There is no advantages and disadvantage essay. That only shows up in the speaking section.
I heard many times that using I or my makes essay weaker but after watching this video and reading comments. I feel like I can use an essay. Is not it make essay weaker? do not give me wrong I just see your examples like in my experience or in my opinion.
Thank you for your videos. I used the 2017 edition for my TOEFL exam ,but I got only 20 on my writing section.
What can I do to improve it besides your templates?
Thanks
Grammar. Study grammar as much as you can.
Hi Michael, thank you for your useful tips. I have a question which just came up after watching your video, is it really OK to just have 2 body paragraphs? Cause I've heard that you have to have 3 bodies and I was wondering if its still possible to get a high score (like over 27-28) if you write only 2 body paragraphs. I'll be so thankful if you can clear this out for me.
It is totally okay to have just two body paragraphs. Indeed, if you follow the templates above it is BETTER to have two body paragraphs.
Writing three body paragraphs means that you are writing SHORTER body paragraphs. That means you have less room for varied grammatical structures and less room for varied vocabulary.
Try writing a short body paragraph that contains more than one compound sentence. It is hard!
Thank you so much. I never looked at it that way. Personally, I've always preferred 2 body paragraphs but thought 3 was a "must" ! ... My exam is in 9 days. Hope I can use all your tips. Thanks again
@@zahrah9414 I am happy to help. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you so much. I would also like to know if it would be in any way to my advantage to go with passive sentences rather than active ones, for instance is it alright to say " My reasons will be enumerated and explored in the following essay" or should I stick with active forms?
@@zahrah9414 active is probably best.
Hello, there is question format like this: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more interesting to read a good book or see a good movie the second time than the first. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
My question is: should I mention about book in one paragraph and about movie in next paragraph or just mention about book or movie in both paragraph exclusively?
Both methods are fine. Take your pick.
I generally suggest just focusing one of the choices, but that is merely my preference.
Can you give us some tips to memorize every template you gave us?
Well, they aren't really LONG, so I guess you will just have to memorize them though repetition. One word at a time!
@@Toeflresources but they are 8 different templates haha
Better get to work right away. :)
I have a question... can i balance between the agreement and disagreement for a question that i dont have that many supporting reasons in perhaps agreeing?
I don't think you should do that.
thank you MS. about your great lessons, but one thing I want to mention. why you are repeating the same thing about templates. It makes the video longer.
That's my style!
Hey Michael, I'm a high school student who is writing the TOEFL,in the essay you asked us to imagine a relevant situation and write it as a personal example.if I am still a high school student can i write about my experience in college or Job even though I didn't do those things?
Basically, you need to practice making up fake stories. That sounds dumb, but it will come in handy.
In the Official Guide to the TOEFL Test 5th edition. The independence writing task of Test 4 says "Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Be sure to use your own words. Do NOT use memorized examples". Can you explain what so called "memorized examples" in this situation? Does this mean I must not make up some stories to illustrate the ideas.
It just means that you should not memorize stories BEFORE you take the test. If you do this your stories will probably be off-topic. You will need to come up with stories when you see the prompt.
That said, you can hone your skills by practicing with a lot of different stories as you study. Elements and portions of those practice stories might come in handy on test day.
@@Toeflresources hello Micheal. I am using Barron's as my study resource for the TOEFL. I want you to guide me about a study material for the writing and speaking sections as Barron's is not good regarding those two sections. I plan to do the exam during this month. I may do it at 30th of November; nonetheless, I don't think there's a plenty of time to order a new text book and to wait for the shipment to arrive. please advise.
Hi , thank you for this great video, I have a question please, I got 73 on my first Toefl exam, (20 on the writing ) I am wondering how many month I need to get 26-27 if I practice the writing every day? thanks in advance !
I can't really answer that question without seeing some of your work. That said, a seven point jump is REALLY hard. Give yourself as much time as possible.
Hi Michael, what about this transitional sentence: "There are two main reasons that support my opinion"... I'm trying to get as much as options possible to use either in the writing and speaking sections.
I don't like it. It sounds a bit awkward. Why not use my version instead?
@@Toeflresources Thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely use yours only.
Good luck! When is your test?
@@Toeflresources it was yesterday. Your videos helped me a lot on the speaking and writing sessions. Thank you so much!! Reading session was more complex than I expected, but anyway...
Yeah, the reading section is tough. But stop by again in 10 days and let me know the result, if you feel like sharing. :)
Well, is there anyone who used templates which are mentioned above in your own TOEFL exam. Do you think that it is still getting a higher score when everyone uses this templates?
It will be okay.
@@Toeflresources, thank you very much, Sir
hey man can u spead from notes u make in speaking?
Probably.
@@Toeflresources lol dont scare u must be knowing for sure can we speak from notes we make like ur templates r based on them
I mean it is OKAY to do so. I just don't know if you are capable of it. It is hard! :)
you didn't talk about three-choice type question in details
Answer those in exactly the same way. Pick one choice and support it. You can ignore the other choices.
I appreciate your prompt reply, but about the introduction? I need to memorize a good one @@Toeflresources
Same as in the guide. Change nothing. Just start with a hook, write your thesis and then the transition. There is nothing different! All essay styles can be handled in the same way.
First of all am so thankful for your teaching videos. I have an inquiry regarding introduction, as you mentioned we need a hook which is general information, other source mentioned that the hook must be: quote, question, anecdote or statics, otherwise I will lose grades of introduction ! Is that true? I feel am lost . Your answer will be highly appreciated.
Best,
The hook can be anything, really. Just try to introduce the general theme of the essay. Do you best to avoid using the exact same words as in the prompt. Use this as a chance to expand your range of vocabulary.
Would that be a problem if we can't find a hook during the exam?
Not really. That is just a tiny part of the essay.
Can I start the intro with: There is no shortage of opinion on ...... "the topic sentence summarized"
I don't know what you want to start with. Can you clarify that for me?
@@Toeflresources To clarify, if they give us a preference style question for independent writing. Ex,) would you prefer usig printed books for research, or use the internet.
So , can i start the introduction like this.
There is no shortage of opinion on whether we should use printed material or technology for researh. Thats like my hook.
But i am trying to follow your template as it seems easier.
Yeah. You can use that. Hey, just make sure to watch the 2019 version of this video. You are working with last year's video right now.
waiting for 2019 up Date
Honestly, don't wait. There isn't much to add to the videos. I don't think I will update them until much later in the year.
🗽
Anyone please help me by rating my essay.
Telling the truth ?
In today's world speaking truth has became a myth .People are more comfortable in saying lies, doing so profits them .As far as I am concerned, saying truth is injurious as it cause lots of negative impact in people .Lies or white lies are more preferable ,which is generally followed in many business, saving people's life and in creating harmony between humans.
Most of the business policy is to attract the costumer, saying white lies benefits them as it creates the good impression to the people in buying theirs goods. People will be more attracted by theirs policies and they will agree in purchasing following company's goods .For example; In many advertisement, we see that celebrity are doing ads and they deceive people with their white lies. People are mostly affected by theirs advertisement and buys theirs goods. Business are in bottom line by applying white-lies policy. Not only in business world but also in human life white lies are followed.
Additionally, White lies are Occasionally accepted in saving people life and motivating people to do better in future .Creating a false illusion in people while being unable to accept the truth is essential in helping people to retain their good health. For instance; my cousin has a accident and doctor told that he can never walk again in his foot .But instead of telling a truth, we say white lie to his mother. Moreover, after a year my cousin was recovering in his health and his mom help him to gain a good health, which clearly portray the advantage of saying lies. If we had told the truth than his mother would have lost her sense and would not be able to help him in his bad times. White lies are also accepted in human relation as it does in saving a life of patients.
Finally ,Harmony is important in any relationship, speaking white lies can help in obtaining accord in human's life. Human life is combination of sorrow and happiness. People are not perfect, they do mistakes accidentally or intentionally but they are in aware of not hampering their relationship with theirs beloved. In such situation people tends to speak white lies in saving relations and in having a good harmony with each other.
In conclusion, reveling a truth is not profitable. For maintaining a healthy environment in between the people white lies is necessary, it might be false but it is a good way in saving business, people life and their relationship.