How to Master TOEFL Speaking: Lessons from a Live Webinar with John Healy and Nathan Mills
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Most TOEFL test-takers get stuck somewhere between structure and fluency, especially on Speaking Tasks 2 and 3. They’re unsure how much detail is enough, how to paraphrase without losing meaning, and how to keep things sounding natural. In our recent webinar, I teamed up with Nathan Mills to help test-takers get clear on what matters most. We broke things down in detail, responded to live answers, and offered real-time feedback so participants could walk away knowing exactly what to do next.
Nathan and I delivered another webinar on Paraphrasing. It's an enduring request because it's hard skill to learn and you only have a few seconds to get it right during the TOEFL test.
Get the complete notes and link to the video replay here (includes links back to every TOEFL Speaking webinar Nathan and I have done).
TL;DR
Nathan and I showed students how to approach TOEFL Speaking Tasks 2 and 3 with more control, clarity, and confidence. Nathan begins his lesson about 16:30 if you want to scub ahead and skip all the sermonizing I do about prep discipline :)
Basically, we focused on the value of starting strong, using a flexible but reusable template, paraphrasing with purpose, and being selective about what to include. The session included some of live examples and direct feedback to a few brave souls.
We emphasized one core idea: score well by making better decisions.
Coolest thing Nathan said was about his experience as a "human" Rater for ETS back in the day: the first few seconds of your response are critical.
Why the First 5 Seconds Matter
Human raters place you in a score band almost immediately. If your first few seconds include hesitations, “uh” and “um,” or a clunky intro, it’s hard to recover. Starting smoothly puts you in the 4-zone right away—and gives the rater a reason to root for you.
What to do:
Memorize a first line that works for almost any reading:
"According to the reading, the university has decided to renovate its library in order to support student academic success."
The goal isn’t to sound rehearsed. The goal is to sound ready.
Templates Help, but They’re Not the Whole Answer
We talked about templates not as scripts, but as frameworks. A good template gives you a reliable structure. But it still demands active thinking.
A working template should:
- Help you start your response with confidence
- Give you room to plug in key content from the prompt
- Encourage paraphrasing rather than memorization
The biggest mistake? Using a template like a script and reciting entire sentences without adapting them.
If you need help with templates -- check out my Ultimate Guide to TOEFL Speaking Templates.
Paraphrasing That Actually Works
Paraphrasing matters more than people realize. It shows the rater (and SpeechRater) that you’re using English flexibly. The fastest way to paraphrase like an expert is to convert nouns into verbs.
Try this:
- "The university announced a major renovation project."
- becomes → "The university decided to renovate the library."
Small change, big impact.
Keep Your Reading Summary Short and Focused
If your reading summary is longer than 15 seconds, you’re using up valuable time. All you really need is:
- The main point or purpose
- One or two key details
Here’s a quick chart to guide your choices:
Why Sounding Robotic Hurts Your Score
If you just read back what you wrote in your notes, you sound like a machine. Raters don’t reward that. They reward people who make decisions, prioritize, and speak naturally.
One student tried this during the webinar. Nathan counted 11 disfluencies in just the first attempt. After reworking the response using these strategies, the same student sounded smoother, more confident, and more natural.
“When you make that first impression and nail it, we’re cheering for you to get a 4,” Nathan said.
Note-Taking Makes Everything Easier
This doesn’t get enough attention, but it should. Good note-taking helps you deliver a clear, well-developed, fluent response. It touches all three scoring dimensions.
Good notes help you:
- Avoid hesitation and awkward pauses
- Use better vocabulary
- Stay organized and on point
It’s not just about remembering things. It’s about shaping what you’re going to say.
FAQ
What should I memorize?
A solid first sentence and a few transition phrases. Don’t memorize full responses.
Can I use one template for all tasks?
Yes, but adjust it to match the content. It should be flexible enough to adapt.
How long should my reading summary be?
No more than 15 seconds. Stick to the purpose and 1–2 main details.
How do raters judge the opening of my response?
They make a mental prediction within 5–10 seconds. A strong start builds momentum.
What’s a red flag that I’m using too much of the reading?
If you’re repeating whole sentences or reading your notes word for word, it’s too much.
Should I include everything mentioned?
No. Choose the most important ideas that you can say clearly.
How do I paraphrase better?
Start by turning nouns into verbs. Keep it simple, but make it yours.
Can I restart if I mess up?
No. There’s no do-over on the real TOEFL, so preparation is key.
How can I take better notes?
Use abbreviations, symbols, and focus on main ideas. Don’t try to write everything.
What if I don’t know how to paraphrase something?
Use easier words you can pronounce and restructure the idea into your own framework.
Should I memorize TOEFL vocabulary?
It helps, but don’t force it. Fluency and clarity beat fancy words.
Final Thoughts
The real takeaway from this session is simple. Make better decisions. Select the right ideas. Structure your thoughts. Use language you can control. Start strong, stay fluent, and think before you speak.
These are the skills that help you reach 26 or 27. Not tricks. Not hacks. Just clear thinking, strategic structure, and clean delivery. As I say, it's simple -- but it's not easy. I does take hard practice; hard work.
For more structured help, templates, SpeechRater-powered feedback, and task practice, head over to My Speaking Score -- and check out my Elite package where you get 1:1 coaching from me.
John