The ideas are there, but the opening gets in the way
This TOEFL Speaking response contains relevant suggestions for making commuting more enjoyable. The speaker recommends learning through videos and relaxing with music or shows.
However, the answer begins with repeated time references, fillers, and false starts. Those interruptions delay the first suggestion and make the delivery less continuous.
The response scored 3.4 out of five on My Speaking Score, with complete coverage. The useful next step is to express the same ideas more directly and explain their benefits more clearly.
The question
“Interesting. Some people believe that commuting can be stressful and tiring. What do you think are one or two different ways to make commuting more enjoyable? Give reasons for your answer.”
| Measure | Displayed result |
|---|---|
| My Speaking Score | 3.4/5 |
| Speaking pace | 109 words per minute |
| Word count | 82 |
| Coverage | Complete |
The full original response
“So back then when uh in the past when I used to commute um take so long time ago. Um I used to watch the YouTube videos like probably the cooking videos or maybe the English teaching videos. I I like that I can I can spend time more productive while I commute to my workplace or in my university. For the enjoy path, I usually just listen to my favorite music or maybe watching movies like friends. It's really fun.”
The speaker supplies relevant activities and reasons. Learning makes the journey productive, while entertainment makes it fun. That supports the Complete coverage result.
The explanation can still improve. In particular, the productive activity needs a clearer connection to an enjoyable journey.
The opening sets the same scene several times
Look at the phrases in the first sentence:
- “Back then”
- “In the past”
- “I used to commute”
- “So long time ago”
These expressions overlap. The speaker repeatedly establishes that the commute happened in the past, while struggling to complete the sentence.
One short opening would do the job:
“When I used to commute, I watched cooking or English videos.”
Another option is to begin with the recommendation:
“One way to make commuting more enjoyable is to watch something interesting when you’re a passenger.”
Both versions reach the activity quickly. The speaker then has more room to explain why it helps.
Connect productivity to enjoyment
The speaker says the videos make the commute productive. That is relevant, but the question specifically asks about making commuting more enjoyable.
A short explanation can connect those ideas:
“Watching English videos makes the journey feel worthwhile because I learn something instead of just waiting to arrive.”
The benefit is now explicit. The learning activity gives the journey a purpose.
The cooking idea could also develop into a concrete example:
“For example, I could watch a recipe video on the train and choose something to cook that evening. That would give me something interesting to focus on during the journey.”
This is an illustrative extension, not a detail supplied in the original response. It shows how the speaker could develop an existing idea without introducing a new topic.
Several small wording changes would help
| Original wording | Clearer wording | Reason for the change |
|---|---|---|
| “So back then when…in the past when…” | “When I used to commute…” | One time reference establishes the situation. |
| “I I like that I can I can…” | “I like being able to…” | A complete phrase avoids the repeated starts. |
| “Spend time more productive” | “Use my time more productively” | The adverb describes how the speaker uses the time. |
| “To my workplace or in my university” | “To work or university” | The destinations use a consistent construction. |
| “For the enjoy path” | “To relax” | The transition states the purpose directly. |
| “Listen to my favorite music or maybe watching…” | “Listen to my favorite music or watch…” | The coordinated verbs follow the same pattern. |
These corrections preserve the speaker’s ideas. The goal is wording that is easier to produce accurately and comfortably.
What the detailed feedback shows
The Fluency feedback identifies a concentration of fillers and false starts in the opening. It also notes that those interruptions occur before the core idea begins.
That makes the opening a useful practice target. Rather than trying to accelerate the entire answer, rehearse one clear introductory phrase and complete it before moving on.
The Language Use feedback identifies the word-form problem in “spend time more productive” and the unnatural phrase “enjoy path.” These match the visible transcript.
The Organization feedback recognizes the two main activities: learning and relaxing. Its useful development point is to explain more clearly how the learning activity improves the commute before moving to entertainment.
The speaker does not need to claim that learning reduces tiredness. Explaining that it makes the journey less boring or more worthwhile would connect the idea directly to enjoyment.
The learner’s Thai background does not change the diagnosis
The learner is Thai, but the screenshot does not establish that a particular error comes from Thai-language influence.
The displayed Intelligibility feedback says individual words come through without interfering with the message. That is a strength.
The observable priorities are repeated openings, interrupted phrases, word-form errors, and a benefit that needs clearer explanation. Those are the features the practice should address.
A model answer using the original ideas
Here’s a clearer version using the speaker’s original ideas.
“One way to make commuting more enjoyable is to use the time to learn something. When I’m a passenger, I can watch cooking videos or English lessons. This makes the journey feel worthwhile because I’m doing something useful instead of just waiting to arrive. For example, a cooking video could give me an idea for dinner that evening. If I want to relax instead, I can listen to my favorite music or watch a show such as Friends. Having something interesting to focus on makes the commute feel less boring and gives me something to look forward to.”
This version retains the original activities. It simplifies the opening, corrects the phrasing, and connects both learning and entertainment to a more enjoyable journey.
A focused practice routine
- Choose one opening. Use “One way to make commuting more enjoyable is…” or “When I used to commute…”
- Complete the activity phrase. Say what you do before adding background information.
- Explain the benefit. State how the activity makes the journey less boring, more useful, or more relaxing.
- Record the answer again. Listen for repeated starts and check whether each suggestion has a reason.
Inside My Speaking Score, open Improved Version and use Follow Along with speed control to practice complete phrases. Then record your own answer without reading and check whether the opening comes out more smoothly.
Frequently asked questions
Why is coverage complete if the answer needs improvement?
The speaker supplies relevant activities and reasons. Complete coverage does not mean every explanation is fully developed or every phrase is accurate.
Should this speaker simply speak faster?
The more direct goal is to reduce repeated starts and complete phrases comfortably. A higher average rate alone would not correct the wording or clarify the benefits.
Is the Thai accent the main problem?
The supplied feedback does not support that conclusion. It describes individual words as understandable and identifies other specific practice targets.
Does learning during a commute answer a question about enjoyment?
It can. Explain how learning makes the journey more interesting or worthwhile. That connection helps the listener understand why the activity improves the commute.
Does the speaker need more activities?
No. The response already offers several. A clearer explanation of an existing activity would be more useful than adding another suggestion.
The main takeaway
Start with the activity and explain how it helps. A short, complete opening gives your ideas room to develop.
This learner already has relevant content and understandable pronunciation. The next step is to express those ideas with fewer restarts and clearer connections.
Take a free TOEFL Speaking assessment at www.myspeakingscore.com and use your transcript and detailed feedback to find the phrases that need focused practice.