TOEIC SPEAKING PART 5 RECAP

These past few weeks, I have been doing a couple of Instagram Live sessions about the TOEIC SPEAKING test. For those of you who watched my live sessions, thank you :) For those who missed out (or those who want to review), here I have provided a little recap of my sessions. I hope this information will help you out in some way.

TOEICに関していうと、世の中にはL/Rの対策本や参考動画がたくさんあるのに比べて、S/Wについて解説する本や動画は割と少なく感じます。なので、自分の経験や知識をシェアすることで、少しでも皆さんのお役に立てればいいなと思い、数週間にわけて実施していくことにしました。

Today, I will be sharing some tips for Part 5- Propose a Solution.

Here are the points I covered in my Instagram Live Session:

★About Part 5【テスト内容】ー 1 question; preparation time: 45 seconds, speaking time: 60 seconds.

A short voice message addressing a certain issue is given, and the test-taker is required to restate the problem, as well as provide a solution to the problem. This section is graded on grammar, word choice, and consistency, as well as pronunciation, intonation, and accent. The validity (relevance) and completeness of the answers are also evaluated.

録音されたメッセージを聞き、その内容を確認した上で、問題の解決策を提案する。準備時間は45秒、実施時間は60秒。設問は画面に提示されない。満点をとるには①相手の要望を要約する、②解決策を２つ用意する、この２点が必要になる。

評価項目：内容の妥当性、内容の完成度、および発音、イントネーション、アクセントに加え、文法、語彙、一貫性

Sample Question (taken from the official ETS website):

Hi, this is Marsha Syms. Um, I’m calling about my bank card. I went to the bank machine early this morning, you know — the ATM...because the bank was closed so only the machine was open. Anyway, I put my card in the machine and got my money out....but then my card didn’t come out of the machine. I got my receipt and my money but then my bank card just didn’t come out. And I’m leaving for my vacation tonight so I’m really going to need it....I had to get to work early this morning, and couldn’t wait around for the bank to open....Could you call me here at work, and let me know how to get my bank card back? I’m really busy today, and really need you to call me soon. I can’t go on vacation without my bank card. This is Marsha Syms at 555-1234. Thanks.

★How to get a full score【攻略のポイント】－

1. 「結局何が問題なのか」をしっかり聞き取る。全部を集中して聞く必要はないので、とにかく"Could you -?" "I was wondering if you could..."などの文頭に注意して、どうしてほしいのかを明確にする。

→要望を簡潔に要約するのがポイント。これはある程度のトレーニングが必要。中学英語に出てきそうな簡単な文に要約することを目指す。
【You want..., right?】と言い返せる形を作る。

【例1】How can I make my year-end office party an enjoyable one?
→You want to have an enjoyable party.

【例2】I was wondering if you had any ideas to boost sales of our new product.
→You want to increase product sales.

【例3】Could you call me here at work, and let me know how to get my bank card back?
→You want to get your bank card back.

★不要な形容詞などはどんどん落として、必要最低限に収める。そうすることにより、より解決策を提案する時間を確保する。

2. 回答する際の【定型文】を覚える。

【定型文の構成】

1. 挨拶：Hi, this is ＿(名前)＿  of ＿(所属)＿speaking. Thank you for your call.
2. 内容の要約：In your message, you said that you want to ＿(要約)＿ .
3. 提案①：First, why don't you ＿(提案)＿? / I will ＿(提案)＿.
4. 提案②：How about ＿(提案)＿?　※
5. 挨拶：If you want to talk to me, please call me back at 123-4567. Thanks.
※各提案に対する具体例があるとより良い。

3. ある程度、汎用Solutionを頭に入れておく。そして困った時は汎用Solutionを使いまわす！

【頻繁に出題されるテーマ一覧の例】

・新商品などの宣伝・販売促進
Why don't you post an advertisement on a local newspaper?
（地元の新聞に広告を掲載するのはどうでしょうか。）
How about posting reviews about it on social networking services?
（SNSに商品のレビューを投稿するのはどうですか。）

・人材募集
How about posting recruitment information on your company website?
（会社のホームページに人材募集広告を掲載するのはどうでしょうか。）
Why don't you offer attractive employee benefits?
（福利厚生を充実させるのはどうですか。）

・社員の士気を高める
Why don't you offer a flextime system for employees?
（社内にフレックスタイムシステムを導入するのはどうでしょうか。）
How about creating a lounge for employees to relax in?
（社内にくつろげるスペースを作るのはどうですか。）

・イベント等への集客
Why don't we make an announcement on a local radio program?
（地元のラジオで放送してもらうのはどうでしょうか。）
How about handing out flyers at seminars or events?
（セミナーやイベント会場でちらしを配るのはどうですか。）

★提案をする際に、「何故その提案をしたのか」を示す具体例があればより高得点が狙える。例えば最後のHow about handing out flyers at seminars or events?を使った場合、＋αでI think it's low cost and easy advertising. （経費も少なく済むし、簡単にできるので）と一言加えられるとよりよい。

★もちろん実現性が高ければ高いほどいいが、あまりにもぶっとんだ回答でなければ想像力を駆使してなんとでも言える。

4. 「自分だったら何をしてもらえると助かるか」を最優先に！相手の立場になって考えることがとても大事。

【サンプル問題の解答例】
Hi, this is Kino Tsumori of ABC Bank speaking. Thank you for your call. In your message, you said that you want to get your bank card back (today). First, I will try to retrieve you bank card and deliver it to your office. Or, how about I reissue your bank card and mail it to your home by tonight? I think that would be easier for you because you wouldn't need to stop by. If you want to talk to me, please call me back at 123-4567. Thanks.

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That's it for Part 5! In my next Instagram Live session, I will be moving on to the last part of the speaking test: Part 6―Express an Opinion. Although I will be posting the major points of each speaking section, it would probably be best if you tune in to my further live sessions; I hope to be able to answer any questions you may have on demand :)

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."
– Robert Collier

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, and I hope this was somewhat of an interest to you! Please feel free to ask me any questions in the comments below.

And as always, your support will be very much appreciated :)