【比較分析】雅思和新託福口語區別大解密
雅思和新托福考試是出國考試中最炙手可熱的，而口語在兩類考試中都是中國考生的軟肋。就口語考試來說，無論是在新託福還是雅思考試中，都是學生最薄弱的環節之一。英國大使館文化教育處透露，2008年中國學生口語的平均得分5.3分(這其中還包含香港和澳門學生的考分。這兩個地區學生的平均考分是高於大陸學生的平均水平的。)而這一成績在全球排名倒數第三。就整體來看，中國大陸雅思考生的平均成績自2000年以來一直徘徊在全世界100餘個參考國家中的倒數幾位，2006年的雅思均分爲5.53，僅比阿聯酋考生分數高。再來看新託福口語成績。美國教育考試服務中心近期公佈了全球考生2008年的託福成績報告。據報告顯示，中國考生口語成績，比全球平均分略低，只有74分。再從整體來看，中國考生去年的新託福的平均分是76分，而全球考生的平均分是79分，這裏可以看到中國考生的平均成績比全球的水平還要略微落後一些。看來口語考試都是兩類考試的關鍵部分。
那麼今天兩種考試在口語部分的區別何在。
兩種考試的口語分別希望考我們什麼？ 首先，來看看雅思和新託福口語考試的評分標準有什麼不同。根據ETS的官方指南(Offical Guide)，我們知道新託福口語考試從言語表達、語言應用和話題發展三個方面來考查考生。而雅思口語考試更側重考察考生的流利程度、詞彙、語法以及發音四個方面。簡言之，新託福口語考試時考查考生的校園日常對話以及課堂交流能力。而雅思口語考試考查學生的生存英語能力，即話題涉及的範圍比較廣。很多專家解釋爲新託福口語考試的答題內容比較重要，即單位時間內有邏輯地表達的信息越豐富越好。而雅思口語考試的表達比較重要，即越像英語本土人說話越好。
兩種口考試的形式又有什麼區別？這裏我們簡單的介紹一下兩種口語考試的考試題型。新託福口語考試與雅思口語考試有着很大的差異。新託福口語考試的時間爲20分鐘，考生要戴上耳機，通過錄音，記錄下自己的答案。考試題目有6題，其中1、2道爲獨立回答題，這兩道題的準備時間爲15秒，回答時間是45秒。第3、4道要求先讀一段75~100字的文字，然後聽一段與閱讀文字在內容學術話題。3、4題的準備時間是30秒，回答時間是60秒。最後的5、6道先聽一段1分鐘左右的對話或短文，然後回答相應內容加上自己的意見。最後兩道題目的準備時間是20秒，回答時間爲60秒。考生可在聽錄音的過程中做筆記來幫助答題。雅思口語考試一般時長12至15分鐘，要和考官進行面對面的交流。口語分成三個部分，第一部分談論第一部分談論一些日常話題，比如學習、工作、天氣、愛好、交通等等。第二部分考生拿到一張卡片，準備一分鐘，然後就卡片中的內容發言一至兩分鐘，卡片可能是人物、體育、環境、藝術、科技、傳媒等話題。第三部分，考官將對第二部分的內容進行擴展，提問一些較爲深入和抽象的問題。
那針對兩種考試，我們要注意什麼呢？
1.時間。
無論是新託福口語考試還是雅思口語考試，考生掌控時間能力的強弱對成績有着直接影響。新託福口語考試對時間的要求更高一些。因爲答題時間最多不超過1分鐘。但是需要表達的信息卻不能少。如第1、2中的題目屬於日常話題，這兩道題本身難度比較小，所以特別需要注意的就是時間的分配問題，在這45秒鐘裏，一般用5~6秒完成主題句。接下來的15-20給出一個支持觀點和細節。然後用同樣的時間給出第二個。因此如果考生能在考前進行充分的準備，積累常用的細節或者事例，考試的時候就會從容許多。
而雅思口語考試除了第一部分以外，第二、三部分的時間掌控主要體現在答案結構的安排。我們不能具體到每個細節用多少時間。但是除了開頭和結尾的30秒外，每一個小點應該安排30-35秒左右。每一個小點如何能講出更多的信息，如何使你的表達聽起來更專業，更地道，更符合西方國家的文化習慣，是我們在考試中需要時刻記住的。其實雅思口語和新託福口語考試最大的不同在於雅思口語的單個題目答題時間比託福口語的時間要長。這就要求雅思口語的答題中細節要更加細緻。其次是雅思口語考試的答案都是主觀題，而新託福口語考試的綜合任務大部分都是重述題目中已經給定的內容，聽力的能力在新託福口語考試中至關重要。
2. 細節的細緻程度。
我們來看2009年5月30日雅思口語第一部分的一個真題：Which room do you like most ? 這個題目在2008年的新託福口語第一道任務中也出現過。我們先來看一個新託福3.5~4(exccellent)分的答案：：(45秒、8句)The room I like most is defnitely my own bedroom, because I decorated it myself. My mom was so kind that she allowed me to chooes all the staff that I wanted to adnore my room, like the pink bed, the pink curtains as well as a gorgeous pink book shelf. What’s more, it is also a trustworthy friend of mine. It would remian bright even I burnt the midnight oil; it would play Marseillaise if I felt hopless and it always turns the cold shoulder to me when I make mistakes. I like my room most not only because of it is attractive by appreance, but also sincere inside。
我們看見，託福口語的答案有了細節和理由，加上完整的結構和正確的語法就可以了。但是雅思口語的第一題都是簡答題。因此簡單回答重點即可。如： it of course is my bedroom, because I decorated it myself and it is a good friend to share happines and woes。但是倘若這道題目出現在第二個部分中，答案這樣是不夠的。從時間上來講，細節應該更加細緻纔能有足夠的內容說。從內容上來說，更應注意表達的多樣性。從表達上來講，應該注意和考官的眼神交流。
我們來看一個7.5分的口語表達：(最好2分鐘)There are a lot of rooms I like to stay in when I am at home, but among all these, I think my bedroom is on the tip of my tongue when you ask me such question. Well, I am the Chief desginer of my room and I took care of almost all the decoration purchase. I have brought all the pink staff home: the pink Bohimian bed, the pink wood book shelf as well as the pink lace curtains with a lot triangle patterns on them. I am such a huge fan of pink. Another point I would like to mention here is the loyality my bedroom represents to me. I always stay late due to a lot of assignment, but my room never has any complian. What’s more, it is always the last one to hit the hay. My bedroom is also very inspiring that it keeps playing Marseillaise if I encounters setbacks. The last point of my friend is that it blames me when I make mistakes. Like once, I had an argument with my mom because she refused to buy a new shirt for me. When I locked myself inside my room, I found the wall turns its shoulder to me that it looks white. I felt loney and regreting that probably I should not be such gready guy. That’s probably why I feel like falling in love with my tiny but fantastic bedroom.
最後給大家一些雅思考官提供的口語題目，供大家日常的練習和揣摩。
Speaking topics
1) Talk about a sports-person or sports team that you admire
You should say what sport they play
You should say where and when they play
You should explain why you admire them
2) Talk about a sport that you enjoy or have enjoyed playing
You should say where you play this sport
You should say when you play this sport
You should explain why you like it
3) Describe your ideal job
Say what the job is
Describe what duties it would involve。
Explain why you would like to do this job
4) Describe the best party you have been to
Say when and where this party took place
Describe how you celebrated
Explain why you enjoyed it
5) Talk about the season of the year that you like best。
You should say what the season is like。
You should say at what time of the year this season occurs。
You should explain why you like it。
6) Talk about a type of music that you particularly enjoy。
You should say when you listen to this music。
You should explain why you like it。
You should say which person or groups of people play this music。
7) Describe an historic building you have seen or would like to visit。
Say what this building looks like。
You should state where it is。
Explain why you liked seeing or would like to see it。
8) Talk about the type of accommodation you live in。
You should say hot long you have lived there。
You should explain why you live in this type of accommodation。
You should say why you like or do not like it。
9) Describe the weather that you really enjoy。
State what type of weather it is。
Say when it is most common to have this type of weather。
Explain why you like it。
10) Talk about a holiday that you have particularly enjoyed。
You should say where you went on holiday。
You should say when and with whom you went on the holiday。
You should explain why you enjoyed it。
11) Describe you favorite mode of transport。
Describe what type of transport you prefer。
State how often you travel in this way。
Say why you like it。
12) Describe a famous business person you admire。
Say who this person is and what job they do。
State how you found out about them。
Explain why you admire them。
13) Describe your favorite children’s story。
Describe the story。
You should state when you first heard or read this story。
Say why you like it。
14) Describe your favorite recipe。
State what type of food it is。
Explain how it is prepared。
Say why you prefer it to other foods。
15) Describe your favorite TV program。
What is it? Which channel?
When and where do you watch it?
What kind of program it is? What’s it talk about and explain why you like it?
16) Describe an important success in your life。
When /where it is happen? What is it about?
How do you make it?
Why it is important for you?
17) Describe a child you are familiar with。
What’s his or her name? What is he or she look like?
How old is he or she? What is his or her hobby?
Explain why you like him/her?
18) Describe your best friend。
How you knew each other and how you became friends?
How you spend time together?
Explain why he/she is your best friend。
19) Describe a toy you have。
What it is?
Who gave you?
Why you like it?
20) Describe your favorite park or garden。
Where is it? How often do you go to?
