2 . After completing the notetaking, review both the reading and the transcript of the conversation . Do your notes include the main points of the article, the student’s opinion, and the reasons for their opinion? Would your notes be sufficient to give a full answer to the question? 3. Now compare your notes to an example in the answer key for this activity. Notice that this student just wrote a few key words, not complete sentences, and used symbols (like an arrow to mean “leads to/results in) and abbreviations (like “B4” for “before”) . In subsequent note-taking practice, work on developing your own personal system of symbols and abbreviations so you can take notes more efficiently. New Library Workspaces Narrator: The university library has decided to make a change. Read the university’s announcement about the upcoming change. New Library Workspaces Say good-bye to the big, multi-person study tables in Turner Library. This summer, the tables will be exchanged for new personal study cubicles—small, one-person desks enclosed by walls . These new units will allow students to have privacy and work in isolation and will therefore eliminate noise in the library so students can concentrate. Additionally, the cubicles will enable the library to accommodate the recent increase in the number of students attending our university. Although the current tables seat six students each, they make poor use of the available floor space . The cubicles, on the other hand, are designed for maximum space efficiency, and the library can therefore add 50 new seats . Narrator: Now listen to two students discussing the article. Narrator: The man expresses his opinion about the upcoming change. State his opinion and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion. Activity 8.2 1. Now, practice with another authentic TOEFL iBT Speaking task 2 . Prepare your notes for Task 2 by setting up a three-column table. This time, you will use your notes to give a practice answer. 2. Read the article from a university newspaper, Energy Costs Reach Sky-High Levels. You will have 50 seconds to read and take notes. After time is up, listen to the “Energy Costs Conversation” audio. 3. You will then have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to respond to the question . Try to speak within the time limits . 4. Now compare your notes to some example notes in the answer key for this activity. Did your notes cover the same points? Could your note-taking have been made more efficient with symbols and abbreviations? 5. If possible, record a response to the question for later review. If recording isn’t possible, speak aloud and focus on timing . 6. After a few minutes, answer the question again, giving yourself 60 seconds to speak . If you recorded your first re sponse, compare it with your second one. Energy Costs Narrator: Read the article from a university newspaper. You have 50 seconds to read the article. Begin reading now .
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