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TOEFL Speaking Task 2 Practice 017
TOEFL Speaking Task 2 Practice #017
Reading passage
End of Evening Courses
The university administration has decided that starting next fall, it will discontinue many of its evening courses across various departments. A university official explained that the decision was due to a consistent drop in enrollment numbers for evening courses. "The evening classes are too under-enrolled," the official stated. When questioned about why enrollment has decreased, the official pointed out that most evening courses are taught by graduate teaching assistants. "Surveys indicate that students tend to prefer classes taught by more experienced faculty members," the spokesperson said, "likely because faculty bring more expertise than graduate assistants."
Take the provided reading time before you play the listening passage.
0:000:00
Speed
Listening transcript
Narrator:Now listen to two students discussing the article.
Man:I just don't know about this decision.
Woman:It sort of makes sense to me.
Man:Not to me. I don't understand their reasoning. I mean, what's wrong with small classes? I think that's what students actually prefer, and it's easy to see why.
Woman:Yeah, you do get to participate more.
Man:Definitely, you can be more actively involved, get more attention and support. It's just a better way to learn. Woman: OK, but there is that survey.
Man:I don't know what students they asked, but I know a lot of people who feel just the opposite. I mean, what does "experienced" mean anyway? Sometimes it means you've been teaching the same subject for twenty years, and you're probably tired of it by now and may be not very enthusiastic.
Woman:Yeah, that does happen.
Man:Whereas, if it's the first time or maybe second you are teaching a class. Well, it's going to be more exciting to you, and you're going to communicate that excitement to the people you're teaching. At least that's how I see it.
Your speaking task
The speaker expresses an opinion about the proposal in the reading passage. Summarize the proposal, state the speaker's opinion, and explain the reasons given.
Record up to 60 seconds. Nothing is uploaded until you submit it.