iBT Activity #2

Determining Function


Purpose of the Activity
The purpose of this activity is to get students to focus on the function of certain expressions in listening passages. A new kind of question on the TOEFL® iBT asks students to determine why a speaker says something rather than simply what the speaker says. Students therefore need to be able to listen to certain expressions and draw conclusions about their function.

Related Sections in the Texts
This activity can be used in conjunction with Listening Skill 3: Determine the function in the LISTENING section of Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL® Test: Next Generation iBT.

Organization of the Activity
Read each statement to the class. Ask the students to determine what purpose the statements serve.

Statement Purpose
Excuse me, please, but could you repeat that? (doesn't understand)
What's up? (wants to open a conversation)
It costs how much? (is surprised at high price)
Now let me switch gears... (is going to change topic)
Did you hear what I said? (wants a response)
Excuse me, but ... (is interrupting)
We'll see. (is ending conversation)
You've made a good point, but ... (is disagreeing politely)
If I had time, I'd do it...really. (is refusing politely)
I'll call you sometime. (is putting someone off)