TOEFL Speaking Practice Set 9

Today we’re working on TOEFL Speaking Practice Set 9 from Dr. Byrnes’ mock test course. There are 11 questions in total.

The first seven questions are listen-and-repeat sentences,
and the last four questions are interview-style responses.

We’ll work through all of them.

First, for the listen-and-repeat section, here’s how we’ll do it:
You’ll listen and repeat first,
then I’ll show you how to remember the sentences quickly and speak them fluently.
I’ll also give you pronunciation and stress tips to help you sound natural and remember the words more easily.

Alright—let’s begin.

Listen and repeat Task

1. Welcome to our contemporary art gallery.

2. Take your time to enjoy the different exhibition rooms.

3. The sculpture garden is a perfect spot to relax and view outdoor artworks.

4. The information desk has brochures and guides for visitors.

5. The balcony provides a great view of the main gallery hall.

6. Our restroom facilities are located near the entrance lobby.

7. While exploring the gallery, please do not touch the artwork and follow the posted guidelines.

How to Chunk and Stress Sentences for a Perfect Score

1. WELcome / to our conTEMporary ART GALlery.

2. TAKE your TIME / to enJOY the DIFferent exhiBItion ROOMS.

3. The SCULPture GARden / is a PERfect SPOT / to reLAX and VIEW OUTdoor ARTworks.

4. The inforMAtion DESK / has BROchures and GUIDES / for VISitors.

5. The BALcony proVIDES a GREAT VIEW / of the MAIN GALlery HALL.

6. Our RESTroom faCILities / are loCAted near the ENtrance LOBby.

7. While exPLORing the GALlery, / PLEASE do NOT TOUCH the ARTwork / and FOLlow the POSTed GUIDElines.

Interview Task

Question 1

"Thank you for participating in our student life study. First, many students take part-time jobs for extra cash or real-world experience. In your view, is working during the semester a good idea for most students, or is it too much of a distraction?"

Sample response 

I think having a part-time job during the semester is a good idea. There are benefits like earning extra money and gaining work experience, but the biggest advantage is time management. In college, students suddenly have a lot of unstructured time. In high school, everything is scheduled, so you don't really think about how to use your time. But in college, you have to decide your own schedule, especially outside of class. That freedom can become a problem because you feel like you can do school work anytime, so you end up procrastinating and getting distracted, like watching Netflix instead of studying. A part-time job adds structure and responsibility. So, a job helps students become more disciplined and better at managing their time.

Sample response 

I actually think having a part-time job during the semester is a bad idea for most students. First, the extra money earned is usually quite small compared to tuition. So, financially, it doesn't make a big difference. Also, many part-time jobs don't provide strong career related experience since they are often simple and unrelated to a student's major. More importantly, it can lead to burnout. College already comes with academic pressure and adding work on top of that can make students exhausted. Instead of improving productivity, it can create a situation where students are constantly busy with no real rest. So, I think it's better for students to focus on their studies and also have time to relax and enjoy college life rather than splitting their energy between work and school.

Question 2 

"That’s a fascinating perspective. Now, imagine your university requires a one-month break activity: you must either take a class totally unrelated to your major—like an engineer taking art—or volunteer in your hometown. Which would you pick, and how would it change you?"

Sample response 

I would choose to take a class unrelated to my field, like philosophy or art, because it opens up a completely different way of thinking. As an engineering student, I’m used to solving clear, concrete problems using logic and math. But philosophy pushes you to question assumptions and think critically about abstract ideas, which helps you see problems from multiple perspectives. Art develops creativity in a different way. Instead of following fixed formulas, you have to create something from nothing, which forces more flexible and imaginative thinking. So this experience would change me by making me more than just a technical problem-solver. It would help me think both logically and creatively, and approach problems in a more balanced way.

Sample response 

I would choose to volunteer in my hometown rather than take a class. Since it’s a university break, taking another class—even if it’s unrelated—can feel like continuing school and may lead to burnout because it still involves assignments and deadlines. Volunteering is very different. It’s not just intellectual learning, but emotional and real-world experience. For example, if I volunteered at a homeless shelter and talked with people there, I would realize their situations are much more complex than I originally thought. It would challenge my superficial assumptions about society. So this experience would change me by making me more empathetic and mature, helping me understand people’s real struggles instead of just thinking in abstract ideas.

Question 3 

“That’s really interesting to hear. Regarding campus media, if our TV station had to choose between a student debate show on social issues or a comedy about school life, which would be more valuable for the community to watch? What kind of impact would it have?"

Sample response 

 I think a student debate show on social issues would be more valuable because it encourages more thoughtful discussion on campus. College students are exposed to many opinions on topics like inequality or tuition costs, but they don’t always have a structured space to really engage with them. A debate show gives students a clear, organized setting to hear different perspectives. It can challenge their assumptions and help them realize that ideas they accepted might have flaws, while opinions they rejected might actually have some merit. Additionally, by watching structured debates where students present and defend their ideas respectfully, viewers learn how to communicate clearly without turning disagreements into conflict. So the impact would be a more open-minded and intellectually engaged campus community.

Sample response 

I think a comedy show about school life would be more valuable for the campus community. The main reason is that it helps students relax and connect with each other. College life can be stressful, with heavy workloads and constant pressure, so students need a way to unwind. A comedy show provides that break while still feeling relatable, since it reflects everyday experiences like exams, procrastination, and dorm life. It also builds a sense of community. When students laugh at the same situations, they feel more connected and less isolated. For example, a funny scene about pulling an all-nighter before an exam makes students realize they’re not alone in that experience. So the impact would be a more positive and supportive campus atmosphere where students feel both relaxed and connected.

Question 4

"Lastly, that’s a great point about campus dialogue. For a cultural diversity day, would you rather attend an international food fair or a film festival? Why do you think your choice is better for bringing different cultures together?"

Sample response 

I would rather attend an international food fair than a film festival. At a food fair, I can sample many different cultures in a short amount of time. Watching films usually requires long immersion and focus on one story at a time, so I can’t really experience many cultures quickly. But at a food fair, I can move from booth to booth, try different foods, and directly compare cultures in a more active and social way.

For example, if I try Mexican tacos made with corn tortillas, seasoned beef, chili peppers, onions, and fresh cilantro, I can immediately experience how the ingredients reflect a culture that values bold flavors and shared, street-style eating.

This is better for bringing cultures together because it creates a shared space where people from different backgrounds interact directly, talk about their food, and connect through a common, enjoyable experience.

Sample response 

I would rather attend a film festival over a food fair. A food fair is quite one-dimensional—you mainly taste something, enjoy it briefly, and move on. Also, many dishes today are fusion-based, so they don’t always represent the original culture clearly. So the cultural experience can feel a bit limited.

By contrast, films can tell deeper cultural stories in a very powerful way. Movies don’t just show surface details like food or clothing—they show values, struggles, and everyday life in different societies. For example, if I watch a film about a Japanese family dealing with work pressure and generational conflict, I can understand how their culture shapes ideas like duty, respect, and responsibility, not just what their daily life looks like.

After the film, people naturally start discussing it—comparing characters’ choices with their own cultures and experiences. That kind of shared reflection helps people understand differences more deeply and personally.

So I think a film festival is better for bringing cultures together because it creates both emotional understanding and meaningful conversation across cultures.