Directions
In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over question one from the TOEFL speaking test. Read the question below out loud with the tutor.
What do you think are the most important qualities of a friend in a strong relationship? Include specific details and reasons in your response.
Preparation time: 15 seconds l Response time: 45 seconds
Warm-up
Choose a question at random from the list below. Answer the question right away without making notes. Try to speak for at least 10 seconds.
- What do you like most about your best friend? My best friend is Jim. He is my classmate and is very kind to everyone.
- What is one thing you would change about your best friend?
- What are some things you talk about with your friends?
Brainstorm
Use the following pointers as a guideline to refine your answer.
- Introduction
- There are many important qualities that a friend must have, but there are two things that I care about the most.
- Come up with supporting ideas
- be able to keep secrets
- always there to help
- is trustworthy
- supportive during difficult times
- always tells the truth
- shares common interest
- Come up with details to explain two of your supporting ideas
- trustworthiness: I want to be able to share many things from my life with my friend
- common interest: I want to enjoy spending time with my friend
Sample Answer
Reading great sample answers is one way to improve. Go over the sample answer with your tutor. Ask questions if you have any.
Sample Answer
There are many important qualities that a friend must have, but there are two things that I care about the most. First is trustworthiness. I want to be able to share many things from my life, but I can only do that when I can trust him or her. Another important quality is having common interests. I want to be able to enjoy spending time with my friend, and having an activity or interest we both appreciate is important.
Further Study
Got more time? Here is a list of common vocab words related to the text you studied today. Go over each one with your tutor.
Additional Expressions
| dependable | (adj) able to be trusted to do or provide what is needed : able to be depended on e.g. He’s the team’s most dependable [=consistent] player. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| loyal | (adj) having or showing complete and constant support for someone or something e.g. She has provided the company with many years of loyal service. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| genuine | (adj) actual, real, or true : not false or fake e.g. The signature is genuine. [=authentic] |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| forgiving | (adj) able or willing to forgive someone or something e.g. He is a person with a forgiving nature. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| judgmental | (adj) disapproving: tending to judge people too quickly and critically e.g. He’s judgmental about everyone except himself. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| sensitive | (adj) easily upset by the things that people think or say about you e.g. He acts like a tough guy, but he’s really very sensitive to criticism. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| generous | (adj) freely giving or sharing money and other valuable things e.g. He was generous with both his time and his money. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| encouraging | (adj) causing a hopeful feeling e.g. We’ve just heard some encouraging news. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| root for someone | (idiom) support e.g. Best friends always root for each other. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| sympathetic | (adj) feeling or showing concern about someone who is in a bad situation : having or showing feelings of sympathy e.g. He received much help from sympathetic friends. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cambly Content 