Written By: Hilda Freimuth
TOEFL Instructor | Aston American University
To do well on any reading task, it is a good idea to have general background knowledge on the topic at hand. Studies have found a positive relationship between topic knowledge and reading comprehension. In essence, the more you know about the topic, the better you tend to do. So, what does this mean for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam?
A recent study published in TESOL Arabia’s Perspectives (Freimuth, 2015) revealed that 85% of all geographical references made in the TOEFL reading tests were in the West. Moreover, one TOEFL reading exam included a total of 29 cultural references, the majority of which were mentions of cultural objects. For example, one test mentioned a variety of cultural objects related to America’s natural environment: the Sierra Nevada mountain range, sagebrush, ponderosa pine, arid desert, chipmunks and so on. Other tests mentioned Puget Sound in the 1800s, the Columbia River in 1805, and early 20th century Chicago.
But, what does all this have to do with you as a TOEFL student and test-taker?
Simple. It means that if you do not come from a European or North American background, you may have a disadvantage in terms of topic knowledge background. So, if you are going to practice reading authentic materials (magazine articles, newspaper articles, blogs, short stories etc.) to prepare yourself for the TOEFL, it is best to focus on American and European culture, history, and geography. Famous historical people from the West tend to appear in the readings as well. One reading test, for example, mentioned the following in its texts: Loie Fuller, Richard Wagner, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Marie and Pierre Curie – to name a few. This is not to say that less ‘westernized’ topics cannot be found on the TOEFL readings. They can be, but just not to the same degree.
With so much research underscoring the importance of background knowledge for successful reading comprehension, it might be wise for a test-taker to focus on topics that are more likely to appear on the test. One excellent source that both broadens one’s knowledge and helps one to practice for the TOEFL, is the National Geographic Magazine – now online. With intriguing titles such as “Emperor Hadrian Brings the World to Rome” and “Pale, Beady-Eyed Crab Named after Harry Potter,” one is sure to find something of interest to read that has, at least to some degree, a western tinge.
