Listen Then Speak - 3 Easy Steps: Duolingo English Test
The Listen and Speak section of the Duolingo English Test (DET) can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to start. I had a student who felt completely lost doing this section, and I know many others feel the same way. That's why I created this three-step section to help you excel and boost your score.
Let's learn how to deliver clear, organized responses.
Step 1: Understanding English Sentence Structure ✏️
In every English sentence, there's a main topic and a controlling idea. The topic appears at the beginning, while the controlling idea guides the rest of the sentence.
✔ Example:
- Sentence: "The SAT reasoning test contains three distinct sections that deal with three important skills."
- Topic: The SAT reasoning test
- Controlling Idea: Three distinct sections, three important skills
Understanding this structure is crucial for writing and speaking tasks, as it ensures your responses are clear, coherent, and easy to follow.
Step 2: Identifying the Topic and Controlling Idea 📝🔍
Practice identifying the topic and controlling idea in sentences to sharpen your skills:
✔ Example 1:
- Sentence: "Crossword puzzles are not only educational and fun but also addictive."
- Topic: Crossword puzzles
- Controlling Idea: Educational, fun, and addictive
✔ Example 2:
- Sentence: "Online education has changed the way people learn."
- Topic: Online education
- Controlling Idea: Changed the way people learn
By practicing this skill, you’ll be better prepared to understand spoken questions during the Listen and Speak section.
What To Know About The Duolingo English Test (DET) Scoring System
Step 3: Structuring Your Response 🗣️💬
Use what you've learned to create a clear and organized response. Let's apply this to a sample question:
✔ Question: "Talk about something that you would not normally do. What was it? If you could go back in time, would you do it again?"
- Introduction:
"I'd like to talk about something that I would not normally do, which was joining the baseball team as a kid." - Main Points (Who, What, Where, When, How, Why):
"Baseball became a huge part of my life. It's a sport I grew up playing with friends and family, creating great memories on the field." - Reason 1:
"The experience taught me resilience. Facing challenges like striking out or making errors helped me maintain a positive mindset." - Reason 2:
"Baseball fostered friendships. Being part of a team and working together to achieve common goals was incredibly rewarding." - Conclusion:
"If I could go back in time, I would definitely relive those moments. The sense of accomplishment after a hard-fought game made me who I am today. Playing baseball has profoundly impacted my physical fitness and personal development."
Where to Practice 🏆
Want to improve your Listen and Speak skills on the DET? Consistent practice is key! A great place to start is DETStudy.com.
Why DET Study?
- Thousands of practice questions modeled after the Duolingo English Test format.
- AI feedback on speaking and writing responses.
- Detailed performance analytics highlighting areas for improvement.
- CEFR word analysis to monitor vocabulary level.
Happy studying, and best of luck on your DET journey! 📚✨