TOEFL TPO 19 Speaking Task 3 Sample: Use the examples from the lecture to explain the concept of social learning.

Historical user samples and AI evaluation results from an older TOEFL format.

5 archived user samples

Older TOEFL Format

This task is from a previous version of the TOEFL exam. The current TOEFL has a different structure. These archived samples remain available as a reference for practice.

Task Overview

Reading Passage

Social Learning One way people learn is by watching the behavior of others. Sometimes called social learning, this type of learning involves the process of learning to copy---or not copy---the action of another. By observing the results, or consequences, of another’s behavior, people tend to imitate the behavior of another when they see that it leads to a desirable consequence---hoping to repeat it for themselves. Of course, the opposite is also true---people tend to avoid imitating the behavior of another when they see it result in an undesirable consequence.

Question

Use the examples from the lecture to explain the concept of social learning.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

Evaluation Result

1.Sub Scores Delivery: 3 Language Use: 3 Topic Development: 3

2.Estimated Scores

23. 3.Delivery

The speaker's delivery is generally clear and fluid, but there are some occasional pauses that could be improved. Additionally, some words are not pronounced accurately, which may lead to confusion for the listener. To improve, the speaker should practice speaking at a consistent pace and work on their pronunciation of certain words.

4.Topic Development The speaker provides a coherent and well-organized response, with clear connections between ideas and sufficient support from the examples given in the lecture. However, there is room for improvement in terms of elaborating on the examples and providing more context to better explain the concept of social learning. To enhance topic development, the speaker should focus on expanding their explanations and making stronger connections between the examples and the concept being discussed.

5.Language Use

Original: The concept of social learning refers to that people try to copy others' behavior if they ~~say~~ see (corrected for word choice) the consequence is positive, and not to copy the behavior of others if the consequence is not appreciated. The professor gave an example of a boy and a girl in a family. For example, if a girl wants to buy something she wants, but her mom doesn't permit, then the girl cries and screams. After the girl cries, the mom gets the girl's toy. Then his little brother sees this, then the little brother will imitate this behavior. And when he wants something, he just can't cry and scream, then the mom will buy him. This is the concept of social learning.

Revised (140 words): The concept of social learning involves people imitating others' behavior if they observe positive consequences and refraining from copying if the outcome is undesirable. The professor provided an example involving siblings in a family. When a young girl desires a toy but her mother refuses, she cries and screams until her mother relents and purchases it for her. Witnessing this, her younger brother learns to mimic this behavior when he wants something. Conversely, if the mother had disciplined the girl instead of giving in, the boy would likely avoid crying and screaming in similar situations. This demonstrates how individuals learn through observing and replicating or avoiding others' actions based on their outcomes, which is the essence of social learning.

6.Mind Map


- Social Learning
  - Imitating behavior
    - Positive consequences
      - Example: siblings
        - Girl cries for toy
        - Mother buys toy
        - Brother learns to cry for desired items
    - Negative consequences
      - Example: siblings (alternative scenario)
        - Mother disciplines girl for crying
        - Brother learns not to cry for desired items
  - Observing and replicating/avoiding actions
    - Based on outcomes

7.Key Words

Word	Phonetic Symbols	Parts of Speech	English Definition	Sample Sentence
Imitate	/ˈɪmɪteɪt/	Verb	To copy someone's actions or words, usually to make fun of them or to learn from them.	Children often imitate their parents' behavior, which is a crucial aspect of social learning.
Consequence	/ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/	Noun	A result or effect of an action or condition.	The consequence of the girl's crying was that her mother bought her the toy, teaching her brother a new strategy.
Relent	/rɪˈlent/	Verb	To agree to do or accept something that you have been resisting or opposing.	The mother finally relented and bought the toy after her daughter's persistent crying.
Discipline	/ˈdɪsəplɪn/	Verb	To train someone to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.	Instead of giving in, the mother could have disciplined the girl for her tantrum, teaching a different lesson.
Replicate	/ˈreplɪkeɪt/	Verb	To make an exact copy of something; to reproduce or repeat something.	Social learning involves observing others and deciding whether to replicate or avoid their actions.