Listening: announcements and classroom instructions
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| announcement/əˈnaʊnsmənt/ | announcement |
| purpose/ˈpɜːpəs/ | The aim or intended result of an action or communication. |
| paraphrase/ˈpærəfreɪz/ | paraphrase |
Gym or cafeteria?
- A principal says: "The fair was going to be in the gym, but it will be in the cafeteria." Two places, one answer.
- In TOEFL Junior Listening you hear each talk once. You need to catch what is new, not just the words you recognise.
The first kind of talk
- Listening starts with short announcements 通知 by a principal, teacher, librarian or coach, speaking to students. Each talk has one question.
- A narrator introduces the speaker ("Listen to a teacher talking to her class"). That line already tells you the situation.
In the first part of Listening, each talk is followed by three questions.
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
Each short announcement has one question. Conversations and academic talks have more.
Listen for the purpose
- The first sentence usually tells you the purpose 目的: "I have some news about…", "Before you go, a quick reminder…".
- Common questions: What is the announcement about? Why is the speaker talking?
Listen to the principal. What is the announcement about, and what must students do?
In the recording, what is the principal's announcement mainly about?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
The news is that the science fair moves from the gym to the cafeteria.
Listen for the action and the change
- Many questions ask what students should do. Listen for instructions (bring, remember, please, don't) and for change words (instead, not … but …, from now on).
- Old plan → new plan: the answer is almost always the new plan.
- "The fair was going to be in the gym, but the floor is being repaired, so it will be in the cafeteria instead."
- What should students do? Take their projects to the cafeteria before 8:30 on Wednesday. The gym is the old plan.
What does the principal want students to do?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
Projects go to the cafeteria before 8:30. Lunch that day is in the hall, and the gym is the old plan.
Complete the change word: "Use the side door ____ of the front door."
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
Instead of shows that the new plan replaces the old one.
The answer says it in other words
- The correct option is usually a paraphrase 换个说法: "bring your projects to the cafeteria" may become "take their work to a different room".
- So don't hunt for the exact words. Ask: does this option mean what the speaker said?
Does the option match what the principal said?
Pick out the action the speaker wants students to take
A librarian says: "From Monday, you can borrow four books at a time, not two." Which option says the same thing?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
Four instead of two means more books, said in other words.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an option because it repeats a word you heard (gym, floor) in the wrong meaning.
- Choosing the old plan when the speaker changed it, or a detail when the question asks for the main topic.
The volcano at the salad bar is the joke. The cafeteria and the 8:30 time are the facts you need.
A teacher says: "Leave your bags in the classroom and take only a pencil to the hall." Which option is a trap?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
It repeats bag and hall but reverses the instruction.
Recap
- One talk, one question, heard once.
- Purpose comes first; instructions and change words come next.
- Choose the option that means the same as the new plan, even when the words are different.
Put the listening steps in order.
Difficulty 3/5 · 200 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
Situation, purpose, action, then match the meaning.
Official sources
- Format checked on 15 November 2026 in the TOEFL Junior Test Taker Handbook (ETS, PDF).
- Try the free official Listening Comprehension sample questions (ETS). The recording on this page is original, not ETS material.