Community Language Program

Teachers College, Columbia University

Instructor: Soo Joo, Melinda Zhang

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TOEFL Preparation 1
Spring 2015
Week 7. Worksheet

Activity 2. Listening to connect ideas

2.1 Schema Building: Independant Speaking
Is water important to you? Why or why not?
Topic:
Supporting Detail 1:
Example
Supporting Detail 2:
Example
Conclusion:
Post the vocaroo link on the class blog - blog menu
2.2 Comprehension Questions
What does the electrical charge from the bacteria do? (Detail
)

Why does he mention the bacteria footage?(Understanding Organization)

Why does he mention the seawater reverse osmosis? (Understanding Organization)

Fill in the blanks in the diagram of Seawater Reverse Osmosis (Connecting Content)
<Word Choices> clean water
Force saltwater
energy
brine

5) What does he imply when he says this? (Making Inference)

And this is where my collaboration with bacteria comes into play.

2.3 Fill in the (parenthesis) with the Q types

Activity 3. Create an Outline of the Listening

3.1 Key Words that were mentioned in the talk (Potential Headings)

3.2 Create an outline of the TED talk.

Mining minerals from seawater
I. Introduction
A. Background information (interesting facts, statistics, rhetorical questions)
I collaborate with bacteria. And I'm about to show you some stop-motion footage that I made
recently where you'll see bacteria accumulating minerals from their environment over the period
of an hour.
So what you're seeing here is the bacteria metabolizing, and as they do so they create an
electrical charge. And this attracts metals from their local environment. And these metals
accumulate as minerals on the surface of the bacteria.
B. Thesis Statement: One of the most pervasive problems in the world today for people
is inadequate access to clean drinking water. And the desalination process is one where we
take out salts. We can use it for drinking and agriculture. Removing the salts from water -particularly seawater -- through reverse osmosis is a critical technique for countries who do not
have access to clean drinking water around the globe.
II.

seawater reverse osmosis

A. The process of seawater reverse osmosis
(Supporting idea #1)
So seawater reverse osmosis is a membrane-filtration technology. We take the water
from the sea and we apply pressure. And this pressure forces the seawater through a
membrane. This takes energy, producing clean water. But we're also left with a concentrated
salt solution, or brine.
B.

The problem of seawater reverse osmosis

(Supporting idea #2)
The process is very expensive and it's cost-prohibitive for many countries around the
globe. And also, the brine that's produced is oftentimes just pumped back out into the sea. And
this is detrimental to the local ecology of the sea area that it's pumped back out into.

III. Singapores desalination technology

A. Singapores plan
(Supporting idea #1)

So I work in Singapore at the moment, and this is a place that's really a leading place for
desalination technology. And Singapore proposes by 2060 to produce [900] million liters per day
of desalinated water. But this will produce an equally massive amount of desalination brine. And
this is where my collaboration with bacteria comes into play.
B.

Solution to the problem

(Supporting idea #2)
So what we're doing at the moment is we're accumulating metals like calcium, potassium and
magnesium from out of desalination brine. And this, in terms of magnesium and the amount of
water that I just mentioned, equates to a $4.5 billion mining industry for Singapore -- a place that
doesn't have any natural resources.
IV. Conclusion
A. Benefits of Mining minerals from sea water
So I'd like you to image a mining industry in a way that one hasn't existed before; imagine a
mining industry that doesn't mean defiling the Earth; imagine bacteria helping us do this by
accumulating and precipitating and sedimenting minerals out of desalination brine.
B. Restatement of the thesis/summary of aspects
And what you can see here is the beginning of an industry in a test tube, a mining industry that
is in harmony with nature.
3.3 Retell the talk to your partner, using the outline.
(Extra practice) fill in the blanks of the following transcript
_ collaborate with bacteria. And ___ about to show you ____ stop-motion footage that I ____
recently where youll see ________ accumulating minerals from their ___________ over the
period of __ hour.
So what youre ______ here is the bacteria ____________, and as they do __ they create an
electrical ______. And this attracts metals ____ their local environment. And _____ metals
accumulate as minerals __ the surface of the ________.
One of the most _________ problems in the world _____ for people is inadequate ______ to
clean drinking water. ___ the desalination process is ___ where we take out _____. We can use
it ___ drinking and agriculture. Removing ___ salts from water ---- ____________ seawater ---through reverse _______ is a critical technique ___ countries who do not ____ access to clean
drinking _____ around the globe.
So ________ reverse osmosis is a ___________________ technology. We take the _____ from
the sea and __ apply pressure. And this ________ forces the seawater through _ membrane.
This takes energy, _________ clean water. But were ____ left with a concentrated ____
solution, or brine.
But ___ process is very expensive ___ it's cost-prohibitive for many _________ around the
globe. And ____, the brine that's produced __ oftentimes just pumped back ___ into the sea.
And ____ is detrimental to the _____ ecology of the sea ____ that it's pumped back ___ into.
So I work __ Singapore at the moment, ___ this is a place ______ really a leading place ___
desalination technology. And Singapore ________ by 2060 to produce __________ liters per

day of ___________ water. But this will _______ an equally massive amount __ desalination
brine. And this __ where my collaboration with ________ comes into play.
So ____ were doing at the ______ is were accumulating metals ____ calcium, potassium and
magnesium ____ out of desalination brine. ___ this, in terms of _________ and the amount of
_____ that I just mentioned, _______ to a $4.5 billion ______ industry for Singapore ---- _ place
that doesn't have ___ natural resources.
So I'd ____ you to image a ______ industry in a way ____ one hasn't existed before; _______ a
mining industry that _______ mean defiling the Earth; _______ bacteria helping us do ____ by
accumulating and precipitating ___ sedimenting minerals out of ____________ brine. And what
you ___ see here is the _________ of an industry in _ test tube, a mining ________ that is in
harmony ____ nature.
Thank you.
Activity 4. Integrated Speaking
4.1 Word list for compare & contrast
Compare

Contrast

4.2 Read & Listen -Fill in the diagram (Appendix 1)

College Course Manual
Course: GL202
Assessment Procedure Cont.
Part 3.6 - Group Work
The geology department is aware of the problems surrounding of group work, and its
unpopularity among students. We realize that in some cases students do not contribute and
thus gain marks they do not deserve, while stronger students are frustrated at being held back
by weaker students. Similarly, it is very difficult for tutors to award marks for group projects, as it
is unclear who is responsible for each part.
However, the department feels that there is a great deal to be gained from group work, in terms
of self-organization and communication skills. To this end, we plan to introduce a system
whereby the group work itself is not formally assessed, but each student will undertake an
individual piece of work based on the group project, which will be designed to ensure
participation in the project.

Appendix 1. TOEFL Integrated Speaking (Read/Listen/Speak) Graphic Organizer