This presentation is about how to write pragmatically good TOEIC study materials. It discusses 1) how pragmatic markers are used on the TOEIC test, 2) how they are related to questions, 3) implication for teaching and materials writing.

1. The production of pragmatically
appropriate TOEIC materials
Yosuke Ishii
May 20, 2017 at Akita International University
Email: yosuke_ishii@yahoo.com

2. Discussion Questions
• How pragmatic markers are used on the TOEIC Listening
& Reading Test?
• How the use of pragmatic markers are related to
questions?
• Implication for teaching and materials writing

3. How the research was conducted?
• Find pragmatic markers in the scripts in the Official TOEIC
Listening & Reading Workbook Vol. 2 (ETS)
• Only the listening section checked

4. What was found?
• 82 pragmatic markers found
• No pragmatic markers found in Part 1 (Photograph
Questions)
• 4 found in Part 2 (Question-Response)
• 47 found in Part 3 (Conversation)
• 31 found in Part 4 (Talks)

5. What markers are used on the TOEIC?
• So (16)
• Well (11)
• OK (11)
• Oh (9)
• Now / Now that (5)
• Then / And then (3)
• However (3)

6. What markers are used on the TOEIC?
• Hmm (3)
• Uh (2)
• First (2)
• Also (2)
• In fact (2)
• Anyway / Ah / Um / Umm / All right / At this point / Plus /
Right / What’s more / By the way (1 each)

7. How are they used?
• Well—after a question, a request, a invitation, or a
comment
• Ex 1. A: When did you say the leak started? B: Well, there
was a buddle of water on the bathroom floor when I woke
up this morning.
• Ex 2. A: I'd like you to be there. B: Well, I scheduled a
make-up class for a student who missed his lesson
yesterday, so I'm not available this morning.

8. How are they used?
• Oh—right after a request or a question; often used with
“yes,” or “no”
• Ex 1. A: Who's involved in organizing the town festival? B:
Oh, are you interested in helping out?
• Ex 2. I'm calling about the order you placed yesterday. B:
Oh, yes.—I ordered supplies for my eyeglass store. Is
there an issue?

9. How are they used?
• Ex 3. A: Unfortunately, we won't have any more in stock
for another two weeks. B: Oh, no—we have a promotional
event starting next Friday, and …

10. How are they used?
• OK—Before the speaker takes action; after a suggestion
explanation, or request
• Ex 1. OK, I'll call the company that supplies that
equipment.
• Ex 2. OK—I'll update your order.
• Ex 3. A: I'm calling because I think I left jacket in the
overhead compartment… B: OK, I'll just need your seat
number so we can check the row you were sitting in.

11. How are they used?
• So—showing cause & effect
• I'd like to thank you all for the late nights and weekends
you spent working to design such a great product. So, the
management has decided to give you all a bonus.
• By now you should all have the new videoconferencing
software installed on them. So, let's get started.

12. How are they used?
• Umm / Um / Uh—before a statement or question
• Ex 1. A: OK, I'll just need your seat number so we can
check the row you were sitting in. B: Umm… I was sitting
in 36-F.
• Ex 2. A: Sure, it's 8912. B: OK. Um… you can go ahead
and make a payment through my Web site, and then I'll
send you the file with the high-resolution version of the
picture.
• Ex 3. Nice to do some sightseeing and take a break from
work. Uh, how were things while I was away?

13. How are they related to questions?
• Part 2: The answer choices that start with a pragmatic
marker are the correct ones.
• A: How about stopping at that new coffee shop on our way
to work tomorrow?
• B: (A) A pound of coffee, please
• (B) By five o’clock, I think
• (C) OK. I’ve heard good things about it.

14. How are they related to questions?
• Part 3: Right after pragmatic markers, there are often
hints for answers to questions
• … you can go ahead and make a payment through my
Web site, and then I’ll send you the file with …
• Q. What does the woman say she will do?
• (A) Update an invoice (B) Review a brochure (C) Make a
reservation (D) Send a file

15. How are they related to questions?
• That sounds great—I’ve always admired the work of
Sahota & Partners. In fact, I’d really like to get a full-time
position here someday.
• Q: What does the man ask about?
• (A) The results of a study (B) The satisfaction levels of
customers (C) The likelihood of full-time employment. (D)
The cost of hiring a specialist

16. How are they related to questions?
• Part 4: Right after pragmatic markers, there are often
hints for answers to questions
• So, the management has decided to give you all a bonus,
which …
• Q. What will the listeners receive?
• (A) An invitation to dinner (B) Some additional time off
work (C) Some extra money (D) A tablet computer

17. Implication for teaching and materials writing
• Include pragmatic markers when writing TOEIC Listening
items (So / Well / Oh / OK / Um or Uh)
• Tell Ss that important information comes after some
pragmatic markers (i.e. in fact / however / so)
• Pragmatic markers for writing language are not used (i.e.
furthermore / conversely / hence / …)

18. Points to consider
• Just checked two sets of practice tests—more data is
required
• Some markers are not counted (and / but / or)
• Should common phrases (Sounds great / Let me …)
included?
• How about the reading section?

19. References
• Educational Testing Service (2017). ETS Official TEST
PREP: TOEIC Listening and Reading Vol. 2. IIBC: Tokyo.
• Schiffrin, D. (1988). Discourse markers (No. 5).
Cambridge University Press.