English as a Second Language
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

SPEAK Test Preparation

English Language Support for International Graduate Students

Your Guide to Building Strong, Confident English for the SPEAK Test & Teaching at UW–Madison

Welcome! This page is designed to support you as you build your English proficiency, prepare for the SPEAK Test, and work toward becoming an effective teaching assistant. Improving your English—especially speaking—takes time and consistent practice, but you absolutely can make progress with the right strategies and support.

Improving your SPEAK Test score requires ongoing commitment to speaking, pronunciation, and overall English use. You have many resources, on campus, online, and in the community, and people who are ready to support you. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to the Program in ESL at askesl@english.wisc.edu

Improving English proficiency begins with how you approach learning.

✔ Establish a growth mindset. Stay positive, be patient with yourself, and remember that improvement comes with practice.

✔ Enroll in your recommended ESL course. Complete it early and engage actively.

✔ Practice English every day. Even 10–20 minutes matters. Speak, listen, read, and interact with English regularly. 

The more you use English in real contexts, the faster you’ll improve.

On campus

In the community

At home

  • Watch English-language videos, movies, or YouTube channels.
  • Practice short, informal conversations with classmates, roommates, or department colleagues.
  • Read news headlines, articles, or short stories in English.

Clear pronunciation helps you communicate effectively and boosts your SPEAK Test performance.

Try these tools and techniques:

  1. ELSA Speak App – Personalized pronunciation feedback 
  2. Blue Canoe Learning – Practice stress, rhythm, and intonation in American English
  3. Rachel’s English – Free video lessons on sounds, stress, and connected speech
  4. Shadowing technique – Listen to a speaker and repeat immediately to match rhythm and fluency
  5. Meet with a tutor through UW’s Program in ESL to identify your personal pronunciation targets

⏱ Goal: 15–20 minutes of focused pronunciation practice daily.

Make the most of the opportunities at UW to build your skills and get ready for your future career. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become when talking about your research.

Check out these opportunities:

  1. Three Minute Thesis (3MT) – Join UW graduate students in an international competition to explain your research in three minutes. 
  2. Professional Development – Explore the tools and programming the Graduate School offers to build your skills.

Practice SPEAK Test Skills Explicitly

The SPEAK Test measures clarity, fluency, and your ability to communicate academic information. Practice each task type.

Use these resources:

  • SPEAK Test Study Guide (Includes the practice items below for opinions, charts, story telling, and schedule changes)
  • Practice giving opinions with target language phrases 
  • Practice describing charts and graphs using appropriate vocabulary
  • Practice telling a story using consistent verb tense and clear transitions 
  • Practice describing schedule changes, using forms like “has been changed”
  • ESL tutor to guide your practice 

Pro tip: Record yourself frequently. Listening helps you identify patterns and measure progress.

Commit to Your ESL Course (if one has been recommended)

If you have taken the SPEAK Test and haven’t passed yet, you’ve been recommended to enroll in an ESL course. Your ESL class provides focused instruction that builds skills needed for both the SPEAK Test and future teaching.

To get the most from the course:

  • Attend consistently and participate actively
  • Spread homework across the week so you can absorb skills more effectively 
  • Review instructor feedback carefully and ask questions when uncertain

Already teaching?