Introduction

Congratulations! You studied hard and got a 750 on the TOEIC test. That's a great score! But then something surprising happens: you're in a meeting with an English-speaking colleague. You want to share your opinion, but you can't find the right words. You understand about 60% of what they're saying, but you miss important details. You try to explain your idea, but it comes out unclear and choppy. You think: "Wait... I have a 750 on TOEIC. Why is real conversation so difficult?"

This is a very common experience for Japanese learners! The TOEIC test is important in Japan. Many companies require certain TOEIC scores for hiring or promotion. So Japanese students study very hard for this test. But here's the truth: TOEIC tests some English skills, but not all of them. TOEIC doesn't test speaking. It doesn't test writing. It doesn't test natural conversation flow or cultural understanding.

Today, I'll help you understand the gap between TOEIC skills and real English skills. Then I'll show you how to develop both. Your TOEIC score is valuable! But to use English in real life, you need to add some extra skills. Let's build your complete English ability together!

Main Tips

Understanding What TOEIC Tests (and Doesn't Test)

The TOEIC Listening and Reading test measures:

• Understanding formal English in business contexts
• Reading comprehension of emails, articles, and notices
• Listening to clear, scripted conversations and announcements
• Grammar and vocabulary recognition
• Test-taking strategies and speed

These are useful skills! But TOEIC doesn't test:

• Speaking naturally in real-time conversations
• Writing emails or reports from scratch
• Understanding fast, casual conversation with slang
• Negotiating meaning when you don't understand something
• Cultural communication differences
• Body language and tone of voice
• Thinking quickly in English without translation time

This explains why someone with a high TOEIC score might still struggle in real conversations. The test measures your "passive" knowledge (recognising correct answers). Real communication needs "active" skills (producing language yourself under pressure).

The Skills Gap: What You Need to Add

Here are the skills you need to develop beyond TOEIC:

Skill 1: Spontaneous Speaking TOEIC doesn't test speaking at all (unless you take the TOEIC Speaking test separately). But in real life, you need to speak without preparation time! You need to express your thoughts quickly, even if your grammar isn't perfect.

How to practice: Talk to yourself in English every day for 5 minutes. Describe what you're doing, what you're thinking, or what you did today. Don't write it first – just speak! This builds spontaneous speaking ability.

Skill 2: Interactive Listening TOEIC listening is passive – you just listen and answer questions. Real listening is active! You need to respond, ask questions, and show you understand. You might need to say "Sorry, could you repeat that?" or "What do you mean by...?"

How to practice: Watch English videos and pause frequently. Pretend you're having a conversation with the speaker. Respond out loud to what they say: "Oh, that's interesting!" or "I agree with that point." This makes your listening more interactive.

Skill 3: Real-World Vocabulary TOEIC focuses on business vocabulary and formal situations. But real life includes casual conversations, slang, idioms, humour, and different contexts (restaurants, hospitals, social events, phone calls with customer service).

How to practice: Watch English TV shows, YouTube videos, and movies to hear casual, natural English. Keep a vocabulary notebook for new expressions. Try to use one new expression each week in your own speech.

Skill 4: Fluency Over Accuracy TOEIC rewards accuracy – choosing the one correct answer. But real communication rewards fluency – keeping the conversation going even if you make small mistakes. Native speakers care more about understanding your meaning than counting your grammar errors.

How to practice: Set a timer for 2 minutes. Talk about a topic without stopping. Don't worry about mistakes – just keep talking! This trains your brain to prioritize fluency.

Building Both: TOEIC Score AND Real Communication

The good news? You can develop both! Here's a balanced approach:

For TOEIC improvement:

• Practice with TOEIC-style questions
• Build business vocabulary
• Work on speed and test-taking strategies
• Focus on accuracy in grammar

For real communication improvement:

• Have regular conversations with native speakers or language partners
• Watch and listen to authentic English content (not just textbook English)
• Practice speaking without scripts or preparation
• Write freely (journals, emails to friends) without worrying about perfection first

Don't abandon TOEIC study! Your TOEIC score is valuable for your career in Japan. But add real communication practice too. Spend maybe 60% of your time on TOEIC-specific study and 40% on authentic communication practice. This gives you both the score you need AND the practical skills you want.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: The Two-Minute Challenge

Set a timer for 2 minutes. Speak continuously in English about one of these topics:

• Your last weekend
• Your hometown
• Your job or studies
• A movie you recently watched

Don't stop to think about grammar! If you make a mistake, keep going. Don't pause for more than 2 seconds. This builds real-time speaking fluency that TOEIC doesn't measure.

Do this exercise 3 times this week with different topics!

Exercise 2: Real-Life Listening Practice

Watch a 10-minute English YouTube video or TV show episode. But don't just listen passively! Every 2 minutes, pause the video and:

1. Summarize what happened in your own words (out loud!)
2. Predict what might happen next
3. Answer this question: "What would you say if you were in this conversation?"

This makes your listening active and interactive, like real life!

Exercise 3: Casual Vocabulary Collection

This week, watch English content and collect 5 casual expressions that you wouldn't see on TOEIC. For example:

• "What's up?" (casual greeting)
• "No worries!" (it's okay)
• "Hang out" (spend time together casually)

Write them in a notebook with an example sentence. Try to use one in your own speaking this week!

Conclusion

Your TOEIC score is an achievement – be proud of it! It shows you have strong English knowledge. But remember: TOEIC is just one measure of English ability. It's like having a driver's license – passing the test doesn't mean you're comfortable driving in all situations yet. You need real-world practice too!

The gap between TOEIC scores and real communication is normal and common. Many Japanese learners experience this. The solution is to balance your study: keep working on TOEIC for career goals, but also practice spontaneous speaking, active listening, and authentic communication.

Don't feel discouraged if your TOEIC score is high but conversation feels difficult. You're not alone! This just means you're ready to add the next level of skills. Real communication ability takes time and practice, but you already have a strong foundation from your TOEIC study.

If you want to bridge this gap and practice real conversation skills, I'd love to help you in a Cafetalk lesson. We can work on speaking fluently, listening actively, and communicating naturally. Your TOEIC score proves you have great potential – now let's use it in real life! Keep going – you're doing great!