<div>The new edition of <i>Toward</i> <i>Speaking Excellence</i> addresses the recent changes to the Test of Spoken English (TSE®). The text introduces readers to the format of the new TSE®, typical questions, and scoring criteria. The second edition of <i>Toward</i> <i>Speaking Excellence</i> includes actual student responses that are used or modified to highlight specific characteristics of effective communication. Two complete sample TSE®-like tests are included for further practice. Also provided are practice with some of the skills that, while no longer tested on the TSE®, are key to sounding more native-like and fluent.<br><br><i>Toward Speaking Excellence</i> may be used as an individual study tool or as a course text. While the material is directed toward the TSE® and SPEAK® tests, the communication strategies presented will prepare students for other types of oral exams (including the TAST®, interviews, and performance tests. <i>Toward Speaking Excellence </i>is a course book but may also be used for individual test-preparation/self-study.<br><br>Dean Papajohn is a Specialist in Education at the Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign..<br></div>