Hope everyone in the forum is doing great. I want a quick help from you people. My brother , who is a physiotherapist by profession has cleared an interview with US medical mission. He has been advised to clear the TOEFL with in a month time.
I have glanced through the various articles of Torsten in this site regarding the patterns of the exam and the methodologies we need to adopt to complete the exam with flying colors. All the articles are simply superb and eye opening.
I just want to get suggestions from you people to clear the exam in a very fast pace. As time is very crucial factor at this moment your suggestions are most welcome and based on your views I can marshall my brother towards the success of the exam.
Many thanks for your questions. There are a number of proposals I’m going to share with you in a few hours or maybe tomorrow.
Talk to you soon,
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]
As you can see I’m back online and now we can examine your brother’s situation. He has had an interview with US Medical Mission and they suggested he take the TOEFL. That’s a good sign because apparently they are interested in employing your brother as a physiotherapist and I assume your brother wants to accept that offer.
Now, let me ask you a few questions: Did the US Medical Mission indicate what score they expect your brother to achieve in the exam? How long has your brother been learning English? If he is capable of giving a job interview in English his language level should be quite good. As you know the TOEFL assesses your brother’s writing skills as well as his listening and reading comprehension. Which area do you think your brother has the most room for improvement? Have you purchased TOEFL prep materials? How much time does your brother spend on his test preparation every day?
I’m looking forward to your answers.
Regards
Torsten
PS: Maybe, you could bring your brother on to our forum?[YSaerTTEW443543]
Thanks for your caring. Please see my answers inline.
They are expecting the score would be minimum 220 for 300.
He is also sailing me in the same boat. He has a decent command of English as from our schooling onwards English is one of the subjects.
I thing the listening test of Toefl will be a bit difficult for him as he needs to tune him with the slang of Native speekers. I thing , for this alone he needs more practise.
We have purchased Barrons guide for Toefl exam. It is looking good. If you know anyother material please enlight us.
As he is working, he has time only in the evening. He is managing himslef to find 3-4 hrs daily to prepare for this.
This is a good suggestion. But unfourtunetly my brother is not staying in the vicinity of any cyber cafe. He is working in a remote place. I use to call him once in every 2 days to get updated of his proceedings and use to give my inputs.
Thanks for engaging in this dialogue. Here are some ideas your brother might want to consider:
He obviously needs some more practice with the listening comprehension part so he should try to listen to the tapes/CD’s that came with the Barrons TOEFL prep guide on a regular basis. If he has got a walkman or any other cassette/CD player he should use this device to listen to the audio materials several times a day for a few minutes. He can have the tape play in the background while he is having breakfast or when is he is travelling to or from work. He should feed his ears with authentic spoken English in small portions as often as he can.
The speakers on the TOEFL test speak standard North American English so he doesn’t have to struggle with slang or dialects. Also, in addition to the TOEFL audio materials it is important for your brother to listen to other authentic sources containing spoken English. Have you got access to CNN, the BBC, VOA or any other broadcasting stations? What about tapes and CD’s? Go to your nearest library and see what type of listening materials you can get from there.
Let me know what you think and give your brother my best regards.
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]
Thanks for correcting me here. I will definitely practise your advice My brother will appear for the Toefl exam by the mid of January and will keep you posted about that later.
Welcome to our forum and many thanks for asking me for some advice as to how you can improve your speaking skills. Many people think that they only improve their speaking sills if they speak a lot but that’s only half the truth. Before you can start speaking you need to listen. The more you listen, the easier it will be for you to speak. How did you learn your native language? By absorbing the language through your ears. Your brain is like the hard drive of a computer. First you need to feed it with data before you can get something out. Since you live in Canada, it should be rather easy for you to surround yourself with spoken English on a daily basis.
For example, the first thing you should do in the morning is switch on a Canadian TV channel. Have it play in the background while you are having breakfirst. Then go out and mingle with native speakers. There are a lot things you can do get in touch with them. Go and register with the local library. As what services the library has to offer. Sign up with a local community group so you get a chance to get to know people. You will be surprised at how many people are happy when they have somebody they can talk to. Listen carefully to what they have to say, develop a keen interest in their stories, try to find somebody who needs your help.
Of course it would be good if you could tell me a little more about your situation. I take it you went to Vancouver in order to study and now you need to get a TOEFL score of 100?[YSaerTTEW443543]
I really enjoy your post about helping us in improve our skill. So, I also want to aks you for some advice.
I took TOEFL last month on 29mar and my result is as follow:
Reading 28
Listening 27
Speaking 15
Writing 27
As you could see my speaking score is desperately low and it shortens my chance to apply for master cource at some well-known universty, so I want to retake the test and improve it to about 22-24. The problem is I don’t know where to begin. I found that 15 seconds was very little for me to talk more on the subject they gave, I don’t know how long should a good response (about 4-6 sentences ore more??). Another problem I have is when I write I will much more aware of grammar than when I speak, so how can I repair this weakness?
About my situation, I have learn English for 10 years or more, but in the recent 5 years I have studied in Romania so I don’t have many chances to practise my English (actually my Romanian is going to “beat” my English, I am not Romanian native also, I am Vietnamese). Should I try to pratise with friends online like others recommend? I am afraid that it won’t help much because they may not realize my mistake and we will just continue to make more mistake. I also try to talk with other people here but they say they can understand pretty well (maybe they have the same accent with me :D), so I don’t know what else to do.
Ok, I write a lot because I really want to have appropriated advice for my case :D. So thank you very much for any help you could suggest.
Have you tried to record yourself and listen to the recording? This will help you become aware of your speaking mistakes. Alternatively, you can send us your recording and we will give you an assessment of your speaking skills. In the TOEFL test it is important that you concentrate on the main points you want to make and as soon as you know what you want to say, you should start expressing your thoughts in short sentences. Try to use phrases you know, don’t try to create new sentences you have never heard or used before.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]
Would you guys mind evaluating my speaking skills as well? If yes, please refer to this link, thisismaggieftaiwan.blogspot.com … ernet.html . I put my voice on my blog actually. You guys can simply hear my introduction by playing the video, which was converted from a audio file.
I, Imran Khan from India… I need help to improve my English.I got 77 in my TOEFL… which is not good… I am taking my toefl test again in July… I need above 100… I ready to do everything to achieve it… In every section I need above 25… Please guide me…I need to take my date before End of July 2010… please help me…
I know the basics of each section… I am just polishing my skills… I will soon post my essays here… Please help me…
Biology has at least 50 more interesting years- James D. Watson
Hi, Torsten!
I am from Albania and i could practise my english not very often. Can you help me to prepare for Toefl exam for 3 month. I must take more than 90 points. I would like to have lessons for each section of these exam that can help me.
Thank you very much.
hi dear Torsten
I am Samira Azadi from Iran! I am 27 years old and I finished my master sceince in the field of Environmental Engneering last year!
and I want to continue my education in phd level in America! so I want to apply for it in some universities! It is needed to take TOEFL exam as soon as possible because my other evidences are ready! I am just waiting for my TOEFL scor!
now I am preparing for TOEFL iBT! but I think it’s not enough! I need more advice and need more help!
I would be glad to see your advice
I want to take exam as soon as possible with a good scor of course!
My brother will appear for the Toefl exam by the mid of January and will keep you posted about that later.