TOEFL

[doug and leann 0]

I am taking TOEFL for school. What did you think about it? How did you study for it? I am particularly concerned about the Speaking part because I would need more than 15-30 seconds to prepare for my response. To those who has taken this test recently, I need your input. Thanks.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Alla and both boys took the TOEFL exam. Sergey had extensive English classes since he was young and had excellent English skills. He did no special studying and scored very high.

Alla bought several books with DVD's, studied the books and did the excerises on her computer with the DVDs. She scored very well and jumped into a Master's program immediately on arrival. Pasha did not study at all, did not do so well (he was 13 at the time) but he will be here long enough to use his SAT scores instaed which he did very well on.

Alla and Sergey took the TOEFL in Ukraine. Pasha took it here. As I said, both Alla and Sergey had extensive English education in Ukraine and spoke English well before taking the tests.

[Golden Gate 530]

I am taking TOEFL for school. What did you think about it? How did you study for it? I am particularly concerned about the Speaking part because I would need more than 15-30 seconds to prepare for my response. To those who has taken this test recently, I need your input. Thanks.

http://www.onlinengl...mples_tips.html

If you are in the U.S., take some ESL classes in your community. That is the best way and practice speaking to people in English as often as you can,about anything you can talk about.

I noticed the TOEFL test has a lot of questions, which when I tried to think of the answer, I could only think of it because I am a native speaker. There was no logic or rule to apply. See if they

offer TOEFL prep at a local community college. I used to teach TOEFL prep at an ESL school in San Francisco, but that cost quite a bit for foreign students.

Edited April 30, 2011 by Golden Gate

[adiiann 163]

I am taking TOEFL for school. What did you think about it? How did you study for it? I am particularly concerned about the Speaking part because I would need more than 15-30 seconds to prepare for my response. To those who has taken this test recently, I need your input. Thanks.

They said its pretty easy, elementary english. If you are working already, you don't have to take toefl here, the employer could just verify that you can speak and write the language.

[Golden Gate 530]

They said its pretty easy, elementary english. If you are working already, you don't have to take toefl here, the employer could just verify that you can speak and write the language.

I guess the question is: for which type of school are you taking TOEFL - is it to get into university? If it is the TOEFL test for this, it isn't so easy.

Edited April 30, 2011 by Golden Gate

[ONA 133]

I haven't taken the TOEFL test yet, but I'm going to as soon as I arrive in the USA.

Even though I'm getting a degree in linguistics and ESL teaching in Russia I figured that it wouldn't hurt if I do some extra preparation.

I got this book:

(Mine is 2011 edition though)I like it so far.

Edited April 30, 2011 by ONA

[Nina~ 431]

TOEFL is a piece of cake... You can't really study for it "per se" because it is designed to test your level of English. But if you dont feel confident, you can buy a book and do a timed practice exam to improve your test taking skills. I didn't prepare for it at all and got a 295 out of 300.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

TOEFL is a piece of cake... You can't really study for it "per se" because it is designed to test your level of English. But if you dont feel confident, you can buy a book and do a timed practice exam to improve your test taking skills. I didn't prepare for it at all and got a 295 out of 300.

Alla needed 595 or better to get into her university. There are different TOEFL exams with different scoring methods. It is not a "piece of cake" and her private university offers an 8 week prepratory program with a $6000 tuition.

I studied it and helped Alla with studying it and would say that if you were an average or better than average 12th grade native speaker or equivilent, you could probably pass it and get into college. It is designed to test your ability to understand and use English with enough proficiency to benefit from college courses taught in English.

It requires far more than a "level 5" ESL assessment.

[Nina~ 431]

Alla needed 595 or better to get into her university. There are different TOEFL exams with different scoring methods. It is not a "piece of cake" and her private university offers an 8 week prepratory program with a $6000 tuition.

I studied it and helped Alla with studying it and would say that if you were an average or better than average 12th grade native speaker or equivilent, you could probably pass it and get into college. It is designed to test your ability to understand and use English with enough proficiency to benefit from college courses taught in English.

It requires far more than a "level 5" ESL assessment.

Let me rephrase that. TOEFL should be a piece of cake for the OP because I can tell that her English is pretty good from her post. It is not exactly rocket science if the OP can read a harlequin novel with relative ease. However if the OP struggles with learning new languages and is unable to practice her English by reading books/newspapers, conversing at work/church/family, then it is advisable to take a prep class.

And from her signature, it looks like she plans on taking the exam somewhere in the US. They don't do the paper based tests here anymore, so it wont be out of 600. The internet based test is now out of 120 (used to be out of 300 when I took it). Hope that explains it for you.

[tallcoolone 102]

I am taking TOEFL for school. What did you think about it? How did you study for it? I am particularly concerned about the Speaking part because I would need more than 15-30 seconds to prepare for my response. To those who has taken this test recently, I need your input. Thanks.

Did you explain to your school that English is the business language in Philippines.

Pretty stupid for a school to make you take a test and pay a fee to prove you can speak and understand English.............

[Messybrownhair 251]

I got 117/120 on my TOEFL. First try, no studying at all, except for the free sample when you sign up. It was so easy!!! You'll be okay

Just to add, I took it because I needed it to apply for graduate school. I am starting this fall

Edited May 1, 2011 by messybrownhair

[Messybrownhair 251]

I am taking TOEFL for school. What did you think about it? How did you study for it? I am particularly concerned about the Speaking part because I would need more than 15-30 seconds to prepare for my response. To those who has taken this test recently, I need your input. Thanks.

If you went to a private school in the Philippines and learned English, you will be more than okay. The questions are very simple, even for the speaking part.

Example for speaking part:

"Tell us about a time a friend helped you out"

15 sec to prepare, 30 sec to talk

Writing is also very simple, they focus on grammar and not so much the content.

Listening is the easiest.

Reading is easy but boring because they use really boring texts

HOPE THAT HELPS!

[doug and leann 0]

I took the TOEFL last Saturday. I think all areas were easy, but the Reading part was so annoying and yes, boring. I could have used more time on Reading though. The Speaking and Writing parts were so easy for me; did not have any trouble at all. I was so worried about not having enough time to prepare for Speaking.

I had to take TOEFL for Nursing School and there is no getting out of it. I went to a private school in the Philippines and I'm pretty good with speaking and writing in English. I just think it is stupid to take the test because I have already taken an English class here in the US and passed all of my Biology classes.

Just a side note: I think I use the English language way better than the average American who graduated High School here. It is pathetic how a school can just make you pay and take a test like that, it should be a case-by-case basis.

[bowgirl 8]

I took the TOEFL last Saturday. I think all areas were easy, but the Reading part was so annoying and yes, boring. I could have used more time on Reading though. The Speaking and Writing parts were so easy for me; did not have any trouble at all. I was so worried about not having enough time to prepare for Speaking.

I had to take TOEFL for Nursing School and there is no getting out of it. I went to a private school in the Philippines and I'm pretty good with speaking and writing in English. I just think it is stupid to take the test because I have already taken an English class here in the US and passed all of my Biology classes.

Just a side note: I think I use the English language way better than the average American who graduated High School here. It is pathetic how a school can just make you pay and take a test like that, it should be a case-by-case basis.

I was supposed to take TOEFL but the school waived it since I had a degree in Philippines and gave me a certificate that the courses/subjects (except Pilipino subjects) were taught in English.