TOEFL's worst section! Speaking!

“How Can I Prepare for the Speaking Section of the TOEFL iBT?”

The independent and integrated speaking competencies required for the TOEFL iBT are formidable challenges, but the following suggestions, if implemented through a regular course of study over an extended period of time, will help you to achieve the speaking confidence needed for a strong score.

To perform well on the independent speaking tasks, you should consider the following:

1. Create a list of familiar topics and practice speaking about them: “Describe your favorite vacation destination,” and “Describe an important person who has influenced you” are representative of familiar Independent Speaking topics for the iBT

2. You could also practice by stating an opinion or a preference and then by presenting reasons clearly and in detail. “Which do you think is better: living on campus in dorms or off campus in apartments?” is representative of an opinion-preference Independent Speaking topic for the iBT.

3. Making a recommendation and explaining why it is the best way to proceed is another type of speaking task that you should practice. “What is the best method of travel when going on a vacation? Explain why?” represents this type of Independent Speaking topic for the iBT.

4. Practice giving 1 minute responses to these types of speaking tasks.

Lastly, to perform well on the integrated speaking tasks, you should consider the following:

1. Find a college textbook that includes discussion questions at the end of the chapter. Read the chapter, take notes, and practice orally answering the discussion questions.

2. Read short 100-200 word articles. You can find such articles on the Internet, in the library, or in your TOEFL textbook. After reading the article, make a brief outline which includes its major points Then use the outline to orally summarize the information, after which you can add detail to the outline and orally summarize again.

3. Using the Internet, the library, or your TOEFL textbook + CD Rom, find listening and reading materials on similar topics. The material can provide similar or opposing points of view. After taking notes on the listening and the reading materials, you should do the following:

Orally summarize the information. Make sure that you paraphrase the information using different words and grammatical structures.

Orally synthesize by combining information form the listening and reading materials and by explaining how they relate.

4. Increase your knowledge of vocabulary and idiomatic language. Learn to use them in your speech.

5. Learn grammatical structures, particularly basic and complex sentences, so well that you are comfortable using them in your speech.

6. Learn to solve pronunciation problems, paying particular attention to word stress, intonation patterns, and pauses.

7. When practicing for the TOEFL iBT, take about 15 seconds to prepare a response before beginning to speak.Write down some key words and phrases, but do not write down exactly what you want to say.If you read your response, raters will give you a lower score.

8. Use signal words and phrases to create a coherent flow of information: to introduce new information, to connect ideas, and to emphasize important points.

9. Make regular recordings of your iBT speaking tasks and make sure your pronunciation and fluency are clear and easy to understand. If possible, have ESL/EFL instructors evaluate your speech using the appropriate TOEFL iBT Speaking rubrics.

Practice, practice, and practice doing these suggestions, and you will conquer the speaking section of the TOEFL iBT.

Michael Buckhoff is an ESL and English Professor at California State University, San Bernardino California and has been teaching TOEFL preparation courses since 1994.
Mbuckhoff
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
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Some of the speaking topics for question no. 1 are: {Its definitely gonna be one among these}

1. Describe your best friend.
2. Favorite holiday spot/ Hobby/Subject/teacher in school/animal (pet)/Icon/author/book/sport/Movie/Food/color.
3. Given one-month time to do whatever you like to do, what would you like to do?
4. Most cherished moment at school
5. Which country/city would you like to visit?
6. Toughest challenge faced by you
7. If you could know your future, what would you like to know?
8. What would you send to an international exhibition? Your object should represent your country.
9. Your strangest dream.
10. What do you miss when you are away from your home?
11. What would you like to do between study time, to take a break or to relax?
12. Some students prefer university in the home region while others prefer studying abroad. What would you prefer?
13. Some only go to the movies if they know about the film, whereas others like to go to get surprised and watch movies they know nothing about. What do you prefer and why?
14. What are important considerations in choosing a job/career according to you?
15. Some prefer traveling independently whereas others prefer traveling in a pre-arranged package tour. Which do you prefer and why?
16. Which mode of transport do you prefer traveling by and why?

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P.S-
read sample essays here !
sample-toefl-speakin-practice !
sample-toefl-writing-practice !
1 Practice toefl test !
Many practice tests !

Check list!- A Simple one!

A University requires:

1. GRE scores (valid for 5 years)
2. TOEFL scores (valid for 2 years)
3. Passport
   
4. Transcripts (A completed Bachelor degree from any university.)
5. A Statement of Purpose (in short SOP)
6. Resume/CV
7. Letter of Recommendation (in short LOR)
8. Financial certificates

A month wise plan can be found here: Road-Map-to-US ! you need to join Edulix forums for that! You will almost get everything you want! Trust me they are the best!

India-Link-GRE-Link-Toefl-Link-Universities-Link-Documentation-link-USA

Here are few links, which helped me and my friends through out this Master's journey! A lil' detailed information on each topic, you can refer to other posts! Hope they all help u!

Gre:
http://www.tcyonline.com/india/Home
http://learnwordlist.com/
http://www.greword.com/?cat=1
http://bighugelabs.com/magazine.php

http://princetonreview.com/grad/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=80&TYPE=GRE-PRACTICE-TEST
http://www.Number2.com
http://greguide.com
http://www.syvum.com/gre/
www.takegre.com
www.mygretutor.com
www.grebible.com
www.kaptest.com
http://pllab.kaist.ac.kr/~gladius/gre/
http://www.intelligentedu.com/newly_researched_free_training/GRE.html
http://www.gre.org/pracmats.html
http://www.petersons.com/testprepchannel/gre_free.asp?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=248&WT.mc_r=180
http://www.catprep.com/exams/gre/launch-win.html
http://www.grammatix.com/shop/cgi-bin/grammatix.cgi?pg=freeinfo#gre
http://www.gorillatestprep.com/gre_resources.html
http://www.indianchild.com/GRE/gre-practice-test.htm
http://www.english-test.net/gre/vocabulary/meanings/330/gre-test.php
http://www.grebible.com/download.htm
http://www.computerbasedtest.com/download.html
http://www.testmagic.com/
http://www.supervoca.com/  

Visa: 

www.visafever.blogspot.com


Remaining/Haphazardly listed:

http://800score.com/
http://edulix.com/
http://www.testmagic.com
www.syvum.com
www.vyomworld.com
http://www.gistguide.com/
http://www.minibikesonline.com/linkspages/Education.asp
http://www.collegejournal.com/exams/
http://www.onesmartclick.com/exams/gre-gmat-tofel-sat.html
http://www.greguide.com/gre-issue-essay.html
http://www.800score.com/gre-essay.html
http://shivampatel.net/msapp/default.asp
http://www.usaeducationguides.com/?gclid=CKuR_M7R05wCFY0vpAodTRgsJw
http://www.greedge.com/?gclid=CLnNtZfT05wCFQtN5QoddRDBIw
http://msinus.com/gre.htm
http://www.usdreamz.com/2008/12/free-profile-evaluation-for-ms-in-us.html
http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/jun/23gre.htm
http://www.universityvisitorsnetwork.com/search_compare.php
http://www.i20fever.com/school.htm

Transcripts Trouble!- VTU!

VTU contact no:
Belgaum code : 0831
Ph nos: 2498136 / 2498135
{I have heard only music n nothing else! But people have responded to many so TRY them!}

DD details:
Get a D.D in favour of " The Finance Officer, VTU, Belgaum "

Amount Calculation: ( you get the same answer anyways!)
1) Rs [(1 * 250) + { (number_of_transcripts_u_need - 1) * 150 }]
2) Rs [(number_of_transcripts_u_need) * (150 + 100 for finance officer)]

For Transcript : ( Reply i got from the VTU registrar)

1. Letter of requisition with the mailing address to the Registrar
(Evaluation), VTU Belgaum.
2. DD for Rs. 150 X No. of Transcripts + 100 favouring Finance Officer,
VTU Belgaum, Karnataka State, India, Payable at Belgaum
3. Zerox copy of All Marks Cards
4. No transcripts will be posted outside India
5. Candidates are required to submit their Indian address only

Transcripts from Belgaum finding their way to your home (Mailing procedure):

MAIL 1 to "re@vtu.ac.in" :
(wait for their reply! dont expect a reply though, but its gr8 if they reply!)

To: "Registrar (Evaluation), VTU"
Subject: Request for transcripts

Dear Sir,

I am a B.E graduate from VTU and have passed out in year. I would be grateful if you would tell me the exact detailed procedure to obtain B.E transcripts from VTU by mailing? Else, could you please give me the link in the VTU site where I can download the transcripts application form?

Awaiting your kind response,

Thank you,
name

MAIL 2 to "re@vtu.ac.in" :
To,
The Registrar (Evaluation)
Examination Section,
Visvesvaraya Technological University,
Belgaum

From,
Name
Complete mailing address
Phone Number
Mail ID

Dear Sir/Madam,

Sub : Requisition for B.E transcripts

I, name, have graduated from VTU with a B.E degree in year. I hereby request you to kindly mail me my B.E transcripts (number of transcripts needed).
My mailing address is as mentioned below.

Your complete mailing address with pincode.

Below furnished are my particulars:

Number of transcripts needed :
Name :
USN :
Year of graduation :
Undergraduate Institution :
Enclosed DD amount :
DD Number :
Photocopies of marks cards from 1 to 8 semesters are enclosed.

Thanks,
Name

Mail to:
The Registrar (Evaluations)
Examination Section,
Visvesvaraya Technological University,
Jnana Sangam,
Belgaum-590018

Enclose with: DD, photocopies

You going to Belgaum (Belagavi) to get your transcripts:

I opted for this because i somehow felt i didn't have that much time that i could get them posted to my house and i needed a change. I don't want to write the whole story but if you want the exact journey details about the "the trip to VTU" you can refer this and this ! U wont get better information from anyone else! However a few words from me and my friend who accompanied me to the VTU!

1. Bus fare: Rs 450+ and Train fare: Rs 250+ from Bangalore. We went by Airavatha. Book at least 3 days prior else you will be in waiting list.
   
2. Identity Proof's are required. Please carry your License/Passport.
3. The local bus numbers going to VTU are : 113,78,161 and122.
4. Name correction and the like might require a sslc marks card. So better carry all your originals with you.
5. Submit documents before 12 o' clock. ==> Reach VTU by 10. ==> Reach Belgaum by 8 ==> Leave a day before.
6. Don't book your return tickets either bus/train before 7 or 8 pm. It gets late many a times.
7. Food at VTU isn't that good. Take your own food.
8. VTU fresh rooms are good, you can directly board a bus to VTU from the main bus stop.
9. There is this hotel called Milan, near Chennamankere circle. It offers an executive room for 2hrs for Rs 200. Breakfast food is good here. VTU is 45 minutes journey from here.
   
10. Belgaum is famous for Kunda and Kardantu. Best place to get them is "Purohit Sweets".
    
11. Ahem Ahem... Panaji is 154 kms from here. Make use of it! :P

Any more doubts you can mail to VTU only. Am sure they will reply. :)

Verbal Nuisance! - GRE

If you have loads of time, then please work on barrons words list. If you don't have the book, any of the following sites mentioned will give you the entire barrons list! I faced two problems- had less time and i couldn't manage to mug more than 8 word-lists. So i chose, Norman-Lewis's Word Power Made Easy! I got a score of 500 in my verbal. If that's fine with you, then u can go for the latter too. Don trouble yourself too much, work more on the quant section for a higher score!

When you are bored you can see through this site.

This is my favorite! I have no particular reason but, i would finish studying words of one alphabet and would take up a test from here! It was sort of fun! Dig into this site and you'll find more helpful stuff!

Guidance n stuff can be got from this site! I didn't refer much from this though.

You can also:
Learn words with Pictures!
Tips to crack Gre !

My tip! - You can enter your mail-id and can subscribe from the following sites and create a label for them in your in-box. Then you can keep looking into these once a while! Trust me, it helps!

Note: If you need any pdf's or e-books, do drop in ur mail id. Will try my best to help you!

Reviews on "Pathi pathni aur Woh...!"

A literal copy/imitation/replica/parody of "Baby Borrowers", this show "Pathi Pathni Aur Woh.." is one among the usual pointless reality shows i thought. But one lousy Sunday afternoon, i watched it for like 3+ hours continuously. Surprisingly, I found it nice. Yaa, it had kids in them, that's the only reason i guess why i was hooked on to it for such a long time. It was nice, in fact very nice to watch. Cho cute the kids were and how naughty.

It was actually weird that they were actually away from their own parents and they got so familiar and intimate with their "new" parents। And they got so used to these "new" parents that, they were not ready to leave them i found THAT very strange! May be these kids were taught at home saying " देखो बच्चे, ये लोग नयी मम्मी पप्पा हैं. अच्चे से रहना हैं. थांग नहीं करना हैं। तुम्हे जो जो चाहिए, उनसे पूछो वोह खरीदेंगे, मोटर कार, बार्बी सेट, टेडी बेर स........बी दिवाल्देंगे। " he he! Coming to the kids, they were very smart n well trained too. They did trouble the parents to a certain extent, but it was fun watchin them bond with the "new" parents.

I am actually watching the show for the first time. I came across this couple, Gurmeet and Debina. I was constantly feeling i have seen them on some other show. But i never figured it out till they showed a clipping of the show/serial they were in. They were the Shri Ram and Sita of the Ramayan series, which my grandma used to watch. It wasn that funny, but i couldn't hold my laughter. The Ram and Sita, actually fell in love with each other on-screen and off-screen :P. Long live Shri Ram n Sita Maiyya!

Basically, the show's TRP is high only because of the infamously famous Rakhi Sawanth. But in that 3 hrs, i actually changed my opinion on her. Lets say i used to hate her 100%. now i can say i hate her, may be 80%. She has a bad tongue yes, but she did take care of the kids given to her pretty well. She couldn't handle infants at all, but for lil' elder ones she acted like a good mother. She managed to ingrain a little respect and cleanliness into the child. I never never expected it from her of all the woman there. She n Eilesh are a funny pair i must say. They fought pretty much and they were quite intimate with each other too. Don't know how they broke up, this itself proves that the show "Rakhi ka Swayamvar" was a spoof! And now "Rahul Mahajan ka Swayamvar"... an extension of the same dupery. I don't want to say anymore on this topic, else i might start swearing also! :P

Cheers!

Start Offf!- Masters Journey!

Hi all,
I personally had a tough time with this Masters process. So just thought i could help out people like me. Have Fun! Relax! n All The Best! Bonn Voyage! :P {Start with a positive note!}

I would suggest you to start with TOEFL and book your TOEFL dates first! Advantages being,
1) It would boost up your confidence.
2) The preparation for TOEFL is easy. hmmm... quarter of verbal preparation for GRE would suffice for TOEFL!
3) TOEFL scores take much more time to reach than GRE scores.
What more aren't 3 advantages enough to convince you..?? Anyways its your choice! I made a mistake, you needn't repeat it! :P
Registration can be done at Educational Testing Service website: Registration for TOEFL !

Write your GRE. Book your dates at least a month before and i would suggest maximum 2 months before if you are free, else much before if you are working. Registration can be done at the same ETS website : Registration for GRE !

Take a sample test from here, you'll get a faint idea of how GRE exam actually goes. Why i suggested this site was because after you take a test, you will get a call from them, they will tell you how you have fared in it. If you have got a low score, then they will offer to help you out too. If you are satisfied then you can join else chuck it!

Join yahoo groups and GRE forums on orkut! A must join for anyone who even got the thought Masters/GRE/Toefl/USA is the edulix forums!

Download these following 2 applications. They are useful at all times. Not only now!

1. Download Word Web !
2. Download Word Tracker !
   

Calculate your GPA yourself from here. You'll get an aproximate idea as to where you stand and what to do next!

Once the Gre and Toefl exams are over, starts the actual head ache. The "application work"! For this all that is needed is to be a little organized. All i would suggest for this is:

1. An excel sheet - refer this to know how you can make use of the excel sheet here.
   
2. Folder/Cover- a separate one for each university. Just go on dumping into the respective univ folders and one day your application packet will be ready :P
   

Its not that very tough, but as i said a little planning, organization and little more seniors help is required, just to know that you are on the right track.

Preparing for GRE Essays made easy..!!

GRE Essays = Blah.. Blaaahh... Blaaaaaaahhhh :P

The essays section, we particularly needn't worry about much! We have been through essay-writing, letter-writing, diary-entry etc etc in "English" in our school curriculum! But to get the hold of essay-writing for GRE, i just went through the following sites! They are pretty helpful!

If you have a faint idea about essay writing and you want to practice essays and want them evaluated, then click here! There are about 10 practice essays, you can try all of them!

If you are the kind who would give more attention to your verbal n quants and you are sure you just want to read and look into few sample essays prior to your GRE, then you could go for these:

10 sample issue essays!
10 sample argument essays!

If you are the kind who wants only topics n you will practice essays on your own, then the pool of topics are lined here for you,

Pool of issue topics!
Pool of argument topics!

Apart from this you want to read many and many more essays then follow this link!
If u need tips then this!

My preparation was just this much and nothing more! Happy Essay Writing!

Gre-Verbal-Mania :)

After an "extensive" search for study materials for Gre-Verbal section, no wonder i got plenty of links and pdf's and new friends also, but i made few discoveries too as in new and long words . I seriously wonder who would even use such words.. YOU will agree with me after u see the words! Hav a look :P

• "hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian" is a long word which means "a long word". :P

• "Honorificabilitudinitatibus" which simply means "with honor" was used by Shakespeare. :D

• "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis" is a lung disease, caused when u inhale silica dust. :O
  

• The finale, the longest official word ever (1,913 letters) is the term for the formula C1289-H2051-N343-O375-S8. It is the chemical name of the protein part of the tobacco mosaic virus: "Methionylglutaminylarginyltyrosylglutamylserylleuc ylphenylalanylalanylglutaminylleucyllysylglutamyla rginyllysylglutamylglycylalanylphenylalanylvalylpr olylphenylalanylyalylthreonylleucylglycylaspartylp rolylglycylisoleucylglutamylglutaminylserylleucyll ysylisoleucylaspartylthreonylleucylisoleucylglutam ylalanylglycylalanylaspartylalanylleucylglutamylle ucylglycylisoleucylprolylphenylalanylserylaspartyl prolylleucylalanylaspartylglycylprolylthreonylisol eucylglutaminylasparaginylalanylthreonylleucylargi nylalanylphenylalanylalanylalanylglycylvalylthreon ylprolylalanylglutaminylcysteinylphenylalanylgluta mylmethionylleucyalanylleucylisoleucylarginylgluta minyllysylhistidylprolylthreonylisoleucylprolyliso leucylglycylleucylleucylmethionyltyrosylalanylaspa raginylleucylvalylphenylalanylasparaginyllysylglyc ylisoleucylaspartylglutamylphenylalanyltyrosylalan ylglutaminylcysteinylglutamyllysylvalylglycylvalyl aspartylserylvalylleucylvalylalanylaspartylvalylpr olylvalylglutaminylglutamylserylalanylprolylphenyl alanylarginylglutaminylalanylalanylleucylarginylhi stidylasparaginylvalylalanylprolylisoleucylphenyla lanylisoleucylcysteinylprolylprolylaspartylalanyla spartylaspartylaspartylleucylleucylarginylglutamin ylisoleucylalanylseryltyrosylglycylarginylglycylty rosylthreonyltyrosylleucylleucylserylarginylalanyl glycylvalylthreonylglycylalanylglutamylasparaginyl arginylalanylalanylleucylprolylleucylasparaginylhi stidylleucylvalylalanyllysylleucyllysylglutamyltyr osylasparaginylalanylalanylprolylprolylleucylgluta minylglycylphenylalanylglycylisoleucylserylalanylp rolylaspartylglutaminylvalyllysylalanylalanylisole ucylaspartylalanylglycylalanylalanylglycylalanylis oleucylserylglycylserylalanylisoleucylvalyllysylis oleucylisoleucylglutamylglutaminylhistidylasparagi nylisoleucylglutamylprolylglutamyllysylmethionylle ucylalanylalanylleucyllysylvalylphenylalanylvalylg lutaminylprolylmethionyllysylalanylalanylthreonyla rginylserin" {duh... didno scientists were this jobless!}

Which EYE??

Take a camera, open the shutter, look into the viewfinder, focus on the object for 1 or 2 seconds and then CLICK! This is how i take a photo :) and is also the simplest way to take one... unless you have a very sophisticated camera!

Now the question is, when you are clicking a picture in your camera, you look into the viewfinder through your right eye or your left eye??

I just happened to suddenly think of this. Am so used to clicking pictures with my left eye. I actually tried it with the right one too, but i couldn't. May be my left eye is dominant i thought. Moreover, i cant wink with my left eye, may be thats why i use it to take pictures. Also, i am a right-handed person so that means i use more of my left brain, meaning my right eye is the one which's more functional! Awesome! two contradicting thoughts.

Years before, had heard it from a doc, rather he taught me how to choose which eye is better..?? Hmm.. for that you need to keep both your eyes open at first,

• Stretch your arm out and point your thumb to any far object;
• Try to aim at it accurately;
• Without moving your thumb;
• Close your left eye and observe the distance between the thumb and the object.
• Close your right eye and observe the distance between the thumb and the object.
  

The eye which your thumb got closest to the chosen object is your "best eye" :D And according to this my right eye is more sharp! Anyways i am not able to decide which eye of mine is sharper than the other.... atleast i hope it helped you decide!!