Let's study at Independent English Course, the best English course in Bogor - West Java

What are your Reasons to Study English?

2012-02-15T21:44:00.001+07:00

People have different reasons why they study English. Some people study English because they need it for their jobs or their studies. Some others study English because they want to travel abroad, communicate with their foreign business partners, translate books and articles and others. Meanwhile some others study English for hobbies and for fun. The unclear reasons include: being forced by parents, boss, future parent-in-law, etc.

Whatever your reason to study English is, there is one most important thing to master English: practice. Yes, practice makes perfect. Strong motivation, complete collections of English books, CDs, films, dictionaries and other facilities will be useless if people don't practise English every day and every time. Practising here means reading English texts a lot, listening to English dialogues and conversations, writing lots of English sentences and paragraphs in short stories, email, facebook status, SMS and others, and speaking English with other people continuously.

As one best English course in Bogor, INDEPENDENT always tries hard to help students to master English by practising 4 elements of competence: reading, listening, writing and speaking. INDEPENDENT helps students to use all their capacities to reach their goal: ability to communicate in English. Therefore, if you study at INDEPENDENT English Course, you will be required to practise more and more. Are you ready? Contact INDEPENDENT today.

English Study Tips for Kids and Their Parents

2012-01-03T18:37:00.004+07:00

English Study Tips for Kids and TheirParents

Exectivesummary about English for Children by Charmont Sodi

Kid whose parents take an active interestin their child's education will probably be much more likely to becomesuccessful language learners. This is why parents should get involved in theirkids learning process.

Useful English Study Tips:

o Help your child access interactivewebsites on the internet especially relevant to young learners. There are tonsof free and useful English websites for kids.

o Listen to English cassettes - for examplemusic with English lyrics or storytelling.

Use English when the child is alreadyfamiliar with the story. o Encourage children to read you any English storiesyou every day.

o Let your child teach you what theylearned in class. Look at the pages in the book your child studied. o Putstickers around the house labeling objects students have recently learned. Thishelps to bring language alive and gives learners day-to-day exposure.

o Ask your child to copy new words tentimes each. o Help your child make a 'personal dictionary'. o If parents canspeak English encourage conversation when possible.

Students often personalize new words. Lillymight remember "doll", "skipping rope" while Tom rememberswords like "dinosaur" or "robot".

o Foreign language learners often gothrough a 'silent phase' when beginning to learn a language. o Learners need toencounter language many times over a period of time before they 'know' it. Theteacher will review words in the next lesson to help students remember.

Parents should make English learning asenjoyable as possible.

How to Teach a Child English One toOne

By far the best approach for children forsuccessful and fun one to one teaching is to use games and songs. If you teachusing games children will love your private classes, and their parents willlove you for the results you achieve. - Award your pupil 10 bonus points at thestart of the game.

Time your pupil each round of a game andsee if they can beat their previous time. If a young child does not finish inthe required time it really upsets them and they will probably cry - and thatis not the aim of the game. Watch the fun demo video on the Home EnglishTeacher website for ideas on how to teach English to your children.

INDEPENDENT, an English Course in Bogor, is going to have holiday

2011-12-18T20:16:00.001+07:00

A year has passed and a new year is going to come. As an English course in Bogor, we would like to thank all Bogor people, mostly INDEPENDENT's students, students' parents, clients, business partners such as HIPKI DPC Kota Bogor and HISSPI DPC Kota Bogor as well as Dinas Pendidikan Kota Bogor, mainly Kasi Pendidikan Luar Sekolah at Bidang PNFI Kota Bogor for all support and help.

In conjunction with Christmas and New Year, INDEPENDENT English Course is going to have Christmas and New-Year Holidays from 23 December 2011 to 4 January 2012.

The management and all staff would like to wish all students, students' parents and families, all clients and business partners a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May all things that have happened in 2011 be good lessons for 2012.

May the new year to come give INDEPENDENT more hope, optimism and success.

Best regards.

English Course News Flash

2011-12-05T09:04:00.001+07:00

As one of the best English courses in Kota Bogor, INDEPENDENT has tried hard to serve the students and clients by providing interesting course materials. Students and clients claim that they are satisfied with our services.

Meanwhile we realize that it is time for us to adjust our course fee as the operational costs have been increasing. However, we still guarantee that the course fee is still the cheapest among English courses in Kota Bogor and the course quality is still upheld. The new course fee policy will take effect from 1 January 2012. For further information about the course fee increase, please contact our front officer.

We would also inform that INDEPENDENT will be on holiday from 23 December 2011 to 4 January 2012. Classes will resume on Thursday 5 January 2012. While INDEPENDENT is on holiday, all communication means can be done through email or SMS.

We would like to thank all students, parents, clients and the society for helping INDEPENDENT grow and develop.

Regards.

Management

English Course Activities in September & October 2011

2011-10-10T13:43:00.001+07:00

INDEPENDENT English Course, an English course in Bogor, has so far made some innovation to improve the quality of learning and teaching approaches. One of the innovation forms is by making the students more active to participate in the class. Discussions, singing, watching movies and other activities are held to "force" all students to express what they have in mind into English. It's not always easy, but everyone tries hard to do it.

From 3 October to 4 November 2011 an intensive training at United Tractors (UT) School Jakarta is held again. Here students are encouraged to keep practising their English so that after one-month training they can go to their job sites with high confidence to use English for communication with their superiors, expatriates, and other people who will work with them.

Meanwhile students in Bogor are always encouraged to practise English not only in the classroom but also in their daily life. By doing so, we want to prove that INDEPENDENT is the right place for everyone to master English as INDEPENDENT is really the best English course in Bogor.

Idul Fitri Holidays 2011

2011-08-22T08:04:00.000+07:00

In conjunction with Idul Fitri celebration, Independent English Course 

is going to be on holidays 

from Saturday 27 August 

to Tuesday 6 September 2011. 

Office work and classes will resume 

on Wednesday 7 September 2011.

The management and all staff 

would like to wish you 

a very happy holiday. 

HAPPY IDUL FITRI 1 Syawal 1432H.

INDEPENDENT's Activities in August 2011

2011-08-01T15:28:00.000+07:00

The 23-day intensive English training held by Independent English Course Bogor for batch-5 students at United Tractors (UT) School Jakarta finished on 27 July 2011. Batch-5 students will later join 11-month On the Job Training (OJT) in various places and at the same time they are continuing to study English using long-distance learning system.

On Monday 1 August 2011 Independent English Course gives a one-day holiday to all students and staff in relation with the first day of Ramadan. The management and all staff wish all students a happy Ramadan.

New classes for new groups and students will be opened in August for regular and private classes.

How to Improve English Pronunciation Skills

2011-07-04T16:46:00.001+07:00

Executive summary about English pronunciation by L Feiss

Do you have difficulty with your English pronunciation? Do people find it difficult to understand you, and because of this - do you avoid speaking English?

Good English pronunciation can be a difficult skill to gain, but with focused practice you can learn to pronounce English clearly.

Tips to help you practice English pronunciation

Listen to other native English speakers, try to repeat the speech you hear. Pay attention to the way English speakers pronounce words, listen to the tone and the rhythm of the English language.

Slow down your speech. Practice speaking English with native English speakers and record yourself when you speak. Practice reading aloud in English every day.

Why is it difficult to improve my English pronunciation?

The first language of an adult learner is one factor that strongly influences their pronunciation ability in English. Difficulties experienced by learners attempting to teach themselves English pronunciation may occur because often they may be unable to hear the differences between their first language and English. Listening to spoken English and being able to hear the different features of the language is an important part of learning to pronounce English more clearly.

Improving your English pronunciation takes time.

English pronunciation training can provide adult learners with specific instruction that focuses on their particular pronunciation problem areas. With continual practice and support, learners can work towards making significant improvements in their ability to speak English more clearly.

To achieve your goal of speaking English clearly, it can be very useful to commence an individually designed English pronunciation skills training program.

Non-Native Speaking English Pronunciation And Articulation

There are varying types of English pronunciation and its articulation lurking in the Educational Institutions of all the non-native speakers of English today. American English and British English vary in pronouncing such words. Both English, as times rolled by produced another multiple branches of pronunciation and articulation.

Both American and British English vary their pronunciation in the word "either". The slang manner of producing the sounds of the words of Americans is different from Asian countries. To learn English as the second language, these factors affecting the sound produced should also be given emphasis in the discussions or lessons to be discussed in learning English as the second language. Psychologically speaking, the best age for the learner to start learning English as the Second Language is within the age of 6 up to 10 years old. It is not solely the responsibility of the teacher for these young learners to learn English.

Today, it is necessary to learn English as the Second Language.

NEW PART-TIME TEACHERS

2011-06-27T14:50:00.001+07:00

From 27 June to 4 August 2011 Miss Siti Wastunnahari, Miss Ramadhani Nurwyunawati and Miss Sri Rejeki, together with Miss Anike dan Mr Dwinanto teach English at United Tractors School Jakarta. They give a special and intensive English language training to the second year students of UT School.

Meanwhile the classes that they leave in Bogor are handled by some part-time teachers. The new teachers are Miss Poppy, Miss Nouy and Mrs Febby.

Management and staff at INDEPENDENT English Course Bogor welcome the three part-time teachers and wish them all the best.

PART-TIME TEACHERS URGENTLY NEEDED

2011-06-20T10:12:00.001+07:00

INDEPENDENT English Course Bogor urgently needs some part-time teachers and teacher's assistants to handle classes in Bogor and Jakarta. Due to UT School 23-day English training programme that will start on Monday 27 June, some INDEPENDENT teachers will have to teach in Jakarta until 4 August 2011.

The part-time teachers that we are looking for will handle the classes left temporarily by their teachers, and we expect to assign the new part-time teachers to handle other classes after the UT School English training programme ends. INDEPENDENT plans to open branches and have cooperations with some other investors or institutions that want to open English courses in Kota Bogor and its surrounding.

The requirements to be INDEPENDENT part-time teachers and teacher's assistants:

Possessing diploma in English
Graduating from universities or at least being in semester 5 in their study
Being able to teach and having good communication skills in English
Willing to work in a team
Living in Bogor

Only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.

NEW UT SCHOOL'S ENGLISH TRAINING (BATCHES V & VI)

2011-06-11T08:02:00.000+07:00

United Tractors (UT) School Jakarta, in cooperation with INDEPENDENT English Course Bogor, is going to conduct a one-month English language training for its second year students in batches 5 and 6.

Mr Bustamamsyah, Academic Director of UT School Jakarta, explained that the training for Batch 5 would start on 27 June 2011 and will last until 4 August 2011. After that, Batch 6 would have to join the training from 3 October to 11 November 2011.

INDEPENDENT English Course Bogor is choosen again to organise the training as it has got experiences in conducting the English training programmes since July 2009.

Increase Your English Vocabulary: 5 Places to Find New Words

2011-06-06T10:39:00.000+07:00

Executive summary about How to Improve Vocabulary by Kelly Tracy

Growing your English vocabulary is key to improving all of your language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Different students prefer different techniques, and a combination of techniques is best.

Record the new words you encounter every day, both the ones you read and the ones you hear.

Learn word roots, beginnings, and endings. Many English words share parts with the same meaning, especially words with Greek or Latin origins. For example, "hydro" means "water" and is found in many English words like dehydrate, hydroelectric, and hydraulics. Studying a list of English word roots, beginnings, and endings will unlock a huge amount of vocabulary.

Study word lists that have been designed by experts to give you a good core vocabulary. For beginning to low-intermediate student, try the 2000-word General Service List. High-intermediate and advanced students should already be familiar with these words and move on to the 570 word families of the Academic Word list, selected by their frequency in academic texts.

Learn vocabulary by theme. Are you interested in baseball? You can use the same easy method to discover vocabulary lists for topics from economics to coffee.

Study word families. For example, if you learn the verb negotiate, it's easy to add the noun negotiation and the adjective negotiable and nonnegotiable. A good English dictionary lists other parts of speech for many words.

Advantages and Disadvantages of an Online English Dictionary

There are various reliable internet tools such as online English dictionaries, programs for grammar checking, and other processing tools. Besides the convenience, online dictionaries instantly eliminate the limitations of printed reference materials. Online English dictionaries are auto-updated; in fact this is the main advantage of online dictionaries over printed ones. An online dictionary is updated easily. It means that every new word or terminology can be added in the database of online dictionary.

One of the best qualities of such dictionaries is the translation feature, e.g. an online dictionary can translate an English word into Italian and vice versa. One of the drawbacks of these online dictionaries, however, is the dependability of the source. An online dictionary is a great tool of information, especially if we know how to distinguish a good online dictionary from a bad one. Also many of us view online dictionary as supplements to print dictionaries and not a replacement. We often forget that the dictionary gives the meaning of the word.

Helping You Improve Your English Vocabulary

2011-06-01T11:10:00.000+07:00

Executive summary about How to Improve Your Vocabulary by Mike Selvon

Learners of the English language are taught to put words into the proper context as much as possible. Then look the words up. Read and listen to challenging material like the English language news so that you will be exposed to many new words. Once you have learned the new word, practice using it.

Using new words frequently will help you to learn to speak English fluently. Write words down as a regular part of your English lessons. You should say the word aloud to activate your auditory memory and relate the word to words you already know. For example, the word "gargantuan," which means very large, has a similar meaning to the words gigantic, huge and large.

Playing word games are a simple and fun way to practice and improve your English vocabulary. Also, try out the Franklin Electronic Dictionary that features built-in word games. There are also a number of free games available online, so make game playing a part of your English lessons.

Even if English is not your native tongue, learning the language will allow you access to a new world of information. It is the language of technology, especially high technology like computer sciences, genetics and medicine. There are countless resources available to help you learn and master the English vocabulary, so embrace the language and open up a whole new world to yourself.

Other Tips on How to Improve Your English Vocabulary Use

1. Article
You first need to choose a suitable article, letter, report etc. Be sure to choose an article that suits your level of English.

2. As above choose a paragraph that suits your level, don't make the mistake of choosing something too hard. Don't choose something too easy either.

3. Paraphrase
Next you have to paraphrase the paragraph. To do this I would suggest you have an English - English dictionary and a Thesaurus available to help you.

4. Sentences
Now make your own sentences with the new words.

5. Practice
In the final stage you practice using your new words.

American And British English - Differences In Vocabulary

2011-05-30T07:59:00.001+07:00

Taken from an article about American and British English by Manjusha Nambiar

American and British English are very similar. There are, however, a few differences of grammar, vocabulary and usage.

Any more

In British English, any more is usually written as two separate words. In American English, it is often written as one word anymore when it refers to time (= any longer). It usually comes in end position.

She doesn't work in New York anymore.

Around and about

In British English, around and about are both used to refer to movements or positions that are not very clear or definite: 'here and there', 'in lots of places', 'in different parts of', 'somewhere in' and similar ideas.

The children were running around/about everywhere. (GB)

'Where is John?' 'He must be somewhere around/about.' (GB)

In American English, about is not used with this meaning. Americans normally use around.

The children were running around everywhere. (US)

'Where is John?' 'He must be somewhere around.' (US)

Note that in American English, about is mostly used to mean 'approximately'.

There were about fifty people there.

Illnesses

The names of illnesses are usually uncountable in standard British English. The can be used informally before the names of some common illnesses such as the measles, the flu; others have no article.

The words for some minor ailments are countable: e.g. a cold, a sore throat, a headache. However, toothache, earache, stomach-ache and backache are more often uncountable in British English. In American English, these words are generally countable.

Love isn't as bad as toothache. (GB)

Love isn't as bad as a toothache. (US)

I have got backache. (GB)

I have got a backache. (US)

Place names

In British English, the is unusual in the titles of the principal public buildings and organisations of a town.

Oxford University (NOT the Oxford University)

Hull Station (NOT the Hull Station)

Salisbury Cathedral

Birmingham Airport

Bristol Zoo

Manchester City Council

In American English, the is more often used in such cases.

The San Diego Zoo

The Detroit City Council

Holiday and holidays

In British English, the plural holidays is often used for the 'big holiday' of the year. In other cases, British people normally use the singular holiday.

Where are you going for your summer holidays?

Next Monday is a public holiday.

Americans normally use the word vacation. In British English, vacation is mainly used for the periods when universities are not teaching. Holiday is used in American English for a day of publicly observed celebration whether or not people work on it.

Ill and sick

Ill is often used to mean 'unwell' in British English. In American English, ill is unusual except in a formal style. Ill is most common in predicative position.

Peter didn't come because he was ill.

In attributive position many British people prefer to use sick. Sick is also the normal informal American word for 'unwell'.

He spent years looking after his sick father.

He is sick.

Drown

In British English, both active and passive forms of drown can be used to talk about accidental drowning.

He (was) drowned while trying to swim across a river.

In American English, only active forms are used to talk about accidental drowning.

He drowned while trying to swim across a river.

Awake and awaken
The verbs awake and awaken are irregular in British English, but can be regular in American English.

Awake - awoke - awoken (GB/US)

Awake - awaked - awaked (US)

Awaken is regular in both British and American English.

Awaken - awakened - awakened (GB/US)

Bath and bathe

In British English, the verb bath is used to mean 'wash oneself in a bath tub'.

Children have to be made to bath regularly.

The verb bath is not normally used in American English. In an informal style, we usually say have a bath (GB) or take a bath (British and American).

I am feeling hot; I think I should take a bath. (US/GB)

I think I should have a bath. (GB)

Bathe

In British English, bathe can mean 'swim for pleasure'. In American English, bathe is commonly used to mean 'take a bath'.

It is your turn to bath the baby. (GB)

It is your turn to bathe the baby. (US)

I always bathe before I go to bed. (US)

Real

In informal American English, real is often used instead of really before adjectives and adverbs.

That was real nice.

She sings real well.

Sure

Sure is often used to mean certainly in an informal style. This is common in American English.

'Can I borrow your bicycle?' 'Sure.'

Slow

Slow is used as an adverb in road signs, and informally after go and some other verbs especially in American English.

Examples are: go slow, drive slow.

Teaching English to Young Children - Tips for Success

2011-05-27T07:12:00.000+07:00

Executive summary about teaching English to children by Deborah Delin

If you would like your child to master English as a second language (ESL), don't wait until he starts learning English at school. From birth, play songs in English to your ESL baby. Just hearing the English words is great "ear massage" and the English pronunciation and intonation will become embedded in your child's cognitive awareness. Purchase musical DVD's in English. Children as young as 18 months will enjoy watching the colourful scenes while they effortlessly pick up English vocabulary.

Search for educational television programmes and DVD's in English. Choose those which particularly appeal to your child's taste. Balance your child's viewing between English and native language programmes.

Arrange for this person to speak only English with your child. Arm your "language helper" with a supply of English picture books for reading to your child. There are many free ESL and EFL activities (English as a foreign language) for teaching English to children, especially beginners.

Choose resources that offer interactive English exercises with voiceovers by native speakers. Start teaching your child to read English as early as possible, especially if your native language is not based on the Latin alphabet. There are many websites which offer free English reading programmes. Research confirms overwhelmingly that the phonics method is the most effective for learning to read English. Your early efforts to introduce him to English as a second language child will benefit your child for the rest of his life!

Other tips: Mastering the Art of Teaching English to Children

English lessons for children can be found online, with readily available lesson plans for teachers to follow. You can find English songs for children to sing and chant in class which make classes lively and exciting for students. There are even many types of English dictionaries online which range from American to British English.

The simple ways of mastering the art of teaching English to children is listed below:

Speak more in English and only English. Pronounce each word clearly.

Identify the way each child learns, be sensitive to their style. There are different types of learners, if a particular kid learns fast through 'audio'. You can even get interesting English songs for kids from CDs, from the music or book stores. For instance, if your kids like Barney, then get your kids to participate in a Barney sing along.

You can also let your kid mix with kids whom are their age whom are native speakers of the English language. Please keep on checking that your kid is comfortable being around those kids.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO SPEAK UP?

2011-05-26T08:28:00.000+07:00

How Teachers Are Making English Lessons More Exciting

Executive summary about How to Encourage Students to Speak up by Mike Selvon

One of the biggest challenges that educators face is keeping students interested in the work. Adequate preparation time is essential for instructors. For example, when teaching adults, the material should reflect usage in real life situations. Instructors set the tone for the room, so exercises that are light and funny will help the students to feel less self conscious.

Seeing as well as hearing words will help your student to learn English. Teachers should incorporate flash cards and picture dictionaries into their English lessons because it allows the student to associate a visual image with a word. Reading out loud to students is critical in order for them to gain language proficiency. English language teaching facilitators should read out loud in a clear voice and speak slowly.

For particularly difficult words, over enunciate until it becomes clear to the students. Have the students listen closely to how the words are said. The biggest hurdle for teachers is getting students to be excited about the material. In time, you will see that enjoying the learning process does indeed help students to learn faster.

Is Grammar Important?

Are grammar classes important or not?

Students learning English in their home countries usually study grammar (and so do foreign language students in the U.S.) For the same reason, some people - including many American English teachers - do not like grammar classes. Grammar is a set of rules that help you to communicate. Adult students need to study the rules because adults learn languages differently from small children, whose developing brains can absorb the rules of language indirectly. It is important to connect the grammar concepts you learn to your use of English.

IS BUSINESS ENGLISH IMPORTANT?

2011-05-22T20:33:00.000+07:00

Why Business English is Important

Executive summary about Business English by Natali Leeds

It is important to learn Business English if you are going to be successful in another country where English is the primary language, such as Australia, United Kingdom and the United States fro starters. It would also be a great idea to practice writing in business English as well. If your local University offers a course in Business English, it would be a good idea to invest in the class. Reading, writing and speaking English is a great way to start a career.

Here are some key language skills that you must learn to master Business English. Once you have an understanding of English, you have to apply it to Business English.

Business English is very different than speaking regular English, the structure is the same but you have to learn things like properly expressing yourself in a professional manner or maybe making a presentation in your office.

If you are working in the customer service sector, you really have to bone up on the Business English. Most businesses offer training sessions and companies that employ foreigners they offer classes on how to perform the job with the proper business English.

A Brief History of Business English Teaching

What methodologists and teachers consider differentiates Business English from General English has obvious implications on how Business English is taught, along with the dominant approaches in English language teaching at any given time. We can see this by taking a brief look at developments in Business English teaching.

Business skills and application to real-life situations were not generally focused on.

This trend continued during the mid-1970s and 1980s, when Business English teaching followed the move in General English teaching towards a more functional syllabus. From the late 1980s the focus shifted to working on business communication skills. This has profoundly influenced Business English teaching up to the present day in that the focus on Business communication skills forms a major component of most current Business English courses and coursebooks.

Language accuracy is judged in context.

TOEFL Tips for Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking Sections

2011-05-21T07:31:00.000+07:00

TOEFL Tips for Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking Sections

Executive summary about TOEFL Test by Aaron K James

The test is referred to as TOEFL. Each university has got its own TOEFL cut-off. Many find it difficult to score high in To elf as their mother tongue is not English and due to regional influence.

TOEFL READING TIPS

- Most importantly, improve your vocabulary. If you know the meaning of the word, scoring high in this section is a piece of cake
- Get a glimpse of the whole paragraph instead of reading through each sentence thoroughly
- Practice reading topics covering various niches like education, geography, history etc in newspapers and magazines.

TOEFL WRITING TIPS

Also while practicing, see that it is a familiar topic. This technique is referred to as pre writing
- Learn all the punctuation conventions properly before attempting
- Ask your lecturers to evaluate your paragraphs and articles

TOEFL LISTENING TIPS

- Keep watching more English movies. If you are a bit poor at listening, make use of subtitles during the initial stages. You will gradually understand the language flow
- Focus on the basic idea while listening to an article. The main idea is focused at the beginning.
- Make notes of the basic idea and important topics related to the paragraph. You are allowed to take notes during the test
- Frame a summary of the paragraph and note it down
- If nothing works out, make guesses since there are no negative marks!

TOEFL SPEAKING TIPS

- Read one paragraph from newspaper everyday and try to summarize it on your own and speak about it in your style
- Take some random topics and speak about them. Speak about positive as well as negative aspects
- You should be able to frame conclusions for any topic chosen.

TOEFL Preparation - Use Free TOEFL Practice Tests to Increase Your Score

The TOEFL exam measures your college level English abilities. More than 6,000 colleges, government organizations, and businesses accept TOEFL examination scores worldwide. The TOEFL test is delivered in two formats: the TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) and the TOEFL Paper-based Test (PBT). The TOEFL test that you're taking will depend on which tests your testing center offers. There are currently greater than 4,300 TOEFL test facilities worldwide.

The TOEFL iBT tests your English aptitude in four areas: reading, listening, speaking and writing. The TOEFL iBT test scores range from 0 to 120. The TOEFL test scores on the Paper-based (PBT) test range from 310 to 677. The range of test scores is between 31 and 68 for the structure/written expression and listening comprehension sections. The raw test scores for each portion are then transformed to the TOEFL test scale range of 310 to 677.

To do well on the TOEFL Test, it's important that you study smart - not hard! Among the best ways to study smart for the TOEFL Exam is to make use of TOEFL Practice Tests. Self-belief is acquired by continually practicing for the TOEFL exam.

TEFL TEST: WHAT IS IN THE TEST AND HOW IS IT SCORED?

2011-05-19T07:52:00.000+07:00

TOEFL Tests - What is in the Test and How is it Scored?

Executive summary about TOEFL Test Preparation by Mark Fellows

The 'Test of English as a Foreign Language', or (TOEFL) was designed to assess an individual's understanding and use of English in an academic environment. Tests can be conducted in 'paper-based-tests' (pBT) or 'internet-based-tests' (iBT). For those of you wondering how a TOEFL score is calculated, this article provides a brief overview of the key-components used in assessing scores.

What you need?

Both Internet-based-tests and paper-based-tests are conducted in controlled environments at authorized test centers. To register for a test, contact your nearest test center which can be found with a simple Internet search. With over 4500 test centers worldwide, hopefully you will find a center near you. Follow the link at the bottom of the article.

Stage 1

Reading: 25% of overall score.

Duration: 60-100 minutes.

Test comprises: Reading 3-5 passages, and answering 12-14 questions.

This assessment comprises reading between 3-5 passages of approximately 700 words in length and answering questions associated with the text. All passages are academic in nature.

Following reading the text, test-takers answer a series of questions to check their understanding. Questions relate to: main context, ideas, inferences, key information, vocabulary and essential information. The subject content requires no previous knowledge, as indeed it does for all subsequent tests.

Stage 2

Listening: 25% of overall mark

Duration 60-90 Minutes

Test comprises: Listening to 6-9 passages and answering 5-6 questions.

This section comprises listening to 6 passages, 3-5 minutes in length and answering questions relating to the passage. The passages are academic in nature, normally comprising student conversations or lectures and discussions.

Each audio recording is heard only once and test-takers are permitted to take notes while they listen. Each conversation has an associated 5-6 questions to answer which are intended to measure an ability to understand: main ideas, key details, intentions and purpose and attitude of the speaker.

Stage 3

Speaking: 25% of overall score

Duration: 20 Minutes

Test comprises: 6 tasks and 6 questions

This section comprises 6 tasks of which 2 are independent and 4 integrated.

For the independent tasks, test-takers answer questions on familiar subjects.

Test-takers are assessed on their capacity to answer questions spontaneously and to relay their ideas clearly and coherently. The audio recordings are of academic-type situations.

In the integrated tasks, test-takers are required to utilize skills and answer questions from reading and listening material, and are given a little time to prepare themselves before beginning to speak.

Stage 4

Writing: 25% of overall score

Duration: 55 minutes

Test comprises: 2 tasks and 2 questions

This section measures the test-taker's ability to write in an academic environment. The test consists of 2 tasks, 1 integrated and 1 independent.

In the integrated task, candidates read a passage and listen to an audio recording of the same subject. They are then required to write a summary of the key points of the passage and relate them to the audio recording.

In the independent task, candidates are required to write an essay, expressing their opinion on a topic rather than purely responding to choice.

Stage 5

The scores of the four individually assessed tests are collated to form a final score. There is no pass or fail scores, but educational establishments and employers may require certain scores to meet entry level requirements.

For a paper-based-tests scores range from 200-677, and a score in excess of 600 are very good.

For Internet-based-tests scores range from 0-120 and a scores above 97 are considered very good.

TOEFL Preparation - 5 Key Things

Executive summary about How to Prepare for the TOEFL by Tim Dickeson

Deciding on how to prepare for the TOEFL is probably the most important thing you will investigate before taking the TOEFL.

Many TOEFL preparation courses have set structures that they go through with the classes and there are also TOEFL preparation books which you can use and follow.

However over my English teaching experience and more importantly the experience I have gained teaching TOEFL, I have come to learn that regardless of which ever method you use, it is extremely important to understand 5 key things which you must incorporate into your TOEFL preparation.

1) TOEFL Sections - Having a comprehensive understanding of the format and structure of the TOEFL so you know exactly what to expect.

2) Question Types - Learning the different question types so you are familiar with how the question will be presented to you.

3) Answering System - Developing a system for answering the different question types to minimise time and assist structuring your answers correctly.

4) Answer Analysis - Analysing what makes a high scoring answer so you are familiar with what you also need to do to produce a high scoring answer.

5) English Skills - Increasing your vocabulary and grammar skills to increase your score

Don't take a chance on the TOEFL. If you work on all of these areas as part of your TOEFL preparation, you will substantially increase your confidence going into the TOEFL and increase your ability to get a high score.

WHAT IS TOEIC?

2011-05-16T08:14:00.000+07:00

Some Independent students ask what TOEIC test is. Here we post quite concise information about it. We also put a summary about how to prepare the TOEIC test from ezinearticles.com. We hope to see the benefits taken by Independent students from this information.

The TOEIC Tests

the global standard for assessing English proficiency for business

Summarized from ets.org/toeic

The TOEIC tests:

Help businesses build a more effective workforce
Give job seekers and employees a competitive edge
Enable universities to better prepare students for the international workplace

Organizations and job seekers around the world trust TOEIC scores to help them get ahead of the competition.

For more than 30 years, the TOEIC® test has set the standard for assessing English language skills used in the workplace. Today TOEIC® test scores are used by over 10,000 companies, government agencies and English language learning programs in 120 countries, and more than 6 million TOEIC tests were administered last year.

Workplace assessments that meet business needs

TOEIC test questions simulate real-life situations that are relevant to the global workplace. Score reports provide accurate, meaningful feedback about a test taker's strengths and weaknesses, along with a description of the English language strengths typical of test takers performing at various score levels. This allows employers to:

Relate test scores to the tasks employees may perform on the job
Use the descriptions to inform critical hiring and placement decisions
Select the employee with the English-language abilities the job requires

Additionally, ETS's ongoing research helps ensure that the TOEIC tests are accurate and relevant to today's changing global workplace, which helps internationally competitive companies hire, place and promote the right candidates year after year.

Standardized testing means reliable results

TOEIC test scores provide accurate, reliable measurement of English proficiency — they can be compared regardless of where or when the test is administered. For example, last year's scores of a test taker in Japan can be compared with this year's scores of a test taker in Korea. Because test takers of any background can be compared fairly, companies can use the TOEIC tests to make the most informed decisions and build a more diverse workforce.

Equal opportunity for all test takers

ETS ensures standardized test conditions give test takers equal opportunity to demonstrate proficiency.

Test administrations adhere to strict guidelines to ensure a consistent and fair test-taking experience.
A scoring process held to the highest quality-control standards results in the most reliable and valid scores available.

The Next Step in TOEIC Preparation

Executive summary about TOEIC Test Preparation by Robert P Phipps

The idea of focused training has entered the arena of the TOEIC Test. OnlineEnglish have captured the market by applying focused training techniques to business English language training with special concentration on preparation for the TOEIC test.

Training on the website is unique and commences with a TOEIC estimate test. The test has been developed and tested over 3 years and is designed to analyze a person's English proficiency related to the TOEIC test. The results of the estimate test are shown graphically on what OnlineEnglish call "the performance monitor"

The performance monitor shows students a graph of their ability for each question type in the TOEIC test. Students can then train and improve by completing hundreds of TOEIC exercises grouped understandably into question type categories. Naturally this focused training provides faster improvement results than just broad training techniques.

This area supports training and helps participants develop their Basic English skills.

Students can copy and paste texts from newspapers and magazines into the exercise and it will automatically create a challenging missing word exercise, allowing the student to further improve vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure.

The test is based upon the real test and really gives students "the feel" they need to overcome any disadvantages.

The story goes on because the training website is far from passive as every student will get the support privately by email from a qualified TOEIC trainer and authorized TOEIC administrator.

To finalize our look at this unique TOEIC training and preparation area, students will receive weekly emails with information, examples, interesting comments and homework.

Continually updated, OnlineEnglish put the true meaning back into the word TOEIC Preparation.

TOEFL AND IELTS

2011-05-15T08:07:00.000+07:00

TOEFL or IELTS - Which is Better?

Executive summary about TOEFL and IELTS by Walton Burns

One of the most frequent questions I hear is which test is easier or which test is better. The IELTS test administrated by the British Councils, the University of Cambridge, and IELTS Australia or the TOEFL? Pick the test you think will be easier for you to complete.

Structure of the TOEFL

As of last year, official TOEFL is almost universally given in the iBT (Internet Based Testing) format.

Reading

The TOEFL Reading section asks you to read 4-6 passages of university level and to answer multiple-choice questions about them (multiple-choice means you choose the answer from provided options). Questions test you on comprehension of the text, main ideas, important details, vocabulary, inferring, rhetorical devices and style.

Listening

The Listening Section presents long 2-3 conversations and 4-6 lectures. Speaking

The Speaking section is recorded. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a text and a conversation--and may ask your opinion as well. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a short conversation. Again, the topics of the conversations are always university-related.

Writing

Finally, there are two short essays on the TOEFL.

IELTS Structure

The IELTS contains the same 4 sections, Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, but the format is very different.

Reading

The variety of questions on the IELTS is quite broad, and not every text will have every question type. One question type asks you to match headings to paragraphs in the text. There may be multiple-choice questions that ask you about key details. Finally, some questions are short-answer but the answers will be taken directly from the text itself.

Some questions come before the text and may not require careful reading to answer.

Listening

The IELTS has four listening sections. There are two writing tasks on the academic IELTS.

Speaking

The first part of the test will be a brief introductory conversation followed by some short questions about familiar topics.

Writing

There are two writing tasks on the academic IELTS. The first asks you to summarize a table or chart in about 300 words. The second task asks you to present your opinion on a statement about a fairly open topic.

British versus American English

While both the UK and the US accept both tests, and while British English and American English are not as different as some think, the fact of the matter is the IELTS tends to use British English and the TOEFL uses exclusively American English. If you are more comfortable with US English, the TOEFL is a good bet but if you are used to British English and accents, you'll do better on the IELTS.

Multiple choice versus Copying Down

For the reading and listening sections, TOEFL gives you multiple-choice questions, whereas IELTS generally expects you to copy down words from the text or the conversation word-for-word. Multiple-choice questions will tend to be require slightly better abstract thinking, but the IELTS favors people who have good memories and think more concretely. Of course, the TOEFL is also more predictable than the IELTS. If you like talking to people, the IELTS is a better bet. Finally, the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL are graded holistically. The IELTS by contrast is marked by individual criteria and you are scored individually for grammar, word choice, fluency, logic, cohesion, and a dozen other criteria. The IELTS will not overlook bad grammar.

WHAT IS IELTS TEST?

2011-05-13T23:59:00.000+07:00

Know Why IELTS Test is Essential For Applicants Seeking Immigration Or to Study Abroad?

Executive summary by Ajay Sharma

In immigration to certain destinations and under some specific programs, like Australia General skilled migration program, the immigration programs require that both the principal applicant and their spouse appear for the IELTS test as well. While this makes the Immigration process more expensive and tougher, what applicants do not realize is the fact that IELTS test is only for their benefit.

Importance of IELTS test

So why has the IELTS test become such an integral part of the immigration applications for almost all Immigration destinations and programs? And why are the applicants made to undergo the strenuous IELTS preparation process and spend huge amount of funds in undergoing these tests?

Earlier system of assessing English language skills

In the past the Immigration officers used to take one-to-one interview to judge the English language skills of the applicant and decide how many points they would like to credit to the applicant.

But this kind of system created animosities and unfair situations, for both Visa processing office and immigration applicants. There are several reasons why this system of evaluation of language skills of the applicants is replaced by the IELTS test.

Introduction of IELTS

IELTS test is thereby based on evaluating applicant's skills in all four components of the language, including speaking, listening, understanding and reading.

Language is clearly one key area that can and does create difficult situations, especially when applicants do not have English as their primary language and have never had exposure to international language accents.

The IELTS test thereby gives an opportunity to all such immigrants to avert any such difficult situation and check on their language skill levels, before they select the course and university for studying abroad. Most of the international educational institutions offer Language development courses for international students, who are not very fluent with the language. It has therefore become an essential part of the Immigration visa process and for study overseas applicants. Hence, an applicant is advised to prepare well, if they wish to earn some points by scoring well in various test modules. Seeking advice from an immigration expert is a wise decision to give a direction to your IELTS preparation as well as your immigration process, in general.

IELTS - 10 Tips For Passing the IELTS Exam

Executive summary by Mike Wattie

To improve your score in the IELTS exams, you should focus on the following ten areas:

1. Improve your overall English ability

The IELTS exam has been designed to test your ability to communicate in English, so ultimately you cannot score well without a high level of English. Learning any language is a slow process that requires hard work and perseverance. The best way to improve your English is to immerse yourself in English...take every opportunity you can to read, write, speak, and listen to English. In addition, try to develop regular habits for doing things in English, such as, reading the daily news in English or starting a blog in English. Research shows that it is important to interact in English frequently as opposed to big chunks of infrequent study.

You can improve your listening skills by listening to the BBC news or watching movies. Reading can be improved by regularly reading English newspapers and novels. Speaking can be a tricky one if you are in a non-English speaking country.

2. Understanding the Exam

The exam always follows the same format, so you should learn about the different question types, and how to answer them. Reading: You should know about the different text types that are used in the reading exam, and also the different question types. This will help you develop reading skills and strategies to answer each type of question, and also let you develop time management skills for each question type. Note: many students have trouble completing the reading section and as a result their grade is often lower than their actual level of English.

Writing: All candidates will write a 250 word essay, so everyone should practice writing a complete 250 word essay within 40 minutes. Many students practice essay writing, but they fail to practice with the time requirement - as a result they are unable to complete their essay during the actual exam. You need to make sure you are preparing for the correct type of exam because general candidates will write a letter whereas academic candidates will write a report based on a graph/diagram.

3. Understand how the exam is graded.

Although your exam grade is a single number for each of the four section of the exam, this is not how all sections are assessed. In the speaking and writing sections there are four criteria for assigning a grade. Understanding how each of the criteria is evaluated is essential to maximising your score.

How the writing test is graded

Vocabulary: To score highly you must use higher level words, pay attention to collocation, and also control your word endings (correctly use singular/plural and use the correct verb ending for the correct tense).

Special Note: In some instances errors can count in two categories; for example, many grammatical errors also result in a lower score for coherence. On the positive, it is useful to learn lots of connective devices because they can count for Coherence & Cohesion as well as vocabulary. Part of your self-study should be aimed at efficiently using your time to maximize your grade.

How the reading test is graded

Your speaking test is graded and marked from 1-9 in accordance with four key criteria, as follows:

Coherence refers to your speaking being easy to understand.

Grammar: To score highly you need to use a variety of sentence types (simple, compound, complex) and also avoid grammatical errors, such as with articles and prepositions and sentence order especially when they make your speaking difficult to understand.

4. Do lots of practice exams and receive feedback

Doing lots of practice exams is the best way to familiarize yourself with the specific style, requirements, and necessary success factors of the IELTS exam. Practice tests also give you insights about the types of questions you will be asked and the answers they require. For instance, many of the answers in the reading exam are synonyms (word with similar meanings) of words in the text. This avoids you wasting time looking for words that are not there!

Doing practice exams is not enough. The next step is to learn to overcome these errors. If they are grammatical errors you should do some grammar quizzes focused on that area, an excellent site is at grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar.

Of course if you are doing practice writing exams you will need a professional to give you feedback on your mistakes and how to avoid them.

5. Developing skills

In addition to improving your general level of English and doing practice exams, you also need to work on many skills that will help you to perform better on the test. Reading skills such as skimming (which parts you should strategically read) and scanning (best choices for searching for information) are essential to deal with the time pressure of the reading exam.

Writing skills such as how to structure an essay and how to highlight your key points are necessary to score 7 and above. For the speaking exam you need to learn how to structure answers to questions and to quickly paraphrase words you don't know (part of the criteria for level 7 and above) and you will need to develop skills in note making and speech making for the part 2 long answer.

To score well in the listening exam, you should develop excellent pre-listening skills, so that you can predict answers and establish listening objectives.

6. Work on your time management

In the IELTS test, time management is a vital element and so part of your preparation should focus on how you will manage your time in the exam. In order to improve upon your time management, you should improve your general English ability, do lots of practice exams under time restrictions, and work on skills that assist your ability to deal with the time pressures of the exam (such as skimming and scanning in the reading exam).

7. Get a tutor or join a class

8. Find a study partner

9. Set realistic goals

Part of knowing the exam and understanding the grading criteria is about knowing where you personally are and what you must do to get to the next level. It takes about 10 weeks of full-time study for most students to rise to the next IELTS level. It is best to be working on raising one level. To illustrate this if you are a level 5 student you should be focusing on things like correctly using complex sentences, learning to paraphrase unknown words, and the overall structure of an essay.

10. Establish a timetable and reward system

As mentioned above it takes about 10 weeks of full-time study to raise one level - so if you really do want to jump two levels within 10 weeks, you will need to work twice as hard as a full time student - and study about 10-12 hours per day! Watch TV and films, listen to the radio, visit English websites and have as many conversations with native English speakers as you can.

WHAT IS TOEFL?

2011-05-12T07:43:00.000+07:00

Independent English Course in Bogor also provides preparatory courses on TOEFL. What is TOEFL? Here we post an article about what TOEFL is. Happy reading.

Everything You Need To Know About TOEFL

Written by Manjusha Nambiar

The author is an English language instructor based in Mumbai.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) tests the English language skills of non-native students who want to study or work in countries where English is the language of communication. It is an exam developed by ETS (Educational Testing Service). More than 6,000 institutions and agencies in 110 countries rely on TOEFL scores to select students with the English skills needed to succeed.

TOEFL tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading and writing. There are three versions of the TOEFL: paper-based, computer-based (CBT) and internet-based (iBT). The majority of test centers now use the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT).

Paper-Based & Computer-Based TOEFL
The computer-based TOEFL (CBT) was introduced in 1998. Its format is very similar to that of the original paper-based test. In areas where the computer-based test is not available, the paper-based test is used. Remember that you cannot change your answers in the first two sections of the CBT after you have confirmed them on the computer. There are more "types" of questions in the CBT, such as clicking on a phrase and looking at a diagram. Before you start the CBT you will take a tutorial which shows you how to answer the questions properly. The total time you will spend taking the paper-based test is 2.5 hours. The CBT takes approximately 4 hours (including tutorials).

TOEFL format (paper based)

Listening comprehension (30 minutes)

Part A: short dialogues

Part b: Long conversations

Part c: mini-lectures

Structure and written expression (25 minutes)

Sentence completion (15 questions)

Error recognition (25 questions)

Reading comprehension (55 minutes)

50 questions - approximately 5 passages

Computer based

Adaptive listening (60 minutes)
Part A: short dialogues

Part B: conversations, academic discussions, mini-lectures

Adaptive structure (15-20 minutes)

Sentence completion (approximately 10 questions)

Error recognition (approximately 15 questions)

Reading comprehension (70-90 minutes)

Over 60 questions - approximately 6 passages

Writing (30 minutes)

1 essay topic

Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT)

The TOEFL (iBT) was launched in 2005. It is intended to replace the other two versions of the test and is gradually becoming available worldwide. The new TOEFL iBT is a linear and not a computer adaptive test. This means that every candidate answers questions from the same range of difficulty, rather than receiving questions based on their ability levels.

The TOEFL iBT consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. All four sections are taken on the same day, and the entire test is about four hours long. What is most unique about the test is that it asks you to combine, or integrate, more than one language skill, just like you do every day. For example, sometimes you read a passage, listen to a short lecture about a topic, and then speak or write a response. And you can take notes throughout the entire test just like you would in a real academic class. Language heard on the TOEFL iBT is designed to sound like real-life conversations. The reading passages are taken from real textbooks and course materials.

TOEFL iBT format

Reading (60-100 minutes)

3-5 passages (12-14 questions each)

Listening (60-90 minutes)

4-6 lectures and academic discussions (6 questions each)

2-3 conversations (five questions each)

BREAK 10 minutes

Speaking (20 minutes)

6 tasks (2 independent, 4 integrated)

Writing (50 minutes)

I integrated task, 1 independent task

Test registration

Go online to register for a test. You can also register by phone or mail. When you register for the test, you can designate which universities you want to receive your scores. Or, you can wait until you receive your scores before sending them to your selected universities. Your scores will be available online 15 business days after you take the test. ETS will also send you a paper score report for your records.

TOEFL requirements

TOEFL is a source of anxiety for most international students who are not educated in English. But remember that it is almost unavoidable. Required TOEFL scores vary by institution, usually, the more prestigious the university, the higher the TOEFL score. So contact your selected university or college to determine their score requirements. On the TOEFL Web site at http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/codelists.html you'll find a list of 6,000 institutions that accept TOEFL scores. You can also view a list of score requirements for some representative universities.

TOEFL waivers

Some universities have what is called a TOEFL waiver option. You can opt for this option if you are willing to study at the university's Intensive English Program (or another affiliated English program) until acquiring the required level of proficiency in English.

BRITISH ENGLISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

2011-05-11T07:52:00.001+07:00

Independent English Course Bogor has so far encouraged students to speak, write, listen to and read English more often. Students usually ask questions over several things they find such as why there is "color" and "colour", "holiday" and "vacation", "have got" and "has got", and so on. Here we provide some information about some differences that you may find when you practise your English.

(Admin)

British and American English - The Same But Very Differrent

Executive summary by Paul Kennard

The basic difference lies vocabulary level. Whereas the British have petrol , the Americans call it gasoline; while the British drive lorries, the Americans drive trucks; the Americans pay checks, whereas the British pay bills; the British eat chips, but the Americans eat French fries and so on. Furthermore both groups of people will often use the same words , however these words denote totally different things. This problem creates much cause of misunderstandings, especially to people who learn English as a second language.

Another important factor which separates British and American English is the pronunciation. Unlike the British , the Americans pronounce -r in last syllables, the example of which can be words like weather, sweater, soldier etc. The word princess has a different stress in American English as to British English. The British stress the second syllable, whereas in American English the first syllable of this word is stressed. Other examples are advertisement, laboratory, ballet (though this word can be stressed in two ways in the American variety of English.

Let us now compare both languages by taking a closer look at how grammar is approached. The most outstanding dissimilarity in the use of grammar is how Americans apply the simple past tense to situations where the British tend to use the present perfect tense. In addition the Americans are thought even to ignore the present perfect tense all together.

In contrast to British English, American spelling is rather simplified. Whereas the British have colour, harbour or honour, the Americans shorten it to color, harbor and honor, omitting u in ou clusters. Another difference is not doubling of -l- in words whereas the British do so, for example traveler/traveller, leveling/levelling. Some words in American English end in -og, but the British spell them -ogue, e.g. dialogue/dialog, catalogue/catalog and so on. Others may claim that, on the other hand, these two varieties of the English language are different, and in addition, people should be aware of these aspects in which American English and British English differ.

Differences Between American And British English In Article Marketing

Executive summary by Una Page

As an author who is concerned how to achieve best marketing results with their articles, you may not be aware of the importance to distinguish differences between American and British English in your writing. Nuances in spelling and pronouncing between the dialects typical for different English speaking territories may seem small and insignificant, but they may play a crucial role in what effect will your article have for its target audience.

Typical examples of the words that are written differently in American and British English are: centre vs. center, color vs. colour, fulfill vs. fulfil and the list goes on. Typical differences in usage of tenses and morphology would be learnt versus learned. Your ability to abide to different English language rules depending on the territory of your target audience will determine success or failure of your article marketing efforts. This especially applies if you are writing about subjects that imply heavy usage of 'duality' words. For example, if you are writing about design or painting and your target audience are Americans, they would be heavily distracted by consistent and persistent usage of word 'colour' instead of 'color'.

HOW TO MASTER ENGLISH LANGUAGE

2011-05-10T21:09:00.001+07:00

Executive summary by Seema Kumar

For many people, English is a Big challenge. English seems to be a very difficult language to master with all its irregularities, exceptions and rules. English in reality is a very peculiar language. Not only does it have so many grammatical rules, but, irritatingly enough, there are also hundreds of exceptions to those rules, which one can master only through persistence, dedication, and indefatigable energy. To reach flawlessness in the use of English is an seemingly impossible task. At times it may become frustrating and embarrassing to make mistakes but eventually one learns to accept them. By focusing more on understanding the mistakes rather than judging yourself one can become fluent in English. Moreover when we make it our hobby and not just a chore and above all have fun while we learn is the righteous path to effective English Mastery.

Problems with English

* Not Original Language - The spelling of a word may not show what the pronunciation of the word is. This is because English words came from many different sources. It is not a 'pure' language because English came from two main sources - old French, and old Anglo-Saxon, there is a very large vocabulary of words. Words with similar meanings may have come from both sources. For example, START (from Anglo-Saxon) and COMMENCE (from old French). The meaning is similar, but not precisely the same.

* Abundance of Common Words - To become even just a moderately competent speller of English one has to memorise at least 3695 common words with exceptional spellings

* Spelling Patterns - English has 88 main basic spelling patterns, but they all have some exceptions. 88 spelling patterns have so many exceptions that they are not really patterns at all.

* Idioms - Native English speakers use a lot of idioms, that is - words used in a way which is not their obvious meaning. An English speaker may say, "I do not think much of bananas." This does not mean he doesn't often think about bananas. It means that he does not like bananas very much! "I think nothing of going for a swim before breakfast." What this really means is that he actually likes doing this, and that it is no problem to him! Communicating is much more easier than actually understanding proper usage of English.

How to Improve your English? / How to Master English?

1. Motivation - On needs to have a lot of Motivation to be able to master English. Often we give up out of Frustration because we are not motivated to learn English. To Motivate on needs to question himself -

Why do you need to learn/improve English?
Where will you need to use English?
What skills do you need to learn/improve? (Reading/Writing/Listening/Speaking)
How soon do you need to see results?
How much time can you afford to devote to learning English.
Do you have a plan or learning strategy?

2. Regular English Study - It's important to study English every day. But don't Overdo! Instead of studying for hours once a week, one should devote like Thirty minutes every day be it Speaking or Writing. Short, steady practices are much impactful for learning than long periods on an irregular basis. This habit of studying keeps English fresh in our brain.

3. Communicate in English - Communication in English has many forms like - Speaking, Writing Letters, Text Messaging, Placing an Order, E-mail etc. There is nothing like communicating in English, especially when there are so many Forms to Communicate. The More you use it the more you know it and the more successful you will be.

4. Use a dictionary - Using a Dictionary while Reading or even while watching English programme is helpful in improving Vocabulary.

5. Listening English music - One of the effortless and easiest way is listening to music anytime or while doing daily chores etc. It can help in getting used to the natural rhythm and tone of English speech. The more time and attention you give to a song, the more you will learn from listening to it again in the future.

6. Read the Lyrics - If the lyrics are not given in the CD booklet, one can find them on the internet to understand the language. When you have read and understood the lyrics, listen the song and read at the same time, this can be a good way of understanding how sounds change in fast, natural, informal speech.

7. Listen to news in English - Listening to English spoken by newsreader either on Radio, T.V. or Internet makes it easier to get the grab of English

8. English Speaking Native/Foreigner Friend - An interesting way to not only learn English but new cultures as well if one finds a foreign boyfriend or girlfriend. It can be Online or Conventional friend and it can be a great motivator to improve your language skills.

9. English Courses - Those who are really serious about getting it right all the time can join various intensive and extensive courses

10. English Subtitled Movies - Another resourceful methods is to watch English movies with subtitles.

11. English Karaoke - If you have a music system which features Karaoke then one can, after understanding and memorising a song, use it in remembering which words rhyme at the end of each line. This can also be a good way of starting to learn English pronunciation.

12. Similar Words - Learning as many words as one can of one category, e.g. animal words can both expand overall vocabulary and make them easier to learn by forming links between the words in the brain.

13. Record your voice - Many people don't have much or any correction of pronunciation from a teacher so recording yourself and listening it makes it easier to hear whether you are really making the right pronunciation required.

14. Learn English From Internet - Many websites provide free and paid online Tutorials for improving English. On can look for them on any Search Engine and use it according to one's preference.

15. Take English language exams - It looks tough but taking up such exams reflects your mistakes. Even if you don't need to and don't want to or can't take a special course to study for it, paying to take an exam like TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS or FCE can really motivate one to take English studies seriously.

16. English Language Blog - Another Creative way of getting along with English is to describe your life and interests etc. on the net. People who might read will point out your mistakes and give you free suggestions.

17. Visit an English Speaking Country - Most preferably England or any one which is easily accessible, is the best option. Certain Holiday Packages are available and one can take an English speaking tour or activity holiday.

A VISIT BY DINAS PENDIDIKAN PROVINSI JAWA BARAT

2011-03-29T11:50:00.000+07:00

Today, 29 March 2011, Independent English Course Bogor was visited by a survey team from Dinas Pendidikan Provinsi Jawa Barat. They were accompanied by Kabid PNFI Kota Bogor, Mr Rahmat Supriatna, and chairman of HIPKI Kota Bogor, Mr Mamul Zein. Mr Tatang from Bandung explained that the survey and visit were intended to monitor some courses in Bogor which were considered good and could be examples for other courses in administration affairs and social programmes. For Independent English Course, the visit was a great moment. We hope to see more attention from the government to local courses.