Job Discussion Forums

[revilo]

For some reason, not by my own planning, I taught a TOEFL prep class in the USA. Actually, it was because I was a TOEFL rater.
I taught the class for 2 months in a private school setting. I thought 2 months was just about right for learning the material.

Now I teach a TEOFL prep class 5 days a week in China, and it is for 4 MONTHS! Literally, they dumped all these test questions on me (without answers) and the students and I review them. The questions were stolen from a Japanese TOEFL test prep site and I have access to the sound files (which may work depending on how fast Chinese wi-fi is working on that day).

I don't have the correct answers and sometimes I tell the students "Well, the ansr could be A or it could be D" I'm sure you remember eliminating ansrs based on the question, but there are always a few that you can't dismiss right off the bat.

The shocking thing is that I'm running out of questions and they tell me, "Just get some more questions from the Internet." Well, yeah, but how about the right answers?

[coldcucumber]

6-12 weeks, depends upon student levels.

[Bud Powell]

I wouldn't wish TOEFL prep on anyone.

Depending upon your city, you might be able to buy a Kaplan or Baron's TOEFL prep book for about $20.00 in a university-area book store, or try Amazon.com or TaoBao.

I don't recommend Petersen's or Princeton Review for any test prep.

There are multiple websites that show sample tests and answers for TOEFL. You could copy them and use them in class. Granted, it'll be a tedious process, but it's better than nothing.

This website has about a dozen tests (and answer keys) for Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary,Grammar, Writing, prefixes and suffixes (very important), but NO listening skills portion.

http://www.learn4good.com/languages/spec_english_toefl.htm

Good luck.

[wonderingjoesmith]

TOEFL prep can be pretty tricky. One thing is the material available, another students who may consist of varieties of levels although uniformly high expectations.

To make sure you have a measurable goal and to avoid unreasonable suppositions, test the students prior to your course, if you can. This will most likely protect you from any annoying comments of your superiors, students and/or their parents later. If you haven't done so, you may not be able to protect yourself and you may not be knowledge of your students' needs.

Teaching with the actual test questions is the most common way around; however, the interested ones in improving their (or their kids) proficiency of the language ought to learn that it isn't only the exams questions which can upgrade the knowledge. Moreover, they should become aware of the integration of listening speaking, reading and writing in the performance.

In order to improve notably, a 4 month test prep that is run 5 days weekly needs a lot more than just drilling the questions from the actual exam. The language components require a special attention and they entail ingredients beyond questions-answers.

[theoriginalprankster]

British universities no longer accept ETS (TOEFL, TOEIC) test-passers, as it was uncovered by BBC Panorama that TOEFL invigilators at a certain test centre IN BRITAIN were giving the answers to the candidates in-test.

I guess your students are heading to the States or other countries?

Means more IELTS test candidates - good news for IELTS examiners and BC.

[revilo]

These students are on their way to Canada. TOEFL is the test of choice. Many thanks for your advice, everyone.
I do have a TOEFL test book loaded onto my computer and if I can cut & past the questions into Word format, I can solve the problem of not having enough material.
I'll be heading to the Middle East and I'll look into IELTS examiner jobs, cuz this TOEFL prep is for the birds.

[wonderingjoesmith]

[wonderingjoesmith]

[fat_chris]