Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ed Provencher]

I just took the 4-hour iBT TOEFL practice test courtesy of my language school. The idea is that the experience will help me become a better teacher for the iBT TOEFL Prep courses at my language school.

I received immediate feedback on the Reading, and on the Listening portions of the test. Each score is out of 30. I will get my Writing and Speaking scores in a week. I'm a little surprised and embarassed by how difficult the Reading section was for me.

EDIT: I received my Speaking and Writing scores.

Reading 23
Listening 27
Speaking 28
Writing 27

Total 105

ETS, the company that makes the test listed these requirements for UVA:

University of Virginia
Total Score: 90, with following minimum section requirements
Reading: 23
Speaking: 22
Listening: 23
Writing: 22

Other schools are listed here: http://tiny.cc/P9LRH

I'm certain I will become a better iBT TOEFL Prep teacher because of this experience. I recommend taking it to anyone who is teaching these prep courses.

[ajuma]

I haven't taken the ibt, but I DID take the TOEIC paper test a few years ago. I too was suprised at how difficult the test was and how much concentration the listening part took.

Taking the test DID make me a better teacher, as I learned what kinds of things the students should know for the test.

I'm planning on taking the ibt so I can see what the new format is like.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Ed Provencher]

I felt a lot of pressure during the 45 second short-answer speaking questions. Part of my mind wanted to be concise and part wanted to fill the time. I don't know what a 'good answer' looks like, so I was really unprepared for it. I'm sure my answers reflected that uncertainty.

Besides having a ton of experience writing essays, the test gives a set number of minimum words to shoot for which helps in deciding length. The test does not indicate what length of time would be appropriate for the speaking answers.

If anyone has seen some iBT TOEFL teaching books, for native speakers of English, please let me know. Unfortunately the books I use in class are made for Korean teachers, and they are in no way teach-the-teacher sorts of books.

EDIT: I found what I was looking for here http://forums.eslcafe.com/teacher/viewtopic.php?t=5156

Seems like a great resource!

[pkang0202]

[WoBW]

I used to teach the iBT speaking and writing sections. Sometimes I would get the students to pick a random speaking question from the book for me to answer live in class, with the real time limits. I did this as a demonstration. It was tough sometimes, but it helped me to teach/coach the students.

I found it was really about following a certian 'step-by-step' structure that helped to answer the questions. I coached them in following this process to answer the questions.

e.g. if it was a personal preference question.

1. Give your opinion, possibly by restating part of the question.
2. Give reason A, using transition signals. Followed by (ideally) 2 examples or supporting details.
3. Give reason B, with transition signals and supporting details.
4. Give a concluding statement, which may just be restating the opinion but with different wording and briefly mentioning the main reasons.

[Ed Provencher]

I posted my Speaking and Writing scores in my original post. Here they are again with my thoughts.

Reading 23
Listening 27
Speaking 28
Writing 27

Total 105

I want to blame my lack of knowledge 'about' the TOEFL iBT in terms of the format of the questions and the expectations regarding the speaking and writing responses. Although this could be an ego defense. I've been reading up on these aspects of the test and am confident that I could improve a great deal on this score. I will take the test again in the future and I don't think I should be teaching the test if I can't get 115 or higher.

[bassexpander]

[Poemer]

The ETS website has a few sample questions on it, and ETS publishes an official textbook/guide to the test. The Korean textbooks for ibt that I used to use were rushed out in a hurry when the ibt rolled out and it showed. Maybe standards have come up in the past year, I don't know. I found the official ETS book to be the most valuable in helping me plan useful lessons.

[marlow]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

That WAS the point of needing a degree to work here. Not no more, yo.

[marlow]

[Ed Provencher]

I took a practice TOEFL iBT test again recently. Here are my scores from the first and second test.

1st Test (5/2008) READING 23 LISTENING 27 SPEAKING 28 WRITING 27 TOTAL 105

1st Test (5/2008) READING 27 LISTENING 27 SPEAKING 28 WRITING 28 TOTAL 110

I'm certainly happy to see my score has gone up. Of course I'd be happiest with a perfect score, but since I don't practice for this test, I'm satisfied with the result. Teaching this test and preparing for taking it are two different endeavors, however taking the practice is a great way for teachers to develop a better understanding of what it demands of the students.

I highly recommend taking the practice test for anyone teaching the TOEFL iBT or planning to.

[tfunk]

How much did it cost you or did you do a free online version?

[goodsounz]

I highly recommend spending your $USD170 on something else.

iBT TOEFL for the States, IELTS for other countries, TOEIC for some Asian countries and next year a new exam (I think it is already being trialed) in South Korea. They are all a variation on a theme and as one poster pointed out earlier it has everything to do with money.

Congrats on improving your score though. Why don't you try the TOEIC test and see if you can get 990? It is a darn site cheaper (about 35,000won) Then you can really rake in the money by teaching TOEIC.
I think you will need to get a high KLPT score though before a hagwon will get you to teach TOEIC or TOEFL or even IELTS iBT's.