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TOEFL Prep & Academic English for International Professionals

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TOEFL iBT

A Pharmacist learns the importance of the Academic Vocabulary

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“At first, I didn’t understand how important deep knowledge of the language was in order to get a high score for TOEFL. I, like a lot of people, thought that practice is a key for success and that quantity will turn into quality one day. Instead of actually learning the language, I just tried to train myself on TOEFL.

The speaking section was my Achilles heel. I always thought that it was unfair for ETS to make test-takers to fit so much information into the 45 second time period. After another attempt to pass the test, I was almost 100% sure I would get a high score for the speaking section, because I managed to use a lot of information from the given materials and I was very frustrated when I got my report and I had failed my speaking section again.

After that Danijela recommended me to try the “Academic Vocabulary Workshop” course. I was able to finish the first section of the course before my next TOEFL attempt and finally I lucked out. Even though I thought I would fail again because this time my speaking answer was missing some of the information, apparently, I underestimated the importance of academic words for the test.  Unfortunately, ETS doesn’t explain what they actually liked in my answer, but I remember using a lot of academic words because my topic was similar to the topic from the section of the workshop I just finished.”

Elena Downey, Pharmacist, Philadelphia, PA

TOEFL Speaking and the two types of test takers

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16 years of dealing with TOEFL  Speaking, as one of the most challenging parts of  TOEFL preparation, taught me that there are TWO TYPES of test takers: those who thrive on structure and those who prefer to “freestyle”.  Depending on which category you fall into, you’ll have distinct problems in the TOEFL Speaking section.

TOEFL Speaking when you rely on structure

Typically, those who rely on structure do better in the INTEGRATED part of the TOEFL Speaking section. Here they have something to go by – the reading/listening prompts. This means they don’t have to come up with new, relevant ideas in the very limited time they get on the test day. People in this category usually find the INDEPENDENT Speaking (and  Writing) much more challenging. They typically cite the lack of ideas as their biggest problem. Their INDEPENDENT Speaking answers are usually very limited in terms of content, because they simply can’t think quickly of the right supports, even in their first language.

TOEFL Speaking when you ‘Freestyle’

On the other hand, those who like to share their opinion on any topic under the Sun, (typically the “big talkers”  in their first language) have no trouble answering the INDEPENDENT Speaking question (or writing  the INDEPENDENT essay).  Coming up with ideas, supports and details is not a problem for them. On the contrary, a lot of times they have so much to say that they can’t fit their answer in the “only” 45 seconds given. Typically, these test takers have trouble managing their time, in both the INDEPENDENT and the INTEGRATED portion of the TOEFL Speaking section.

Solution for both types

Luckily, there is a solution that works for both types (and no, it’s not a “magic pill”) – it’s the good old PRACTICE. The more questions you are exposed to, the more comfortable, and faster with answers you get. At the same time, if you practise under the realistic conditions, with the time limit, you get a better feel for how much you can say within 45 seconds. 

If you have been preparing for TOEFL for a while, but you still can’t get the required TOEFL Speaking score, you probably realized that it is crucial to get professional feedback, correction and evaluation. Ideally, you  want to enlist help from  a  TOEFL prep specialist, a teacher/tutor who will listen to YOUR ANSWERS and give you specific feedback, rather than model the answers for you. This is exactly what I do in the Independent Speaking Workshop. YOU get new INDEPENDENT Speaking questions (one at the time), 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to answer.  I LISTEN to your FIRST answer, which is the most realistic one, and give you INSTANT FEEDBACK on the three main aspects of your answer. You can find more details about the Independent Speaking Workshop here: 

https://professionalesltestprep.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1061819

Are you an Internationally Trained Professional?

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The term  “Internationally Trained Professionals” (also known as Foreign Professionals) is fairly new.  It refers to Professionals with degrees from non-English speaking countries who wish to pursue their career in English Speaking counties.  Many International Professionals are in the Medical field. Some of them are physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, dentists, nurses or physiotherapists. Other typical professions include engineers, teachers, instructors,  university lecturers, MBAs.

English Proficiency requirements for Internationally Trained Professionals

In North America, most International Professionals are required to take an Academic English Proficiency test in order to continue working in their field.

Even if they are already working in the field, many International Professionals have to take TOEFL  or IELTS  so they can obtain or renew their Professional Licence. This is a very common case with pharmacists.

Finally, the third most common reason that some International Professionals need a particular TOEFL or IELTS score, is to apply for Graduate studies (Master’s Degree and Doctoral Degree programs).

Why are Internationally Trained Professionals different from other TOEFL takers?

Internationally Trained Professionals are mature test takers. They typically have very busy schedules and juggle multiple responsibilities: their families, jobs, education. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for test preparation, especially the one-size-fits-all kind of preparation.

On the other hand, Internationally Trained Professionals already have extensive higher education (albeit, not in English).  Unlike the high school students aiming at Undergraduate studies in the English speaking countries, these serious test takers have very specific needs. They require customized and personalized test preparation.

Test preparation courses vs custom TOEFL preparation

Most online and offline test preparation programs have the one-size-fits-all approach. They offer generic courses which expect the student to adjust to them  (in terms of the skill focus, learning style, length of study, pacing, etc.)  That might work for younger students who still have a lot of time to devote to their test preparation (and their parents who are willing to pay for multiple trendy courses).

However, Internationally Trained Professionals know better; they understand that each test taker has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. They also know that those can be identified only by an experienced, professional teacher/tutor and and addressed through individual instruction.

A Pharmacist from Poland

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“Meeting Danijela for the first time, I quickly noticed that she has a lot of experience. I have met her just few times, but she helped me to be more confident, and this is very important if you want to have a good score in the speaking section of TOEFL. In order to pass TOEFL as a FOREIGN PHARMACIST,  I had to get at least 26 points. I have been struggling to cross a barrier of 24 points for a while, but with her positive attitude and approach to the speaking section, I got 27 points! That was a huge achievement for me. She is not only a great teacher, but also a mentor and a coach. Sometimes not just the English is the problem, but what we believe, and she helped me to believe that it is possible to be a good speaker and get more than 24 points in speaking. I am glad that I met her.”

 

Arkadiusz Stobierski –  Pharmacist, New Haven (USA).

A University Lecturer, Irina

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“When I immigrated to Canada in 2009, I needed to improve all four English skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) to obtain a faculty position at the University of British Columbia. One of the classes that I took was Danijela’s TOEFL preparation course.  Danijela’s students gave a very good feedback on her teaching style and effectiveness in exam preparation. With Danijela’s help I got the TOEFL score I needed to secure a research and teaching position at UBC.

Six years later, I needed to pass TOEFL with a high score (24/30 in each section) to apply for a Clinical Trainee’s licence.  After three attempts with self-preparation my score in the Speaking section was consistently 23. I contacted Danijela and asked her for a few private lessons in order to figure out my problem. Danijela gave me a trial test from her collection and provided me with detailed description of my strengths and weaknesses. She suggested a structured approach to improve my weaknesses, and after a month of preparation with her, I obtained a score of 27 in Speaking. Moreover, I improved my writing from 25 to 26.

I would describe Danijela as a great teacher, who helps students to improve their skills in a very structured and gentle manner. I would definitely recommend Danjela as a teacher for those who need to improve their TOEFL skills.”

 
Irina Manokhina,  MD, PhD, Research Associate, Teaching Fellow,
Department of Medical Genetics,  Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia:

An Engineer from Italy

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“I was Danijela’s  student for 4 months when I had to prepare for TOEFL iBT test.  During that period with Danijela’s support, I improved my listening, writing and speaking skills. My Academic vocabulary improved as well, giving me the chance to interact positively with native speakers. All the lessons, the exercises and test simulations enabled me to get a high score on TOEFL iBT  test.
Once I returned to Italy, I got my first job immediately. I’m now employed as optical engineer and project manager in an international company, active in space, medical, laser and defense & security field. I work every day with foreign companies, institutes and agencies, such as NASA, ESA, European Community Committee and various National Committees. The same skills I learned in Danijela’s classes, are now fundamental to take notes during meetings and conference calls, to present in public and to prepare reports.”

Dr. Matteo Marmonti, Senior Optical Specialist & Project Manager

Optec SpA