| Do you have any plan to pursue your further | | | | the course material itself, will vary |
| education abroad? Will you need English for | | | | drastically, some students may feel that the |
| your career or your education? If so, you may | | | | language skills gained upon completing the |
| wish to investigate your options for | | | | course does not equip them to handle school |
| learning, or improving, your English skills. | | | | work or social interactions adequately. |
| | | | |
| The TOEFL Test: TOEFL (Test Of English as a | | | | Some schools offer students and alternative |
| Foreign Language) is a test used by many | | | | of home-stay programs for students. Home-stay |
| colleges, universities, government agencies | | | | programs benefit the student by placing them |
| and exchange and scholarship programs in the | | | | for several weeks or months with a host |
| US, UK and Canada as a means of evaluating | | | | family that speaks English. The student is |
| the language skills of a person whose first | | | | then able to immerse him or herself in the |
| language is not English. | | | | culture and social speaking of the English |
| | | | country they are living in. There are also |
| You can find TOEFL study guides easily online | | | | online ESL programs that may be suitable for |
| with other recommended resources listed. You | | | | distance education, especially if programs |
| may be able to access some of the sample | | | | are not readily available in your area. |
| tests and prepare with personal study. Or you | | | | |
| may look for a class with an instructor to | | | | Private Tutors: Another popular method of |
| help you prepare for the test. | | | | learning English is with private tutors. The |
| | | | materials and methods used by ESL tutors will |
| ESL Classes: ESL classes are a common means | | | | vary greatly and it is important to establish |
| for students to learn English with group of | | | | what material will be used and to feel |
| classmates. These can be in the form of an | | | | comfortable with the tutor. Asking friends or |
| evening class with various individuals | | | | other students for references can be helpful |
| attending or may be part of a college program | | | | in finding a good tutor. |
| during the day. | | | | |
| | | | A combination of these English learning |
| The course length and the topics covered will | | | | methods will be effective as well. You can |
| differ from country to country and school to | | | | take a summer course while staying with a |
| school. Some summer programs are geared for | | | | home-stay host family and then arranging for |
| international students to gain a basic grasp | | | | private tutoring during the school year. |
| of the language before starting studies in | | | | Making an effort to use your new language |
| English taught classes of the college or | | | | skills regularly in social situations will |
| university. | | | | improve your progress regardless of the |
| | | | program or course you are using. |
| Since the standards of passing a course, or | | | | |