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