preparing your learners for language proficiency tests · ielts—esl reading ielts tests a variety...
TRANSCRIPT
Preparing Your Learners for
Language Proficiency Tests
Preparing Your Learners for Language Proficiency Tests English Online Inc.
is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution--ShareAlike 4.0 International License
November 24 & 25, 2017
This webinar will be recorded
Agenda
• Variety of Tests
• Tips for IELTS preparation
• Tips for TOEFL preparation
• Stress Management
• More Formats
Why so many?
Time left:
30 minutes
Screenshots: Google mages
Why do Native English Speakers
Fail Tests?
Screenshots: Google mages
Preparation is the Key!
Screenshots: Google mages
IELTS
It is a standardized test designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work in an English speaking country.
Two Faces of IELTS
• Academic - for Study Purposes
• General - for Work or Immigration
Purposes
https://www.ielts.org/
https://www.ieltscanada.ca/Default
Band Titles
Bands can be awarded in 0.5 intervals.
Test results will be posted 13 days after test completion.
IELTS Listening
Screenshots: Google mages
Listening Tips
• Pre-read the questions.
• Read the whole question.
• Read as you listen.
• Look for clues in the questions.
• Listen for repeated words.
• Don’t wait to write.
• Don’t leave any answers blank!!
• Do as many practice tests as you can.
General and Academic
Reading Similarities
IELTS - Reading
Screenshots: Google mages
General and Academic Reading SimilaritiesQuestion Types
General and Academic Reading DifferencesContent
IELTS—ESL Reading
IELTS tests a variety of reading skills that are already built in the ESL curriculum:
• Reading for gist
• Reading for main ideas
• Reading for detail
• Skimming
• Understanding logical argument
• Recognizing writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose
IELTS—ESL Reading
IELTS General—CLB 5/6
• Ex. articulate the main idea and factual details of printed/electronic descriptive or narrative texts
(CLB 5)
IELTS Academic—CLB 7/8
• Ex. identify the writer’s purpose, intent, mood, and attitude
(CLB 7)
Enhancing the IELTS Reading Scores
Read, Read, Read, and Read!
Timed readings
Read for pleasure
Open-book IELTS readings
Newspapers and research papers
Scanning practice
Others?
IELTS - Writing
Screenshots: Google mages
Writing
Writing
IELTS - Speaking
Purpose of the testThe IELTS Speaking test is designed to assess a wide range of skills.
The examiner will want to see how well a candidate can
• Communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences; to do this you will need to answer a range of questions
• Speak at length on a given topic using appropriate language
• Organize your ideas coherently
• Express and justify your opinions
• Analyze, discuss and speculate about issues
Screenshots: Google mages
Format of Speaking Test
Section 1 (4-5 minutes)
• general introductory questions, personal questions, two topics of general interest
Section 2 (3-4 minutes)
• monologue; topic given by examiner; candidate has 1 minute to prepare; talk for 1 to 2 minutes
Section 3 (4-5 minutes)
• examiner asks questions related to the subject spoken about in Section 2
IELTS Speaking and ESLCLB 6 & 7
• Provide reasons and predict consequences of not following through
• Use modals with the appropriate level of politeness
• Use a range of everyday vocabulary (topic specific), which may include some idioms and a few common cultural references
• Use some variety of grammatical structures, with developing control of more complex structures (compound/complex sentences)
IELTS Speaking and ESLCLB 6 & 7
• Present information using connected discourse and connective words and phrases appropriately
• Produce correct pronunciation of words
• Produce effective intonation and syllable stress
Enhancing the IELTSSpeaking Scores
Classroom conversations
Presentation work
Oral readings
Pronunciation exercises
Picture descriptors
Described drawing
Student interviews
Other ideas?
Practice!
Sample tasks and Tips:https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/sample-test-questions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cr3TuBnBQo
https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-test/how-prepare-ielts-test
http://www.ielts-blog.com/category/ielts-preparation-tips/writing-tips/
https://magoosh.com/ielts/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgELCOfrcYA9jWF4TOJUnQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCRkt6Lem3I
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?s=IELTS
More Practice
http://www.goodlucktoefl.com/http://www.goodluckielts.com/
https://www.engvid.com/free-consultation-with-ielts-toefl-specialist/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLvKoEsZtbb0qY7YbLeYq7Q
Screenshots: Google mages
TOEFL iBT
• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test
• Measures the ability to use and understand English in a university academic environment*
• Developed by ETS in the United States and accepted by over 10,000 colleges and other organizations in the world
• Widely-accepted by most Canadian colleges and universities
• Official webinars for instructors: https://www.ets.org/toefl/teachers_advisors/video_library
What CLB level do you think is
equivalent to the TOEFL score of 60:
A. 3-4
B. 5-6
C. 7-8
D. 9+
Test Structure
• Test length:• 4 hours
• Measures four language skills:
• Reading (60-80 minutes)
• Listening (60-90 minutes)
• Speaking (20 minutes)
• Writing (50 minutes)
Screenshots: Google mages
Reading Section
Academic reading texts
Self-contained passages –language, not content
knowledge
What’s the purpose? Start from the top and work down.
https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/scores/improve/
https://magoosh.com/toefl/toefl-reading/
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/toefl/
https://www.prepscholar.com/toefl/blog/toefl-reading-practice/
Screenshots: Google mages
Listening Section
Academic communication
Pragmatic understanding
Visualize and relate to
prior knowledge
https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/scores/improve/
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/2050-degrees-of-change/
http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/skip-the-tuition-100-free-podcasts-from-the-best-colleges-in-the-world/
https://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/listen-preview-toefl-listening-section
Screenshots: Google mages
Which of these options would be great for
TOEFL Listening practice:
A. Listening to MIT’s free podcast lectures.
B. Call WestJet's customer service line and
listen to airplane schedule recordings.
C. Watch the House Bunny with or without
captions.
D. All of the above.
Speaking Section
6 tasks in 20 minutes!
Familiar Topics
Student Life
Academic Content
https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/scores/improve/
https://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/toefl_speaking.html
https://www.englishclub.com/esl-exams/ets-toefl-practice-speaking.htm
https://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/blog
https://www.toastmasters.org/ (for the truly brave)
Screenshots: Google mages
Writing Section
Integrated Tasks
Independent Tasks
https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/scores/improve/
https://www.prepscholar.com/toefl/blog/toefl-writing-topics/
http://www.goodlucktoefl.com/toefl-writing-topics.html
https://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/SampleQuestions.pdf
http://udemyblog.wpengine.com/toefl-writing-topics/
... And don’t forget typing practice!
Screenshots: Google mages
Strategies to Prepare Learners
Where is the student now?
Where does the student want to be?
Break it down into chunks and be realistic
Apply strengths to areas of weakness
Encourage relaxation and stress reduction
Use official materials first
Use unofficial materials second
Stress Management
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/advice/personal/managingexamstress/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1HsY1X8ySjKBMVXPVCbP4qH/exam-stress
https://www.goconqr.com/en/examtime/blog/beat-exam-stress-10-easy-ways/
Screenshots: Google mages
More Formats
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) is an English language proficiency test designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status in Canada and Canadian citizenship.
https://www.celpip.ca/
https://www.celpip.ca/free/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBm54NznTlI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw1zy-TqAKs
The CanTEST is a standardized English proficiency test used to determine if you are able to meet admission requirements of Canadian postsecondary institutions or fluency requirements of professional licensing associations.
http://cantest.uottawa.ca/en
More Formats
The Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment is a test designed to measure the English language proficiency of students planning to study in Canadian post-secondary institutions.
https://www.cael.ca/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaS3BYXrBteFEv_mmK37cbg
More Formats
CELBAN is an occupation-specific language test that assesses proficiency within real-world health care scenarios. It evaluates proficiency in listening, writing, reading and speaking and is recognized as proof of language proficiency by all Canadian nursing regulators.
http://www.celbancentre.ca/
Have Questions?
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English Online Inc.
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