Overcoming Challenges: TOEFL Preparation for Non-Native Speakers

The TOEFL exam is the first basic requirement to be fulfilled to plan study abroad or immigration and targeting this exam or TOEFL preparation for non-native speakers can be a daunting task, However TOEFL preparation online free of cost along with TOEFL practice test is easily available these days at many authenticated websites.

This Story also Contains

1. Understanding the TOEFL Exam
2. What is the TOEFL?
3. Designing your TOEFL preparation plan
4. Specific Challenges Faced by Non-Native Speakers
5. Tips and Resources Tailored for Non-Native Learners
6. TOEFL exam eBooks

Understanding the TOEFL Exam

The TOEFL examination can be challenging to any candidate who has weak English language skills. It can be even more difficult for the candidates who do not have English as their first language. But with the right direction and TOEFL preparation materials, they can successfully tackle all the TOEFL exam challenges. This article provides step by step instructions on how to enhance the candidate’s TOEFL preparation if they are a non native speaker.

What is the TOEFL?

The TOEFL examination is an internationally recognized exam that measures the English language proficiency of non-native speakers. The TOEFL full form is Test of English as a Foreign Language. It assesses four key skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The TOEFL is commonly used for academic purposes, such as admission to universities and colleges where English is the medium of instruction. The TOEFL exam fee is Rs 16,900. It is conducted by ETS or Educational Testing Service.

Designing your TOEFL preparation plan

A lot of factors such as the TOEFL exam pattern must be considered while designing a TOEFL study plan. But before that, the candidates must be aware of the various TOEFL preparation tips and tricks for non-native English speakers. Some of the essential TOEFL tips and tricks are discussed in detail below:

7 strategies for Overcoming Challenges: TOEFL Preparation for Non-Native Speakers

In this article we shall discover a road map to analyze the right way to prepare for TOEFL at home. The preparation of TOEFL for non-native speakers will be helpful in the following ways:

1. Check the current level of language:

The initial level of preparing for any English proficiency is to assess the current/present level of English that the candidate has. If you are at a basic level, then you should start working on improving this. The common European Framework of references for languages (CERF) organizes language proficiency in six levels, A1 to C2, which can be regrouped into three categories: basic user, intermediate user and proficient user. Ideally the candidates preparing for TOEFL exam should be at a minimum of intermediate level so that they have basic refined knowledge of reading, writing, listening to basic structures like news and understanding and also express their point of view.

2. Setting goals and targets:

Once you know your level of English, you have to set a perfect time for yourself to be well prepared for the exam. If you are at the basic level of English, then it is suggested that you should prioritize working on improving the language skills in the next 45 days by improving on all four aspects of the language that is reading, listening, writing and speaking. Reading newspapers and listening to authenticated English podcasts of native English speakers are some examples of enhancing language skills. Also, participating in debates, declamations shall bring a remarkable change in the English fluency of the candidate. Post analyses of the improvement in general aspect of English, set a time table ready for the preparation of the TOEFL exam considering all the four modules.

3. The TOEFL exam pattern and requirements:

To set a perfect goal of completing the TOEFL practice and achieving a high score, it is ideal that one should first attempt a free TOEFL practice test to get a feel of what the exam is and what it demands you to achieve. This free TOEFL practice test will help the TOEFL preparation for non-native speakers in making a perfect timeline of each module preparation. By this, you will be able to analyze the weaknesses and decide where you need to dedicate more time. Usually the non-native speakers take time to grasp the foreign accent and take time to excel in the listening section or may not get the desired score in the writing section for being weak in grammar or using appropriate lexical resources so the candidate must give more time to the writing section. As per your requirement there is a lot of TOEFL study material available online.

4. Preparing the study plan:

After perfect analyses of the demands of TOEFL exam and the analyses of your weaknesses, it's time to prepare a study plan customized according to the individual goals. This study plan should target all aspects of the test, TOEFL practice test, review sessions, the most important refreshment time so that you are able to maintain the consistency and also retain all that is practiced in TOEFL preparation. It is ideal to set a target time for each module considering the weaker section first followed by all other sections. Starting with TOEFL listening practice followed by reading, writing and then speaking is the most preferred way by most Non native English users.

5. Check learning style and preference:

This is the most important decision to be taken by a non-native English speaking candidate. Although, self-preparation by referring material available online or TOEFL study material in books of the ETS TOEFL is preferred by many intermediate level students, others also prefer structured online classes or personalized tutor. However, we would always suggest that self-study is the best way, you may join a lot of TOEFL community groups wherein you can meet many students preparing like you, this will also help you in seeking feedback.

6. Measure your improvement regularly:

Not just depending on how much you have improved in general English language, you should not forget the goal of TOEFL exam and measure your improvement in this by attempting the TOEFL practice test and make sure that by each attempt there should be an increment, ideal increment of the score is by 5 points within a specified duration of 4-5 days. This will help you track your improvement and also analyze the further improvement required so that you can modulate your preparation accordingly and it is absolutely okay to be flexible for a change of study plan so that you can improve your scores.

7. Feel Happy for improvement and flexible for a change:

For any improvement that you see in yourself you should be happy and refresh yourself. Do not forget that while you prepare for the TOEFL exam you need to balance your personal and professional life and also take care of your physical and mental wellbeing. Be open to feedback, flexible enough to change your strategies in having an effective TOEFL preparation time. Also, you should be resilient in case there is any specific challenge, remember that consistency helps in becoming successful.

Specific Challenges Faced by Non-Native Speakers

Non-native speakers often face many challenges when preparing for the TOEFL exam which are discussed below:

• Language Proficiency: The first and foremost challenge for the non-native speakers is the language proficiency. They may need help with vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure, making it tough to understand and respond to TOEFL questions quickly and accurately.

• Listening Skills: In the listening section non-native speakers find it difficult to understand the key details due to different accents and past-paced speech.

• Pronunciation: During speaking non-native speakers find difficulty in producing certain sounds and speaking fluently. The issue of pronunciation can affect scores in the speaking section.

• Reading Comprehension: In this section, non-native speakers find difficulty in understanding advanced vocabulary, complex texts and unfamiliar idioms.

• Writing Skills: It is a difficult task for non-native speakers to construct well-organized essays with proper usage of vocabulary and grammar. In the writing section, they may also struggle with time management.

Tips and Resources Tailored for Non-Native Learners

Follow the below tips which are specifically designed to help non-native speakers prepare for the TOEFL exam:

Improve Language Proficiency:

1. The candidates must enrol themselves in English language courses and work on their vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure.

2. To enhance their understanding and usage of the language they should read English books, articles, and newspapers.

3. To expose themselves to different accents they should watch English movies and TV shows.

Enhance Listening Skills:

1. The candidates should listen to English podcasts, radio stations, and audiobooks to improve their listening skills to get used to different accents.

2. The candidates must practice listening to TOEFL practice materials and take notes to improve their ability to understand key details.

Practice Pronunciation:

1. The candidates should record themselves and compare the recording with the native speakers to identify the areas of improvement.

2. They should use pronunciation apps to practice and improve their pronunciation as various pronunciation apps are available such as ELSA Speak or Forvo.

3. They should participate in English language exchange programs or conversation groups to practice speaking with others.

Boost Reading Comprehension:

1. The candidates must practice reading comprehension exercises and summarize what they have read to better understand.

2. To get used to different writing styles they should read a variety of texts, including academic articles.

Develop Writing Skills:

1. The candidates must write essays on various topics and get them checked or get feedback from teachers or native speakers to improve their writing skills.

2. They should use online tools like Grammarly to check and correct grammar mistakes.

3. They should practice writing under time-constrained conditions to improve their ability to organize their thoughts and complete essays under exam-time conditions.

TOEFL exam eBooks

These TOEFL preparation eBooks designed by Careers360 offer comprehensive coverage of the TOEFL exam syllabus, including detailed explanations of the test format, question types, and strategies to tackle them effectively.