What is the TOEFL? TOEFL is an abbreviation of Test of
English as a Foreign Language. This is a proficiency test
used to measure a person's english language skills without being linking
directly with the learning process. As such TOEFL is different from the achievement test,
that is test the scope of the test confined to the materials that have been
students studied in the english class. TOEFL includes three aspects:
1. Listening Comprehension
2. Structure and Written Expression
3. Reading
Comprehension
There are three kinds of TOEFL, the International TOEFL,
Institutional TOEFL and TOEFL Like-Test. The difference is that the question
International TOEFL of a new in every implementation test. As for Institutional
TOEFL and TOEFL Like-Test, the questions well from a few years earlier than the
International TOEFL. The validity period of the TOEFL test is different. For
the International TOEFL test, a two years validity period is acceptable in all
university in the world. International TOEFL also can be used to apply for
scholarships abroad. For Institutional TOEF, the validity period of only six
months, the cost is much lower, can not be used to apply to university abroad
but sometimes can be used to apply for scholarships abroad. Like TOEFL-Test can
not be used to apply to foreign university, only to satisfy the requirements a
particular university in Indonesia.
Functions of
TOEFL
Actually TOEFL are not only used as a condition of
acceptable work or entering the workforce, when you want to continue education
Magister or S2 in the country or abroad is also required TOEFL. Especially if
you want to register as a candidate for civil servants, this test is required
as one of the requirements. Here is a functions of TOEFL:
1. Entrance or graduation requirements at
the level of institutions of higher education in Indonesia.
2. Placement test and evaluation test in
language institutions.
3. Requirements for a list of scholarship
programs such as: Australian Development Scholarships, StuNed, DAAD (German
Academic Exchange Service), ACHIEVEMENT, Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program
and programs of government agencies such as the Ministry of Communication and
Information.
4. Part of the program of education,
training and career development of government institutions such as Depantemen
Overseas Education and Training.
Experience and Step of the TOEFL
Previous share the experience of the TOEFL test, I used
to come out of Senior High School 2 Depok at that time standard RSBI. In the
process of teaching conducted by bilingual, when I was in senior high school
there are used to be some of the test based English language, which is of
speaking and conversation with a native English teacher, course of information
technology, and certainly the TOEFL test. And then, my experience of taking TOEFL in the
ILP (International Language Programs) for the first time. The test divided
into three session which is Listening
Comprehension, Structure and Written Expression and Reading Comprehension.
The test lasts for 120 minutes. 35 minutes for Listening
Comprehension, 30 minutes for Structure and
Written Expression, and 55 minutes for Reading
Comprehension.
Of course, each session has its own difficulties. In Listening
Comprehension, we be heard recordings of conversations and lectures, then
given questions about the material. Session listening comprehension is part of
TOEFL a fairly difficult. These difficulties can be caused us who feel less
able to capture the contents of the conversation or because the sound from
audio devices are less clear.
Then in the session Structure (sentence
completion) and Written Expression (Error identification), both of these
things are two different types of questions. In the structure we are required
to choose the correct answer on a multiple choice questions. At the session
structure, we were instructed that we can choose more on grammar tenses,
preposition, and enhanced spelling in English language. While on the written
expression, we must specify wrong answers from the words underlined. And last
including the session Reading
Comprehension, as the name of the session to this session of your abilities
in reading comprehension will be tested. Certainly readings were given not just
a simple reading which can be understand easily. TOEFL reading comprehension in
this session, we will get a reading that is quite complex so as to understand
it was not easy. The speed and accuracy in doing the TOEFL test will greatly
influence the resulting score. Well, do you want to try it? :)
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