One way to test your fluency is to do an IELTS or TOEFL exam…However, there are other tests you could do, such as the Cambridge English Test Your English (and it’s a free online test).
If you HAD TO do either IELTS or TOEFL then how would you choose, which one is easier to do??
Tune in to today’s episode to find out, have a listen below and read the transcription at the same time!
Hey guys, welcome to English Made Simple. This is episode 13, Numero 13
My lucky number numero trece
If you are superstitious you may be thinking really Milena, lucky number 13? Hmm
For some people, it’s an unlucky number, but in my case number 13 is a lucky number!!
Anyway welcome thank you for joining me yet again Did you enjoy my last episode I give you some tips on how you can be fluent in English did you implement any of those tips? And did you do the homework I gave you? Righto.
So you may be speaking English for a while and you are curious you want to test your fluency you want to know how well you speak English right there so many tests you can do online. there could be free tests you can do? I think there is one called let me check there is one called Cambridgeenglish.org and Test Your English page so http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/test-your-english/
I’m going to put this in the show notes and I will also put it in the transcription when I do the transcription of this episode I’m going to put the links in the construction so this is a free test you can do Cambridge English test your English alright guys what I want to cover today in today’s episode are the two tests that I briefly mentioned in the first few episodes. They are IELTS and TOEFL. These are acronyms. IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. IELTS and TOEFL. I mentioned them before and I called them, The Dark Side of English, El Lado Obscuro del Inglés buahaha
Why would I call them the Dark side of the English? Why? Well… haha let’s talk about that later, let me first introduce you to IELTS and TOEFL hehe
The two tests are the major players in the English language testing in the World. Both of them are something called Standardized tests, which means they are the same in any country. Let’s say you want to take IELTS in Chile, you want to take IELTS in Australia for example.
The test is designed equally whereever you decide to take the test …. they are the same structure similar type of questions and you get a fair score at the end. That’s the idea! They give you an official score regardless of where you’re doing the test That’s what standardised testing means.
Both IELTS and TOEFL test you on your reading abilities,listening, speaking and writing in English language. They are designed for non-English speakers. But who wants to do these tests? Right.
Why are you talking about this Milena?
Who wants to do toefl and IELTS I have students for doing toefl and IELTS some of the reasons there are two or three reasons why you’d need to do these test. there is a requirement …
If you’re moving overseas if you’re migrating permanently turn English speaking country like the US UK Australia New Zealand you may be required by the governments of those countries you may be required to do one of these tests. Another reason why you would do these tests. If you have decided to study overseas, if you’ve decided to go to the US to study you may be required to do TOEFL test as a proof that you will be able to comprehend, understand the lectures.
If you’re going to the university you have to understand the lectures that will be in English guess what both of these tests are extremely long between 3 and 4 hours and they are not cheap they’re very expensive there about (approximately) 300 US dollars, one of them may be cheaper, I don’t know exactly now but I think toefl is cheaper by $50. But in general they are around $300 u s dollars so don’t do those test if you’re just curious if you’re just curious you want to find out your level of English you do these tests if you have to do them, if you are required to do the test! Now let’s say, you are moving overseas and you’re going to study overseas and you need to do one of these test which one is easier to do. Cual es más fácil?
Well, let me ask you these questions:
Are you comfortable with American accent the one from the US or the British accent is administered by the British Council and toefl is administered by the educational testing service in the US so the whole test will be in the US English and IELTS is the UK English so whichever you feel comfortable with.
Let me ask you this question: Are you good at typing on the keyboard (teclado)? Are you good at typing on the keyboard.
Because total is computer-based there is a lot of typing and are you comfortable with spending 4 hours looking at the screen typing and speaking into a microphone recording your voice are you comfortable doing that if so then toefl is for you however in regards to IELTS are you comfortable with speaking in an interview type situation with a live person?
So you have an interview with somebody in front of you asking you questions…. are you comfortable in that situation whereas TOEFL you have to basically speak into a microphone it’s all on the computer.
So let’s imagine you have to do this test well which 1 is easier to do? In my opinion IELTS is easier to do it’s a little bit shorter so it’s two and a half hours, close to 3 hours.
And the topics in general are easier to understand however tofu is more academic it’s more suited for someone going to university the questions you get asked a similar to the questions you might get at a university so toefl may be required it is a requirement if you are going to study in the US most likely they will ask you for a toefl test so my students agree that IELTS is easier to do, it’s easier to prepare. TOEFL has too many fancy and long words which might scare you a little bit. But if you’ve done one of these before maybe you disagree with me? Maybe you think TOEFL is easier? I don’t know. But look, I wanted to mention IELTS and TOEFL because these two exams will test your fluency and coherence. Coherence means: are you able to structure your sentences in a logical manner, are you able to make sense? Are you able to express ideas and opinions clearly, and coherently, logically ordered and easy to follow, without long pauses or hesitations?
So there is no quick fix for this for fluency basically fluency comes from a lot of practice speaking so the best way to improve is to speak or to engage in conversations as often as you can. And remember, keep listening to podcasts, keep listening to this podcast :)
Keep listening to other podcasts In English to improve your listening skills.
Thank you guys so much for joining me. I am going to touch on IELTS and TOEFL later on. But I want to know if you guys agree with me? Is IELTS easier than TOEFL?
Alright, looking forward to that. Ciao! Until next time!
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