The Benefits of taking the TOEIC Exam

The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) is an English exam for professionals who do not have the English language as their native language. It measures the English skills and proficiency of employees in the workplace. Every year around 5.5 million TOEIC exams are processed and the TOEIC exam is widely used as a credential within the Business world.

Benefits of taking the TOEIC exam

• It’s easy for your employee to determine your level of English
• A TOEIC certification helps you gain access to work that requires English knowledge
• Gives you a competitive edge over other candidates who claim to comprehend English
• Shows that you are willing to develop your skills and continue being a valuable asset to your company

These are few reasons why you should take the TOEIC exam and how it can help you advance your career.

How to Improve your TOEFL Vocabulary

Your English vocabulary skills will be a key factor when trying to achieve a good score on the TOEFL exam.

The easiest and fastest way to improve your English vocabulary is to read. When reading an article or a book you will automatically learn new words and in what context they fit.

When finding a word you are feeling unsure about, find the definition of the word and write it down. Remember to look at different formats of the word with roots, prefixes and suffixes.

Listed below is a group of useful words to improve your TOEFL vocabulary.

TOEFL Vocabulary List

abundant present in great quantity

reaction an idea evoked by some experience

response the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange

rhythm an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs

pulse the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart

scenic of or relating to the stage or stage scenery

picturesque suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture

shallow lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center

superficial of, affecting, or being on or near the surface

shelter protective covering that provides protection from the weather

protect shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage

vanishing a sudden or mysterious disappearance

disappear become invisible or unnoticeable

account a record or narrative description of past events

archaic so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period

ancient belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire

enlighten give spiritual insight to; in religion

instruct impart skills or knowledge to

hasten move fast

accelerate move faster

decline grow worse

decrease a change downward

refuse show unwillingness towards

gather assemble or get together

collect gather or collect

motion the act of changing location from one place to another

movement a change of position that does not entail a change of location

partisan a fervent and even militant proponent of something

biased favoring one person or side over another

pattern a perceptual structure

habit an established custom

phenomenal exceedingly or unbelievably great

philanthropic of or relating to or characterized by philanthropy

humanitarian marked by humanistic values and devotion to human welfare

placid (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves

plentiful existing in great number or quantity

hue the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength

inactive not active physically or mentally

idle not in action or at work

intricate having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate

magnitude the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)

dimension a construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished

oblige force somebody to do something

require have need of

overlook look down on

disregard lack of attention and due care

survey consider in a comprehensive way

questionnaire a form containing a set of questions; submitted to people to gain statistical information

practical guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory

functional designed for or capable of a particular function or use

predominant having superior power and influence

principal most important element

prompt according to schedule or without delay; on time

induce cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner

provoke provide the needed stimulus for

trigger lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun

linguist a specialist in linguistics

Learn more and improve your TOEFL vocabulary by signing up with ePrepz.

6 Tips on Where to Start Learning English as a Beginner

1. The best way to learn any new language is to be surrounded in an environment where that language is the primary way of communication. If you can’t travel to that location you can use your computer to travel there virtually.

For example if you have a passion for Football you should join an online Football community and interact there on a daily basis. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes when talking to others, we learn through making mistakes. All you need to say is “sorry if my writing is a little off, English is not my native language” if you are worried that others won’t understand your writing, you will find that others will be understandable and work with you.

2. Find a source like a book to learn the basic rules and framework of English and practice when spending time on your chosen online community. The source can be anything like a book, tape or course but the important thing is that you find something that suits your specific needs.

3. After learning the rules of Basic English you will notice that your improvement is going to go quickly if you practice using
English on a daily basis.

4. Continue to practice your grammar, vocabulary, your reading and writing skills by doing exercises online. The key factor is to keep your learning momentum going and to avoid spending time not using English.

5. When reading text in English avoid translating it to your native language. This will slow down your learning progress; it’s better to use contextual clues (clues within the text) to try to figure out the meaning of the sentence. Focus on listening on sentences and patterns; use this technique when listening to movies or TV.

6. You will not learn English from a textbook; a book should serve as a reference and resource instead of utilizing it as your main way of learning English. By using this process and training your ears to listen to English, you will notice that you are going to understand more and more.

IELTS Interview Tips and Strategies

The IELTS speaking exam includes three different sections. Often the area that gives students the most trouble is the interview section. The IELTS speaking interview is an oral exam where the test takers have answer questions such as their interests, hobbies, family and other general topics.

Many students often become nervous during the interview part of the IELTS. Today we are going to go over some IELTS interview tips and strategies.

The entire interview will take around 12-15 minutes to complete. The first section includes general questions about you and should take approximately 5 minutes. Second section will require you to give a short speech for 2 minutes. Third section of the interview will be a discussion on a general topic which will go on for around 5 minutes.

You will be taking the interview part of the IELTS with an examiner. That person will be asks you the questions and keep track of the time.

When walking into the test, the examiner will greet you and ask for you name and identification. A common second phase will be the examiner asking you common questions like what you do for a living and where you are from. Prepare and practice answers to common questions you would expect when meeting someone for the first time. After completing the introduction, the examiner will then ask you questions about general topics like music or family.

The next phase will require you to speak for two minutes straight; the examiner will introduce the topic on which you will talk about. You will be given one minute to prepare your speech. You will be given a pencil and paper to take notes and organize your monologue.

The last phase of the IELTS interview section will be a discussion with the examiner that lasts for 5 minutes. The discussion topic is often based on the same topic as the monologue.

IELTS Interview Tips

You will have one minute to prepare your monologue, make sure you use this time by taking useful notes.

Avoid using short “yes” and “no” answers.

Remember that there is no wrong answer to the question. The important thing is that you can explain your answer.

If there is something you are unsure about ask the examiner to clarify rather than just guessing.

Be aware of the different time limits and practice beforehand by timing yourself.

Common IELTS Interview Questions

First section: Do you have any brothers or sisters? Do you enjoy school? What are some of your hobbies? Do you enjoy reading books?

Second Section: Describe you favorite movie? Describe your favorite book? What is your favorite sports team and why?

Third Section: Why is the Godfather your favorite movie? Do you think actors and actresses get paid too much?

How can Improving my Business English Advance my Career?

Business English is simply the English language used in a professional environment. The business environment can change depending on what field you are working in. However the concept remains the same in that it’s about communication in the workplace.

For example the business English used, when working in sales is different to the English used when working as a lawyer with international clients.

How can improving my business English advance my career?

Good knowledge of business terms and vocabulary helps you conduct business in a professional manner. Not only will you be more valuable to your company but also improve your chances of advancement, which are greater for employees with a competitive advantage. Having a workforce that can handle language barriers us crucial for any international company.

Improving your business English skills gives you an advantage when writing emails, supporting international customers, negotiating with clients, participating in meetings and conferences and other business situations.

Learning business terms and jargons is a substantial part of Business English, a few include, “the bottom line”, “being in the red” and “to cut corners”. When practicing business English you focus on learning vocabularies used in business and also practice applying it.

There are many different reasons why you should want to improve your English skills; it could be to improve your prospect in your current company. Another reason is if you are looking to work abroad in an English speaking country.