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Chinese translation of Speaking and Writing Strategies for the TOEFL iBT

My best-selling TOEFL text Speaking and Writing Strategies for the TOEFL iBT will be translated into Chinese and published in Chinese by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, Beijing, China. FLTRP is the biggest ESL publisher in China. Publication date: May 2013.

FLTRP's English web page   FLTRP's Chinese web page

Warning to F-1 Visa Students

Two F-1 visa students from Kazakhstan have been arrested in Boston and are in jail. They have been charged with: 1) helping the Boston bombers escape; 2) destroying evidence, and; 3) lying to the FBI.

They could also be charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Why? Because they talked to the bombers by phone before the bombers killed a police officer. These are serious crimes. The penalty for first-degree murder is death.

An F-1 visa student is a foreign-born national who has been granted a student visa (the privilege) to study in the United States. For many foreign-born students, getting an F-1 to study in the U.S. is a dream come true. I’m sure the Kazakh students felt the same way. Yet they took advantage of the American system by trying to help two terrorists/friends escape justice. The students and the bombers didn’t get far. All three are in jail, and will be there for a very long time.

Why did the two Kazakh students help the bombers? At this point, the reason is moot. The fact is they are in jail, their lives and their families’ lives destroyed, all because they did something stupid: they thought nobody would catch them. Yet they failed to realize that after 9/11, F-1 visa students are closely watched by American security. Why? Because the 9/11 terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center were F-1 Saudi students. That is how they got into the U.S., on F-1 visas.

If are an F-1 student, don’t think because America is “an open society” you are free to do anything you want—and get away with it. On the contrary, big brother has you under a very big microscope. If you cross the line for whatever reason—the police, the FBI and the CIA will find you. They will. You can run, but you can’t hide. Just ask the bomber and his F-1 friends.

Click on the photo to read the charges.

TOEFL Test Center Stress and Low Scores

Taking the official TOEFL test for the first time can be intimidating and stressful. Why? Because cheating is a problem—a big problem. As a result, test-center security is very strict. Because security is strict, the atmosphere is tense. Test-takers, having prepared for months, are nervous and worried. And for good reason. First, you must arrive early and submit your passport; your passport is the only acceptable form of ID. No passport? No test.

Next, you must empty your pockets and put your personal possessions in a locker with a key. Next, you will stand under a security camera and turn around with your arms up. The camera will record your face for future ID, if necessary, and make sure you have nothing on you, such as a smart phone, a pen, or cheat sheets.

Remember: you can’t take anything into the test area, no phones, no dictionaries, no food, no pens, no pencils, no coffee, no paper—nothing. Pencils and note paper will be supplied.

Next, you will be scanned with a hand-held, metal detecting device. When you have passed security, you will be escorted to your seat, a cubicle with carpeted walls and a desktop computer. Above you, a security camera will record your every move and play it back live on a monitor in the test center control room.

Stressful? Yes. And distracting, especially if you are taking the TOEFL test for the first time. Because taking the TOEFL test for the first time is so stressful, many score low. As a result, many retake the TOEFL test and score higher. Why? Because they are familiar with the security process. As a result, there are no surprises and no distractions; instead, they were able to focus on the test and not on their nerves.

Remember: to get the highest possible TOEFL score, there can be no surprises; you must understand the task order, the question types, how to manage your time, and how to give the speaking and writing raters what they are trained to look for; in others words, no surprises. The same with test-center security. Being comfortable in such a stressful environment is a critical part of playing the TOEFL game. 

If you need to take the TOEFL test two or three times to become comfortable taking it, then do it. Your future depends on it.

A happy TOEFL student from Mexico!