It takes two to tangle, they say. Likewise, when it comes to preparing for internationally recognized tests like IELTS, TEF, TCF, TOEFL or even DELF-DALF, it cannot be done alone. Many a times, I meet candidates who register for the test and just want to prepare and go take the test on their own and with my level of experience in this work, I now realize that it is better you leave them alone and allow them have some hand-on experience of their own about the test on the D-day than advise them to go prepare with people first…
It takes two to tangle, they say. Likewise, when it comes to preparing for internationally recognized tests like IELTS, TEF, TCF, TOEFL or even DELF-DALF, it cannot be done alone. Many a times, I meet candidates who register for the test and just want to prepare and go take the test on their own and with my level of experience in this work, I now realize that it is better you leave them alone and allow them have some hand-on experience of their own about the test on the D-day than advise them to go prepare with people first.
My Own Experiences
Experience they say is the best teacher. If you do not allow them to have their own experience be it good or bad, they may think you are trying to take advantage of them. Be thou as it may, that is why I am writing this blog article. I want to advise you on the right path to take, I think is best based on my years of experience teaching and taking this test myself with other people.
The Similar Characteristics
All these tests have one thing in common. They test on the ability of a person to use the language in a conversational context. They look up for practical usage of the so-called language in social context (be it educational or training contexts) like in school, office, library, bookstore, shop, restaurant, and so on. There are conversations between two or more speakers and then a monologue. The reading texts are often taken from notices, advertisements, leaflets, newspapers, instruction manuals, books and magazines. And candidates answer general questions about themselves, their home/family, their job/studies, their interests and a wide range of similar familiar topic areas.A Neutral Ground
These questions will be answered by just you; the candidate. However, you are not the only one involved in the discussion or conversation. In fact, you may not be involved in any way but other people or should I say participants will be directing the speech or conversation while you stay back and observe looking for the salient pointers of answers in their speech, talks and viewpoints.
Speaking and Writing
In cases where examiners are involved in talking or marking your language use, they are subjective and will only give input when required. They will ask questions orally or mark you down based on the marking guide provided. Yet, you are to participate in the conversation even more than them.Test Preparation
In preparing for the test before the test day, it is paramount you simulate the experience you would have on that day so that you get accustomed to the modus-operandi of the testing system. Quite often, I emphasize to my students that these tests are not like the normal examinations you are familiar with. They are so much different and require a new approach.
Other Examinations
From the name of the exams, you would know they are different from these tests. JSSCE (Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination) and SSCE (Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination) of the WAEC (West African Examination Council) and UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) of the JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) are exams as they test on varying aspects of studies. On the other hand, these tests focus on just one language with different skills including speaking, listening, reading and writing.The Kinds of People
Even with the exams, you are required to prepare by taking classes with other students and learning from one or more teachers on the various subjects. Similarly, for any of the IELTS, TEF, TCF or DELF-DALF tests, it is better for you to have study partners whom with you will prepare for the tests and also you should invest in a coach; someone who have been trained to prepare candidates for the test and who also have taken the test and passed it. Thus, you should go to a preparation center and get trained by these coaches alongside the study partners.
Note of Warning
Any center you go, should make use of recent study materials given out by the authorities that are in charge of the tests like the British Council, Cambridge English, IDP Australia, Centre International d’Études Pédagogiques (CIEP), department de la Ministère d’Éducation and Centre de Langue Française, Chambre de Commerce et D’Industrie de Paris (CCIP) Île de France. It is paramount that they make use of approved test study materials and past questions to prepare candidates for the tests.New Development
As for most tests especially IELTS and TEF Canada, test papers are changed almost every two (2) years for quality assurance. So, you need to be sure that the center you are thinking of applying to have quite recent and validated materials for the period of your test. It will be irrational and a complete waste of time, money and effort, preparing for a test using the previous study materials which are mostly the ones found quite easily online via the famous Google search engine, Facebook and other social media platforms.
Our Propositions
In A.O.S Academy, we have qualified English and French coaches who have learnt the languages for decades, taught them for years, taken and still taking the tests in every 2 years, and consistently not only pass but excel in tests. In addition, we have programs that are developed for test candidates to use to prepare themselves for the tests in 3 and 5 weeks before the test dates. Also, we pair candidates together in our programs to study together as learning partners in order to better horn their language skills. Our materials for IELTS this year of 2021 are the recent examination papers from the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations – Cambridge English IELTS with answers of different editions. Those of TEF, TCF and DELF-DALF are the Édito, Je Parle Français, Vocabulaire Progressive et Expliquée and FTC E-Books.Why Choose Us?
We not only teach the preparatory classes to candidates, we also conduct mock tests for each candidate before the booked test date so that they can get tested before the D-day just like it will be in the test center and get to know from the test simulation how well they are prepared for the test before going to take it. All these cannot be possible if you are preparing for the exam yourself and not using people around you like your family members or better still those who are in the same quest as you preparing for the test.
Want to enroll for our test preparation classes? Now, register yourself or your family member into any of our programs by calling or chatting us up on Whatsapp via any of the phone numbers; 08107714449 or 09091884943 or even visit our language programs or online school or better still visit our institute @ 51, University Road, Beside FABB Oil and Gas Ltd, Tipper Garage, Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.