New Year- Get motivated for your new study plan! Solo, Tutor, or Class?

It's the end of 2016, so you might be thinking about your goals and how to achieve them. If you need (or want) to take TOEFL, you're probably weighing the options of studying on your own, paying for a coach, or taking a group class. It's an important test for you, and I want you to think about the pros and cons of each choice. What may be best for one person may be a waste of time for another!

Here's a nice article about motivations to learn language, which is of course applicable to test prep! One thing a class is great for is keeping you motivated just by being in a group of people who are going through the same thing as you- you form a social bond that is impossible to replace by seeing a tutor. On the other hand, everyone is giving each other advice all the time. It's nice to have so many opinions, but it paralyzes people! How do you know which advice to follow? If it worked for someone else, will it work for me? It adds a layer of guilt on the student, because they constantly worry that what they are doing is not 'right' and regret the choices they are making! That must feel terrible!

I want you to study SMART, not HARD, whatever that might mean for you. The main key element is you, as a person and as a learner. If you've read this blog before, you'll know that I'm studying Arabic and Spanish. There's a nice Arabic proverb that says all the fingers on your hand are different. We all learn best in our own way, and what a wonderful thing!

Some people prefer a class because they are more social by nature. Others do well with a book or online resources. Some like to be challenged by a mentor or tutor.

I can see how frustrating it can be to go to a test prep class where everybody is treated like there is one magic method that will guarantee a high score for all. It makes you feel like there is something wrong with YOU if you don't get an amazing score after paying lots of money for a test prep course.  The truth is, these classes are not designed to teach people to understand and use their strengths and weaknesses. I have, in fact, stood in front of many TOEFL prep classes (and even a few IELTS classes).  So, I can tell you from personal experience that is how these classes o prepare you for a test work, even the best designed classes are for classes, which are masses of people with very little individual attention. This treats everyone like they are the same. Imagine our hands were made up of 5 copies of the same finger! In my opinion, unless you really need the social aspect of being in a class with others, it's a better option to prepare for the exam with private instruction.

Individual instruction on your personal strengths and weaknesses based on your learning preferances and abilities. This is exactly what a (really good) private coach will help you to do. This is the reason a private lesson costs more than a classroom full of bodies staring at a whiteboard completing exercise after exercise in silence. If you know one or two other people preparing for the test who are on the same level as you, you might be able to organize a small group session (and save a little money). These days, there are plenty of teachers who would gladly review with you via Skype, so you don't even have to find someone close to you!

The third option is to do it on your own. If you are highly motivated, this is the way to go. I have seen many people reach their goals on their own, but they were highly focused and determined. If you are organized and willing to put the work in, this is the path for you! It won't cost much at all, except the time it takes you to find online (or printed) materials. That's the catch, though... There's is a lot of material online to help, almost too much. Trust someone who has already gone through the hundreds of websites! You might only pay a tutor for a single 'consultation' session to tell you the best resources that you can use on your own. Time is money, especially in a high stakes test like TOEFL or IELTS!

I'm currently in Guadalajara, Mexico, where I am experiencing a warm holiday and New Year for the first time in my life! I have to say, nice weather motivates you to do many things. However, it reminds me of being in Philadelphia and growing up in New York, where the winters are severely demotivating! No matter where you are, one of the first steps to reaching your goal of getting your TOEFL score is to figure out HOW you want to prepare!

Let me know your thoughts on this below!

StickK to your goals!

For a class I took about teaching, I read this article about different kinds of motivations. It made me think about how I was learning Arabic. I love to say I'm learning Arabic, but the truth is, I'm usually thinking about studying! I'm working on my language skills slowly, but I find so many other things to do instead. Then, I just tell myself I'm too busy. Am I too busy or am I NOT making time to learn?

Does that sound like you studying for TOEFL or IELTS?

One of the main problems studying on your own is accountability! It's too easy to give something up if there's nobody to punish or reward you. It's one reason I think taking a TOEFL class is good. In a group setting, there's a teacher with some authority to make you feel bad for not doing your homework, not keeping up, etc... But, when you study on your own- who's watching? Who's going to make you feel bad? NOBODY. It becomes too easy to break a promise to yourself to study. Soon, you just fill that time with other things and it's really easy to say you don't have time to study.

The simple fact is, we all have the same amount of time every day- 24 hours. What we choose to make important is different for all of is. Some of us need a little help in sticking to our priorities!

Enter StickK! It's a great program designed by Yale University economists that keeps you motivated using something we all care about... Money! When you sign up, YOU decide what your goal and schedule will be. You can even have a 'referee' keep an eye on you, and people to cheer you on. You report your progress. You make a commitment, and must stick to it. So what... you might be thinking... how is this any different than saying I'll study on my own and charting my progress???

Well, the genius of this system is that before you start, you pledge to give money to something you HATE! If you don't stick to your commitment, you loose your money! The idea of having to give money adds a layer of motivation to pursuing my goal that you can't imagine.  We all need help in reaching our goals- It doesn't mean we are weak, just human. I guess the only possible flaw here is that you could cheat yourself by lying on your reports. But the guilt of lying to a website just so you don't have to pay up would be too much guilt for me to handle, personally.

It's perfectly acceptable to set a small weekly/daily commitment. In fact, I would encourage it. That way, you are developing a habit (which is about repeating an action), rather than relying on willpower (a feeling of wanting to do something). You decide the minimum amount of work you want to do. Is it 10 minutes of AWL in the morning. GREAT! You can always change it. I wouldn't suggest setting an unrealistic goal like studying 5 hours a day- that's a goal you'd be likely to fail in achieving consistently. Even if you did, you might 'burn out' quickly.

Set small, realistic goals for you, and StickK to them!

WHAT? HOW? WHY?

These are the 3 most important words you need to remember when studying for the TOEFL or IELTS! Some people put them in a different order of importance, which is fine.

1. To me, The heart of successful test prep is WHY??? This is they umbrella that goes over everything else. You must constantly remind yourself WHY you are spending all this time studying for the test. It's not easy! If you become demotivated, you're sunk! Keep your goal in mind. Not just the number, but the long term goals- maybe this test is one step in your path of getting married, working in a career you will enjoy, being able to travel or have a big house... Whatever it is, I KNOW that your END goal is not a number. If you are just focused on the score, your motivation won't last. This test is a tool, or instrument, to help you move on in life.

Why can be more specific- as in- Why am I studying certain things in preparing to pass this test? You must study things you prefer. If you're not interested in what you are using to study, you won't stick to the process of studying! I'm not saying you have to love studying or love transitions, for example. But I am saying that there are some things that you will hate less than others. So, if you can figure that out, your test prep will be much more enjoyable, and you'll keep it up since you won't be bored!

It doesn't matter if you have the best materials (WHAT- effective) and you're using them in the most efficient process (HOW) ... If you aren't interested you simply won't do it!!!!

Also, the next two are up for debate as to which is more important. Does it matter which is more important?  All I care about is that you think about each in terms of your TOEFL/IELTS studying... WHAT you study and HOW you study it!






2. WHAT materials you choose are important! You want Quality, not Quantity! There are too many books, websites, classes, tutors, etc... to pick from (many of them saying the exact same things at different prices). The truth is, as far as TOEFL/IELTS test prep goes, it depends on your individual abilities and preferences.

For example, If your main weakness is recognizing which question type you are looking at (but you already know the types), I would recommend Barron's. However, if you don't know the types at all, Barron's isn't as helpful as the Kaplan book. On the other hand, if you need to be able to use transitions for speaking and writing, neither of these would be the most help to you. In this case, I'd recommend some websites. As far as vocabulary goes, I find that most people need to start with the Academic Word List (make sure it's ordered by frequency, not alphabetical). There is no magic bullet in TOEFL prep. But the good news is, once you know your abilities and preferences (more on this is the next post), you can study with laser precision! Less is more, as long as the LESS is MORE. Don't waste your time studying materials that will only help you a little! If you pick the 'wrong' material, it  really doesn't matter HOW you study it or IF you continue!






3. HOW you use your tools is critical!

Most people think they need lists of things. A list of vocab, a list of grammar rules, a list of exceptions... The only thing you need a list of is your grocery shopping. A list alone is useless- it's all about HOW you use it! Don't get me wrong, it's a nice place to start, or good for review... but HOW you use your materials is a big piece of the puzzle.

Let's take my previous example of the AWL (academic word list).  Wait, didn't I just say NO lists?  Not exactly, I'm saying- use a list in a smart way. First, you take the list and separate the words you know from the ones you don't (use a highlighter or cut them up).  Then, make sure you know all possible forms of the words (verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs). I would tell you to use a website to quiz yourself.  There are also some good flascard websites (go for one that uses SRS; anki is great). HOW is also about dividing the effort into time. Go sublist by sublist. Study for shorter periods of time rather than longer ones. Have SMART goals (more in a later post about this)! Even the HOW of using materials is related to your preference and abilities. So, make sure you read the next post on that).

By the way, there are some good (an not so good) vocabulary books for TOEFL out there you can buy, but most of what you need you can get online for free. This is also where a good tutor can come in. S/he can show you how to get the most out of your materials and use them in ways that keep your interest.



Let me give you an example in my own learning experience. I study Arabic. I'm not very good, let's just say that from the beginning. I can't even write my own name. But you know what, I don't really need to! At least for now, my goal has nothing to do with reading or writing in Arabic. My goal is to have conversations with other humans. Not just any humans, mostly my husband's family and my Jordanian friends. You may know that my husband is Jordanian and we lived in Jordan for about 5 years. You would think I would have become fluent by now. But, I was teaching English 8 hours a day and we spoke English at home (mainly because I was too tired for anything else in the evenings). Even in a cab or at a store, people would want to practice their English with me, so I didn't get too much practice in myself. So, we know the WHY in my story. Now that we are back in the US, we speak in Arabic sometimes at home (my limited conversation skills). However, I don't want to ONLY be able to speak to my husband, so I need other conversational input. One of the WHATs I use is a book/CD I picked up in Jordan:

Why is this a quality material to study from? Because, as I said, I want to speak to Jordanians. I don't care about MSA or reading a newspaper. I also know my own abilities and preferences- I'm not much of a reader/writer- so the audio is great. Also, even though it's not as professionally made as some other language CDs, it's very authentic, idioms that regular people use. So I know what I'm learning is realistic and can be used later when we go back to visit friends and family. Also, it's not just a list of words- it's sentences that put those words into context.

To be honest, this book is WAY too difficult for me, since I don't really read the alphabet. So...
HOW do I use the book? I don't just sit there and 'study' like the girl in pink at the top of this post! I don't even look at the verb conjugation charts at the beginning. I listen while I ride my bike. I know it's not the safest thing to do, but I'm very kinesthetic, so I remember more that way. I listen to the verbs and repeat them out loud because I don't care if people on the street hear me. After I know the verbs, I start listening to other chunks in the sentence. I listen every day on the ride to work and back. One time, I got so into it, I made myself some flashcards! I like that it's above my level right now. That means I can keep going back to it later on and learn more.

Once I started this WHY,WHAT, and HOW method, I've been 'studying' Arabic every day for 1-3 hours! And I have been learning a lot more than I did even living there because my goals are SMART and focused!



My inspiration for this specific post came from this article on Tim Ferriss' blog.  I know you're not reading my blog to learn a language. You are here because you want to get your score in TOEFL or IELTS. You already speak English. You can take a taxi, see the sights, ask directions, go grocery shopping, even make friends if you're not too shy. But that doesn't mean taking this test is easy. Even native English speakers don't do so well on this test! Anyone who tells you that the TOEFL or IELTS is simply a test of English has never taken it!

You need to specialize your tactics if you want to get your score! But I want you to study SMART, not HARD. I think this information is one of the most important things I can relate to your test prep. The other key element is you, as a person (as a learner, really). There's a nice Arabic proverb that says all your fingers are different. Everybody is different, and that's a wonderful thing! But it makes it frustrating to go to a test prep class where everybody is treated like there is one magic method that will guarantee a high score. It makes you feel like there is something wrong with you if you don't get an amazing score after paying lots of money for a test prep course. The truth is, these classes are not designed to teach people to understand and use their strengths and weaknesses, which is what a (really good) private coach will help you to do.

So, in my next post, I'll talk about finding your abilities and preferences and how to use them in studying for TOEFL/IELTS because let's face it, you want to pass your test with a minimum of pain and tears.

KEEP CALM and PASS TOEFL!

80/20 or 'The Pareto Princilpe'

Is this funny to you? Why?

I feel like we've all been there! Maybe you're there right now! The simple act of getting a calendar will improve scheduling everything else! Yes...maybe he should spend a week at a seminar. But really, he should spend 5 minutes and go to Staples! THAT is the time management strategy he needs to do most right now! We think big changes need big action. But usually, it's little changes that impact us the most!

This is not a math lesson- but... there are two numbers that you need to remember when studying TOEFL (or IELTS)... 80 and 20.  In fact, they will change your life.

Have you ever worked really had at something, but didn't get the reward you thought you should? Maybe you didn't succeed at a test you studied all night for. Maybe you didn't get a 'thank you' after sacrificing yourself to help a friend or family member with a difficult time. Maybe your boss didn't appreciate how hard you worked on a project.

When we give 100% of our effort, we EXPECT 100% back! The bad news is, it life doesn't work like that. We have all had our disappointments like I mentioned above. Sometimes we feel like we give 100% (or 90%, or 80%) and get only 20% in return for our efforts. The GOOD news is, life doesn't work like that! But if we are smart about what we do, recognize why we are doing it, and are careful about deciding how to do something... we only need to put in 20% of our effort to get 80% of the results!!

I know, I know... this is probably the opposite of what your language teachers told you. They may have said something like 'You aren't working hard enough'. 'You didn't study enough'. Perhaps you've told yourself things like 'I don't have any talent for this'. 'Even though I'm studying the best material, something is wrong'. 'I'm working really hard but not advancing'. 'I don't have time'. 'I hate having to do this'. Well, FORGET THESE THINGS! Listen carefully, because I'm about to tell you something crazy...You can absolutely reach your goals in TOEFL (or IELTS) by doing LESS work than you think!

It's called the 'Pareto Principle'. If you want more explanation, you can read it here. If you want to practice reading more academically, you can check out this simple or advanced entry. Some people call it 'Pareto Efficiency', which is more applicable when we are talking about studying for TOEFL (or IELTS). We want to be efficient with our time! Who wants to waste time studying for this test? NOT YOU! I know you only want to pass this test as a way of getting into your program. That's what this test is- an obstacle in your way! I know it's not your dream, just a stop on the way to your dreams! So lets see how we can apply this to make your life right now more efficient...

I don't know about you, but I'm a really VISUAL learner- here are some visuals:

Some visual examples of the principle at work:

My first exposure to the '80/20 rule' comes from a number of sources, especially Tim Ferris and Benny the Irish Polyglot. Many of you probably know that I've been studying Arabic. We all want to work less at something and get greater rewards. A light turned on in my head. That's how it started. Since I've been teaching ESL (especially TOEFL and IELTS strategies) for years, I was inspired to see how this principle can be applied by MY students to reach their goals for the test.

First, somewhere in our subconscious, we know the 80/20 rule is true! Let's look at some things we share in our cultures- idioms, proverbs, quotes... I believe these things show us what is in our deepest thoughts, those things that are hardest to explain and that we 'take for granted' (idiom).

What's more important to you- Quality or Quantity?
What's more important- HOW hard you work, or HOW you are working (the process)?
What's more important- Working hard or working smart?
What's more important- hard work or luck?
                                                  I think this is the answer:

“I'm a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” 
― Thomas Jefferson

In English, we say 'spinning your wheels' (idiom). Think of a car being stuck in the mud- it doesn't matter how much you step on the gas, you won't go anywhere.' Here are some more idioms about ambition and determination.

'Less is more, as long as the LESS is MORE' (proverb)

“Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.” 
― Dale Carnegie

And my personal favorite, since it's from the founder of our lovely city-

By the way, remember the title of this post? Here's a great opportunity to review the difference between principle and principal! Also, see the difference between efficient and effective. Which would you rather be?

You know I have to sneak in some teaching into these posts!

My next post will be about some things I mentioned at the top. I'll show you how to start applying the 80/20 rule to studying TOEFL (or IELTS) by thinking about the what, why and how of being effective and efficient when you study for your test!

Keep Calm and Pass TOEFL!

This will be my first attempt at a blog! I know, there are probably hundreds of blogs about reaching your TOEFL score. So...Why am I doing it?

There are a few reasons. The first is that I want a place for my private students to go for support outside of our meetings. When I mention specific websites, I want them to be able to find the links quickly, without having to sift through emails. Another important reason is that I want to learn how to do this! I have to say that I'm not very tech-savvy. But that's ok, because I have plenty of other talents. I don't even have a smart phone, as many of you know! I'm not saying I want one, but I'm sure that someday I will get one and have to learn how to use it. In the meantime, baby steps...

OK, second question... What's up with the British flag? Not only do I really love this icon, but I think the history (easier version and more difficult) of the poster is amazing. Moreover, it perfectly captures the idea of why many TOEFL students get a lower score than they should. Being nervous is perfectly normal, but it DOES affect your score! In fact, it's probably one of the main things bringing you down! Knowing that means that you can control at least SOME of your nervousness, which means you can begin to increase your score without even studying!

My main goal is to help people reach their TOEFL score with a MINIMUM of studying! I know this sound like the opposite of what many ESL teachers say. So this will be the topic of my next post!

KEEP CALM and PASS TOEFL!