Best Time to Start Preparing for TOEFL

Since TOEFL is a language-based matter, the sooner one gets to start learning the language – English, in this case – the easier can s/he find answering an examination based on his/her proficiency in the same. That way, there would be no rush to ‘start preparing’ for TOEFL when there is just a limited period for it in hand. The best time to start preparing for it, therefore, is childhood.

How to Learn English in Childhood

Learning English in childhood, if planned, can actually be easy.

• Children can be educated through the medium of English. This way, they get exposure to the language at an early, impressionable age, when they can absorb it well and with ease.
• Children can be given access to a lot of books in English that can show them various styles of writing in the language.
• Children can be shown suitable English movies so that they can practise hearing English from native speakers and pick the accent up.
• Children can be encouraged to write in English – be they essays, stories, poems or any other matter – to develop and hone their own creative writing skills.
• To support their linguistic skills further, children can be enrolled into Afterschool Activities that involve speaking, singing or play-acting in English.
• Children’s knowledge of all aspects of the language can also be enhanced by institutes, classes or tutors who can give them some extra coaching in English.

Such initiatives can give children a strong understanding of English. This, as they grow, can only flower more and by the time they are old enough to sit for the TOEFL, they can be extremely confident regarding their basic preparation for it.

How students can keep improving their English

Post early childhood, students can continue to enhance their English in the following ways:

1. Read newspapers and suitable books and magazines in English. This would keep their General Knowledge up-to-date, too.
2. Read books that can help them specifically with TOEFL; once they reach the age to follow them.
3. Continue practising and improving their writing skills.
4. Take communicating in English as a necessary skill to be developed continuously and consciously.
5. Watch suitable English channels in order to improve their listening and English comprehension skills, accents, mannerisms and general idea of how the lands where English is spoken, are.
6. Students can also seek guidance from peers who have appeared for TOEFL or scored well in the same.

Other than these measures, one can gather as much information as possible on TOEFL, and prepare himself/herself as per the same.

How to prepare specifically for TOEFL

In spite of knowing English well and continuing to improve it, one can benefit a lot from some specific guidance on how to excel, when it comes to the TOEFL. Here comes the need and importance of preparing specially for it.

There could also be people who have not studied English very thoroughly in their childhood or later on. Would that mean that they should shy away from TOEFL? It certainly does not need to be so.

All one needs is a bit of determination and dedication. There are many classes and courses that can prepare people well for the TOEFL, and one can certainly take their help even if s/he decides to sit for TOEFL all of a sudden; without much prior preparation, so to say.

The basic thing to be remembered, of course, is: the earlier one starts preparing for the TOEFL, the easier and better it might be for him/her. However, if someone is unable to start preparation early, s/he need not feel disappointed or lose hope. Lost time can certainly be made up for, with the help of some efforts and guidance taken.

If you have a TOEFL success-story of your own, do share it with us. Not only would we love to hear from you, but your story could also be a source of encouragement for many.