TOEFL® speaking partner's topic -- Let's speak together!

[Donisha]

Saule,

By the same country , I actually meant the the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States).

No, I am in Munich now and live here.

What would you advise as TOEFL-Guru ? I'd appreciate it if you could give me some tipps on how to learn English effectively.

I'm improving my German as well, oh, wait I am learnign Greek too . ;-)))))

[Saule]

Wow! English, German, Greek... three languages. I'm impressed. I would like to learn Spanish, but it seems to me that hole of my life will not be enough to learn English :).
By the way, Lithuania has never been in CIS!:)

[Donisha]

Yes, you are right, but somehow all baltic countries were for us more closer, maybe at the time of UdSSR.

But you speak russian, which means we all are from the same country. And you also communicate with your friends in russian as well.

I knew one girl from Lithuania.

[Saule]

Donisha,
You have kind of interesting point of view about peoples belonging to one or another country. I know some americans who are fluent in Russian language, but they will never tell you that they are from the same country as you are. Russian is just a second language for them, and so does for me. Even though I don't agree with you completely, I really enjoy having an opportunity to communicate in English with you :).

[Donisha]

I also belong to those who you 've mentioned before. I'm communicationg with my friends only in russian because I dont know their native language and they dont know mine.

If I would meet anyone in Germany who speaks Russian, they never would speak to me in German, because they know that we can talk in russian like you do.

And to be able to understand English I always use the russian-english or russian-german dictionary.

I am glad to read that despite some differences in opinion we still writing here and maybe the other follow our conversation.

[Saule]

Isn't it nice to know more languages? That gives a better chance to express ourselves more accurate and more comprehensive. I do the same as you. When I met someone who speaks some of the languages I do, we very quickly decide witch language to use for conversation. And it doesn't matter if it is English, Lithuanian, Russian... All languages are good to communicate, aren't they?;)

[Jjiioo]

HI i am new here and i have several questions about TOEFL IBT i need 90 scores in one year and how do you think is it possible to get 90 scores in toefl IBT with my ENGLISH(of course i will be prepearing the whole year)

[Donisha]

Yes, of course, Saule, you have a point. Due to language bareers it's easier for me to express my thoughts in the language I am comparably good at.

Since I am in Germany, I almost forgot my native language, and this is also funny that eventually I am not good at any language I have been learning.

[Saule]

Donisha,
I feel the same way. All languages is mixing that in turn makes me speak a miscellaneous mixture of languages. I believe that this fall when my son starts his kindergarten I will get to use English more often. In addition, we are moving to another city where I not likely to meet anyone from my native country. That is bad and good news at the same time.

[Saule]

Jjiioo,
Don't you want to take test now just to see where you are and in which skills you should concentrate more? If you have possibility to attend some classes at university that would be very helpful. You can sign up in English grammar class [I guess they might call this class composition class ] where you will be able to enhance your grammar skill and vocabulary. I used to do that a lot. I signed up for some non-credit classes. That means that you attend all lectures, take all exams or tests, get your scores but after all you are not getting any paper that you had had this class. This is just for you.

[Donisha]

Saule,

but the fact that you are in english-speaking country gives you automatically the feeling to think like native speakers. Because you observe every information spontaniously without noticing that.

One day you, probably, like me, started to get surprised how automatically you can express yourself .

Concerning TOEFL preparation, I wanted to ask you: Is there any chance to prepare to TOEFL or other mostly required TEST without attending any classes?

Is that not enough to prepare oneself by TOEFL Preparation books or internet sources?

I'm askign that because I am pending now between enrolling in online english courses or better learn all by myself with the tutoting of oen or 2 native speakers?

[Saule]

Donisha,

What do you mean by ''but the fact that you are in english-speaking country gives you automatically the feeling to think like native speakers''? Does that mean that living in the USA makes me an american?

Talking about TOEFL, I completely agree that it's possible to prepare for this test by your own. The only thing you need is discipline. I am not this kind of person. I need to be guided and checked. Otherwise, I will find thousands of reasons not to study. Honestly, I adore people who are so strong-willed to achieve a better result of something. I wish I were somewhat like they ;)

[Jjiioo]

thank you very much i think it bill be really useful for me. once i tried to take test i think it was two years ago and i got 66 in toefl ibt. since then i think my english has improved but i need more work and practice.

[Donisha]

Saule,

I meant that even you communicate with your friends or relatives in your native or other languages, English will still predominate over the other languages, because you are living there and listen to language live and ..also think in English, it has nothing to do with assertion whether you become an american or not. Just the way of using the language like native speakers, but your mentality will remain for over the years and maybe for the the rest of your life.

P.S. It's just my opinion.

[Saule]

Donisha,

You are right. Sorry, but I just wanted to be sure that I didn't misunderstand you. Sometimes written communication can be complicating.