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Thursday, May 05, 2011

TOEIC: In Focus



What is the TOEIC test?

The Test of English for International Communication - TOEIC®, is an English language proficiency test for people whose native language is not English. It measures the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment. TOEIC test scores indicate how well people can
communicate in English with others in the global workplace. The test does not require specialized knowledge or vocabulary beyond that of a person who uses English in everyday work activities.

Today, the TOEIC test has become the world’s leading test of English language proficiency in a workplace context. More than 8,000 corporations worldwide have used the TOEIC test and more than 2 million people take this test every year.

What are the benefits of using the TOEIC test?

The TOEIC test:

• Gives an objective assessment of English as it is used in the working world.
• Is highly reliable - scores are always accurate and consistent.
• Is reasonably priced and available on demand - there is no need to wait for the next testing
session.
• Offers rapid test scoring and reporting - results are returned within a maximum of ten working
days. (In some locations 24-hour turnaround is available.)
• Is recognized as the main worldwide standard of English competence in the workplace.
• Allows trainers and human resource managers to plan and budget the amount of training
necessary to bring people to the appropriate English-language levels for specific jobs.
• Provides a continuous scale that allows for monitoring of improvement and comparison of
individual candidates.
• Uses equated test forms so that a score on one test form is exactly the same as on another.
• Measures proficiency rather than achievement so that trainers can focus on the needs of the
learners, rather than on the needs of an exam—no costly “preparation” materials are required.
• Provides descriptions of probable candidate performance on work-related tasks.

What are the contents of the TOEIC test?

The TOEIC test was developed to meet the needs of the working world. The test questions are developed from samples of spoken and written language collected from various countries around the world where English is used in the workplace. Test questions incorporate many different settings and situations, such as:

• General business—contracts, negotiations, marketing, sales, business planning, conferences
• Manufacturing—plant management, assembly lines, quality control
• Finance and budgeting—banking, investments, taxes, accounting, billing
• Corporate development—research, product development
• Offices—board meetings, committees, letters, memoranda, telephone, fax and e-mail messages,office equipment and furniture, office procedures
• Personnel—recruiting, hiring, retiring, salaries, promotions, job applications and advertisements
• Purchasing—ordering supplies, shipping, invoices, shopping
• Technical areas—electronics, computers, laboratories and related equipment, technical specifications
• Housing/corporate property—construction, buying and renting, electric and gas services
• Travel—trains, airplanes, taxis, buses, ships, ferries, tickets, schedules, station and airport announcements, car rentals, hotels, reservations, delays and cancellations
• Dining out—business and informal lunches, banquets, receptions, restaurant reservations
• Entertainment—movies, theater, music, art, the media
• Health—medical insurance, visiting doctors, dentists, clinics, hospitals

These settings provide the background for TOEIC test questions—candidates are not required to know specialized business and technical vocabulary beyond that of a person who uses English in everyday work activities.

Who developed the TOEIC test?

ETS developed the TOEIC test in 1979 to serve the English assessment needs of corporations in Japan that wanted to improve their ability to compete in the area of international business and trade. Over the years, the TOEIC test has been adopted in many other countries and has quickly became the global standard for assessing English in work-related contexts.

ETS is the world's largest private educational testing and measurement organization and a leader in education research. ETS is dedicated to serving the needs of individuals, educational institutions, and government bodies in nearly 200 countries. The organization develops and administers more than 12 million tests worldwide.

What is the format of the TOEIC test?

The TOEIC test itself is a two-hour, paper-and-pencil, multiple-choice test that consists of 200 questions divided into two separately timed sections: Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension.

The new TOEIC Test began around 2006. Between 2006 up to this time, the format hasn't changed much. The TOEIC test is 100% multiple choice. It is important to know that you won't get penalized (minus mark) for your wrong answers.

How long is the new TOEIC test?

As of April, 2006 the test has two main sections: (1) Listening and (2) Reading.

The Listening section is 45 minutes long and has a total of 100 questions. It is divided into 4 parts: (1) Photographs-10 items, (2)Question & Response-30 items, (3) Short Conversations-30 items and (4) Short Talks-30 items. This section has a total of 495 points.

The Reading section has a total of 100 questions. It is divided into 3 parts: (1) Incomplete sentences-40 items, (2) Text completion-12 items, and (30) Reading comprehension-Single passage 28 items; double passage 20 items (48 total).

The new TOEIC test has a total of 990 points and is 2 hours long. There is a total of 200 questions.

For further details of the test format please consult The TOEIC Examinee
Handbook (available in several languages) which can be obtained from your local area.

Or visit these sites for more information:

http://www.mstoeic.com
http://www.cpathailand.co.th



TOEIC Strategies

1.) Improve your time management skills when taking the test. Yes, it is a time-pressured test. But, you have to keep in mind that the success of your exam lies in you. Discipline is key in managing your time.

Do not spend so much time on one question. For instance, If you had a 10-minute test with a total of 10 questions, you should be able to spend 1 minute on each question.

If you need more time to think about answering hard questions, might as well leave it in the meantime and answer those easy questions, as fast as you can. So that you could be able to go back to the ones you've left to answer. This is applicable to the Reading section.

2.) Reading Strategies

Improve your reading speed and comprehension. Before the test, you should read as much as possible. Choose material that is easy for you. Read as fast as you can every day. Learn new vocabulary every day.

3.) Skimming and Scanning

Sometimes, we can find the answers without reading the whole story or all of the text. There are two reading styles: Skimming and Scanning.

Skimming is quickly identifying the main ideas of the article without reading the whole thing.

Scanning is used to spot specific information in an article. The type of information that you might be looking for is specific like phone numbers or addresses. It is important to note that when you are scanning a passage you aren't reading it!

+++

EDIT: I would like to share my experience about taking the TOEIC test here in Bangkok last March 5, 2011, Saturday. It was a fun experience. I had phoned the Center for Professional Assessment office http://www.cpathailand.co.th before the day. I had my test scheduled arranged, it was at 4pm. I hoped that I would have the same schedule as my neighbor, her schedule was at 9am. But it wasn't possible because there was no slot available for me, then.

Don't forget if you are interested to take the TOEIC test.. you have to make an appointment by calling them first!!! So you could reserve a seat and they will give you your schedule. You will be asked to provide your name and other important details which can be found in your passport.

I had to go an hour earlier than my test schedule because I didn't wanna be late or I'd miss it. When I arrived, my stomach was asking me to buy something so I went to Family Mart to buy something. I made sure that I wasn't hungry before I take the test.

The Center for Professional Assessment Thailand is open for business from 8:00am-4:30pm, Mondays to Saturdays. The TOEIC Listening and Reading test cost 1,200 baht only (as of 2011). I paid it in cash before I took the test. The Speaking and Writing test cost 3,000 baht.

Step 1. Registration
2. Printing (they will print your profile info and give it to you)
3. Cashier
4. Validation (they will check if the info in your profile sheet is correct, they will also explain to you what you will do before, during, and after the test)

Inside the testing room, you need nothing but YOURSELF. A bag, mobile phone, pencil, or pen are not allowed inside they will ask you to leave it outside of the examination room. I had my personal things left at the counter to be safe.

After taking the test...

Step 5. Test results will be picked up or sent via EMS (your choice!)

In my case, I had it mailed through EMS. They asked me to pay 50.00 baht additional charge for that service. They gave me a white envelope to write my complete name and address. I was told that the result would be there in my mailbox on Tuesday or Wednesday. But, if it's for pick up the result will be after 5-7 working days (oh no!). Too many hassles of going back to pick up my test result because we are living a little far from that area. More or less, I will spend 130.00 baht going there (back and forth) and it's time-consuming. So, I prefer the EMS.

I'm interested in taking the Speaking and Writing test, too. I have been saving my pennies for this. The TOEFL and TESOL tests are so damn expensive! Wishing that I could take these, too... Oh, just one day at a time. Dream, dream, dream.. dream on! 😅😉😂

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Sofia's 1st Birthday (Part 2): The Party!

There were so many visitors. I'm glad that Sofia enjoyed the party, playing with her childhood friends and neighbors.  She was delighted to open her presents. It was a relief that our guests loved the food that I cooked (though, I'm not good at cooking). 



Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Sofia's 1st Birthday Lunch

Today is our little princess Sofia's birthday, the 27th of April. It has been a year! This is Part 4 of our little darling's birthday pictorial. Just before we went to dine out and waited for daddy to get dressed, Sofia and I had fun picture-taking!

The NUMBER ONE shirt :)





Daddy took us out for a birthday lunch treat at Oishi Japanese Restaurant and good news... it's a BUFFET! so we all pigged out!

The Birthday Girl :)



Miso soup and Bacon and Mushroom soup

Varieties of my side dishes LOL

Hmm... yum, yum, yum!

Japanese snacks (I don't know the names! sorry... lol)

Sushi roll (I will make it like this at Saturday's birthday party)

Cakes (4 slices and I ate them all! :D )

Another set of desserts

I wasn't hungry for about 8 hours after we ate here 😅 so I was super hungry when I woke up the following day at 9am 🤗 Sofia ate a lot, too! 😍 She wanted the fruits and the Japanese rice cake. The taste was superb and the variety of food... excellent! We all had a great time!😍

Sofia's Birthday Pictorial (Part 3 Unedited Version) and Her Ice Cream Cake

Birthday pictorial of Sofia Part 3. These pics were taken in the supermarket while we were waiting for daddy to come up and pick us up LOL.








We have decided to buy an ice cream cake for Sofia's birthday. We were thinking about buying it at Swenssens but it is expensive. We found out that Dairy Queen (DQ) has cheaper but good-quality of ice cream cakes!

I chose the Disney princess design because it will match Sofia's theme on Saturday. It looks so deliciously good!😍

Saturday, April 23, 2011

The Worst Job Offer For Me This Year


Finding a job here in Thailand is not very easy, especially for those non-education graduates. If you are, it is still a problem because you need to prove that you can teach students who couldn't understand, read, write, or speak any English. It is indeed a challenge for job hunters to prove that they can. During the interview, they will ask you to do demo teaching and you are expected to communicate with your students more effectively using your methods, tools, and teaching techniques/skills.

Some of my friends in the Philippines, they thought working here is easy... They are completely WRONG! Teaching careers here are in demand but, there is a huge population of competitors/applicants from other countries. Apparently, their priority is to choose English Native Speakers for any teaching positions, especially in some International Schools. Secondly, they also take into account the educational background (which is a BS Education graduate) with Masteral is an advantage.

List according to importance when applying for a job here:

1. English Native Speakers (US, UK, Canada, Australia,etc.)
2. Educational Background
3. Work Experience as a teacher in his Country + here in Thailand
4. Teaching Skills/Tools/Methods via demo teaching
5. Physical Attributes (Presentation)
6. Age Requirement

On the other hand, other nationalities from all over the globe are applying for the same position. And I am one of them! I worked as a Guidance Counselor cum Science teacher way back in SY 2000-2001 in Antipolo City. I have the experience to hold a Home-room adviser position for 4th Grade in one of the Christian schools in Penafrancia. But, my teaching skills aren't enough to teach in the classroom for foreign pupils/students. I admit that, because I know my strengths and weaknesses, as far as my career is concerned.


Last 2009, I started job hunting here in Bangkok. I came across a language center (which I don't wanna mention) online through Thaivisa.com & Ajarn.com. This language center phones me up for a job interview. I showed up so early before our scheduled time. But, I was shocked that they were very unorganized. I was expecting to have accommodated on time. Instead, the owner kept me waiting for an hour! Then, finally, after an hour had my job interview with her. She was a little rude and had high regard for herself. I felt uncomfortable but, I composed myself not to express what I was feeling at the moment. She said that I passed the job interview and told me to start the following week. I asserted to ask about the pay rate, and she told me that it was 13,000 baht only. That includes my housing allowance, ED visa (not a working visa), and meals while at work. All in all, it's only 8,000 baht in take-home pay. Plus, I've got to work on Saturdays and the hours of work is 7:30am-6:30pm (6 days of work!🙄 Whoa!🤯)


In the same year, I was also called for a job interview for a KG teacher in Pinklao, which is about 3 hours travel from my place, then. I was interviewed by the school principal and he said that I got the job and the salary was 15,000 baht and the rent for my apartment will be 1,500 baht a month (he owned it). I hesitated to accept the job offer because it was too far from our home, and I don't need to live in an apartment because I'm living with my husband. He also told me that I don't have to work because he will provide for all my needs. So, I stopped my job hunting. Until I got pregnant LOL.


This year, I've searched again, online for a part-time job during the weekends. I found a private learning and computer school that I thought would be great to start teaching in the classroom. They phone me for a job interview with the Headteacher (a British guy), a few weeks ago. Again... I passed the job interview and he turned me over to an office staff to discuss the pay rate, the whereabouts of the students, and the schedule. I don't understand why the head teacher couldn't be able to discuss it with me, openly. Probably because the system itself is unfavorable.

So, I was about to teach two students (a couple), 35 years old, 2 hours every Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, 280 baht per hour. I was startled by the rate! I was hoping to have 20.00 baht more so I negotiated with them. The lady told me that she would have to ask the Academy about my concern and that I had to wait on their phone call if they agreed or not, but I had to start the following week that we had agreed.

One day, somebody from that learning center called me up to tell me that the Management did not agree to the negotiation. In fact, they were offering me 180 baht (too LOW!), the lowest job offer in my life! I was a little upset, but still, I composed myself, as a professional. I thought I was hearing her incorrectly, so I made some clarifications on the pay rate that on the previous meeting, I was offered 280 baht per hour and not 180 baht. Then, she repeated that it was indeed 180 baht (what? goodness, gracious!!!) and her voice was serious. I believed her because I thought it was a joke at first! LOL.

I replied, "I am so sorry that I can't accept your job offer of 180 baht per hour on weekends because right now, I am earning 500 baht per hour for each student and I don't need to travel far because their houses are few walks from my home. Some of my students are learning English online.

The lady said, "But because you are not a native speaker and have no work experience in class here in Thailand, no education diploma (this was the exact message I got from her). Sorry about that....

I responded, "I don't have to be a native speaker to teach two students a basic conversation. My friends aren't native speakers, and they aren't education graduates either. But, they've earned their experience working here in Thailand because they were considered despite that. Yes, I don't have a teaching experience in the classroom and I have no education certificate... But, I can teach. Besides, you're only giving me 2 students so that means it is more of private teaching or tutorial. If I am an education graduate... will you give me a work permit in that given situation? I don't think so. I am rejecting your job offer, I'm sorry.

Charged to experience it again. I am not that desperate to grab any jobs that offer such pay rates. I may have to think about the traveling expenses and the distance. It matters a lot! If you need to travel, you will spend money and if it's far from your home, you will still spend time. Not smart enough to just accept without thinking many times of the pros and cons. That was the worst job offer that I had in my life here in Thailand! I hope it'll be the last (fingers crossed🙄).

It is very essential to know what you want in looking for a job. If you aren't assertive of your priorities and needs here... You will end up working stressful and not realizing your worth as a person. Sure they have the right to offer you a low pay rate but, it is up to you to accept it or not. They're doing that, hoping you would accept it anyhow and so the school/company will have a great deal having you as a teacher working full load or too many unrelated tasks given to you without paying you more about your efforts. This is Thailand, if you aren't that smart, sensible, prepared, resourceful, and skillful enough then, this is not your world. You've gotta learn to compete with other foreign people like you here (in a healthy, professional way).






borrowed images from google

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TRAFFIC UPDATES

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