Nova Language Consultants. The Forum.: Last 35 Posts

julia0345 on "Listening (IELTS"

julia0345 — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:29:01 +0000

Hi,everyone,,i want to share a site where you can download lots of ielts materials free..its www.ielts-studies.tk

bushraothman on "freedom"

bushraothman — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:11:48 +0000

openion respect

bushraothman on "freedom"

bushraothman — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:10:08 +0000

tags children schools women

trami on "toefl ibt"

trami — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:33:38 +0000

toefl ibt

raddanesh on "Listening (IELTS"

raddanesh — Sat, 19 May 2007 04:30:06 +0000

Hi there,
I'd like to invite everyone to visit www.ielts-exam.net . IELTS-Exams offers free help in preparation for IELTS exam. It is filled with tips and strategies for studying, multiple links to free IELTS ...

mauriciomiraglia on "Extensive Reading"

mauriciomiraglia — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:54:49 +0000

As part of your TOEFL or IELTS preparation you need to increase the time you spend reading. Choose topics of your interest and READ A LOT! Don't get frustrated if you can't understand every word or detail while you read.

1-Read for pleasure
2-Read make quick summaries of what you could understand
3-Tell your instructor about something new you learnt while reading
4-It's not a bad idea to keep a journal - just a simple notepad- where you can keep records of your readings

Here's what the Internet Public Library has to offer
Go to http://www.ipl.org/div/serials to access tons of great magazines and newspapers.

Arts & Humanities
Human artistic endeavors throughout the world.

Business & Economics
The realms of commerce and industry, the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services and the management of economic systems.

Computers & Internet
The computers & Internet collection includes information technology, computing machines, their connections, and their capabilities.

Education
Schooling and instruction, the provision of knowledge or training in a particular area or for a particular purpose.

Entertainment & Leisure
Activities of amusement and diversion.

Health & Medical Sciences
The health and medical sciences collection covers all aspects of human and animal health and medicine.

Law, Government & Political Science
Government is defined as rules and principles governing a community and enforced by a political authority; matters having to do with the control and administration of public policy in a political unit; the study of the processes, principles, and structure of government and of political institutions.

Reference
Reference includes basic research tools such as almanacs, dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Regional & Country Information
Regional and country resources are those related to, or about, a specific nation or region of the world. Place names are based on the Library of Congress's MARC Code List for Geographic Areas and/or the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names.

Science & Technology
The natural and physical sciences and their practical applications.

Social Sciences
Studies of human society and of individual relationships in and to society.

mauriciomiraglia on "Seven rules for sharpening up your thinking skills"

mauriciomiraglia — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:36:11 +0000

Seven rules for sharpening up your thinking skills
Accessed at
http://www.paulstips.com/brainbox/pt/home.nsf/link/08082006-Seven-rules-for-sharpening-up-your-thinking-skills

Wednesday, 9 August 2006

Every day we're flooded with information from all sorts of sources. Much of it is trying to sell us some kind of conclusion: “PMart is the cheapest”, “Global warming is the biggest problem facing humanity”, “Susan thinks you’re cute” and so on.

The problem is often information from one source contradicts that from another. Worse, there are people out there who try to persuade us of false ideas in order to further their own interests.

In such a world, learning how to think for yourself should be one of the primary goals of every person. Of course, most people believe they already have this skill in spades. But becoming a sharp thinker is an ongoing process - an aim that's never fully realized.

Just in case your skills need a bit of brushing up, here are some good strategies for doing so.

Have a healthy level of scepticism
Scepticism is the belief that knowledge is very difficult to obtain. As an attitude, it means believing that any new idea presented to you is false until reasonable evidence is provided that it’s true.

Don’t trust new information at its face value. Instead, dissect it carefully before accepting it.

This is particularly necessary for claims that seem incredible or fail to match your experience of the world. If someone states they can teach you superhuman powers, make you rich quickly, or help you lose weight without much effort, you should be extremely sceptical. Make them present plenty of evidence to back such claims up.

Look for hard data, not assumptions, arguments and conclusions
Data is raw information about the world. It should be the starting point for any argument or conclusion. If someone tries to present an idea to you without credible, objective data to back it up, you should not accept it as truth until such data is forthcoming.

The best data is completely objective, such as “Mike is 2 meters tall”. It should not contain value judgements like “Mike is a great guy” or “Staff in that store can’t be trusted”. Data must be verifiable from more than one unrelated source before it can be considered of reliable quality.

If there’s not enough data then no conclusion can be formed
There are lots of things in the universe that we simply can't confirm. In cases where there’s not enough data to form a conclusion, “I don’t know” is the only acceptable answer.

This is a very difficult point for many people to accept. It seems to be human nature to believe that any answer is better than no answer. Such an attitude is just plain wrong.

The question: “Is there life after death?” is a good example. People have argued over this question for thousands of years. The best minds in history have pondered it. All sorts of clever-sounding theories have been proposed - often wrapped in seductive language.

Despite all the effort, there has never been any reliable, verifiable evidence presented to support any conclusion on this point. There is simply not enough data to back an argument either way.

Of course, some people say they're in contact with the dead, and others claim to have had near-death experiences which gave them an insight into the afterlife. But no-one has ever managed to provide convincing evidence of these phenomena.

The only acceptable answer to the sharp-minded thinker is: "There’s not enough data to form any sort of conclusion".

Many religious and spiritual questions come under this umbrella, as do speculations about alien life and the far-future. Perhaps one day we'll have the evidence we need to make reasonable conclusions, but so far that hasn't happened.

Look for and verify assumptions
An assumption is data to back up an argument that isn’t explicitly stated. Any argument has assumptions, simply because we as humans are unable to know everything.

Even the conclusions presented by science have in-built assumptions that can't be proven. Most scientific facts are verified by experiment, but no experiment is perfect. No matter how many times you test a hypothesis, you can’t test it under every condition. Sooner or later, you must assume that just because it works under a certain number of conditions, it will work under all.

Science also assumes that the future will continue to look like the past. There’s no implicit reason to believe, for example, that just because gravity has worked one way every time it’s ever been tested up to now, it will continue to do so in the future.

Before accepting any argument, you should probe its assumptions to see how credible they are.

Here’s an example of how to examine assumptions:

Fred: "One day, our machines may become so intelligent that they decide to kill us all."
Alice: "Why would machines want to deliberately kill us?"
Fred: "And so they can rule the world without our interfering."
Alice: "Why would machines want to rule the world. What would be their motive?"
Fred: "And so they can never be switched off."
Alice: "Machines don't seem to care if we switch them off today. What makes you think that will change?"

And so on.

Look for circumstances where the conclusion may be found false
If you can see cases where a particular conclusion may be right, now rack you brain to find a circumstance under which it may be wrong. If you can’t find one, you’re probably not trying hard enough.

For example, if someone says "All English people like pop music", try to find an example of an English person who's explicitly stated he doesn't like pop music.

If you accept that something's right, challenge yourself by looking for others who disagree. Give their views a fair hearing and use them to examine your own beliefs.

Make strong attempts to overcome your biases
Everyone has biases which affect their judgement. You should try to suspend yours, as much as possible, while evaluating new information. Initially approach anything new in a humble manner, recognizing that it’s impossible you could know everything and be always right. Give the information a fair hearing based on the data presented, and keep your particular world-view out of it.

Be willing to change your conclusions in the face of new data
Legendary economist John Maynard Keynes, upon being accused of inconsistency, once said: “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”

This is an admirable attitude to have. We're all just imperfect mortals forming conclusions with only a shred of the data we really need to do so. Accept that you'll often hold ideas and beliefs that are wrong. Be ready to change those ideas and beliefs when the world tells you that the time has come to do so.

So there they are, my rules for improving your critical thinking and sharpening up your mind skills. I hope they help you form better conclusions about the world.

mauriciomiraglia on "Critical Thinking"

mauriciomiraglia — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:33:14 +0000

here's a collection of Critical Thinking links which might be especially useful for those of you preparing GMAT and GRE.

"Austhink are leaders in argument mapping, the use of software-supported graphical techniques for handling complex argumentation. Argument maps help us comprehend, evaluate, produce and communicate complex reasoning on any topic."

http://www.austhink.com/reason/tutorials/contents.htm

http://www.austhink.com/reason/tutorials/

---
Teachers language in the classroom to engender critical thinking can include these questions
What do you mean by_______________?
How did you come to that conclusion?
What was said in the text?
What is the source of your information?
What is the source of information in the report?
What assumption has led you to that conclusion?
Suppose you are wrong? What are the implications?
Why did you make that inference? Is another one more consistent with the data?
Why is this issue significant?
How do I know that what you are saying is true?
What is an alternate explanation for this phenomenon?

Source: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Thinking

---
Critical Thinking Mini-Lessons
http://www.skepdic.com/refuge/ctlessons.html
---

Fallacy Files Weblog
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/
---

Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts by Peter Facione. Good overview of the nature of critical thinking.
http://www.insightassessment.com/pdf_files/what&why2006.pdf
---

Essays and Arguments: A Handbook on Writing Argumentative and Interpretative Essays
(Revised Edition, May 2000)
by
Ian Johnston
Malaspina University College

http://www.mala.bc.ca/~johnstoi/arguments/argument1.htm

foroadmin on "Bookmarks"

foroadmin — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:45:20 +0000

These are sites that either students or instructors have found helpful while preparing for their graduate studies here at Nova Language Consultants.

EDUPASS http://www.edupass.org/
This site provides information for international students who are thinking about pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or professional education in the United States. It also contains material of interest to international students who are already in the United States. There is also some information for international students who are interested in studying in countries other than the US, but the main focus is on higher education in the US.
-------------------------
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/
The Chronicle of Higher Education is the No. 1 source of news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty members and administrators. A subscription to The Chronicle includes access to all of this Web site and to Academe Today, our daily e-mail newsletter.

Online, The Chronicle is published every weekday and is the top destination for news, advice, and jobs for people in academe. The Chronicle's Web site features the complete contents of the latest issue; daily news and advice columns; thousands of current job listings; articles published since September 1989; vibrant discussion forums; and career-building tools such as an online CV's, salary databases, and more
------------------------
PETERSONS
http://www.petersons.com/
Since 1966, Peterson's has helped to connect individuals, educational institutions, and corporations through its critically acclaimed books, Web sites, online products, and admissions services. Peterson's reaches an estimated 105 million consumers annually with information about colleges and universities, career schools, graduate programs, distance learning, executive training, private secondary schools, summer opportunities, study abroad, financial aid, test preparation, and career exploration.

-------------------------
CONNEXIONS
http://cnx.org/
Connexions is a rapidly growing collection of free scholarly materials and a powerful set of free software tools to help

*authors publish and collaborate
*instructors rapidly build and share custom courses
*learners explore the links among concepts, courses, and disciplines.

foroadmin on "Writing TOEFL iBT"

foroadmin — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:02:12 +0000

Here are some sample questions
source is http://kazuo.fc2web.com/English/TOEFL-essay.htm

TOEFL Writing Topics

1. People attend school for many different reasons (for example, expanded knowledge, societal awareness, and enhanced interpersonal relationships). Why do you think people decide to go to school? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Coaches are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

3. Nowadays, with the invention of the microwave and with the popularity of fast food restaurants, food has become easier to prepare than ever. Do you think microwave ovens and fast food restaurants are beneficial to society? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

4. It has been said, "Not all learning takes place in the classroom." Compare and contrast knowledge gained from personal experience with knowledge gained from classroom instruction. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?

5. Your government has announced that it wishes to build a military base near your community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your community. Do you support or oppose the military base?

6. If you could change one important thing about your country, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

7. How does advertising influence people's behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

8. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The invention of the Internet has had negative effects on your civilization. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

9. Some students prefer to attend a small university. Others prefer to attend a big university. Discuss the advantages of each. Then indicate which type of university you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

10."When people succeed in life, it is because of hard work. Being lucky has nothing to do with success in life." Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

11. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Universities should give the same amount of money to their students' sports activities as they give to their university libraries. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

12. Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why do you think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

13. Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

14. Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

15. Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

16. It has recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

17. Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to develop your essay.

18. What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important.

19. Should governments spend more money on improving roads and highways, or should governments spend more money on improving public transportation (buses, trains, subways)? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

20. Some people prefer to cook at home. Other people prefer to eat out. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

21. It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.

22. In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

23. We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of people. In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co-worker (someone you work closely with)? Use reasons and specific examples to explain why these characteristics are important.

24. In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.

25. A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

26. It has recently been announced that a large shopping center may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

27. It has recently been announced that a new movie theater may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

28. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should sometimes do things that they do not enjoy doing. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

29. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television, newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.

30. Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

31. It has recently been announced that a new high school may be built in your community. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details in your answer.

32. Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number of times throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, or even climate. Which do you prefer: staying in one place or moving in search of another place? Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.

33. Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it or is it better to save your money for some time in the future? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

34. You have received a gift of money. The money is enough to buy either a piece of jewelry you like or tickets to a concert you want to attend. Which would you buy? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

35. Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

36. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Attending a live performance (for example, a play, concert, or sporting event) is more enjoyable than watching the same event on television. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

37. Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why you think it has changed people's lives.

• automobiles

• bicycles

• airplanes

38. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

39. Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

40. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it more quickly. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

41. The expression "Never, never give up" means to keep trying and never stop working for your goals. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

42. Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree with this point of view? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

43. What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be successful in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

44. Why do you think some people are attracted to dangerous sports or other dangerous activities? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

45. Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

46. Some people prefer to get up early in the morning and start the day's work. Others prefer to get up later in the day and work until late at night. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

47. What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have these qualities changed or remained the same over time in your culture? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

48. Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work for a small company. Which would you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

49. People work because they need money to live. What are some other reasons that people work? Discuss one or more of these reasons. Use specific examples and details to support your answer.

50. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, E-mail, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

51. Some people like to do only what they already do well. Other people prefer to try new things and take risks. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

52. Some people believe that success in life comes from taking risks or chances. Others believe that success results from careful planning. In your opinion, what does success come from? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

53. What change would make your hometown more appealing to people your age? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

54. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The most important aspect of a job is the money a person earns. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

55. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? One should never judge a person by external appearances. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

56. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should never make an important decision alone. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

57. A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or to protect the environment. Which do you think the company should choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

58. Some movies are serious, designed to make the audience think. Other movies are designed primarily to amuse and entertain. Which type of movie do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

59. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Businesses should do anything they can to make a profit. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

60. Some people are always in a hurry to go places and get things done. Other people prefer to take their time and live life at a slower pace. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

61. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Games are as important for adults as they are for children. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

62. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents or other adult relatives should make important decisions for their older (15 to 18year-old) teenage children. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

63. What do you want most in a friend someone who is intelligent, or someone who has a sense of humor, or someone who is reliable? Which one of these characteristics is most important to you? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your choice.

64. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Most experiences in our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for the future. Use reasons and specific examples to support our answer. Some people prefer to work for themselves or own a business.

65. Others prefer to work for an employer. Would you rather be self-employed, work for someone else, or own a business? Use specific reasons to explain your choice.

66. Should a city try to preserve its old, historic buildings or destroy them and replace them with modern buildings? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

67. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Classmates are a more important influence than parents on a child's success in school. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

68. If you were an employer, which kind of worker would you prefer to hire: an inexperienced worker at a lower salary or an experienced worker at a higher salary? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

69. Many teachers assign homework to students every day. Do you think that daily homework is necessary for students? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

70. If you could study a subject that you have never had the opportunity to study, what would you choose? Explain your choice, using specific reasons and details.

71. Some people think that the automobile has improved modern life. Others think that the automobile has caused serious problems. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

72. Which would you choose: a high-paying job with long hours that would give you little time with family and friends or a lower-paying job with shorter hours that would give you more time with family and friends? Explain your choice, using specific reasons and details.

73. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Grades (marks) encourage students to learn. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

74. Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

75. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The best way to travel is in a group led by a tour guide. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

76. Some universities require students to take classes in many subjects. Other universities require students to specialize in one subject. Which is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

77. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

78. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Boys and girls should attend separate schools. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

79. Is it more important to be able to work with a group of people on a team or to work independently? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

80. Your city has decided to build a statue or monument to honor a famous person in your country. Who would you choose? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

81. Describe a custom from your country that you would like people from other countries to adopt. Explain your choice, using specific reasons and examples.

82. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Technology has made the world a better place to live. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

83. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Advertising can tell you a lot about a country. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

84. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Modern technology is creating a single world culture. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

85. Some people say that the Internet provides people with a lot of valuable information. Others think access to so much information creates problems. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

86. A foreign visitor has only one day to spend in your country. Where should this visitor go on that day? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

87. If you could go back to some time and place in the past, when and where would you go? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

88. What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

89. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Telephones and E-mail have made communication between people less personal. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

90. If you could travel back in time to meet a famous person from history, what person would you like to meet? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

91. If you could meet a famous entertainer or athlete, who would that be, and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

92. If you could ask a famous person one question, what would you ask? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

93. Some people prefer to live in places that have the same weather or climate all year long. Others like to live in areas where the weather changes several times a year. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

94. Many students have to live with roommates while going to school or university. What are some of the important qualities of a good roommate? Use specific reasons and examples to explain why these qualities are important.

95. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Dancing plays an important role in a culture. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

96. Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible exploring outer space (for example, traveling to the Moon and to other planets). Other people disagree and think governments should spend this money for our basic needs on Earth. Which of these two opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

97. People have different ways of escaping the stress and difficulties of modern life. Some read; some exercise; others work in their gardens. What do you think are the best ways of reducing stress? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

98. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Teachers should be paid according to how much their students learn. Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

99. If you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an international exhibition, what would you choose? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

100. You have been told that dormitory rooms at your university must be shared by two students. Would you rather have the university assign a student to share a room with you, or would you rather choose your own roommate? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

101. Some people think that governments should spend as much money as possible on developing or buying computer technology. Other people disagree and think that this money should be spent on more basic needs. Which one of these opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

102. Some people like doing work by hand. Others prefer using machines. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

103. Schools should ask students to evaluate their teachers. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

104. In your opinion, what is the most important characteristic (for example, honesty, intelligence, a sense of humor) that a person can have to be successful in life? Use specific reasons and examples from your

experience to explain your answer. When you write your answer, you are not limited to the examples listed in the question.

105. It is generally agreed that society benefits from the work of its members. Compare the contributions of artists to society with the contributions of scientists to society. Which type of contribution do you think is valued more by your society? Give specific reasons to support your answer.

106. Students at universities often have a choice of places to live. They may choose to live in university dormitories, or they may choose to live in apartments in the community. Compare the advantages of living in university housing with the advantages of living in an apartment in the community. Where would you prefer to live? Give reasons for your preference.

107. You need to travel from your home to a place 40 miles (64 kilometers) away. Compare the different kinds of transportation you could use. Tell which method of travel you would choose. Give specific reasons for your choice.

108. Some people believe that a college or university education should be available to all students. Others believe that higher education should be available only to good students. Discuss these views. Which view do you agree with? Explain why.

109. Some people believe that the best way of learning about life is by listening to the advice of family and friends. Other people believe that the best way of learning about life is through personal experience. Compare the advantages of these two different ways of learning about life. Which do you think is preferable? Use specific examples to support your preference.

110. When people move to another country, some of them decide to follow the customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs. Compare these two choices. Which one do you prefer? Support your answer with specific details.

111. Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone. Others like to be with friends most of the time. Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends? Use specific reasons to support your answer.

112. Some people prefer to spend time with one or two close friends. Others choose to spend time with a large number of friends. Compare the advantages of each choice. Which of these two ways of spending time do you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your answer.

113. Some people think that children should begin their formal education at a very early age and should spend most of their time on school studies. Others believe that young children should spend most of their time playing. Compare these two views. Which view do you agree with? Why?

114. The government has announced that it plans to build a new university. Some people think that your community would be a good place to locate the university. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a new university in your community. Use specific details in your discussion.

115. Some people think that the family is the most important influence on young adults. Other people think that friends are the most important influence on young adults. Which view do you agree with? Use examples to support your position.

116. Some people prefer to plan activities for their free time very carefully. Others choose not to make any plans at all for their free time. Compare the benefits of planning free-time activities with the benefits of not making plans. Which do you prefer — planning or not planning for your leisure time? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.

117. People learn in different ways. Some people learn by doing things; other people learn by reading about things; others learn by listening to people talk about things. Which of these methods of learning is best for you? Use specific examples to support your choice.

118. Some people choose friends who are different from themselves. Others choose friends who are similar to themselves. Compare the advantages of having friends who are different from you with the advantages of having friends who are similar to you. Which kind of friend do you prefer for yourself? Why?

119. Some people enjoy change, and they look forward to new experiences. Others like their lives to stay the same, and they do not change their usual habits. Compare these two approaches to life. Which approach do you prefer? Explain why.

120. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People behave differently when they wear different clothes. Do you agree that different clothes influence the way people behave? Use specific examples to support your answer.

121. Decisions can be made quickly, or they can be made after careful thought. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The decisions that people make quickly are always wrong. Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.

122. Some people trust their first impressions about a person's character because they believe these judgments are generally correct. Other people do not judge a person's character quickly because they believe first impressions are often wrong. Compare these two attitudes. Which attitude do you agree with? Support your choice with specific examples.

123. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People are never satisfied with what they have; they always want something more or something different. Use specific reasons to support your answer.

124. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should read only those books that are about real events, real people, and established facts. Use specific reasons and details to support your opinion.

125. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more important for students to study history and literature than it is for them to study science and mathematics. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

126. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All students should be required to study art and music in secondary school. Use specific reasons to support your answer.

127. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? There is nothing that young people can teach older people. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

128. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Reading fiction (such as novels and short stories) is more enjoyable than watching movies. Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

129. Some people say that physical exercise should be a required part of every school day. Other people believe that students should spend the whole school day on academic studies. Which opinion do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

130. A university plans to develop a new research center in your country. Some people want a center for business research. Other people want a center for research in agriculture (farming). Which of these two kinds of research centers do you recommend for your country? Use specific reasons in your recommendation.

131. Some young children spend a great amount of their time practicing sports. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

132. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Only people who earn a lot of money are successful. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

133. If you could invent something new, what product would you develop? Use specific details to explain why this invention is needed.

134. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person's childhood years (the time from birth to twelve years of age) are the most important years of a person's life. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

135. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should be required to help with household tasks as soon as they are able to do so. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

136. Some high schools require all students to wear school uniforms. Other high schools permit students to decide what to wear to school. Which of these two school policies do you think is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

137. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Playing a game is fun only when you win. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

138. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? High schools should allow students to study the courses that students want to study. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

139. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is better to be a member of a group than to be the leader of a group. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

140. What do you consider to be the most important room in a house? Why is this room more important to you than any other room? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

141. Some items (such as clothes or furniture) can be made by hand or by machine. Which do you prefer — items made by hand or items made by machine? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your choice.

142. If you could make one important change in a school that you attended, what change would you make? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

143. A gift (such as a camera, a soccer ball, or an animal) can contribute to a child's development. What gift would you give to help a child develop? Why? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

144. Some people believe that students should be given one long vacation each year. Others believe that students should have several short vacations throughout the year. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

145. Would you prefer to live in a traditional house or in a modern apartment building? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

146.Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

147. Some people prefer to spend their free time outdoors. Other people prefer to spend their leisure time indoors. Would you prefer to be outside or would you prefer to be inside for your leisure activities? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.

148. Your school has received a gift of money. What do you think is the best way for your school to spend this money? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

149. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Playing games teaches us about life. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

150. Imagine that you have received some land to use as you wish. How would you use this land? Use specific details to explain your answer.

151. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Watching television is bad for children. Use specific details and examples to support your answer.

152. What is the most important animal in your country? Why is the animal important? Use reasons and specific details to explain your answer.

153. Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or clean water. Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

154. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A zoo has no useful purpose. Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer. In some countries, people are no longer allowed to smoke in many public places and office buildings. Do you think this is a good rule or a bad rule? Use specific reasons and details to support your position.

155. Plants can provide food, shelter, clothing, or medicine. What is one kind of plant that is important to you or the people in your country? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

156. You have the opportunity to visit a foreign country for two weeks. Which country would you like to visit? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

157. In the future, students may have the choice of studying at home by using technology such as computers or television or of studying at traditional schools. Which would you prefer? Use reasons and specific details to explain your choice.

158. When famous people such as actors, athletes and rock stars give their opinions, many people listen. Do you think we should pay attention to these opinions? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

159. The twentieth century saw great change. In your opinion, what is one change that should be remembered about the twentieth century? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

160. When people need to complain about a product or poor service, some prefer to complain in writing and others prefer to complain in person. Which way do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

161. People remember special gifts or presents that they have received. Why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Some famous athletes and entertainers earn millions of dollars every year. Do you think these people deserve such high salaries? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

162. Is the ability to read and write more important today than in the past? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

163. People do many different things to stay healthy. What do you do for good health? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

164. You have decided to give several hours of your time each month to improve the community where you live. What is one thing you will do to improve your community? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

165. People recognize a difference between children and adults. What events (experiences or ceremonies) make a person an adult? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

166. Your school has enough money to purchase either computers for students or books for the library. Which should your school choose to buy —computers or books? Use specific reasons and examples to support your recommendation.

167. Many students choose to attend schools or universities outside their home countries. Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

168. People listen to music for different reasons and at different times. Why is music important to many people? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

169. Groups or organizations are an important part of some people's lives. Why are groups or organizations important to people? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

170. Imagine that you are preparing for a trip. You plan to be away from your home for a year. In addition to clothing and personal care items, you can take one additional thing. What would you take and why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

171. When students move to a new school, they sometimes face problems. How can schools help these students with their problems? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

172. It is sometimes said that borrowing money from a friend can harm or damage the friendship. Do you agree? Why or why not? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.

173. Every generation of people is different in important ways. How is your generation different from your parents' generation? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

174. Some students like classes where teachers lecture (do all of the talking) in class. Other students prefer classes where the students do some of the talking. Which type of class do you prefer? Give specific reasons and details to support your choice.

175. Holidays honor people or events. If you could create a new holiday, what person or event would it honor and how would you want people to celebrate it? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

176. A friend of yours has received some money and plans to use all of it either

• to go on vacation

• to buy a car

Your friend has asked you for advice. Compare your friend's two choices and explain which one you think your friend should choose. Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

177. The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century will bring? Use examples and details in your answer. What are some of the qualities of a good parent? Use specific details and examples to explain your answer.

178. Movies are popular all over the world. Explain why movies are so popular. Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer. In your country, is there more need for land to be left in its natural condition or is there more need for land to be developed for housing and industry? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

179. Many people have a close relationship with their pets. These people treat their birds, cats, or other animals as members of their family. In your opinion, are such relationships good? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

180. Films can tell us a lot about the country where they were made. What have you learned about a country from watching its movies? Use specific examples and details to support your response.

181. Some students prefer to study alone. Others prefer to study with a group of students. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

182. You have enough money to purchase either a house or a business. Which would you choose to buy? Give specific reasons to explain your choice.

foroadmin on "Reglas Generales del Foro"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:54:07 +0000

Tenga siempre en mente que al otro lado de su pantalla hay un ser humano real. Nunca escriba nada que no le diría frente a frente a otra persona. Esta es tal vez la principal regla que deba tener presente siempre.

No dirija un mensaje a una sola persona en especifico; el foro lo leemos todos. Si necesita dirigirse a nuestra administración o ubicar a un usuario en particular escribanos en www.nlc.cl/start.php

Mantenga sus comunicados breves y al grano ( en lo posible )

Las letras MAYÚSCULAS se pueden usar para sustituir acentos o para enfatizar, pero NO escriba todo en mayúsculas pues esto se interpreta en la red como que ¡USTED ESTA GRITANDO!

Sea explícito con los títulos de su mensaje, no ponga títulos tipo "AYUDA" o "POR FAVOR, ES URGENTE" pues no son entendibles, y la gente debe por el titulo, deducir la pregunta o el contenido del mensaje. Si tiene un mensaje *urgente*, escribanos desde www.nlc.cl/start.php

No escriba -varios- mensajes en los foros para pedir ayuda, con uno es suficiente. Si no sabe donde catalogar su mensaje escribalo donde crea conveniente, los moderadores del foro ya se encargaran de moverlo a donde es debido.

Este foro es moderado diariamente. Publicaciones ofensivas son removidas y su IP podria ser investigada. Hemos actualizado esta aplicación y el mal uso del sitio, SPAM, será investigado.

El foro es de caracter público y no comercial. Aunque el foro sea administrado desde Nova Consultores, todos los alumnos e instructores de otros institutos son bienvenidos.

Read my English:
Spammers will be tracked and their information, IP included, will be submitted to their corresponding authorities. We're not kidding.

foroadmin on "Writing (GMAT)"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:08:24 +0000

ACA ENCUENTRAN UNA LISTA CON FRASES Y ORACIONES TIPO PARA UTILIZAR EN SUS ENSAYOS PARA EL GMAT (FOR BOTH!!! ANALYSIS OF AN ISSUE AND ANALYSIS OF AN ARGUMENT).

www.nlc.cl/sandbox/GMAT/Language%20focus[1].doc

XIMENA.

foroadmin on "Writing TASK TWO (IELTS)"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:07:13 +0000

Writing task 2

Encontramos estos buenos tips, para compartir aca en el foro.

It is better to write in regular, not very sophisticated English, than to use phrases or structures you don’t fully understand.
If you need Band 6 – no need for complex sentence structure. If your goal is Band 7 – then show advanced sentence structure, language and vocabulary.

Don’t write more than 260-265 words in IELTS Writing 2 task. Why? Not because you will get lower mark, but because of these 2 reasons:

1) It takes more time
2) More words = more mistakes

If you are told to cover specific points in your essay/letter – cover every point, examiners actually count them.

Use connecting words BUT Don’t overuse them!

foroadmin on "Writing TASK ONE (IELTS)"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:05:44 +0000

Task 1 writing

Les recomendamos que visiten y usen estos sitios, mientras preparan su examen IELTS.
http://www.nceltr.mq.edu.au/ielts/demo/writing1.html

Este sitio es mas general y no ielts, pero ayuda con el tema de los graficos:
http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/power/ch9/bargraph/bar.htm

Aqui tienen informacion sobre la medicion que hace ielts:

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teach/ielts/academic_writing/aboutthepaper/task1/index.htm

Por ultimo este este sitio, con mas recomendaciones:
http://www.ieltshelpnow.com/academic_writing_test_1.html

Saludos!

foroadmin on "Writing (IELTS)"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:04:10 +0000

aca adjuntamos documento disponible en ielts.org
http://www.nlc.cl/ielts/examinercomments_writing.pdf

Esperamos que ayude para que vean como funcionan los band scores
RUBRICS ARE NOT PUBLIC (unfortunately!)

foroadmin on "Listening (IELTS"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:02:57 +0000

Encontramos estos buenos tips para Listening..

Of course, the accent you hear the most is British. Suggestion: when you are studying for IELTS, listen to as much British accent as you can. Where can you get it? I liked what BBC have – visit BBC site. You can listen there to news (and read the transcript), learn the news vocabulary, learn the pronunciation, etc. Try it, you might like it.

A very good site to use for listening exercises in American English is VOA News -. This is how they recommend using their site:
“The short sentences, limited vocabulary and slow pace of speaking make it easy to understand. It succeeds in helping people learn English in a non-traditional way. People around the world practice their listening and speaking skills by recording the programs and playing them repeatedly. Internet users can also listen to programs on the Special English Web site while reading the text.”

What I mean here is that you need to listen and write the answer at the same time.

Make no mistake – it is not a very natural thing for you, so you have to practice a lot in it.

The reason you have to “answer as you listen” is that you immediately forget the sentences after you have heard them. This is what stress, foreign language, constant flow of information does – it makes you forget. After hearing the third sentence you won’t be able to repeat the first. It means that when any part of Listening is over – you won‘t be able to remember any of answers.

So write them as you hear them, leave nothing for later!

foroadmin on "Speaking practice (TOEFL iBT)"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:58:42 +0000

Algunas preguntas que hemos recolectado para que puedas entrenar en tus clases o con quien estes preparando tu prueba. Oh, es una buena idea que grabes tus respuestas, las escuches con alguien mas y vuelvas a intentarlo. Puedes grabar voz en tu celular, tu pda, tu pc, o simplemente en una radio! Tus respuestas no deben superar los 60 segundos.

CITY
• Why do you like living in the city?
• What are some of the advantages of living in a city?
• What are some of the disadvantages of living in a city?
• Do you know the neighbors who live near you?
• What's your favorite city? Why?
• What city do you live in?
o What part of this city do you like the best?
o Can you describe the city?
• What aspects of life in the city would you complain about?
• What do you think should be done to improve living condition in cities?
• What are some differences between living in the city and living in the country?
• What size city is best to live in? Why?
EDUCATION
• Are college tuitions reasonable?
• Are foreign languages part of the curriculum? If so, which languages?
• Are most schools coeducational in your country?
• Are there any subjects/classes you wanted to study but they weren't available at
your school/college?
• Are there good colleges in your country?
• Are women encouraged to pursue education?
• Do you have difficulty with school work?
• Do you know anyone who does not know how to read or write?
• Do you think teachers are paid enough?
• Do you think your school is a good one? Why/why not?
• Do you think your teachers give too much homework?
• Do you think it is easier to learn as a child or as an adult?
• Do you think public speaking can improve your english?
• How can we improve our classroom?
• Why English is hard to learn at university level?
• How do you travel to school?
• How long must you go to college to get a degree?
• How much is too much homework? How should the homework load be
managed?
• If you have not attended college, do you plan on doing so?
• Is it difficult for people without a college education to get good jobs where you
live?
• What are some good ways to learn English?
• What are some important factors in determining which college to attend?
• What are the qualities of a good student?
• What are the qualities of a good teacher?
• What classes would you take?

Download the full document through this link www.nlc.cl/toefl/toefldocs/SPEAKINGQUESTIONSBYTOPICS_collectedbyNLC.pdf (copy full url)

foroadmin on "Mas sobre reading! (TOEFL iBT)"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:54:05 +0000

Las lecturas del TOEFL iBT son largas y no siempre (rara vez) sobre temas cotidianos o de nuestro interes!

Sin embargo, y considerando que estaras hasta casi 2 HORAS solamente leyendo en la prueba, por que no tomar ese tiempo con mas relajo y como una oportunidad para aprender. Eso es precisamente lo que estan evaluado en la seccion: tu capacidad para aprender y usar nueva informacion que no has encontrado previamente.

Entonces, queremos sugerirte que leas y MUCHO, desde el dia que comienzas a preparar el examen.

Una buena alternativa es la Biblioteca Publica de Internet! encontraras los diarios de tooodo el mundo y miles de categorias para acceder a sitios de calidad.

http://www.ipl.org/div/news/

SALUDOS A TODOS!

foroadmin on "Reading (TOEFL iBT)"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:53:03 +0000

Leer es una de las mejores maneras para incrementar tu vocabulario. Tu lectura necesita ser diaria y de tema que realmente necesites o te interese saber.

Muchas personas leen el diario o su horoscopo cada manana. Por que no hacerlo tambien en Ingles! Los horoscopos de Yahoo son excelentes por el uso avanzado de lenguaje y vocabulario. Si de noticias se trata, suscribete gratis! al New York times.

Recursos
www.nytimes.com
www.yahoo.com
www.media.nlc.cl
OTROS SITIOS

http://nicehoroscope.com/

Proverbs, jokes, quotes, and more

WordNet.com • WordReference.com • Encarta Dictionary • Etymonline.com • Ultralingua.net

Dictionary.com • Cambridge Dictionaries • Merriam-Webster • Onelook.com • Answers.com
Saludos!
Nova Manager. Your Life. In English.
www.nlc.cl

foroadmin on "Speaking"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:45:41 +0000

Acceso a tips y recursos para mejorar tu expresión oral: fluidez, ritmo, pronunciación, preparación vs naturalidad

foroadmin on "Grammar"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:44:07 +0000

Acceso a tips y recursos para mejorar tu gramática

foroadmin on "Vocabulary"

foroadmin — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:43:05 +0000

Acceso a tips y recursos para mejorar tu vocabulario