蔚睹

a friend of mine will prepare TOL on May 2005 and she asked me to give her some advices. So I try to write this and wish she could be happy with it and get a high mark.

Actually, I didn't get a good mark in TOL, but I knew why. There I would like to divide this article into two parts.

1. Keep a good attitude toward TOL

Sometimes, people said that attitude is everything, but it's very pity that most of us are not able to keep a good attitude when there is something happeed, including me. So if u are going to take TOL, please speak to yourself "Ok! I will take TOL. TOL is just a test, but why I want to take it? Is there any special things for me?"

When I firstly take TOL, I think it's a way to go aborad. So I said to myself that test is a test. So I just treated it as a test. Everybody in China has taken too many tests. And there is a general incorrect cognition to gain a high mark in it. Definitely, score is very important for us, but if u just see the score, u can not see the forest behind it. So try to treat it as part of life and make learning English as a habit.

Everyday, u can ask yourself that whether I have a closer contact with TOL. So please try to make it as a pleasure in your daily life, but not a burthen. And then a good score is of course belong to u.

2. How to prepare the TOL?
How much time I have to pay for it?

I think it depends on your ability. If u have passed CET Band 6, I think three to half a year is enough and the specific time is up to how much free time you have everyday.

There is a table for u to compare with ur time schedule.

The first Step: Basic
Per day 1.5h 2h 3h 4h or more
Total 3m 2-3m 2m 2m

During this period, I think u will find that ur progress is very slow and implicit. So u have to be patient with your plan. I think there are several points you need to pay attention to.

Firstly, it's the most important time to polish your listening and reading ability. Put at least half an hour everyday to listen some English tapes, movies and etc., then at least half an hour to read several articles. Then u still have time to remember vocabulary. And the more time you can pay, the more u will gain in the following steps.

The second Step: Start to prepare for the test
i think u may have to take about 3 hours to learn it for 1 month. 1 h is for listening, 1 h is for reading and 1 h is for grammar and vocabulary. This month u need to finish the 89-98 year's TOL test, including listening, reading and grammar. I think 89-94's test is less important than 95-98. The listening skills is very important during this period and try to be familar with its pronunciation, accent, structure and ect. The basic grammar is also very important.

After that, I think u will find your weakness in the TOL test, so just try to improve them and find the right way. Different people will encounter different problems. So just try to be yourself.

I think the general way is just so so. But I believe that practices make perfect, so we must find the most efficient way to learn.

If u need any further information, I think I need to know more about your status and then I could give you some personal and valuable suggestions.

Christmas is coming and Just wish u a new look in the new year.

Merry Christmas to all my friends!