Moon84

Hi Hoangle, First of all, I am not a native speaker so, please, consider it when you read my thoughts. Surely, you have nice ideas, but I have the feeling that you are over-using the transitional words a little bit. Your intro for instance - I'd say: However, I believe that parents allow their children to have much more independence in their lives than in the past. For instance, today kids can select majors that they would like to study and being economically independently. In the following part instead, we have 3 adverbs in just one short sentence. I found it being awkward and heavy, but once again...who am I? I am learning as you are. Perhaps, I am totally wrong. Perhaps, it' just a style. First and foremost, I strongly think that parents presently tend to let their children study or research subjects freely what they are interested in. I'd just say: In this times, children have always more the chance to undertake their own field of interest without being influenced by their parents. Additionally, there are some basic grammar errors: This don't mean ---> This doesn't mean Children is ----> children are check them out! Other sentences don't sound right to me as well. So give a look and ask an opinion to a native speaker if you can. Good luck!

I wish this forum were more active...

Essay: 1. 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. 355 WORDS The most important room of the house, it doesn’t have to be the most furnished nor the most spacious one. In many cases, it’s just that space where you can picture yourself all day long without suffering loneliness or boredom. For instance, teenagers love their own rooms exactly for that reason, yet preferences change among with each stage of the life. I loved my bedroom during my whole youth-hood; but that environment doesn’t portray anymore my personality and needs. Hence, the living room recently began my best-friend. It’s the space that holds my thoughts and ideas during my studying time. Moreover, it welcomes my friends and loved ones all around. Sun is vital and a source of joy and happiness. I guess that is why I love staying in my living room so much. The space is surrounded by multiple windows which drive the light inside for all day long. Thus, artificial light is not required as long as the sun is up and my body system gets benefits from that incredible amount of natural light. Its brightness allows me to pursue my studies with a major sense of cheerfulness and serenity. “Everybody needs somebody to…party with!” A life is not utterly complete in absence of friendships with who share moments of your life. Consequently, reunions, parties and potlucks are always welcome at my place. The living room is the space I love to share with everyone, where I hold intimate or major events, where most of my daily hours revolve around too. Other than being a spacious, welcoming and comfortable room, the living room is so important to me because it garners all my main memories. In short, the living room has a sentimental attachment that goes beyond its aesthetic and pieces of furniture. In conclusion, everyone belongs to a room in the house and this link may change with each single individual age. Surely, the most important room is where you spend most of your time, where you relax or run into just to find comfort and memories. I, personally, meet all these emotions and characteristics in my living room. What’s yours? I just finished to write this Essay - Once again, I took around 40' - ergo, I surely need to master my timing skills. While you read my essay, please, take sometime to share your opinion/suggestions. I like the concept to give ideas, share my work, yet I'd like to have an actual fruitful discussion about it, broaden my skills. In other words, we need each other to improve and reach our goal! Thanks.:eager:

Essay – What is an important skill to succeed in life? 457 words In order to be competitive and successful, today’s society pushes for everyone to have a well-rounded education. Thus, we do try to broaden our knowledge in as many fields as we can, often time leaving behind a major subject: communication. Communication is the base of any success, which surfaces in business as well as personal relationships. Unquestionably, our communication affects the way our ideas are received and interpreted; hence it’s vital that the use of our words is cogent, clear and concise. I am sure that all of you have had co-workers or bosses perhaps, with a major lack of communication, which made your goals harder to be reached. For instance, in 2005, I used to work for a Spanish hotel chain in Padua, Italy. Overall, I have wonderful memories about that time, yet the lack of communication between the team hurt the atmosphere and defeated the achievement. Certainly, that experience taught me a major lesson: when you work in a team, passing succinct notes, directions and messages play a powerful rule on the outcome. In other words, in a business activity no factors can be taken for granted or assumed; in order to reach a goal a team has to build a healthy and fruitful conversation. “I didn’t mean that” or “you are not listening” is a familiar and common expression. I am sure you have said a similar statement either to a friend of yours or to your spouse at least once in your life time. But why is that? All things considered, you were conversing with your partner and expressing ideas. Clearly, conversation and communication belong to the same branch, yet there are deep differences between the two. When you converse it doesn't directly mean that your message is understood nor that you are paying attention to the other person’s need. Specifically, communication comprehends verbally and gestural language; it bolsters your understanding process and the way you see others. A person that has developed communication skills is able to read between the lines, adjust the level of the conversation and enhance a cogent thought. In short, communication is a thin line that binds multiple persons therefore, understanding and be understood, being receptive and deliver compelling words, are all sat on the same level of importance. In conclusion, although many people may argue that other major skills are required in order to succeed in life, I strongly believe that communication is the key that opens all the doors in a myriad of circumstances. So, communication fosters all kinds of relationships, it helps people understand and be understood and it insures a serene environment. For all these reasons, people should focus more in this subject to utterly succeed in life. I wrote this Essay in 42'; obviously I still need to work on the "timing part". But still, let me know your opinion about it! I'd really appreciate any kind of suggestion and tips. :panda:

Dear TOEFL Corey, Thank you so much for your cogent response and all your advices. I am currently working with an American, who is helping me to foster my essay skills. Furthermore, my husband is an English speaker, who doesn't speak my native language...in other words, I speak English 24/7! That being said, my English still needs improvements in many aspects. I find TOEFL being challenging mainly because the time (but not only for that, of course). I am a slow-thinker with low confidence and this is hurting my ability to develop quick sentences/ideas. Plus, some personal questions get me emotional, indeed.

Mmm...I am not sure. I haven't decided a date yet...I am kind of scared. My idea is to take the test either on February 22nd or on March 29th. Last day, I called the local TOEFL center, which stated that I have to register for the specific date at least 1 week in advance. So. we'll see. I'll decide by the end of this month. The speaking part really worries me. How is yours so far? What are you doing to prepare yourself?

Hi Thomashome, I'd like to start by saying that I AM NOT A NATIVE-SPEAKER; I am just preparing for the TOEFL as yourself. So, consider it when you read my thoughts. That being said, what I can state is that your essay is well organized however, I believe you are trying to memorize some full sentences and then, use them. It's a strategy however, the graders may easily notice it hence, I believe that it could affect your overall score. Moving on, you can surely use few words or pilot sentences from the passage, (which probably you'd put in quotation marks) yet, be careful on not overdoing it. In this writing, you may want to show your ability to paraphrase as well. I read these tips in several books focused on writing essays - hope it helps! Good luck!

Hi Everyone, My goal is to get 24-25 in Speaking, 25-26 in Writing. I looked up through the Forum and my actual target seems really hard to be reached. (oh, poor me!) Do you have any useful suggestions? I'm practicing daily, yet my slow-thinker attitude is not so helpful during this test, where rapidity plays a powerful role, indeed! In other words, in the speaking part for instance, often time I get stuck, simply because I don't know WHAT to say. I found some of the questions being really personal and tricky thereby, my brain goes in totally black-out. Please, advice!

Hi nosiwm, I am planning to take the TOEFL test sometime soon....If I feel well prepared, probably by March. As many of the test-takers, my main concerns are still the speaking and the writing parts. Indeed, I am practicing, yet I feel I cannot gather substantial ideas in a short amount of time. As a person, I am a "slow-thinker" hence, this is affecting my productivity where instead, rapidity plays a powerful role. Please, any kind of suggestions would be really appreciate! Thank you.

Hello Urch.com community! :) I just joined the Forum, which I found to be really interesting and useful. As many of you, I am planning to take the TOEFL test sometime soon. At the moment, my main concerns are still the speaking and the writing part. So, I hope we can support and help each other sharing ideas, samples and so on. Unity is strength! :proud: Cheers,