Bluedata International Institute

Get Your ESL Learning Tips With These Resources

English is not an easy language to learn, requiring a great deal of patience and devotion. Luckily, there is a wealth of resources online with information to help you. Follow these links to get started:

• Learn how to get your student visa by visiting the U.S. Department of State’s information page.
   
• About.com has a page with tips on how to improve your reading and vocabulary skills.
   
• The Open Education Database has a list of resources to help ESL students work on their English skills.
   
• Check out this PDF from the Texas Education Agency to learn how you can reduce stress before a test.
   
• Visit GSC.edu for a look at 10 common ESL mistakes to watch out for when you write.

For more ESL learning tips, contact Blue Data International Institution at (888) 826-6449.

The Importance of Taking the TOEFL Exam [INFOGRAPHIC]

Whether you want to learn English for personal, academic, or professional reasons, ESL school in New York City can help you achieve your goals. As part of your language education, you may want to prepare to take the TOEFL exam. The TOEFL exam is widely considered the fairest standardized test for non-native English speakers.

More than 8,500 colleges, universities, and agencies in more than 130 countries rely on TOEFL exam scores when making their decisions about applicants. Many of the top schools in the U.S. including Stanford, MIT, and the University of California at Berkeley require a minimum TOEFL score for acceptance. To begin your journey of academic success, take the TOEFL exam. Check out this infographic from a New York City language school to learn why taking the TOEFL exam is so important. 

What You Need to Know to Reduce Your Stress on TOEFL Test Day

Recognized by more than 8,500 colleges, universities, and agencies around the world, the TOEFL test is a respected English-language exam that can help you on your journey to studying in an English-speaking country. To properly prepare for test day, you need to understand how the test will be administered and how to prepare for the testing environment. With proper preparation, you can reduce your stress and stay calm on test day:

Know the Test Format

The TOEFL test consists of a series of questions meant to determine your ability to use and understand English at the university level. You will be asked a range of questions that measure your listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Your ability to succeed in all of these areas will determine your future ability to handle the academic coursework that is expected at the university level.

Practice Extensively Beforehand

You can download a number of sample test questions from the TOEFL official website. These sample questions contain audio instructions that you can download for free and use to prepare for exam day. Check the website to make sure that your computer has the correct operating system for downloading the sample questions. If you don’t meet the system requirements, you can also download the sample questions in PDF form.

Find the Location of Your Exam Early

The TOEFL test is administered more than 50 times throughout the year and in 4,500 test centers around the world. There is no limit to the amount of times that you can retake the exam. Prepare for test day by finding your testing location ahead of time and arriving early on the day of the test. You can also visit the TOEFL website and watch a video of what it’s like inside of a testing center.  

Are you interested in studying English at the university level? Find out how Bluedata International Institute can help by calling (888) 826-6449. We provide a range of English school courses to help students integrate into our New York City community.   

Spotlight on ESL Level 6

Bluedata International Institute offers high-quality, affordable language instruction to help students fully integrate into English-speaking communities. We offer a variety of different courses to help students find the curriculum that best suits their educational needs and preferences. These courses vary in price as well as length and are meant to help students in varying stages of their English learning journey.

Our ESL Level 6 course helps students learn English for primarily academic purposes. This academic-based course prepares students to read, write, and analyze college-level academic texts and resources. Students also learn how to take this analysis, formulate an opinion, and create a college-level report on the subject. Finally, students learn how to create a business resume and cover letter that follows standard American English guidelines.

If you would like to learn more about the English study programs available at Bluedata International Institute, give us a call at (888) 826-6449. We provide quality English learning experiences for our students to help them succeed in both academic and professional settings

3 Tips to Help You Practice Your English Outside of the Classroom

Even though the educational environment in which you learn English is critical to your success, it’s still important that you take every opportunity to practice these new skills outside the classroom. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities in New York City for you to interact with native English speakers. Here are three ways that you can practice your English outside the classroom:

Listen to Native Speakers

One of the first steps in learning a new language is listening to how it is spoken by native speakers. Not only should you be carefully listening to people, but you should also pay close attention to actors on network television shows, automated phone messages, and radio broadcasts. All of these mediums are meant to appeal to a wide range of audiences, so they typically use common phrases that are easy to understand.

Speak with Native Speakers

Many Americans are happy to help nonnative speakers practice their newly acquired English language skills. Don’t be shy about asking your friends to help you practice speaking English. Even just ordering from a restaurant on the phone or asking for directions when you aren’t on campus can help you improve.

Read English News

Even though your English school curriculum will require you to read each day, you should take a break from reading classroom material and browse through news sources like CNN.com or the New York Times. This gives you the opportunity to engage with the English language in a meaningful way, because it helps you understand current events that are happening all over the world.

Bluedata International Institute provides a quality English learning experience for international students in New York City. Whether you want to learn English for personal, academic, or professional purposes, we can help you succeed. Call (888) 826-6449 to learn more about our ESL curriculum.