A different kind of foreign language question

Everyone knows that some of our members are not from the USA and that English is not their first language. Obviously, within this group there is a range of English language skill. You might have to take some sort of English language competency exam in order to be admitted to a school. Then all the reading and writing (in English) begins. We've all been told that an average class might take 12-15 hours of study time per week but I'm guessing that this number goes up if English is not your first language.

So, here's my question(s): How hard is that competency exam and how many hours do you have to spend studying per course per week?

 

Hard enough. The two exams are TOEFL and IELTS, you can Google up some info on them and see what is required. Most of my students prep an average of 4 to 12 hours a week for either of these exams from anywhere to several months to several years depending on their starting skill level.

 

I think it depends a lot on the student.

I taught myself English when I was 13 and since then I've been reading more in English than in Portuguese (because, believe it or not, it is cheaper to buy books in English from Amazon than to buy the Brazilian Portuguese editions).

So when I needed to take the TOEFL to come here, it was relatively easy. I've bought a software with some simulated TOEFL tests, downloaded the official prep software, then repeated the tests "ad nauseam" for a week until I got a good gist of it and then did the test.

At that time (end of 2006) they were phasing out the CBT (Computer Based Test) so I was one of the last students to take it in Brazil. I've got a 293 (maximum possible is 300). Most universities in the USA require 213 for undergrad. Harvard requires 250 for its grad programs.

It's not that I'm particularly good at English - it's just that the test it's really well done, it really tests your overall English skill, not word memorization or obscure grammar points. if you have a good command of English, you'll do well.

Here in the USA I never had any problem with English in my classes. I don't think I spend more time studying than any american student.

Some of my classmates (around 60% of Academy of Art students are foreigners) do have a much harder time than me. They tend to be either Chinese from Mainland (the students from Hong Kong and Taiwan tend to have better English skills) or Korean. But that's understandable, it must be ten times harder for them to learn English than it was for me, a native speaker of another European language.