Is a TOEFL Intensive Course Useful?
Have you just been told that you have 1 month to get a 90 on the TOEFL? Do you want to take advantage of your vacation time to prepare for the TOEFL? Have you decided at the last minute to sign up for a master’s degree? If you have little time and you are wondering about the usefulness of a TOEFL intensive course, this article is for you. <>We tell you everything you need to know before deciding if an intensive course is a good option for you. Also, if you are short in time, you can read the conclusion section at the end of the article<>.
Table of Contents
What Do You Give Up in Exchange for Speed?
Companies have accustomed us to receiving simplified versions of products to make it easier for us to consume. The problem is that they do not always manage to maintain the level of quality we need. The question to ask yourself as a TOEFL candidate is: Can I afford to reduce my preparation to speed it up? The answer is yes and no at the same time. How can it be yes and no at the same time? Very simple, times can be shortened, as long as we do not reduce the minimum effective time required by each candidate. In other words, a company with real experience must be able to estimate what is the minimum number of class hours you will need and create a course that fits them.
Would You Like to Know How to Prepare for the TOEFL in 4 Weeks?
If you have unresolved questions, contact us and we will explain how we can help you achieve your goals.
Can Anyone Teach an Intensive TOEFL Course?
After having prepared thousands of students there is one thing we can assure you… Intensive courses are the ones that require the highest level of the teacher. The main reason is that when you significantly compact the brewing period, you have less reaction time. That is, the teacher needs to identify your strengths and weaknesses almost immediately so that your work plan evolves with your progress. This involves a lot of experience in TOEFL preparation, so it demands that the intensive be taught by a real specialist.
A specialist in teaching intensive TOEFL must also be able to handle the dynamics of the course. Remember that the workload is condensed, so it is important that you know when you can and should, squeeze or relax the sessions. The objective is that the candidate arrives prepared and confident of his possibilities, never exhausted or frustrated.
TOEFL Intensive Online or Face-to-Face?
TOEFL preparation pursues effectiveness. When talking about an intensive TOEFL test, the objective is no longer effectiveness but efficiency. In other words, we seek to obtain the necessary grade in the time we have. As a candidate, you can get results with both an online course and a face-to-face course. However, in terms of efficiency, the online course is significantly better because:
- It optimizes study time. A face-to-face course forces you to travel and that consumes time. In a context where you have little time until the exam, you will need to minimize time losses. Let’s imagine a candidate who, on average, takes 30 minutes to travel (putting on shoes, moving, greeting colleagues, …). That means that for each session you lose 1 hour that you could dedicate to studying. If you have 3 weeks to prepare, you will invest 15 hours in a task that, objectively, does not add any value to your preparation. Remember, if you have a deadline approaching, look for courses that allow you to optimize your preparation times.
- It provides you with access to the best courses: we have already seen, in the previous point, that good TOEFL intensive courses are not within the reach of all preparation companies. If you are looking for true experience and knowledge, intensive online TOEFL courses will allow you to access the highest quality without having to restrict yourself to those close to you. If you have little time, don’t gamble and put yourself in the hands of the best.
It is important that if you opt for an online course, you make sure that it is a provider with real experience in online training. A good online course requires adapted materials and, ABOVE all, a company with a first-class technological infrastructure.
Call us and find out why our students have been achieving their goals since 2010.
If you have unresolved questions, contact us and we will explain how we can help you achieve your goals.
Conclusion
- A good TOEFL intensive is not about decreasing the hours but about quantifying the hours you need and delivering them in the time you have available. Less is more does not apply to intensive TOEFL courses.
- A good intensive course will have a strong teaching load in addition to the classroom hours. Don’t be fooled by empty promises, hours of self-employment are absolutely necessary to speed up your preparation times. You should practice until your level reaches your goals.
- Make sure your teacher is a specialist in TOEFL preparation. Not just any English teacher will do. You need them to have a lot of experience because they must detect, faster than usual, your strengths and weaknesses and they need to know how to adapt your work plan according to your progress.
- You need a teacher who knows how to manage preparation times. The intensive compacts the training process so it is necessary to understand the rhythms of the individual and/or the group. Knowing when it’s time to squeeze or relax is of utmost importance. This knowledge is only acquired when you have spent many hours teaching TOEFL intensives.
- Online intensive courses are a better option, as they allow you to optimize your study time and access the best provider wherever you are.
- An online course allows you to relive classes, track your progress through dashboards, interact outside class hours with your teacher, … Make sure your school has the infrastructure to do so and that online is not synonymous with pdfs and video conference links.
