Louisiana board of nursing can"t give license

evk · Sep 25, 2009

i need somebody to give or email-me some toefl test books or practices,please:cry:

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2009

What portion of the exam did you not pass? Let me know and maybe I can direct you on some books to use to help you pass.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 26, 2009

i got my toefl exam result today but i did not meet the required scores that the BON need.i have to take it again,pls help:cry:

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. You can always take the exam and hope for a better score next time. In the meantime, practice you English. It always helps me to think in English and to spend time speaking to native English speakers than fellow Filipino nurses who like to communicate in Philippine languages in social situations. It forces me to speak in English and now it became second nature for me to speak in English even when I'm talking to a Filipino. Hey, if they think I'm stuck up, that's their problem...lol. Also, when I was taking the TOEFL, I went to the public library and found a bunch of review materials available on the reference shelves. I quickly read through them but didn't really spend time reviewing as I thought the test was easy enough for me. Maybe you can try taking out some of those books from your local public library and practice on them. I wouldn't spend money on review materials just for that test. Good luck.

evk · Sep 27, 2009

everything.i got 66 score and the BN wants 83

pilgrim · Sep 28, 2009

TOEFL is really just basic English. It's the English that we were taught in grade school until high school. Aside from practice tests, I doubt that there would be a lot of review materials that can really help, if in the first instance the foundation itself is lacking. Please be mindful, that your grasp of the English language will determine how well you can chart, which is an important tool for the continuity of care. The other members of the healthcare team will need an accurate description of the patient's condition during your watch and that's where you'll need your English language skills. Its importance can't be over emphasized.

I think NP Gilly hit it spot on. Practice with friends and colleagues (nevermind family, there might be more resistance in that corner) and watch CNN, forget TFC. It's only in applying yourself that you will overcome this hurdle.

Best of luck!

evk · Sep 28, 2009

did you take the toefl?

5cats · Sep 28, 2009

I did some years ago and your score tells me that you have to work on your general english skills, I only looked in the books what to expect but didn't have to do any review or anything, and I scored high.

Don't retake the test until you are ready.

5cats

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2009

Are those numbers percentage? It looks like you didn't pass by a lot. As the other stated, it looks like you really should practice your English with native speakers. When you go to places, practice, practice, and more practice. Good Luck

pilgrim · Sep 29, 2009

I never had to take the test but my children did, and, at the risk of sounding immodest, one had a perfect score, and the other, a near perfect score. I taught them the rudiments of basic English before they went to school.

Please don't misunderstand. The point being made here has nothing to do with self-promotion. I really just feel that in order to address this matter successfully, you have to determine where the real problem lies.

The key to fluency in learning any language is immersion. It surely is not in spending good money on review materials or, worse, TOEFL review classes. At least, I don't think so. There are more than enough practice tests on-line and in public libraries, free of charge. You just have to be resourceful. One thing I notice with Filipino bloggers on this site is the tendency to want to be spoon-fed. I am Filipino and, believe me, this observation is not meant to denigrate our compatriots in any way. I just wish that people will make an honest effort to find things out for themselves first before asking for help. But I digress.

Any non-native speaker who wants to work in an English-speaking environment needs to not only pass TOEFL, but to speak and write the language well. There's a good reason why this is required and it has nothing to do with discrimination or anything remotely connected to it.

We've always prided ourselves with being hard-workers and doing what it takes to get the job done. Once you recognize the real problem and take steps to deal with it, I'm sure you'll be well on your way to getting that Louisiana license.

Again, best of luck.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 29, 2009

I'll have to agree with pilgrim on this one. Realistically, how long would it take for someone to master basic oral and written English skills, the very same skills that are developed over the years from Grade School to High School? Unfortunately, there is no easy way around this.

Our family in the Philippines is not considered well to do and my parents only had a few years of college but as the youngest kid in a large family, my sister who was in college when I was very young spoke English a lot so I was definitely exposed to English at an early age in our home growing up. I watched "Sesame Street", "Electric Company", cartoons such as "Casper" and "Scooby-doo" along with adult shows such as "Little House on the Prairie" as a little boy. I saw the first Star Wars back in the 70's and although I probably didn't understand much of the plot back then, I was listening to American English constantly. I attended a public elementary school and although the public school system in the Philippines isn't known for high educational standards, I'll have to admit that my third grade teacher was a big influence on my command of English grammar and spelling. I scored high in my TOEFL myself and even took another English test here in Michigan called MELAB. The MELAB examiner was pretty impressed with my spoken English skills she ended up tossing her questionnaire and began to trial questions and scenarios that were not included in the standard verbal portion of the test.

But enough of me, you definitely have a hurdle ahead of you EVK. You'll have to pass the English requirement in order to receive your RN and you'll have to do something fast as your ability to start your livelihood depends on it. Although a crash course to get you speaking like you were US-born and bred is probably unrealistic at this point, it's definitely worth a try to at least improve what you have right now. Would an ESL course at your local community be an option? I know that where I live, these courses are offered at our local community center at a very low price. Or is it listening/comprehension skills you lack? Definitely exposing yourself to how English is spoken in the US from native speakers will improve this weakness. You'll have to really step out of your comfort zone at this point. Forget speaking the native language for a while and focus on only speaking English. All that coupled with borrowing TOEFL Review books from the public library will hopefully get your skills up to par. I wish you all the best and hope you get passing scores next time.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2009

OMG, I remember Electric Company while growing up, now that was a good program to watch as a child in order to learn basic English. They spoke very slowly and sounded every letter.

joycee8 · Jan 28, 2010

Well, the new structure of TOEFL has included the TSE. They have 3-5 of at least 700 words per passage in READING, LISTENING, SPEAKING and WRITING sections. I thought this is just a piece of cake test......but it wasn't, specially if the State required a higher score. Most people that I talk about the new TOEFL structure has not pass on the first try.

Also, about the Reading and Listening part, they have to choose of at least one half part that is intended for experimental only, excluded in the scoring, therefore, you have to do your best in answering all of the questions, i think more than 100qs for R&L alone. You are lucky if they choose the hardest passage for experimental, but I guess it doesn't happen.

Practice.....practice....practice......if you can't find the latest edition from your library then you can also search TOEFL books in amazon.com,

Good Luck!