Selasa, 30 Mei 2017

Dengan Bahasa Inggris Dasar NOL = 1 bulan bisa menulis esai IELTS




IELTS itu tidak gampang. Tapi jika punya niat untuk mempelajarinya, maka pasti selalu aja ada jalan. Selama 1 bulan terakhir ini di bulan Mei, tepatnya di periode IELTS ENGLISH RAMADAN 2019, saya mengampuh kelas IELTS Pemula (paling dasar), yang kemampuan bahasa Inggris peserta yang ikut di kelas ini sangat terbatas. Mereka belum mampu memproduksi kalimat-kalimat yang panjang dan komplek. 

Seperti yang saya bilang di atas, asal ada kemauan, pasti ada jalan. 4 peserta kelas IELTS dasar ini memiliki tekad yang kuat untuk mempelajari IELTS. Ini yang membuat saya semangat untuk mengajar mereka.

Yang namanya pembelajar pemula, saya perlu mengenalkan IELTS itu apa saja. Skill apa yang dibutuhkan untuk ditingkatkan agar mampu menjawab soal-soal IELTS, sehingga mereka mampu menggapai skor 5.0 dalam waktu 1 bulan ini. Pencapaian skor 5.0 bagi peserta yang memiliki kemampuan bahasa Inggris dasar merupakan mencapaian yang sangat luar biasa. 

Singkat cerita, saya men-drilling mereka tiap hari dengan kalimat-kalimat yang sudah saya siapkan. Perlu diingat, peserta BASIC sangat tidak dianjurkan mempelajari grammar yang terlalu detail. Cukup memperkenalkan KALIMAT dan FRASE. Ini membantu mereka disaat mereka melakukan drilling. 

Selanjutnya saya meminta mereka menghapal KALIMAT dan FRASE berdasarkan topik-topik ringan yang sering muncul di pertanyaan speaking dan writing IELTS. 

Menghapal bagi sebagian orang sulit, begitupun yang dialami oleh 4 orang peserta BASIC IELTS ini. Tapi dengan semangat yang ber-api-api, mereka mampu sedikit demi sedikit menghapal KALIMAT-KALIMAT yang baru dan aneh menurut mereka. 

Setelah mereka menghapal kalimat-kalimat yang sudah saya siapkan, kemudian saya mengajarkan mereka menyusun kalimat -kalimat itu menjadi sebuah paragraf, tentu saja dengan lebih dulu mengenalkan KATA SAMBUNG (linking words) dan mempelajari fungsinya dalam kalimat.

Cara belajar ini kami lakukan 9 jam sehari selama 20 hari. Apakah ada rasa BOSAN di sana? Ya betul, tapi kami selalu percaya, rasa BOSAN ini hanya sementara saja, toh akan hilang jika kita tetap terus melakukan aktivitas belajar. 

Di hari ke-19, sehari sebelum melakukan FINAL TEST, saya pun memberikan MINI-EXAM ke mereka untuk mengukur kemampuan mereka dalam menulis esai. 

Dan apa yang terjadi? Mereka mampu membuat 1 full essay dengan waktu 1 jam. Dan pencapain ini sangat luar biasa bagi peserta yang memiliki kemampuan bahasa Inggris dasar, hampir NOL, yang mempunyai tekad besar untuk mempelajari IELTS.

Kamu ingin juga seperti mereka? 


















Jika ingin belajar IELTS dengan saya di English Studio Kampung Inggris Pare atau di tempat kamu, silahkan DM saya di Instagram: @eddysuaib / INSTAGRAM ENGLISH STUDIO: @englishstudio

Dan jika kamu tertarik mengikuti kelas IELTS ONLINE via Whatsapp saya, silahkan kontak ke 0813.1818.6060 atau kunjungi website  ENGLISH STUDIO INDONESIA




Rabu, 17 Mei 2017

Cara menjawab soal IELTS Writing task 1 ala Kampung Inggris Pare (with a score of 7+)



Banyak jalan menuju Roma. Hal ini juga berlaku dalam penulisan Writing Report Task 1 pada perolehan skor 7+.

Salah satu cara yang paling cepat dan mudah digunakan dalam penyusunan report writing task 1 adalah dengan membagi paragraf berdasarkan tahun. Contohnya sebagai berikut:

Body Paragraph 1
  • 1900 and 1950
  • Key Features: Agriculture = the highest vs the lowest one = Business and Financial. 
Berikut contoh kalimat yang saya buat: 
The figure for the Agriculture sector in the UK economy accounted for 48% in the initial year. This continued to rise slightly in the 1950 year. The contribution made by the other sectors: Business and Financial was very low, although this showed a slight rise from 1900 to 1950, between 3% and 8%, an increase of 5% in a 50-year period. This contrasted to the sector of Manufacturing experiencing a downward trend to 40% in the second year.          
Body Paragraph 2
  • 1975 and 2000
  • Key Features: Decrease for manufacturing and agriculture vs Business and Financial = increase
Berikut contoh kalimat yang saya buat: 
1975 to 2000 saw downwards in the Manufacturing sector at 18% followed by the trend for Agriculture coming last in the eventual year, at almost 1%, and those contributed the small percentages. The reverse appeared to be true for the importance of Business and Financial increasing to the 1975 year Manufacturing’s sector in 2000 and therefore this became the most important sector from all described on the graph.
Saya sengaja tidak menuliskan Introduction and Overview, karena saya memberikan Anda kesempatan untuk melakukan itu. 

Jika Anda telah menyelesaikan penulisan Introduction and Overview, atau Anda memiliki cara lain dalam menyusun paragraf isi (body paragraphs) yang dapat digunakan dalam menjawab pertanyaan yang disajikan pada sesi Writing Task 1 di atas, silahkan posting jawaban Anda di Group Facebook di sini, dengan senang hati saya akan memberikan feedback terhadap performance Anda.

* Dalam penulisan Introduction, Anda cukup membahasakan ulang dengan bahasa Anda (paraphase) judul yang Ada di atas: The graph below shows the contribution of three sectors-agriculture manufacturing, and business and financial services- to the UK economy in the twentieth century.

** Sesi ini pernah saya ajarkan di Kelas IELTS English Studio Indonesia Kampung Inggris Pare 


Link FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/904423256333332/

gambar: ieltsadvantage.com



P.S.

Mengundang Seminar/ Workshop IELTS: 

0813.1818.6060 atau 0813.1033.6583

Sabtu, 23 Januari 2016

Introduction to Reading IELTS



In reading IELTS, you have to deal with three reading passages with some questions as a companion. These reading passages are given based on its level of difficulty. These passages show increasing difficulty.

For each reading passage, there will be about 500-900 words existed. You have total 60 minutes to answer all questions about those three passages. The passages might involve information in form of tables, diagrams, charts, etc. Therefore, you need to have enough practice to understand on how to read those forms. Don’t be afraid of a topic that is unfamiliar for you. You will not be accessed about the knowledge of any particular subjects. You will be access merely on your skill to answer questions which are based on the reading passages. You may give marks on the question paper, but you should write down the answers directly to the answer sheet. Different from listening section, this section does not give you extra time for copying your answers to the answer sheet.

In reading sections, you could find several types of questions as follows.
  • Short answer
  • Multiple choice
  • Matching
  • Classification
  • Completing sentences
  • Completing notes
  • Completing a summary
  • Completing a table
  • Completing a form
  • Completing a flow chart or diagram
  • Selecting headings for paragraphs and sections
  • Recognizing a writer’s views or claims
The same as listening section, you cannot predict which type of question you will have to answer. Reading IELTS might give you some combination of the listed types of questions to answer.

In this section your skills in the following aspects will be tested.
  • Identifying the gist of a passage
  • Finding detailed factual information in a passage
  • Identifying relationships between ideas or information items such as cause and effects, order of events, and comparison
  • Making inferences
  • Distinguishing between fact, assumption, or opinion
  • Understanding text organization
  • Summarizing information
Source: IELTS to Success Preparation Tips and Practice Test by Eric van Bemmel and Janina Tucker (Melbourne: 1997)



Kamis, 24 Desember 2015

Getting 9 in Listening IELTS: Is it possible?



The highest score in IELTS is 9. To achieve this score will not be so easy to do. But still, there is an opportunity for you to get it. There are some important things that you may not forget when you are dealing with this section.

IELTS Test Day Advices


You have to feel nervous on this day. If you don't, I guess you aren't really normal then :) So here we go. Nervousness will not ever ruin your IELTS score, as long as you can control it. Here are some advices that will make your test day a little bit - maybe much- better.

1. Breakfast. What?? You said you do not feel hungry even tough you haven't have your breakfast? Believe me that your nervousness has made you forget your stomach's sound. Make sure that you EAT YOUR BREAKFAST properly so you will have the strength you need to take almost-4-hours IELTS test. Remember that your test needs your focus and stamina so without eat a good food and drink, how could you do well on your test?

2. Arrive early, so you will have all the time you need. To prepare, and also to take a deep, long breath :) You should arrive early for your IELTS test in order to allow time for you to register and be seated for the test. Please refer to your booking confirmation for details. If you arrive late, you may not be allowed to take the test.

3. Bring your ID. It can be your passport or national ID according to identification that you provided in IELTS application form. If you do not have the correct identification document, you will not be able to take the test.

4. Bring stationery. Pens ? Pencils ? Eraser ? Take the stationery you need to stay comfort on test but not too much.

5. Check-in your personal items. No personal items to be taken into the test room. Test day staff will collect and safely store your personal belongings. Items which are forbidden from the test room include: mobile phones, hand-held computers, cameras, hats, scarves, wallets, books or notes.

6. Listen to test's supervisor carefully. If you have anything to ask, raise your hand.

7. If you have problems during your test, do not hesitate and raise your hand. Remember that your test's supervisor is there to support and assist you.

8. Stay calm. Everybody has their own way to keep calm, there are people that walking around and around to make themselves calm. Some may have to listen to the music for calming down. Do whatever make you calm, but do not disturb the others.


Reference: http://www.ieltsessentials.com 


Need an IELTS teacher? contact me 0813.1033.6583 / 0813.1818.6060 or see me here English Studio Indonesia

Guessing Strategy in IELTS


Unlike other standardized tests, in IELTS, there is no penalty given for getting a wrong answer. When you have no idea about the answer, you can keep trying to answer as it will give you 20 until 25% chance of getting right answer. So, guessing is a thing that could give positive contribution for you as well. However, it should be noted that guessing in IELTS may not be done carelessly. There should be some considerations that are taken to have a meaningful guessing. 

There are some specific guessing techniques that you can apply.
1. Slang
It is better for you to choose an answer which sounds scientific than slang ones. For example,
A. To evaluate the outcomes of the two different kinds of treatment.
B. Because some objects insisted on getting one or the other of the treatments.
As choice A sounds more scientific compared to B whenever you should guess, pick A as the answer.

2. Extreme statements
You should avoid choosing a controversial choice as your answer. Pick an answer which is calm and rational. For example,
A. Abortion should be banned completely.
B. Though it has a lot of benefit, many doctors have suggested their patients not to take abortion as a merely way out for the unwanted pregnancy.
Choice B is better to take than A because it is less controversial. There is another consideration stated in this option as well.

3. Similar answer choices
When you find two answers which are almost the same, there is a big tendency that one of those answers is the right one. For example,
A. Use polyunsaturated cooking oil instead of other cooking oil.
B. Use polyunsaturated cooking oil is not even better than other cooking oil.
These two choices are almost the same, so there is a big opportunity that one of it is the correct answer.

4. Hedging
If you are dealing with a question about the conclusion, you can look for critical ‘hedge’ phrases such as likely, may, can, will, often, generally, mostly sometimes, etc. You could pick the answer which uses one of the above phrases. It will be better for you to avoid answer with phrases such as exactly, and always.

Still, you need to remember that being sure for the answer is always better than putting your selves in a “grey area” by guessing for the answer. But if you really need to guess, then guess in a smart way of guessing.


Rabu, 23 Desember 2015

What Lies Beyond the First Part of Speaking IELTS



The first part of speaking test is about introduction and interview. Introduction here means that examiner introduces his or herself to the test taker. Then, he or she asks about test taker’s full name and other general data of the test taker. Test taker needs to answer some basic questions about his or herself.

Face to Face with Writing IELTS





There are two tasks that test taker can find in writing test. In the first task, test taker has to write for about 150 words; meanwhile it takes about 250 words in the second task. So, what is the difference?


In the first task, test taker has to show his or her ability in describing some visual information. It can be in the form of graph, table, chart, or diagram. The time given to complete this task is 20 minutes.

A Big NO in Writing IELTS



In writing IELTS, there are some ‘other’ things that must be considered by the test taker. Test taker has to realize that those some small things has a great possibility in reducing IELTS score itself. Therefore, it is better for test taker to avoid things as follows.

The Importance of Text Analyzis in Reading IELTS





One form of questions in reading IELTS is multiple choice. The kinds of questions that are given can be various as well. Purpose of the text can also be the question in this part. Have a look at the following example: 
Question 1
Choose the appropriate letter (A-D) and write it in box 1 on your answer sheet.