http://www.bettertoeflscores.com Michael Buckhoff, founder of the 7 Step System to Pass the TOEFL iBT, reads, evaluates, and scores an essay from one of his online TOEFL iBT students:
"Hi Michael,
could you please evaluate my essay? ;) Thanks a lot for all the materials on your blog..
//Many people have learned a foreign language in their own country; others have learned a foreign language in the country in which it is spoken. Which is better? Give the advantages of each and support your viewpoint.//
There are two possible choices to learn language. The first is to learn at home country and the second is abroad among native speakers. Studying at home doesn't require big amount of money and brings ample results, on the other hand studying abroad brings significantly better results and helps to acquire language patterns more naturally. Both have advantages, however, learning foreign language in the country where it is spoken is better.
Almost everybody started to learn foreign language in their own country. It is quite common to start at the age of five or six with basic structures and vocabulary to name essential objects, to introduce oneself, or to ask particular questions. This is based on elementary grammar, followed by higher and higher levels. It is learned at schools where everybody is able to study for free. This makes the whole process relatively free. The only expense is to purchase some study materials. The overall benefit is that most of the students achieve sufficient level of knowledge and are able to speak and write.
Another possibility of acquisition of foreign language is in the country where it is used by native speakers. Here one comes in every-day contact with new vocabulary; from the very first moment in the morning till evening. Because of interaction, learner gets used to grammar patterns. Native speakers usually use proper grammar and sentence structure, which result in subconscious assimilation of language rules. This is follow by fast improvements in both speaking and writing abilities. And not only these, but also writing gets better, since learner reads newspapers or advertisements in streets. Other activities -- watching TV shows, soap operas or listen to announcement in subway -- force the learner to think about the meaning and subsequently to use foreign language to ponder.
To sum up, learning language in our own country brings us essential basis of grammar and decent vocabulary without significant expenses. But a better way of learning is in a country where it is spoken, since it transforms us and helps to use language more effectively.
Thank you"
