Living in a country far from home, where everyone speaks a language you didn’t grow up with

Read the passage below and decide whether these statements (1-5) are TRUE (T) or FALSE (F). Write your answers on the answer sheet.

Living in a country far from home, where everyone speaks a language you didn’t grow up with, can be a challenge. For some international students, the English language can be a barrier that makes them feel lonely and excluded. Once they get to America, a concern for international students is the “Test of English as a foreign language”, also known as the TOEFL test. It evaluates their listening, reading and writing skills and is required for non-native English speakers. However, many people think that TOEFL is of limited ability. It tests how fast you can read, some grammar or some vocabulary, but it doesn’t help you with the real problems you have to face once you've passed it. Many students still have to struggle with understanding lectures and interacting with professors. Basic skills such as taking notes, writing essays and coping with the quantity of reading for class can be big issues because they are not measured and tested by TOEFL.

Then overseas students need to overcome those language difficulties. Practicing your language skills on your own is not a good idea. International students should focus on having real and meaningful conversations with native speakers. Students should step out of their first-language groups and leave their comfort zone in order to overcome the language barrier.

1. Not having a good command of English may make students feel isolated.

2. Many people think that TOEFL is a limited test

3. Doing a large number of readings in English is not a big problem to most international students.

4. Students should practice communicative English on their own.

5. Students should form a group of friends from the same country to learn English language together.