Strategies for ISLPR Test Candidates
STRATEGIES for ISLPR® TEST CANDIDATES
This information should be used in conjunction with the information in the ISLPR Application Pack.
SPEAKING
Preparation.Talk with a wide range ofproficient speakers of English in the community. Ask them to give you feedback.
Do not waste time preparing and practising mini ‘speeches’ that you hope to be able to use in the test.
During the test
1. During the conversation, observe normal conversational conventions of (for example) pausing, turn-taking, initiating, elaborating, agreeing,correcting.
2. Watch the tester’s facial expressions and other body language for signs of (for example) difficulty in following you. Use cooperative ‘repair’ strategies as you would in real life.
3. Don’t be afraid to: admit that you don’t know a fact; say that you would prefer not to discuss a sensitive topic; or admit that you find it difficult to express a particular idea in English.
4. Tell the truth. It is not a good idea to pretend that (for example) a topic is sensitive when it’s simply a challenge for you to talk about in English. You are unlikely tofool the tester, and sustaining the conversation when you have ‘bent’ the truth adds an extra stress level.
LISTENING
Preparation.Talk with a wide range of native speakers of English in the community, not just teachers, and listen to public announcements (e.g. in shopping centres and trains) and other electronic messages.
Listen to Australian radio.Our leaflet “Improve Listening Skills” will tell you how to use the ABC website to find programs that are of interest to you (especially where the topic is related to what you want to study or to your professional field).Find out when they will be broadcast in case you can listen to them ‘live’ and also if they can beaccessed through your computer.Some TV programs (e.g. news, documentaries and Australian drama) are also useful.
You may like to practise taking notes with texts of different typesand different lengths (see #6 below).
During the test
This information should be used in conjunction with the information in the ISLPR Application Pack.
SPEAKING
Preparation.Talk with a wide range ofproficient speakers of English in the community. Ask them to give you feedback.
Do not waste time preparing and practising mini ‘speeches’ that you hope to be able to use in the test.
During the test
1. During the conversation, observe normal conversational conventions of (for example) pausing, turn-taking, initiating, elaborating, agreeing,correcting.
2. Watch the tester’s facial expressions and other body language for signs of (for example) difficulty in following you. Use cooperative ‘repair’ strategies as you would in real life.
3. Don’t be afraid to: admit that you don’t know a fact; say that you would prefer not to discuss a sensitive topic; or admit that you find it difficult to express a particular idea in English.
4. Tell the truth. It is not a good idea to pretend that (for example) a topic is sensitive when it’s simply a challenge for you to talk about in English. You are unlikely tofool the tester, and sustaining the conversation when you have ‘bent’ the truth adds an extra stress level.
LISTENING
Preparation.Talk with a wide range of native speakers of English in the community, not just teachers, and listen to public announcements (e.g. in shopping centres and trains) and other electronic messages.
Listen to Australian radio.Our leaflet “Improve Listening Skills” will tell you how to use the ABC website to find programs that are of interest to you (especially where the topic is related to what you want to study or to your professional field).Find out when they will be broadcast in case you can listen to them ‘live’ and also if they can beaccessed through your computer.Some TV programs (e.g. news, documentaries and Australian drama) are also useful.
You may like to practise taking notes with texts of different typesand different lengths (see #6 below).
During the test