TOEFL for American universities

Non- native speakers of English need to take TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language) to be accepted in American universities. TOEFL is tough, so students have to be prepared for it well. Universities say that this test will make international students ready to study English language. Therefore, these universities have a low score limit in TOEFL to get in based on how hard the university is. For example, Southern Illinois University is requires 520 score in TOEFL to attend the classes, which is very difficult for many students to get. So, some students and universities are wondering if TOEFL is useful for non-native speakers to help them learn English and get more opportunities to get in the universities. However, TOEFL should not be the condition to get in to American universities.

First of all, TOEFL is too formal which makes it difficult for international students. Furthermore, it is more formal in its contents than the university language. American students will not talk to you as formal as TOEFL, and that makes it not easy to learn. Lectures and articles in university do not using formal language. There is many important expressions that you do not learn in TOEFL are common in university. For example, “How are you?” in TOFEL that people used to say “What’s up?” Therefore, TOEFL should not be used to tell if non-native students can be ready for American universities.

Second, in SIU, they use the paper- based test which has only three sections listening, structure, and reading. It does not measure speaking skills. So, students who are good at speaking English complain that they cannot test their speaking in TOEFL. In addition, TOEFL does not measure writing skills. As the students who are good at speaking, the students who are good at writing like essays and summary responses cannot do well at paper-based TOEFL. Because these two important parts are not in TOEFL, it does not tell if the students are ready for the universities or not.

Third, the test time is too short for most students who are slow in reading even in their native language. First, the enough time in the test will help students to show all their skills. Next, students say that they can’t finish the test at the exact time. Therefore, most of the students guess the last answers because the time is up. So, if they have good luck they will pass the test without knowledge and many students complain that some lucky students pass the test while they have to take it again. This test is unfair for many students to measure their skills. As a result, TOEFL should not be the test for international students to get in to the American universities.

My opponents say that TOEFL should be used to decide if international students can get in American universities because it improves English. However, that is not true. TOEFL will not improve students’ language as they think. Even though TOEFL is tough test, it will not teach the students the common language. They can improve their language without studying for TOEFL, by attending normal English classes. Attending normal English classes is more beneficial than studying for TOEFL, because in class you will learn every thing about English and participate with your classmates in English. If we ask the students who took the test and who are now studying in the university if TOEFL benefited them, they will say not too much. So, TOEFL is not a good test to improve our English skills.

In conclusion, the formality of TOEFL is not the language we use in the universities. It is more formal than the university language. Next, testing only some skills like reading and listening is not fair for many students who are good in other skills like writing. Also, the shortage of the test is not allowing students to do their best in the test. Students want more time for the test because it is not their native language. Therefore, the universities should not require the TOEFL as a condition to get in the university unless they change it to be easier for non native speakers.

Should We Evaluate Our Teachers?

Teachers are responsible on students after their parents. Some people say that teachers are closer than some parents to their children. So, they have more effect on students than anyone else. Parents always think about their children in school. They like to know that their children are in the good place to learn and get benefits. Teachers should be ready to teach students; they have to be aware of all kinds of things that help students understand them. According to Pandey, (2006),“Boring theory classes make student dull and inactive.” (para. 5). Teachers have to be in touch with students’ parents to tell them about their children’s status in class. This will lead to good communication between school and families and tell students that schools are not closed from the outside life. On the other hand, collage students rely on themselves; they know what the good thing for them in school. Therefore, they should be asked to evaluate their teachers for their class time management, teaching way, and treading fairly with students. First of all, the class time is very important to spend it in the right way for teaching students. Some teachers waste class time. They have to spend the time in the right way. For example, they might repeat the subject without need for that then they will be behind the time and students will be bored. Other teachers come to class late without caring about the class’ time. If the class worth only 50 minutes, the teacher must come early to start on time. Furthermore, students learn from their teachers not only what in books but also their attitude. Because the students are care about class’ time, they should evaluate their teachers in time management.
Second, the teachers’ teaching way and using class material are common things in class. Teachers’ way in teaching must be good and clear for all students. According to Gregory (2002) “You need to understand the needs of each child and fill those needs appropriately,” (para. 5) talking to new teachers. Teachers have to care about all the importance subjects and present them easily for students to understand. For example, talking loudly or using difficult words that might some students do not understand them. Furthermore, not using class material or use bad materials will make students bored and maybe not understand. For example, using bad markers that might students cannot see from their chairs. Therefore, students should evaluate their teachers’ teaching and the materials they use.
Finally, treating students fairly in class one of the ways makes the teacher successful in his job. Some teachers like to treat the outstanding students better than the others. They might excuse them if they forgot to bring their homework, but not give the others any chance. Also, if they do badly in the test they will give them other chance to do better. On the other hand they will not give the less able students more time to do better. So, students will learn from their teacher unfair treating because they affect on them. Therefore, evaluating teachers from the students will make teachers treat all the students the same.
Opponents of evaluating teachers say that this could discourage teachers in their job because they think that students will not evaluate them fairly. This is untrue. Students are looking forward for good teachers who they can understand easily. College students need good teachers in their majors. They are adults, so they know what will benefit them in school to do better. They will not give the teachers, who are not good in class, good evaluation. Furthermore, they will not give the nice teachers bad evaluation. In addition, students are the closest people to evaluate teachers. No one can evaluate teachers fairly, but students. For example, who is the responsible to evaluate teacher’s teaching way? The answer clearly is “students” because they are the only people how are in the class and see teachers’ teaching. Therefore, teachers should be evaluated by their students.
In conclusion, class time, teaching way and treatment of students are the reason that makes evaluating teachers useful to improve them. First, using the whole class time in the best way for students is one of the students’ rights. Second, improving teachers teaching way is benefit to the students. Also, the good using of class material will make students understand the book subjects. Finally, treating students in the same way without any discrimination will lead to good relationship between teachers and their students. The good treating from the teachers will teach students how to be fair with their friends and relatives. Teachers should do their best in teaching and students to be fair in evaluating their teachers, so that will improve the education system which is the most important in the world.

References
Pandey, B (n.d.) How to make learning a pleasure: A guide for teachers. Retrieved February 03, 2007 from http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi- bin/articles/index.pl?read=1964
Gregory, J (2005, September 17). Valuable audio resources for teachers. Retrieved February 03 2007 from http://www.articlecity.com/articles

Alternative Energy or Fossil Fuel

In the article, “Alternative Energy,” the author wants Bush’s government to work more than talk about alternative energy strategy. According to the article the author says that Bush’s government spends millions on research for new energy because they are trying to not rely on foreign countries’ oil. However, the author states that money spent on researches are less than the money spent to encourage oil companies. Also, he states that Bush’ idea is to drill for more oil, but there are many people who do not want more drilling for oil because they want to keep the environment clean. So, the author encourages the government to spend more time in finding new energy. He gives an example of the car fuel E85 which people cannot find easily. The author suggested that working on improving alternative energy is better than talking.
The need of alternative energy is more common in these days. We are used to using the fossil fuels for our cars which cause air pollution and water pollution beside the cost of producing them. We cannot stop using fuels unless we find new energy that can do the same job. Because of the air pollution and many reasons, people prefer the alternative energy over fossil fuels. Therefore, we should increase the support of finding alternative energy. There are three reasons that make the alternative energy better than fossils fuel energy; less pollution, cheaper, and takes less time to make.
First of all, world pollution is increasing because of the fossil fuels processing. The increasing of oil production will cause air pollution and oceans pollution. The smoke that comes from oil factories pollutes the natural air which biosphere breathes. Also, the oil leakage into the oceans pollutes the water and covers the sea animals with oil, which causes their death. Furthermore, the pollution, which comes from oil factories, causes many health problems for people. Therefore, many conservationists complain on the increasing of oil drilling “Alternative Energy: Talk Is Not Strategy,” (para, 6). So, finding another clean alternative energy is better than fossil fuels. For example, using natural gas as a fuel for cars is more efficient and clear, so it will not pollute the air.
Second, oil and the fuels produced from oil are very expensive. The cost of drilling for oil cost too much money, which makes the prices increase. The prices keep increasing, so some people cannot pay for it. This is also might cause some businesses layoff because they rely on oil. On the other hand, alternative energy is cost less than oil, so it will be cheaper. For example, solar energy does not need much money to transfer it to electricity. Therefore, people can pay for it in the beginning. Alternative energy also has many opportunities jobs for people and this is good to increase businesses. So, it is better to use alternative energy instead of oil.
Finally, oil processing takes long time to be useful. It is hard to find fossils fuel underground then produce them to oil. Also, the transportation of oil to consumers takes long time. So, wasting time with this energy will effect on businesses and world economy. Again as examples, solar energy and alternative energy are easy to produce rapidly, so they are helpful for world economy. As a result, exploring new alternative energy will lead to keep world production’s time and this will improve the world economy.
In conclusion, the world must stop relying on fossil fuels. They cause the environmental pollution, which is harmful for people. Next, producing oil cost a lot, so it will be expensive to use. Furthermore, spending a lot of time to produce them is one of the problems might delay some businesses. Therefore, finding alternative energy is the best solution to these problems. Also, it will improve the world economy with clear environment and will give us trustful energy we can rely on for future.

Reference:
Alternative energy: Talk isn't strategy. (2003, October 13). St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Retrieved October 15, 2006, from LexisNexis database.

The Magic Shaybah Oil Field in Saudi Arabia

ARAMCO