Connect with us
Connect with us
My name is Olive Chang and work towards being an Immigration Consultant in INGWE Immigration.
I immigrated to Canada with my parents when I was 7 years old. Despite my hazy childhood memories, there is one memory that remains crystal clear-the the first time I stepped into class as an ESL student. It is never fun to be the new kid, but it is even worse when you also can’t communicate. This memory stuck with me and led me to become an English Instructor to provide the necessary support for other newcomers.
I graduated from the University of Ottawa with a degree in Second Language Teaching and have 4+ years of teaching experience. Recently, I had the opportunity to take the CELPIP-General test, and based on my experience and knowledge of second language acquisition, I compiled a list of tips to help you prepare for yours.
CELPIP – General is an English proficiency test done entirely on the computer at a designated test center. Test centers can be found on the Celpip website.
What you need to know going into the test:
- It is to be completed in a 3-hour sitting.
- Must arrive 45 minutes before the scheduled test time.
- Bring the same ID you used to register for the test.
- Notepaper and pen will be provided by the test center.
- Test results will be available in 4-5 business days.
- The remaining time in one section cannot be carried over to the next section.
Standardized tests like CELPIP, IELTS, TOEFL, etc. not only test for proficiency, but also requires time management, organization, and practice. There are many free practice tests and sample answers available online. Getting used to the test format is key!
Tips to Improve your Four Skills Listening
- Watch your favorite movies or TV shows with English subtitles.
- Check the lyrics of your favorite songs.
- Listen to clips of TV sitcoms or news reports (Don’t watch the video) and take notes on the conversation and re-listen to check to understand.
Recommendations:
- The Office (casual business conversation)
- Friends (daily conversation) Suits (business conversation)
- Ted Talk or News (report/academic)
- Make sure to keep the practices short 1-2 minutes, maximum of 3 minutes.
Speaking
- Practice with a template. Even though it does not reflect real-life conversation, for the purpose of the test - always have an introduction, body, and conclusion. Each speaking task will have a slightly different template.
- Giving Advice Example: Hey___. I heard you are _____. (introduction) I have a few suggestions for you. Firstly/Secondly/Thirdly. (body) Hope these help. Good luck and talk to you soon! (conclusion).
- There will be other test takers speaking at the same time as you. To prepare for this setting, practice speaking with background noise (music, radio, tv).
- Time yourself when you practice. You will not be able to see a timer countdown in this section.
- Practice stopping at 56-58sec for tasks that have 60 sec.
- Practice stopping at 86-88sec for tasks that are 90 sec.
- Be creative! Many test-takers get stuck trying to find a memory they can talk about or have difficulty coming up with good advice. It is okay to make things up! Remember, the purpose is to evaluate proficiency, not the story or advice.
Writing
- Keep within the limit: 150-200 words.
- Practice with an email template.
- Greeting: Dear/To whom this may concern.
- Body: Separate ideas into paragraphs (do not worry if a paragraph is only 2-3 sentences)
- It is important to show you can organize ideas. Conclusion: 1 sentence to summarize your point.
- Have a stock of keywords/phrases memorized (can be used for the speaking section as well).
- For example: Furthermore/in addition/therefore/as a result, etc.
- Remember 1 or 2 words to describe emotion.
- Sad: depressing, feeling blue, upset, unsettling.
- Happy: content, ecstatic, pleased, delighted.
- Angry: outrageous, distressed, irritated
- Nervous: anxious, eager, impatient, giddy
- Practice familiarizing yourself with the email format before you practice with a timer.
Reading
- Paraphrasing – practice summarizing the main point of each paragraph of the article you are reading.
- Read the questions before reading the article.
- Do not have to understand every single word, read to get the gist.
- When looking up new vocabulary, checking the synonyms first may give you a better understanding than the full definition. There are various resources available online for free. Please check YouTube, the CELPIP website (once registered, you will gain access to two free practice tests and information sessions), news websites, and blogs-INGWE articles that can also be used as practice material.
Wish you the best of luck in your studies!
The blog post was written by our Immigration Consultatant-in-Training Olive Chang.
#JourneyTo Canada
Contact us at www.ingwe.ca/contact-us.
