In essence: the TOEFL tests your practical
knowledge of American English the way it is used today in everyday situations
in the US or as Americans would say it - “in America”.
Right here you have your first major
difference. America is a continent not a
country, as many people in the world would correctly point out, following an
overwhelmingly popular myth that American guys and girls are ignorant just
because they don’t fit the Euro-centric concept of how to be a lady or a
gentle-man, with the “much ado about nothing” attitude so contrary to American
pragmatism and “put your money where your mouth is” approach. The best Universities in the World have been in the USA for quite awhile now, still are there, and judging by what’s going no matter
where you go, they are here to stay. Just
consider Harvard or MIT as the best and most known examples of higher education
most achieved institutions.
“You Americans don’t even know the name of the
country you live in if call it America”.
I heard that countless times from people from overseas, as an American
would say, or from abroad using the traditional term, and yet, again, strangers
come to America the Beautiful to visit for a while but stay in this country
forever, living and working just like any American resident, sometimes even
illegally, what is unthinkable in most of the rest of the World.
For those who dare to question American
ingenuity let me ask you the following question. How is it possible, then, that the most
intellectually advanced companies are located in the USA? I will mention just a few of them like
Microsoft and Apple Computers, Google or Boeing.
“You don’t go to the opera, you don’t speak
foreign languages”. It is true, and
quite often some Americans would get intimidated by this statement. Most
of the times, they just shrug their shoulders, though. And there is a very good reason for that.
Americans have other pastimes including going
to the movies, going out to eat on a frequent, regular and repetitive basis not
just for big occasions like Christenings or Bar Mitzvahs or Weddings. Americans love to watch, paritcipate in and do sports, including the
iconic and most American of them all – baseball - to start with. They go to the gym to exercise or work out more
often than any other nation in the World.
Americans speak the most important language on the Globe – American English. This is the real reason why they
don’t need to know any other languages.
The whole planet wants to learn and speak their mother tongue. There is a very good reason why you are
reading this, and best of all, you know it better than me why you want to go to
America – the country!
“When you get on the plane you don’t even
wear a suit, just your sweats or jeans.”
Yes, Americans are practical and pragmatic. They like to feel comfortable and have the
courage to do that. And you know
what? Who, do you think, is more relaxed
when travelling and less tired at the end of the trip and at the final
destination, a casual American or a suit wearing person?
Such is America, and I mean the country of
the United States here, such are its citizens and residents – Americans, and
such is TOEFL – the exam that tests the practical knowledge of modern day
American English.
See ya …
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