Filipino Nursing Herald

Here's a sad case of a Filipino nurse who was suspended from the hospital he worked for in the U.K. Based on the charges brought against him, it was said he "lacked competence" both in his nursing skills and his English communication skills. I feel sorry for this man and I hope we all get some lessons from his experience. I know a lot of people who've taken up nursing so that they can take advantage of the many opportunities for nurses in other countries, but before you set out for greener pastures, I urge you to try to keep the high standards that Filipino nurses have been known for. Assess yourself, see where you're weak at, and seek ways of improving your skills. Try to get some hospital experience, even if some employers don't require you to get one. There are good training programs out there. If that doesn't work out, do some volunteer work; a couple of these volunteer programs are very good. Do this for yourself so that you'll be more confident ...

Here's a useful technique I learned from an English teacher that you can use for your own English exam. This can be used either when taking the Writing or Speaking modules in TOEFL iBT or IELTS. When being asked your opinion on any subject matter, you can use a simple formula. For example, if you were asked: "What are your favorite tourist destinations in Manila?" You can answer this by using a formula: General statement + List + Explanation of each subject on list + summary. To apply this formula,this is how I would answer the question: (1) Manila is a beautiful city with many tourist attractions. (2)Among these attractions, my favorites are Luneta Park, Intramuros, and Manila Bay. (3)I like Luneta Park because I can just sit down on the grass and relax and enjoy a picnic. (4) I like Intramuros because I can look at many historical artifacts displayed there and get to see different products from the provinces that are being sold at a fair inside Intramuros. (5) Lastly, M...

I get asked a lot about what English exam is best to take when applying for a license in the US. People who read my blog know that I took the TOEFL iBT for my own licensure application but most people I know take the IELTS. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is administered by ETS, a private nonprofit organization that develops and administers tests for educational measurement and research. The TOEFL and its latest product, the TOEFL iBT, was primarily developed to test English skills of foreign nationals to see if they would be able to communicate effectively in an academic setting in the US. That's why the content of the test simulates situations on campus that potential students would like encounter. On the other hand, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is jointly managed by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council and IDP Education Australia. Unlike TOEFL which is geared primarily for an academic setting, IELTS offers ...

I was asked a few days ago about the validity of English exam scores for Visascreen purposes. Someone had earlier claimed in a post at an Internet forum for nurses that English scores were valid up to five years if you submit it already to CGFNS. All of the information posted at the CGFNS Web site said English scores were only valid for two years, so I e-mailed CGFNS to verify if the new information was accurate. As it turned out, the new information is totally wrong. English scores were only valid for a maximum of two years, regardless of the date you file your Visascreen application. So, for example, if your IELTS scores were expiring on Aug., and your NCLEX exam is on Oct., even if you file your Visascreen application before Aug., your English scores would still become invalid and you'll have to retake the IELTS again. Here's the e-mailed response of CGFNS: Thank you for your inquiry. If an applicant's English exam expires before he takes the NCLEX exam, he will need to ...

If you're planning to take the TOEFL, better for the TOEFL iBT because it already integrates all the test parts--reading, writing, speaking and writing. In the reading part, you'll be reading a couple of passages and then answering questions about them. It's the same for listening, where you'll listen to a talk, or a classroom discussion, or a conversation between two people, and then answering questions. I think, though I'm not sure, you'll get about 60 minutes for each of these parts. The speaking part gets a bit tricky because you'll listen to a lecture or a conversation and then you'll be asked to summarize and give your opinion. Here, you will also be asked about your thoughts on everyday things like, "Describe how birthdays are celebrated in your country" and things like that. The same format is followed in the writing part, except of course, you'll be using a computer to write down your answers. Typically you'll need to write 200...

Just a quick note on an English review center that helped us study for the TOEFL iBT exam, which we recently passed with flying colors. Here's our way of saying thanks to the people behind the review center, particularly Ms. Cathy. Speakwell Academy provides helpful tips and valuable lessons when reviewing for IELTS and TOEFL iBT exams. We had our reviews at the QC center, but they also have branches in Makati and Manila. Here's their QC address: Unit 400 C-I Delta Bldg, Quezon Ave. cor. West Avenue, Quezon City. Tel.: (632) 412-2758 to 59. Fax (632) 412-2760. E-mail: speakwellacademyqc@yahoo.com. Before finalizing your application, ask about how you can get a 30% discount, which they offer if you refer another person to them. Please mention you got their contact info from Filipino Nursing Herald (nursingherald.blogspot.com).