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I mean we all do it to some extent, but how well? If you cannot swim then you are not going to learn by standing at the edge of the pool watching others. You've got to get in and get your feet wet (at the very least!)

So there you are, thinking about studying overseas and trying to avoid thinking about the state of your language skills - probably English. Maybe if you hang on long enough you will get better at English by some natural process - like going to sleep listening to songs on your iPod (which I do all the time).

Sorry to say that you now have to get down to it - and the sooner the better. At some point, just like with the driving, you will have to take a test. No university is going to let you loose on a master's degree without some substantial language skills. So to the boring bit: tests.

IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) and Toefl (Test of English as a Foreign Language) are two of the best known and most widely recognised entry qualification English tests for overseas university study. There are some other, less well-known alternatives. (Boring bit now over.)

The good news is you do not have to pass a test prior to application. So you make the first moves while you are still preparing. Unlike driving, you cannot really pass or fail these tests since they are "diagnostic" - a fancy word in this situation that means the process of identifying your ability level. I mean, if you cannot reverse well to park, then you will need more practice.

So, get to it! Put on that swim gear and get in the car and start practising. Remember that the more you do now, the less grief you will have later. And, just about everyone wants to be a good driver, even if only for looking cool at the beach.

John Kelly

Director

Mentor International  

www.mentor.ac

If you have a question on study overseas, please contact mentor@nationmultimedia.com.