At the start of my space journey to the planet 'IELTS' , 15 other spacecraft had merged with the 'British Council' space station to charge their 4-section fuel tanks. I remember that day -2nd, April, 2007. We had received a formal 'welcome' from the 'Captain' of the space station. He questioned us regarding the fuel level everyone needed to accomplish his mission. Most of the astronauts answered that they needed Level Seven. Among them, I only needed Level Six. Later on, I asked myself "all these astronauts speak English, so what is the factor that determines my English competency among them?" The answer was to raise my spaceship fuel level and challenge these astronauts to be the first one who takes off on the 'IELTS' mission. We had all listened to the captain's instructions regarding how to lift the tank's four-part fuel level, in order to go back safely to 'Earth', and tried to implement them when we landed on the planet 'IELTS' on 12th, May, 2007. Finally the results came out:
1- Listening: 6.5 [Final Tuesday Test Level was 5.0]
2- Reading: 6.0[Final Tuesday Test Level was 5.5]
3- Writing: 8.0 [Final Tuesday Test Level was 7.0]
4- Speaking: 8.0 [Course Speaking Test Level was 7.0]
Overall IELTS Band: 7.0
'IELTS' will definitely measure your competency and highlights your weakness points as well as your power. The 'captain' said it once, "only truth hurts". I was expecting higher bands for the 'Reading' and 'Listening'. Now I know that I have to implement more effort on the 'Reading and Listening' sections, but hey! I made it! I succeeded! I have flown back safely to Earth!
Thank you 'Captain Tony' and many thanks to all my spacecraft mates for making this journey so pleasant and successful.
Standing by for YOUR IELTS mission reports.
Firas Shaker
Re-posted from ieltscommunity18 blog by Blogmember in tribute to a fabulous achievement.
Firas, we salute you!
See, fellow cosmonauts, how Firas raised his performance in the actual IELTS exam. There is no secret, it was sheer hard work on the weblog; on the websites; in the 'trenches'; in the classroom and hours upon hours in the British Council Learning Zone. Firas gave himself a two-week lead-in from finishing the IELTS prep course and then taking the actual exam. I feel this is the optimum strategy; it gives enough time to digest and apply the course material; you can extend your practice in the Learning Zone/on the Internet and you do not have too long a gap to lose your 'edge' before tackling the actual exam. Firas did not follow me blindly into the IELTS 'trenches' - he realised that what the 'captain' said was based on sound previous experience and Firas played the IELTS 'game' magnificently.
Firas has done it, you can do it as well!
Captain Tony
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6 comments:
Dear Captin Tony,
Iam much obliged to you for the 'magnanimous' reply. It may appear obvious to you that the idea of posting the 'IELTS' space journey was inspired from Dr. Rashid's post( Ielts air plane passengers), one of the fascinating and inspiring narratives I read during my search regarding the work of former Ielts-troops.
As Mais Al Bassam said ' you are my Hero and my feelings are blocking the words to come out.'
All the best for other passengers and hope their plane will land safely also.
Dear Cosmonaut Firas (Cosmonaut is what the Russians call Astronauts)
Once again I salute you and thank for your noble words. I know it wasn't easy and that talent/ambition/luck/perspiration have all played their part.
You trawled through the previous weblogs and were inspired by the successful candidates of 2005. You are a proud addition to that legacy and I am privileged to have helped such a hard-working, appreciative student achieve his IELTS targets in order to chart a new direction in his life.
God speed and God bless you!
'Captain' Tony
قم للمعلم و أده التبجيلا
كاد المعلم أن يكون رسولا
Dear 'Captin'
The privilege is mine to be trained by such a great and keen tutor. The literal translation of the poet above:
Stand up for your teacher and give him the respect he deserves, as the teacher among his students, like the prophet among his believers.
Your inspiration will be always present in my mind and I will never forget the person who was the beacon which lightened my road through my march to a new future.
God bless you and each member of your family.
Firas Shaker.
Hello again!
This isn't the Tony and Firas mutual appreciation society, you are reading this now and it would be great to hear from you...
In the meantime, thank you again for your very heartening words, Firas. It was my pleasure to be of assistance.
As a matter of interest, my moslem name is "Firasse" - I took it when I converted to Islam. It was the name of my wife's brother who died when he was very young. I bear this name with pride and invoke the memory of my wife's brother, the great poet Abu Firas Al Hammadani and now my splendid student, Firas Shaker, of whom I am well proud.
My salutations to you Firas, your family and all the other IELTS pilgrims.
Good luck and God bless you all!
Tony / Firasse
congratulation Firas Shaker,
I am Iraqi also and I am happy with your good result,I red all your mails to us,I would like to say congratulations and it is good strategy that you plan to get more than what you need this new aim reflect how much you are ambitious man.
Tony/Firasse he was waiting your exam result, I belive he is happy in this result more than you,
because he has a special respect to you as I understand during our class, secondally the band we achieved is approval to his hard working,he is look like a farmer who is working hard waiting the harvesting time,Moreover Tony has a very Good abilety to recogonize the people and he has a spcial power help him to direct the IELTS candidate softly.at the end Thanks to Firasse and congratulation to Firas.
Thank you for your generous comments, Ahmed.
Yes, one should be ambitious, to a realistic degree.
Good luck again to all this weekend's IELTS astronauts.
Aim for the stars! Keep your feet on the ground! Don't panic!
Tony
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