FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Enrollment Questions:
How do I apply for the
TOEFL Preparation course?
How far in advance should I apply?
Does Terra Nova have any entry
requirements?
How much should I pay for the TOEFL
Preparation course?
When should I pay my tuition fees?
What should I do if I do not meet the entry
requirements?
When can I start my preparation for the
TOEFL iBT?
Syllabus Questions:
What is the target
audience of the TOEFL Preparation course?
What are the schedule and duration of the
TOEFL Preparation course?
Is there any difference in the syllabus
between the fall and the spring semesters?
Will I have to purchase any books?
Will I study grammar and
vocabulary?
Will I do practice TOEFL iBT tests?
Will my TOEFL Instructor speak Romanian or
Russian?
Will my TOEFL Instructor check my TOEFL iBT
essays?
Will the TOEFL Preparation course help me
understand American life and Americans better?
Will I get a certificate when I complete my
studies?
School Questions:
What type of educational
institution is Terra Nova?
How is Terra Nova different from other
English schools?
Is TOEFL Preparation the only course taught
at Terra Nova?
What qualifications does Terra Nova's TOEFL
Instructor have?
Where is the school located? Is it close to
public transportation?
What is the classroom like?
What kind of library does Terra Nova
have?
Can I visit Terra Nova to talk to the TOEFL
Instructor?
What are your average class sizes?
Will I get assistance with TOEFL iBT
registration in case I need it?
Will I get assistance with admission to
U.S. colleges and universities in case I need it?
Answers:
How do I apply for the TOEFL Preparation course?
All our students are enrolled on an FCFS (first-come,
first-served) basis, taking into account the level of their
proficiency in the English language (determined by the evaluation
test and during the interview) as well as such important
admission criteria as academic and personal achievements, duties
and responsibilities, interpersonal skills, extracurricular
activities, travel experiences, and interests, among others.
Please note that no single factor, attribute, or characteristic
is used to determine admission.
First, all our prospective students must fill out the Application Form
and send it along with all supporting documents, if any, by e-mail
directly to Terra Nova. There is no application fee for the TOEFL
Preparation course. After the application documents have been
received and carefully considered, the
applicant will be invited to take an English proficiency
evaluation test consisting of a short written grammar and
vocabulary exercise and an oral interview, which is offered free
of charge and obligation. The testing of our new students is
carried out every Saturday. Our prospective
students can also take the evaluation test by appointment. There
is no testing during the summer break and when official public
holidays are observed in the Republic of Moldova or in the United
States.
How far in advance should I apply?
Please consider the fact that the enrollment in our TOEFL
Preparation course is very competitive and you may wish to apply
at least several months in advance. All our students are enrolled
on an FCFS (first-come, first-served) basis, taking into account
the level of their proficiency in English as well as a number of
important admission criteria, such as academic and personal
achievements, duties and responsibilities, interpersonal skills,
extracurricular activities, travel experiences, and interests,
among others.
Does Terra Nova have any entry requirements?
Enrollment in the TOEFL Preparation course is limited to
students who already have a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 65 or an
equivalent level of academic English (upper-intermediate to
advanced). Prior to enrollment, all our prospective students must
pass an English proficiency evaluation test consisting of a short
written grammar and vocabulary exercise and an oral interview,
which is offered free of charge and obligation. Exceptions to
this policy are at the discretion of the TOEFL instructor.
How much should I pay for the TOEFL Preparation course?
It is one of the policies of Terra Nova to keep our tuition
fees at a reasonable level. The tuition fee
for the TOEFL Preparation course is set at U.S. $350, which makes our course the most affordable TOEFL Preparation
course in Chișinău when evaluated on a per-hour basis of instruction. The fee INCLUDES
the cost of provided handouts and other supporting materials, the
cost of TOEFL iBT essay checking (Terra Nova is the only place in
Chișinău where students' essays are regularly checked;
students can submit for checking as many essays as they want), the
cost of out-of-class counseling sessions with the instructor,
and the cost of 2 textbooks. There is NO APPLICATION FEE for the TOEFL
Preparation course. Our school offers several types of discounts.
Students who have previously studied at Terra Nova have a
discount of 10%. If more members of the same family study at the
school, everyone has a discount of 5%. Groups of more than 5
people are offered a discount of 5% for each member. Groups of
more than 10 people are offered a discount of 10% for each
member. The total discount sum for each person cannot exceed
15%.
When should I pay my tuition fees?
In comparison with all other English schools in Moldova, our
students do not need to pay the tuition fees prior to or at the
time of their enrollment. We give our students 2 weeks to decide
if they want to take our TOEFL Preparation course or not.
However, the tuition must be paid in full at the end of the
2-week period.
What should I do if I do not meet the entry requirements?
Our TOEFL Preparation course is designed for
upper-intermediate and advanced English students. Prior to
enrollment, all prospective students should pass an English
proficiency evaluation test consisting of a short written grammar
and vocabulary exercise and an oral interview. If the level of a
prospective student is lower than that required for taking the
course, the student is given recommendations on how to improve
the general level of his or her English or a particular language
skill.
When can I start my preparation for the TOEFL iBT?
We have two academic sessions, or semesters, in an academic
year. The duration of each semester is 3.5 months (15 weeks / 90 hours / 120 academic hours),
which is an optimal period of time for adequate TOEFL iBT
preparation.
Terra Nova accepts applications on an ongoing basis. However,
the application process is highly competitive because there are a
limited number of enrollment spaces. Thus, all prospective students are strongly
advised to submit their applications and supporting materials well in advance of the
application deadline.
2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR
FALL SEMESTER: September 18, 2023 - December 31, 2023 (3.5 months / 15 weeks / 90 hours)
SPRING SEMESTER: March 4, 2024 - June 16, 2024 (3.5 months / 15 weeks / 90 hours)
Complete applications must be submitted at least three days
before the beginning of classes. The school reserves the right to
close the application process before the deadline if need be.
What is the target audience of the TOEFL Preparation course?
Our TOEFL Preparation course is designed specifically for
upper-intermediate- to advanced-level non-native English
speakers. This unique, comprehensive study program not only
focuses on the skills that you need to score well on the TOEFL
iBT, but also helps you understand academic English better,
perfect your grammar- and style-related accuracy, significantly
enrich your vocabulary, polish up your listening and speaking
skills, improve your reading speed and comprehension, develop
your writing skills, and increase your knowledge of the United
States. In other words, our unique TOEFL iBT preparation program
is an amalgam of TOEFL iBT preparation, advanced English language
skills acquisition, and American studies.
What are the schedule and duration of the TOEFL Preparation course?
Our academic year is divided into 2 academic sessions, or
semesters. The duration of each semester is 3.5 months (15
weeks / 90 hours / 120 academic hours),
which is an optimal period of time for thorough TOEFL iBT
preparation. However, some of our students choose to take both
semesters for thorough TOEFL preparation since the teaching
materials used in the fall semester are different from those used
in the spring semester. While our course textbooks in the fall
semester are based on Cambridge TOEFL iBT preparation materials,
the books and handouts used in the spring semester are based
on Barron's TOEFL iBT preparation materials.
Our TOEFL Preparation course is taught either 3 times per week -
on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays - or 2 times per week - on
Tuesdays and Thursdays or on Saturdays and Sundays. The duration
of the class is either 2 hours (if there are 3 meetings per
week) and 3 hours (if there are 2 meetings per week). The break
is optional.
Terra Nova accepts applications on an ongoing basis. However,
the application process is highly competitive because there are a
limited number of enrollment spaces. Thus, all prospective students are strongly
advised to submit their applications and supporting materials well in advance of the
application deadline, which is usually 3 days before the start of the semester.
2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR
FALL SEMESTER: September 18, 2023 - December 31, 2023 (3.5 months / 15 weeks / 90 hours)
SPRING SEMESTER: March 4, 2024 - June 16, 2024 (3.5 months / 15 weeks / 90 hours)
In both semesters, we offer 8 sections (groups) (TOEFL 1
meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on M.W.F.; TOEFL 2 meeting
from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on M.W.F.; TOEFL 3 meeting from 7:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on M.W.F.; TOEFL 4 meeting from 9:00 a.m. to
12:15 p.m. on Tu.Th.; TOEFL 5 meeting from 3:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
on Tu.Th.; TOEFL 6 meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Tu.Th.;
TOEFL 7 meeting from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Sat.Sun.; and
TOEFL 8 meeting from 12:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Sat.Sun.).
The fall semester starts on September 18, 2023 (for TOEFL 1,2, and 3),
September 19, 2023 (for TOEFL 4, 5, and 6), and September 23, 2023 (for TOEFL 7
and 8). It ends on December 28, 2023 (for TOEFL 4, 5, and 6),
December 29, 2023 (for TOEFL 1, 2, and 3), and December 31, 2023 (for TOEFL 7 and 8).
The spring semester starts on March 4, 2024 (for TOEFL 1, 2,
and 3), March 5, 2024 (for TOEFL 4, 5, and 6), and March 9,
2024 (for TOEFL 7 and 8). It ends on June 13, 2024 (for TOEFL
4, 5, and 6), June 14, 2024 (for TOEFL 1, 2, and 3), and June 16,
2024 (for TOEFL 7 and 8).
We do our best to provide fixed section times, and we make every
effort to keep all offered section times open, but since we
cannot predict how students will enroll in sections, we sometimes
have to open sections due to high enrollment or close class
section times due to low enrollment. To prepare yourself against
the latter possibility, we suggest that you keep in mind several
section times in case a section that you would like to enroll in
closes.
Is there any difference in the syllabus between the fall and the spring semesters?
Our academic year is divided into 2 academic sessions, or
semesters. Even though most of our students choose to attend our
TOEFL Preparation course only once, some decide to study for two
semesters. Some of the teaching materials that are used in the two
semesters are different. In both semesters, we use a variety of
authentic TOEFL test preparation materials created by ETS,
including free sample questions, practice tests,
interactive skill-building programs, and detailed tips
and information for understanding more about the test.
However, while the TOEFL iBT component of the
syllabus taught in the fall semester includes practice tests
from the latest edition of Cambridge TOEFL iBT Preparation Guide,
published by Cambridge University Press, our TOEFL iBT
preparation materials used in the spring semester include
practice tests from the latest edition of
Barron's TOEFL iBT Preparation Guide and other materials
developed by Barron's Educational Series.
Will I have to purchase any books?
In the fall semester, the course textbooks are (1) TOEFL iBT
(based on ETS and Cambridge TOEFL iBT preparation materials and materials
developed by the TOEFL instructor) and (2) Grammar, Style, and
Vocabulary Review (written by the TOEFL instructor).
In the spring semester, the course textbooks are (1) TOEFL iBT
(based on ETS and Barron's TOEFL iBT preparation materials and materials
developed by the TOEFL instructor) and (2) Grammar, Style, and
Vocabulary Review (written by the TOEFL instructor).
You do not need to purchase any books. Your tuition (U.S. $350)
INCLUDES the cost of your textbooks and other didactic materials.
Will I study grammar and vocabulary?
Yes, you will - you cannot have success on the TOEFL iBT
without a very good knowledge of advanced grammar and vocabulary.
But the way the studying of grammatical structures and lexical
units is approached at Terra Nova is very different from that in
a general English course.
Will I do practice TOEFL iBT tests?
Doing practice TOEFL iBT tests borrowed from Barron's TOEFL
iBT, Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL iBT, McGraw-Hill's TOEFL
iBT (The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT), Longman Preparation
Course for the TOEFL iBT, Delta's Key to the TOEFL iBT,
Princeton's Cracking the TOEFL iBT, Kaplan's TOEFL iBT, and other
excellent TOEFL iBT preparation guides is crucial for success on
the actual TOEFL iBT. During each step in your TOEFL iBT
preparation course, our TOEFL instructor will familiarize you
with the TOEFL iBT structure, format, and test content. You will
take realistic practice tests with actual TOEFL iBT questions to
measure your progress. You will explore each question type in
detail and learn critical test taking strategies, which will help
you "crack" the TOEFL iBT code. Our single goal is to make you an
expert in the TOEFL iBT and to give you the confidence and skills
you need to achieve your target score.
During the last 2 months of each semester, our TOEFL instructor
administers 4 TOEFL iBT simulations, which closely resemble the
actual TOEFL iBT, in order to evaluate the overall progress of
the students. By taking our TOEFL iBT simulations, our students
can experience the real TOEFL iBT atmosphere, evaluate their
strengths and weaknesses, and estimate the level of their
preparedness for taking the actual TOEFL iBT. All our students
are encouraged to participate in the TOEFL iBT simulations before
taking the actual TOEFL iBT. Upon passing the TOEFL iBT
simulations successfully (with a total TOEFL score exceeding
100), Terra Nova issues a document certifying the completion of
the TOEFL Preparation course by the student. The certificate is
signed by the director of the school and bears the official
stamp, contact information, and the logo of Terra Nova.
Will my TOEFL Instructor speak Romanian or Russian?
No, he will not. At Terra Nova, we have a strict English-only
policy. While our students are in class or participate in school
activities or events, they must speak English and ONLY English.
Writing, reading, speaking, or listening to any language other
than English are not permitted. Our strict English-only policy
promotes a serious studying atmosphere, facilitates learning
test-taking strategies, and accelerates the process of acquiring
advanced English language skills.
Will my TOEFL Instructor check my TOEFL iBT essays?
Believe it or not, Terra Nova is the only place in
Chișinău where students' essays are regularly checked.
Our students can submit as many essays for checking as they want.
They can either bring their essays to our office on any Saturday or send them by
electronic mail to get feedback on their writing. Your TOEFL instructor will correct your grammar, spelling,
and punctuation errors, will help you with idea flow, logic, word choice, and sentence structure, will correct your formatting style, and will leave
comments and feedback that, if you choose to address, can drastically help improve your writing skills.
Our essay correction service is available 24/7. It does not matter if it is a holiday, 2 a.m. in the morning, or a weekend. We are here, ready to help you with your essays
any time of the day or night.
Will the TOEFL Preparation course help me understand American life and Americans better?
While preparing for the TOEFL iBT, which is an American
English test, our students explore American history, geography,
politics and government, health care, education, legal rights and
responsibilities, consumer behavior, social customs and values,
etc. Our course books are full of interesting facts about many
different facets of living in the U.S. Sometimes the TOEFL
instructor invites guest speakers from the U.S. and other
English-speaking countries. Our TOEFL Preparation course helps
our students understand American life and Americans better and
avoid many cultural problems while in the U.S.
Will I get a certificate when I complete my studies?
Upon passing 4 TOEFL iBT simulations successfully (with a
total TOEFL iBT score exceeding 100), Terra Nova issues a
document certifying the completion of the TOEFL Preparation
course by the student. The certificate is signed by the director
of the school and bears the official stamp, contact information,
and the logo of Terra Nova.
What type of educational institution is Terra Nova?
Terra Nova is a private educational institution providing
advanced English language studies. It is the only specialized
TOEFL preparation center in the Republic of Moldova. Founded in
September 1998, Terra Nova began its journey with only 10
students and a mission to provide intensive TOEFL preparation and
advanced English education of high quality. At present, Terra
Nova boasts an annual enrollment of more than 100 students.
Different courses used to be taught at Terra Nova. In 2005, when
the TOEFL iBT was introduced, the school decided to focus on
teaching only one course, TOEFL Preparation.
How is Terra Nova different from other English schools?
Many English schools exist in Chișinău, about half a
dozen of them offering TOEFL preparation classes. Some of those
schools are well known in the city as a result of their incessant
aggressive advertising campaigns. They boast of their high
enrollments and earnings. They teach everybody, from beginners to
advanced students, and everything, from English for Kids to
Business English. According to an old proverb, the big fish eat
up the small... This is not our case! Why do people choose Terra
Nova? Why do they prefer our small and highly specialized school
to those versatile linguistic monsters? Our students give many
cogent reasons for having enrolled in our school to prepare for
the TOEFL iBT with us. Read about "OUR STRENGTHS" (the link is in
the left frame on this page) to understand what makes Terra Nova
different from other English schools existing in
Chișinău.
Is TOEFL Preparation the only course taught at Terra Nova?
Yes, it is. Different courses used to be taught at Terra Nova.
In 2005, when the TOEFL iBT was introduced, the school decided to
focus on teaching only one course, TOEFL Preparation.
What qualifications does Terra Nova's TOEFL Instructor have?
Our TOEFL Instructor has native English speaker competence.
His considerable American experience is perfectly blended with
his broad educational and professional backgrounds, which is
extremely important to any TOEFL instructor. In 1996, he received
a research assistantship to be able to study at Purdue University
in West Lafayette, IN, USA. In the summer of 1997, while a
student at Purdue, he interned as a field crew
member within the Pacific Resource Inventory, Monitoring, and
Evaluation Program (PRIME) of the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR, USA. In May 1998, he
successfully completed his graduate program and got his master's
degree from Purdue's Department of Forestry and Natural
Resources. In August-December 2001, he did research on natural
resource management, policy, and conservation issues, conducted
research trips to Hawaii, Colorado, and Ohio, and attended
classes in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and
Management of the College of Natural Resources at the University of California in Berkeley, CA, USA. Since then, he has done scientific research for a large
number of institutions located in the United States and the
European Union and has
participated in a number of programs and projects sponsored by
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. He regularly exchanges experience with
American ESL and TOEFL instructors teaching students whose native
language is not English. Thus, during his visit to the United
States in the summer of 2008, he met with ESL and TOEFL
instructors in Hawaii, Florida, and NYC. He also attended a
seminar organized by ETS (Educational Testing Service).
During his trip to the United
States in the summer of 2010, he met with ESL and TOEFL
instructors in Indiana, Ohio, and New York, and with professors
and admissions officers from Purdue University (West Lafayette,
Indiana). In August 2012, he met with ESL teachers in
Massachusetts and Georgia. Between June 1 and July 31, 2012,
he volunteered at
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, located in the U.S. State of
Hawai'i on the island of Hawai'i, working with the Division of
Interpretation in the Kilauea Visitor Center and the Thomas A.
Jaggar Museum, orienting visitors to the park and its resources,
presenting talks, and leading guided hikes for visitors along
some of the park's main trails. In the summer of
2014, he visited Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Texas. In the summers of
2016 and 2017, he visited New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New York,
and Texas. In the summers of
2018 and 2019, he visited New Mexico, Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, and Hawaii. Our TOEFL instructor has
extensive English teaching experience. Since 1998, he has been
preparing students of different ages and cultural and linguistic
backgrounds for taking the TOEFL. Enthusiastic and creative, he
will also help YOU master English!
Where is the school located? Is it close to public transportation?
Our school is located in the very heart of Rîșcani
Sector, Chișinău, at the intersection of Moscova
Boulevard and Miron Costin Street. Our close neighbors are the
largest Rîșcani branch of Moldova Agroindbank, the
Rîșcani Sector Civil Registration Office, Marts Fitness (a fitness center), Jysk (a shopping
center), Giant (a bicycle retail and service store), branches of FinComBank, Moldindconbank, Victoriabank, and
Mobiasbancă, Nr 1 (a supermarket), La Plăcinte (a fast-food
restaurant), Linella (a convenience store), Foișor (a fast-food restaurant), Twister
Kebap (a fast-food restaurant), Furshet (a supermarket), Local Discounter (a supermarket), Camelia (a retailer of consumer electronics), a Rîșcani
branch of StarNet (an Internet service provider), and Andy's Pizza (a fast-food restaurant).
The Soviet-Afghan War Memorial is located right across Moscova Boulevard. A McDonald's restaurant, a KFC restaurant, a Tucano Coffee outlet,
Soiuz (a shopping center), and a Green Hills supermarket are situated only one block from the center. Shopping... Restaurants... The best of old and new Chișinău is within
walking distance! Trackless trolley, bus, and minibus lines are minutes away. We are near everything!
We have a well-equipped classroom, which is crucial for efficient
TOEFL iBT preparation. The room is fully air-conditioned. There
is always potable water (cold and hot) in the office, and so are
complimentary tea, coffee, and Bucuria candy and oatmeal cookies. We make every effort to
create a homey atmosphere in our school, which, we believe, is
one of the keys to fruitful acquisition of advanced English
language skills and efficient TOEFL iBT preparation.
What kind of library does Terra Nova have?
Terra Nova has an excellent library of audio and video materials, including
an impressive collection of movies (in English, with English
subtitles). The movies and other audio and video materials can be
copied for non-profit educational purposes only. Our students can
copy one or two movies at a time onto their USB flash drives or
DVD disks. We do not charge our students for copying audio and
video materials.
Terra Nova has a small library of books and periodicals. All our
students can check out one or two books at a time. Most books
have a two-week lending (circulation) period and may be renewed
for an additional one week. Reference books (such as
encyclopedias or dictionaries) circulate overnight only. They may
be picked up at the end of the day and returned the next morning
before the classes begin. Magazines circulate for one week. We do
not charge our students for borrowing books and periodicals.
Terra Nova boasts a comprehensive collection of TOEFL-related computer
programs. The TOEFL-related computer programs can be copied for
non-profit educational purposes only. Our students can copy only
one computer program at a time onto their USB flash drives or DVD
disks. We do not charge our students for copying TOEFL-related
computer programs.
Can I visit Terra Nova to talk to the TOEFL Instructor?
If you have any questions about Terra Nova, our TOEFL
Preparation course, our TOEFL Instructor, or the TOEFL iBT, stop
by our office. The best day for visiting our school is Saturday.
Please call our TOEFL instructor at +37362110011 (24/7) to set up an appointment.
Please note that our school is
closed when official public holidays are observed in the Republic
of Moldova or in the United States.
What are your average class sizes?
In spite of the fact that the admission process at Terra Nova is
rigorous and highly competitive,
we have a relatively low student-teacher ratio, which does not exceed 11
students per class. Since English is learned with practice, it is only
natural that the smaller the classes are, the more rapidly your
language abilities will improve. Likewise, for fruitful TOEFL iBT
preparation, it is very important that the class size be as small as
possible.
Will I get assistance with TOEFL iBT registration in case I need it?
Registering for the TOEFL iBT is not really difficult. The
official TOEFL iBT website provides online registration, which is
the easiest way to register, and payment by credit/debit card
(VISA, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, or Discover cards),
which is the easiest method of payment for the test. If you want
to avoid potential registration problems and if you do not have
one of the aforementioned credit/debit cards, Terra Nova can
register you for the TOEFL iBT for a small additional fee of U.S.
$10.
Will I get assistance with admission to U.S. colleges and universities in case I need it?
Every day our students ask us tens of questions about admission to U.S. colleges and universities: "What is the structure of U.S. higher education?", "What is the difference between a college and a university? What is a community college?", "Where can I find a searchable list of United States institutions of higher education?", "What is the difference between undergraduate and graduate degrees?", "How many universities should I apply to?", "Which colleges and universities are the best? Is there a way to tell?", "What are the requirements for admission to U.S. colleges and universities?", "What documents must I submit for admission?", "Which standardized tests will I be required to take?", "When are the university application deadlines?", "How much does it cost to study in the U.S.?", "Is it possible to study in the U.S. free of charge?", "What type of visa do I need to become an academic student in the United States?", etc. Our TOEFL Instructor will provide you with information about applying to U.S. colleges and universities, answer all of your questions about admission, and give you valuable recommendations on your application documents, including your CV, transcripts, cover or motivation letters, essays, recommendation letters, etc.