Pic courtesy of Adam Jones, Phd

The book 1984 was written by George Orwell back in the 1920s. While it is mainly a book about Orwell’s vision of the future, it also offers those who study language an important lesson. The main character, Winston, must understand why two plus two is five. His teacher explains that it is simple, because the party said it was. Four is simply a label, and if the party changes the label, then two plus two is five.

While the U.S. has not been overtaken by the oppressive government Orwell foresaw, he did teach his readers that words are simply labels. What I, as a native English speaker think of as my head, my Swiss-German exchange student thinks of as my Kopf. My Kopf doesn’t change function or shape, just because I call it a head. Words are simply labels we put on the world around us. A foreign language, like German in my case, is simply another set of labels.

So it makes sense, when learning a foreign language, to start thinking with the new set of labels as soon as possible. This isn’t a concept I came up with all by myself, major language learning companies teach it in their courses. Instead of vocabulary lists, with words in the native language on one side, and the foreign language on the other. They use pictures, pictograms, and symbols to demonstrate a words meaning. They simply change the label.

Like when you were little, and learning how to read and write in your native language, the mind starts to relearn labels. The mind starts associating the word Kopf with the same objects as head. Slowly, as the vocabulary grows, or perhaps simply as it becomes easier, thought in a foreign language occurs. It’s nothing that can be forced, but slowly my Kopf is no longer translated to head. The word Kopf is seen and without translation, it is understood. As simply as if the word head had been said, Kopf is thought and said.

This is not a process that can be rushed, or forced. Your mind will think in the foreign language, when it feels ready. All that you can do (at least consciously) is let it happen. It’s a strange feeling, but when it becomes natural, a certain sense of pride washes over you.

A strange thing starts to happen, as foreign language skills begin to improve. Native language skills start to disintegrate. This is especially a problem, when exposed to a foreign language for a long period of time. Sometimes this is in the form of simply thinking and saying Kopf instead of head, in the middle of an English conversation. Sometimes it’s in the form of an English sentence, with German grammar structure. Sometimes, it’s simply speaking in one language, when you meant to use the other.

Learning a foreign language is a process, that is sped up only by spending time surrounded by that language. Perhaps it will only take a week, to begin thinking and functioning in English, perhaps it will take a little longer. Getting to this point in your language skills, is part of the experience of living abroad, and is a skill that will make life abroad much easier.

Fortunately, there are many different resources on the web that can help. From practice tests and quizzes to vocabulary flashcards and other learning tools, test takers can find everything they need online to ace the test. As a follow up to our article “What is the TOEFL and how do I prepare for it” here is a list of 20 free TOEFL prep resources to try:

Learn4Good – This comprehensive language site offers a test overview, structured practice, and other prep resources for the TOEFL. Learn4Good’s TOEFL prep resources include 11 practice tests, 17 lessons, and a comprehensive vocabulary list.

Get TOEFL – Get TOEFL provides students with a daily practice quiz, sample TOEFL questions, a word wizard, and a free sample test.

TestMagic – This free test preparation site offers free online resources for GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL test takers. TOEFL resources include practice questions, test information, vocabulary lists, and classes.

Duber.com – This free teacher site provides a computer generated quiz that TOEFL takers can use for test preparation.

About.com – The About.com Guide to ESL offers a number of resources and tools that students can use to prepare and practice for the TOEFL. Throughout this site, EFL and ESL students can find links to practice grammar, listening comprehension, and vocabulary.

Good Luck TOEFL – The Good Luck TOEFL site gives an overview of the TOEFL as well as tools for practicing primary and secondary English skills. This study site also offers overviews of study questions, question types, and much more.

Exam English – This free preparation site offers online quizzes for the reading, listening, grammar, and vocabulary components of the TOEFL test.

Test Prep Review – Test Prep Review is a test preparation site that provides free materials for studying and reviewing several tests. This site can be used to review English grammar, reading comprehension, sentence correction, and writing.

English-Test.net – TOEFL takers at all levels can use this site to study English. English-Test.net is an especially good resource for beginner and advanced level students who want to practice grammar and listening skills.

Quiz-Tree.com – Quiz-Tree.com offers free vocabulary quizzes that can be used for studying purposes. Each quiz features 20 multiple choice questions.

Nonstop English – This site provides a database of free exercises specifically for the TOEFL. Nonstop English is an excellent place to find practice exercises and quizzes on vocabulary, grammar, reading, and writing.

Graduateshotline.com – The Graduateshotline.com offers free practice tests for the GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL. Each sample test features multiple choice questions.

Eduers.com – This site provides a free PDF model test, computer-based test, and sample writing topics for TOEFL. Eduers.com also offers several other resources that can be used for dates, scoring, preparation, and registration.

VerbaLearn – VerbaLearn is a great place for test takers to prepare for vocabulary on the TOEFL. This site uses several techniques for learning vocabulary, including MP3 review and video flashcards.

4 English Exams – 4 English Exams offers a large collection of preparation material. Within this site, test takers can find tips, computer-based tests, study material, and writing topics.

FlashcardExchange – The FlashcardExchange, a comprehensive flashcard site, offers preparation materials and quizzes for vocabulary, grammar, and word lessons.

Quizlet – This free vocabulary studying site offers 591 resources for studying vocabulary, reading, writing, and grammar.

TestYourEnglish.net – TestYourEnglish.net has listening and grammar practice for TOEFL test preparation. This site features three listening tests, two reading tests, and a grammar test.

TestPrepPractice.net – This site for online resources and test practice features practice tests for reading comprehension, sentence correction, and sentence completion.

4Tests – 4Tests offers a practice exam and resources that can be used to evaluate English skills. This site also features four sections of computer-based tests for listening, structure, reading, and writing.

Guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about online classes for OnlineClasses.org.

Livemocha - Livemocha is the world’s first online social language learning site. Visitors who want to learn English can take free self-study lessons and partner with other people around the world who already speak English or are trying to learn the language themselves. Livemocha also offers video and audio downloads, extra help from knowledgeable tutors, and useful tips from native English speakers.

VerbaLearn – Anyone wishing to learn or improve their English vocabulary, will enjoy VerbaLearn. This interactive site allows students to use several different study methods so that they can customize the way they learn. The free version of VerbaLearn provides vocabulary builders, mp3 study lists, RSS vocabulary lists, and much more.

1-Language.com – Listening is sometimes the best way to learn English and other languages. Students who are trying to learn English as a second language will benefit from the free audio tutorial found at 1-Language.com. The tutorial includes 40 audio lessons that focus on practical conversations and the type of academic language students can expect to encounter at U.S. universities.

BBC – BBC’s language learning website is an excellent place to learn a variety of different languages, including English. The site offers free audio and video courses that can be taken online as well as newsletters, language tips, and other study materials.

Using English.com - This site provides a large collection of free language learning resources for students who are trying to learn English as a second language. The most useful resources include a language reference guide, an English glossary, ESL tests and quizzes, worksheets, English usage articles, and an ESL discussion forum. Students who are having difficulty with the language can also use the “Ask an English Teacher” feature to get answers to their questions.

About.com – The About.com Guide to English as a Second Language offers a free eight-lesson course to help students learn English as a second language. The course is delivered via email and includes links to additional learning resources as well as a community forum for students to discuss what they have learned.

Learn English Online – For those with little or no English skills, Learn English Online offers an 11-unit course that covers the basics of the English language. Each unit includes multiple lessons–more than 50 free lessons in all.

Word2Word – Word2Word is a free online language directory with links to free language courses, online dictionaries and translators, language learning on YouTube, language chat sites, and other language learning materials.

Transparent Language – Transparent Language sells language learning software, but they also provide free resources to help self-learners build vocabulary in more than 100 different languages. Free resources include games, articles, and downloads.

EnglishClub - The EnglishClub is an all inclusive free site to help you learn or teach English. With videos, lesson, games, chat, and more, this site is a good place to learn and practice English as a second language.

Italki - This online global language community uses web 2.0 concepts to help people learn English and other languages. Italki offers global partners, lessons, video, audio, and other study materials to assist in language learning.

A4esl.org – A4esl.org offers activities in English or in a bilingual format in an attempt to aid learners of all levels. Activities include grammar quizzes, vocabulary quizzes, bilingual quizzes, crossword puzzles, and ESL podcasts.

DigitalDialects – This useful site provides interactive games to help students learn many languages, including English, for free. DigitalDialects also offers games for learning geography as well as links to other free online study materials and language activities.

Radio Lingua Network – Radio Lingua Network offers free audio lessons that teach over 20 different languages, including English. Students can download the lessons and play them on their computer or mp3 player.

Vocabulix - Vocabulix offers the opportunity for language learners to build their English, French, and Spanish vocabulary through vocabulary builders, verb drills, and bilingual dictionaries. This free language learning site also offers 90 pre-defined vocabulary lessons.

Karen Schweitzer is an education writer who specializes in writing about business education. She is the Business School Guide for About.com. She also writes for OnlineCourses.org, a site that offers information on the best college courses.

Photo by Durian