EL HIKMAH CENTER: Agustus 2026

F&B-03 — SERVING THE FOOD

El Hikmah Center — Hospitality Excellence

📋 THE SOP

1. Check all items before leaving the kitchen.

2. Carry the tray carefully with both hands.

3. Approach the guest politely and say "Excuse me."

4. Serve from the guest’s right side.

5. Place the plate gently in front of them.

6. Ask if they need anything else.

7. Step away politely.

📝 DESCRIPTION

Serving the food is more than placing a plate — it is delivering care. You check everything first before you leave the kitchen because you must serve only correct, clean food. You hold the tray with both hands and walk slowly. You serve from the right side and then place the plate gently. The guest may be hungry, but you stay calm and careful. Every step shows respect. Every small action matters. ✨

✍️ EXERCISE — Fill in the Blank

Use: and / but / because / before / and then

1. Check all items ________ leaving the kitchen.

2. Carry the tray carefully ________ walk slowly.

3. We serve from the right side ________ it is the standard.

4. The guest is hungry ________ we serve calmly.

5. Place the plate ________ say the dish name.

6. Ask if they need anything else ________ you step away.

🗣️ DISCUSSION — Trigger Questions

Answer in full sentences. Speak clearly.

1. Why do we check the food before leaving the kitchen?

2. Why do we carry the tray with both hands?

3. Which side do we serve the food from?

4. Why do we place the plate gently?

5. What do you do after placing the food?

💛 El Hikmah Center — Hospitality Excellence

"Care in every step. Respect in every plate." ✨

FK-00 • DOCUMENTS & BASIC SAFETY — THE LICENSE TO SAIL

📄 FK-00 • DOCUMENTS & BASIC SAFETY — THE LICENSE TO SAIL

📌 INTRODUCTION

This is your foundation — your License to Sail. Without these documents and without these basic safety habits, no one can step on board any ship. These are not just papers — they are your qualification, your protection, and your responsibility. Know them. Keep them valid. Follow them always. ⚓🛡️

📋 PART 1 — OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

You must carry these valid, original documents before joining any vessel:

# Document What It Is Purpose

1 📘 Seaman Book Official seafarer identity & service record Proves you are a registered seafarer — records all your sea service

2 📕 STCW / BST Certificate Basic Safety Training — international standard Proof you completed mandatory safety training — required for ALL crew

3 📙 Medical Certificate Maritime fitness certificate Proves you are physically & mentally fit to work at sea

4 📓 Seaman Visa / COC Work Visa + Certificate of Competency Legal permission to work & sail — plus qualification for your rank

⚠️ RULE: All documents must be VALID — not expired. Renew before they expire!

🔥 PART 2 — BST: THE 4 MANDATORY MODULES

Basic Safety Training covers these FOUR essential skills — every seafarer MUST master:

# Module What You Learn

1 🔥 Fire Prevention & Firefighting How to prevent fire, use extinguishers, fight shipboard fires, escape smoke & flames

2 🚢 Personal Survival Techniques How to abandon ship, use lifejackets, board lifeboats, survive at sea

3 🩹 Elementary First Aid How to give basic first aid, treat injuries, respond to medical emergencies

4 🤝 Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities Safety rules, working at heights, confined spaces, ship life, discipline, teamwork

✅ BST = The foundation of all safety. No BST = No work.

⚠️ PART 3 — EVERYDAY SAFETY RULES

These rules apply EVERY day, EVERYWHERE on board — no exceptions:

# Rule What It Means

1 🦺 Always wear PPE Personal Protective Equipment — helmet, goggles, gloves, safety shoes — wear them when required

2 📢 Report all hazards See something dangerous? Say something! Unsafe condition → report it immediately

3 🚭 No smoking except designated areas Fire is the biggest danger on a ship — smoke ONLY where allowed

4 👥 Never work alone Engine room, tanks, dangerous areas — always work with a partner

5 ✅ Follow orders immediately On a ship — orders mean safety. Follow instructions quickly & correctly

6 😴 Rest well — fatigue kills Tired people make mistakes. Get proper rest — it's a safety requirement

🎯 QUICK SUMMARY — WHAT TO REMEMBER

- 📄 Documents = Your permission to sail — keep them valid & safe

- 🔥 BST 4 Modules = Fire • Survival • First Aid • Personal Safety

- ⚠️ Everyday Rules = PPE • Report Hazards • No Smoking Alone • Rest Well

- ⚓ Together = The License to Sail — Without these, you cannot go to sea

🤲 FINAL NOTE FOR STUDENTS

"Your documents prove you are qualified. Your training proves you are capable. But your character — your discipline, your care, your honesty — that proves you are a true seafarer. Respect the rules. Respect the ship. Respect your own life and the lives of others. This is not just the License to Sail — this is the foundation of your whole career. Build it strong. Build it now." 🛡️❤️⚓

🔗 CONNECTORS — LINK YOUR IDEAS SPEAK & WRITE CLEARLY #1

🔗 CONNECTORS — LINK YOUR IDEAS SPEAK & WRITE CLEARLY

El Hikmah Center — Hospitality English

📌 WHAT IS A CONNECTOR?

A connector is a word that links two ideas together. It tells the listener or reader the relationship between two things: Are they happening together? Is one the reason? What comes first? What is different?

Without connectors: I smile. I greet the guest. I ask how many. → Choppy and separate.

With connectors: I smile and I greet the guest before I ask how many. → Smooth and clear! ✨

🔑 THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT CONNECTORS — MASTER THESE FIRST!

1️⃣ AND — Addition (one thing + another thing)

Meaning: also, plus, together

Use: Connect two actions or ideas that happen at the same time.

- I smile and I welcome the guest.

- He carries the tray and walks carefully.

- We check the food and serve it.

💡 Simple rule: AND = one thing + another thing

2️⃣ BUT — Contrast (difference or opposite)

Meaning: however, different, on the other hand

Use: Connect two ideas that are opposite or different.

- The restaurant is full, but we have a table soon.

- The food is hot, but the plate is cool.

- I am tired, but I keep smiling.

💡 Simple rule: BUT = this is true, however that is also true

3️⃣ BECAUSE — Reason (why it happens)

Meaning: the reason, the cause

Use: Show WHY you do something.

- I serve gently because we respect the guest.

- I write clearly because I must not forget.

- We check the plate because it must be clean.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Do NOT use because and so together. Choose one.

- ✅ I check it because it must be clean.

- ✅ It must be clean, so I check it.

- ❌ I check it because so it must be clean.

💡 Simple rule: BECAUSE = answer the question WHY?

4️⃣ BEFORE — Order (what comes first)

Meaning: first, earlier than

Use: Show which action happens FIRST.

- Check the food before you serve it.

- Wash hands before touching food.

- Confirm the order before you leave.

💡 Simple rule: BEFORE = FIRST action comes before the second action

5️⃣ AND THEN — Next (what comes after)

Meaning: after that, next, then

Use: Show what happens NEXT — step by step.

- Greet the guest and then lead them to the table.

- Take the order and then repeat it back.

- Place the plate and then say the dish name.

💡 Simple rule: AND THEN = first this, NEXT that

📌 QUICK CHEAT SHEET

- AND → Also, together → What else?

- BUT → However, different → What is opposite?

- BECAUSE → The reason → WHY?

- BEFORE → First, earlier → What comes first?

- AND THEN → Next, after that → What comes next?

🗣️ PRACTICE — FILL THE BLANK

Choose the best connector: and / but / because / before / and then

1. Smile ____ make eye contact with the guest.

2. Check the menu ____ you hand it to the guest.

3. The guest is waiting, ____ we walk quickly.

4. We serve from the right side ____ it is the standard.

5. Take the order ____ repeat it back to confirm.

6. The restaurant is busy ____ we are calm and polite.

7. Carry the tray with both hands ____ walk slowly.

✍️ WRITE YOUR OWN

Choose 2 connectors. Write one hospitality sentence for each.

El Hikmah Center — Hospitality Excellence

"Connectors turn separate words into clear, beautiful speech." ✨

F&B-02: TAKING THE FOOD & BEVERAGE ORDER

F&B-02: TAKING THE FOOD & BEVERAGE ORDER

Why This SOP Matters Most

Every great meal starts with a great order. Taking the order is more than just writing down food — it is listening, understanding, and showing respect for the guest's wishes. One mistake here changes the whole experience.

On a cruise ship, hundreds of guests dine every day. Accuracy is not optional — it is the standard.

🗣️ EXAMPLE CONVERSATION — Practice Aloud!

Staff: Excuse me, are you ready to order, please?

Guest: Yes, I am. I would like the grilled fish, please. And one fresh orange juice.

Staff: Grilled fish and one fresh orange juice. Anything else?

Guest: No, thank you. That is all.

Staff: May I repeat your order? Grilled fish and fresh orange juice. Is that correct?

Guest: Yes, that is right.

Staff: Thank you very much. Your order will be with you shortly.

✅ Key Connectors in Action

- Listen and write the order.

- Repeat the order before you leave.

- Write it down and then confirm.

- Ask politely because you want to be sure.

🔥 Remember — Adjective First!

✅ Grilled fish — NOT fish grilled!

✅ Fresh juice — NOT juice fresh!

✅ Special request — NOT request special!

💛 El Hikmah Center — Hospitality Excellence

"Careful listening is the heart of good service."

F&B-01: Greeting and Seating the Guest

💛 Why F&B-01 Matters — The First Impression That Lasts Forever

✨ WHY THIS SOP IS SO IMPORTANT

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

In hospitality — especially on a cruise ship — the greeting sets the mood for the entire journey. A warm, polite welcome makes guests feel safe, valued, and happy before they even sit down. A confused or rude greeting can ruin their whole day.

For your career, this is the very first thing you will be tested on in interviews and on the job. If you can do this perfectly — confidently, warmly, and in clear English — you stand out immediately.

3 Reasons This SOP Is Non-Negotiable:

1. First Impression = Service Standard — It shows you know professional hospitality from the moment they see you.

2. Confidence Builds Trust — When you speak clearly and politely, guests trust you and relax.

3. It Opens Every Interaction — You cannot take orders, serve food, or help anyone until you have welcomed them properly.

🗣️ EXAMPLE DIALOGUE — Practice Aloud!

Staff: Good evening! Welcome to the dining room.

Guest: Good evening, thank you.

Staff: How many people are dining today, please?

Guest: Two, please.

Staff: This way, please. — leads guest to the table —

Please have a seat. Here is the menu.

I will be right back to take your order.

Guest: Thank you.

Staff: You're welcome. Enjoy your meal!

📌 KEY CONNECTORS IN ACTION

- Smile and greet the guest. (and = two actions together)

- Greet before you lead them. (before = do this first)

- Hand the menu and then step away. (and then = next step)

💛 NOTE

"This is not just steps — this is respect, care, and professionalism in action. When you greet someone well, you honor them. And when you do it in clear, confident English — you honor yourself too."

WORK QUICKLY — OR WORK PERFECTLY? (Discussion #2)

A Reflection on Excellence, Limitation, and the Greater Struggle

💛 THE QUESTION

If you must choose — is it better to work quickly, or to work perfectly?

On one side: Speed means eagerness, confidence, and progress. We finish, we move forward, we learn by doing. If we wait for perfection, we may wait forever.

On the other side: Care means respect, trust, and excellence. Rushing causes mistakes. Mistakes waste time, hurt others, and show lack of care. One work done well is better than ten works done in a hurry.

🕌 THE DEEP TRUTH

There is something deeper we must understand:

Absolute perfection belongs to Allah alone.

He is Al-Kamil — The Perfect. He created everything with measure, balance, and beauty. But human beings? We are created with limits. We are made to strive, to grow, to improve — but never to claim perfection. That is not our weakness. That is how Allah made us.

So the tension between speed and perfection is not a problem to be solved — it is a struggle to be lived. It is our Jihadun Nafs — the Greater Jihad: the daily, beautiful struggle of the soul to do better, to be better, while humbly accepting our limitation.

📖 WHAT ALLAH TEACHES US

Allah says in the Quran:

"So race one another in all that is good."

— Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:148

Be quick to start goodness. Be eager. Be willing. Never delay what is right.

But Allah also says:

"And say: Work! For Allah will see your work, and His Messenger, and the believers."

— Surah At-Taubah, 9:105

So work carefully, faithfully, excellently — because you do not work only for people. You work for Allah.

✨ WHAT THE PROPHET ﷺ TEACHES US

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us the most beautiful balance:

"Indeed, Allah loves when one of you does a work, that he does it with excellence."

Allah does not love rushed, careless work. He loves Ihsan — excellence, thoroughness, doing your very best.

And he said:

"Allah has prescribed excellence in everything."

💛 THE ANSWER — BEAUTIFUL BALANCE

So what is the answer? Fast OR Perfect?

It is NEITHER alone — it is BOTH, in harmony:

- ⚡ Be QUICK to start — with eagerness, willingness, and courage

- ✨ be CAREFUL in your work — with excellence, care, and thoroughness

- 🤲 Be HUMBLE in your limitation — know you will never be perfect, but keep striving anyway

Perfection is Allah's attribute. Excellence is our striving.

🕌 THE GREATER JIHAD

When you feel pulled between speed and care — when you want to finish fast but also want it to be right — that feeling is your worship.

That tension is your Jihadun Nafs. It is the struggle of your soul to be better. Allah sees that struggle. He loves that effort.

He does not ask you to be perfect. He asks you to STRIVE perfectly.

💛 FINAL WISDOM

Start promptly. Work carefully. Improve always.

Do your best. Leave perfection to Allah.

That is excellence. That is success. That is worship. 🤲✨

HOUSEKEEPING SOP — SENTENCE BUILDER

🚢 EL-HIKMAH HOUSEKEEPING SOP — SENTENCE BUILDER

Level: Beginner | Lesson: SOP‑01 Entering & Preparing the Room

📋 WHAT YOU WILL LEARN TODAY

Who → Does What → Where → With What

Learn to speak clearly, change the subject, and use the exact words you will use on board!

👥 1. THE PEOPLE — WHO?

Change the person → watch the verb change!

I / You / We / They He / She / The Housekeeper

I prepare She prepares

We check The attendant checks

They clean The stewardess cleans

💡 RULE: When you say He / She / One Person → add -s to the verb! ✨

🧹 2. THE ACTIONS — WHAT DO THEY DO?

Verb Meaning

prepare get ready

enter go inside

check inspect carefully

clean make tidy

knock tap on the door

report tell the supervisor

📍 3. THE PLACES — WHERE?

- Cabin / Stateroom — guest room

- Corridor — hallway

- Pantry — service area

🧰 4. THE TOOLS — WITH WHAT?

- Trolley / Cart — service cart

- Key card — to open the door

✅ 5. SOP‑01 — STEP BY STEP

Knock → Enter → Prepare → Check → Report

🗣️ 6. SPEAK & PRACTICE — Change the Subject!

Say these sentences aloud:

1. I knock on the door.

2. She knocks on the door.

3. The housekeeper knocks on the door.

4. I prepare the cabin with the trolley.

5. He prepares the cabin with the trolley.

6. We prepare the stateroom carefully.

7. I check the room before leaving.

8. The attendant checks the room before leaving.

💡 NOTICE: When the person is He / She / One Name → the verb gets an -s! That is the magic key! ✨

✍️ 7. WRITE & DISCOVER

Copy the sentences above. Then mark:

- ⭐ Subject — Who?

- 🔵 Verb — What action?

- 🟢 Place — Where?

- 🟡 Tool — With what?

🗣️ 8. SPEAK AGAIN — Add Connectors!

Use: and / before / carefully

1. The housekeeper knocks and enters the room.

2. She checks everything before the guest arrives.

3. He prepares the cabin carefully.

💛 TEACHER'S GUIDE — How to Use This in Class

Step 1 — SPEAK FIRST: Let them say each sentence aloud. Change the subject together. Feel the -s naturally!

Step 2 — WRITE SECOND: Ask them to write only what they already spoke. No new words!

Step 3 — MARK & DISCOVER: Ask them to circle Who, underline What, box Where.

Step 4 — SPEAK AGAIN: Now add connectors. Their sentences grow beautifully!

🤲 Remember: Speak first → Write second → Speak again with confidence. Never fear mistakes. We learn together. 💛

TOEFL ACADEMIC PHRASE BANK — 320 PHRASES

📖 TOEFL ACADEMIC PHRASE BANK — 320 PHRASES

🟢 LEVEL 1 — ELEMENTARY

Lesson 1 — Main Idea & Introduction

1. The main idea of this text is…

2. This passage is about…

3. The author writes about…

4. The topic of this lesson is…

5. This text explains that…

6. We learn from this reading that…

7. The most important point is…

8. This reading describes…

9. The title suggests that…

10. In the beginning, we see that…

Lesson 2 — Facts & Details

1. According to the text…

2. The passage states that…

3. We can see that…

4. The writer says that…

5. One important fact is…

6. The text shows that…

7. It is written that…

8. The paragraph tells us that…

9. We are told that…

10. As mentioned in the text…

Lesson 3 — Reasons & Causes

1. This happens because…

2. One reason is that…

3. For this reason…

4. That is why…

5. This causes…

6. Because of this…

7. The main reason for this is…

8. Therefore…

9. So that…

10. Due to this…

Lesson 4 — Examples

1. For example…

2. For instance…

3. Such as…

4. A clear example is…

5. To show this…

6. We can see this when…

7. One example of this is…

8. Take… as an example…

9. This can be seen in…

10. Illustrated by…

Lesson 5 — Order & Sequence

1. First…

2. Second…

3. Then…

4. Next…

5. After that…

6. Before this…

7. Finally…

8. In the beginning…

9. At the end…

10. The first step is…

Lesson 6 — Time & Relationship

1. When this happens…

2. While…

3. As soon as…

4. During this time…

5. Before…

6. After…

7. Since that time…

8. Later…

9. Meanwhile…

10. At the same time…

Lesson 7 — Opinion & Belief

1. I believe that…

2. I think that…

3. In my opinion…

4. I agree that…

5. I disagree that…

6. The author thinks that…

7. It seems that…

8. Many people believe that…

9. From my point of view…

10. I feel that…

Lesson 8 — Conclusion & Summary

1. In conclusion…

2. In short…

3. To summarize…

4. As we can see…

5. Finally…

6. Therefore…

7. In summary…

8. The result is…

9. This means that…

10. All in all…

🟡 LEVEL 2 — PRE-INTERMEDIATE

Lesson 1 — Adding Information

1. In addition…

2. Furthermore…

3. Moreover…

4. Also…

5. Another point is…

6. Not only that…

7. What is more…

8. Along with this…

9. Besides this…

10. Similarly…

Lesson 2 — Contrast & Difference

1. However…

2. On the other hand…

3. But…

4. Yet…

5. In contrast…

6. Unlike this…

7. While it is true that…

8. Although…

9. Even though…

10. Despite this…

Lesson 3 — Cause & Result

1. Therefore…

2. As a result…

3. Consequently…

4. Thus…

5. For this reason…

6. This leads to…

7. This causes…

8. That is why…

9. Hence…

10. Because of this…

Lesson 4 — Comparison & Similarity

1. Both… and…

2. Similarly…

3. In the same way…

4. Just like…

5. Compared to…

6. Likewise…

7. There are similarities between…

8. In comparison…

9. Equally important…

10. The same applies to…

Lesson 5 — Emphasis & Importance

1. It is important to note that…

2. Especially…

3. Above all…

4. Most importantly…

5. Clearly…

6. Obviously…

7. In fact…

8. Truly…

9. Without a doubt…

10. The key point is…

Lesson 6 — Purpose & Intention

1. In order to…

2. So that…

3. The purpose of this is…

4. To achieve this…

5. For the purpose of…

6. With this goal in mind…

7. This is done to…

8. So as to…

9. The aim is…

10. In an effort to…

Lesson 7 — Certainty & Possibility

1. It is possible that…

2. Perhaps…

3. Probably…

4. Certainly…

5. Undoubtedly…

6. It seems likely that…

7. There is a possibility that…

8. Most likely…

9. Surely…

10. It is clear that…

Lesson 8 — Generalization & Summary

1. Generally speaking…

2. On the whole…

3. In general…

4. All things considered…

5. As a rule…

6. For the most part…

7. Overall…

8. In most cases…

9. Broadly speaking…

10. Taken together…

🟠 LEVEL 3 — INTERMEDIATE

Lesson 1 — Analysis & Interpretation

1. This indicates that…

2. This suggests that…

3. This implies that…

4. We can infer from this that…

5. The data shows that…

6. This demonstrates that…

7. This reveals that…

8. From this we understand that…

9. This supports the idea that…

10. This provides evidence that…

Lesson 2 — Relationship & Connection

1. This is related to…

2. This depends on…

3. There is a connection between…

4. This is associated with…

5. This corresponds to…

6. This influences…

7. This affects…

8. This plays a role in…

9. This contributes to…

10. This leads to…

Lesson 3 — Clarification

1. In other words…

2. That is to say…

3. To put it simply…

4. More specifically…

5. Namely…

6. What this means is…

7. Put another way…

8. In clearer terms…

9. To explain further…

10. Stated differently…

Lesson 4 — Condition & Hypothesis

1. If this is true, then…

2. Under these conditions…

3. Provided that…

4. In the event that…

5. Assuming that…

6. Suppose that…

7. In this case…

8. If we consider…

9. Should this happen…

10. Given this situation…

Lesson 5 — Degree & Extent

1. To a large extent…

2. For the most part…

3. In many respects…

4. Significantly…

5. Substantially…

6. To some degree…

7. Partially…

8. Primarily…

9. Mostly…

10. In a broad sense…

Lesson 6 — Reference & Example

1. With respect to…

2. In terms of…

3. Regarding…

4. Concerning…

5. As for…

6. In reference to…

7. In the case of…

8. Specifically…

9. Particularly…

10. For this purpose…

Lesson 7 — Perspective & Viewpoint

1. From this perspective…

2. From the point of view of…

3. According to this view…

4. As seen from…

5. In the opinion of…

6. From the standpoint of…

7. This viewpoint suggests that…

8. Based on this approach…

9. In light of this…

10. Considering this…

Lesson 8 — Synthesis & Conclusion

1. Taking all this into account…

2. When we consider all factors…

3. All things considered…

4. In the final analysis…

5. Ultimately…

6. Consequently…

7. Thus we may conclude that…

8. As has been shown…

9. Therefore it can be said that…

10. In summary then…

🔴 LEVEL 4 — TOEFL TEST PHRASES

Lesson 1 — Reading: Main Idea & Purpose

1. The main purpose of the passage is…

2. What is the author’s main point?

3. The primary purpose of the paragraph is…

4. Why does the author mention…?

5. The passage is primarily concerned with…

6. Which statement best describes the passage?

7. The author’s attitude toward the topic is…

8. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

9. The paragraph supports which of the following?

10. The author organizes the passage by…

Lesson 2 — Reading: Details & Reference

1. According to the passage…

2. Which of the following is true?

3. All of the following are true EXCEPT…

4. The word “X” refers to…

5. The phrase “X” is closest in meaning to…

6. According to the author…

7. It is stated in the passage that…

8. Which is NOT mentioned as…?

9. The author indicates that…

10. Based on the information in the text…

Lesson 3 — Listening: Main Topic

1. What is the conversation mainly about?

2. Why does the student visit the professor?

3. What is the main topic of the lecture?

4. Where does this conversation take place?

5. What is the purpose of the talk?

6. What problem does the student have?

7. How does the professor help the student?

8. What is the speaker’s attitude toward…?

9. What will the student probably do next?

10. Why does the speaker say this?

Lesson 4 — Listening: Details & Relationships

1. According to the professor…

2. What are the two reasons mentioned?

3. Why does the professor mention…?

4. What does the speaker imply about…?

5. How is the lecture organized?

6. What is the relationship between…?

7. Which point is NOT discussed?

8. What does the professor suggest?

9. The professor emphasizes that…

10. What can be inferred from the response?

Lesson 5 — Speaking: Independent Tasks

1. I strongly believe that…

2. There are two main reasons for this.

3. First of all,…

4. For instance,…

5. Furthermore,…

6. A good example is…

7. That is why I think…

8. In conclusion,…

9. Personally, I prefer…

10. For these reasons,…

Lesson 6 — Speaking: Integrated Tasks

1. The reading states that…

2. However, the speaker argues that…

3. The professor’s lecture contradicts the reading.

4. According to the professor,…

5. This is because…

6. The reading claims… but the lecture says…

7. In support of this,…

8. On the contrary,…

9. This is how the two passages relate.

10. In short, the lecture challenges the reading.

Lesson 7 — Writing: Integrated Summary

1. The reading passage explains that…

2. However, the lecture challenges this by stating…

3. First, the reading claims that… In contrast, the professor says…

4. Second, the author states that… On the other hand, the speaker argues…

5. Finally, the reading suggests that… The professor contradicts this because…

6. This casts doubt on what the reading says.

7. The lecture provides several examples to show…

8. Consequently, the reading and lecture present opposing views.

9. In summary, the lecture disagrees with the reading on all three points.

10. This is how the professor challenges the reading.

Lesson 8 — Writing: Opinion Essay

1. I agree that… for several reasons.

2. The most important reason is…

3. For example,…

4. Furthermore,…

5. A second reason is that…

6. Specifically,…

7. In addition,…

8. Finally,…

9. In conclusion,…

10. Therefore, I believe that…

✅ TOTAL: 320 PHRASES — 4 LEVELS × 8 LESSONS × 10 PHRASES

📋 TOEFL QUESTION TYPES — READING & LISTENING

📖 READING QUESTION PATTERNS

(Learn the pattern — you will see these exact shapes in the real test)

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

2. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

3. All of the following are true EXCEPT:

4. The word "____" in line ___ is closest in meaning to:

5. The word "it / they / this" refers to:

6. Why does the author mention "____"?

7. What can be inferred from paragraph ___?

8. Which sentence best expresses the essential information?

9. Where would the following sentence best fit?

10. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?

🎧 LISTENING QUESTION PATTERNS

(Learn the pattern — you will hear these exact shapes in the real test)

1. What is the conversation mainly about?

2. Why does the student visit the professor?

3. What is the student's problem?

4. What solution does the professor suggest?

5. What is the main topic of the lecture?

6. Why does the speaker mention "____"?

7. What is the speaker's attitude toward the topic?

8. What will the student probably do next?

9. Which TWO things are mentioned? (Choose 2 answers)

10. What can be inferred from the professor's response?

☕ SAMPLE ACADEMIC PASSAGE & PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Coffee

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It comes from a small plant that grows in warm countries. People discovered coffee in Africa more than one thousand years ago. Today, Brazil produces more coffee than any other country. Coffee contains caffeine, which helps people stay awake. However, drinking too much coffee can be harmful to your health.

Practice Questions

1. What is the main idea of this passage?

A) The history of Brazil

B) Facts about coffee

C) How to grow coffee plants

D) Why coffee is harmful

2. According to the text, where was coffee first discovered?

A) In Brazil

B) In Asia

C) In Africa

D) In Europe

3. All are true EXCEPT:

A) Coffee grows in warm places

B) Caffeine helps people stay awake

C) Brazil produces most coffee

D) Coffee was discovered 100 years ago

4. The word "harmful" is closest in meaning to:

A) Bad

B) Useful

C) Important

D) Healthy

5. The word "It" in line 1 refers to:

A) The world

B) The drink

C) The plant

D) The country

✅ ANSWERS: 1B • 2C • 3D • 4A • 5B

🔤 VOCABULARY GUIDE — LEVEL BY LEVEL

🟢 LEVEL 1 — 800–1,000 Words

Daily life, family, home, numbers, time, food, weather, places, basic verbs, common adjectives

🟡 LEVEL 2 — 1,500–2,500 Words

Education, technology, health, environment, travel, work, communication, feelings, reasons, opinions

🟠 LEVEL 3 — 3,000–4,000 Words

Society, culture, science, history, economy, politics, environment, psychology, academic terms

🔴 LEVEL 4 — TOEFL Vocabulary

Academic reading words, lecture terms, essay vocabulary — following official TOEFL word lists

ACADEMIC ENGLISH — TOEFL PATH

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🎓 ACADEMIC ENGLISH — TOEFL PATH

From Basic Grammar → University English → TOEFL Ready

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🟢 LEVEL 1 — ELEMENTARY / BASIC

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GOAL: Build Solid Foundation — Speak & Write Complete Sentences

• Grammar: Simple Present • Present Continuous • Simple Past • Future

• Pattern: S-P-O-T — Who → What → Where → When

• Vocabulary: 800–1,000 General Daily Words

• Reading: Short paragraphs — find main idea & facts

• Writing: 3–5 sentences per paragraph

• Speaking: Introduce yourself • Describe • Ask & Answer

• Connectors: and / but / because / so

• Meetings: 8

🟡 LEVEL 2 — PRE-INTERMEDIATE

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GOAL: Express Ideas Clearly — Give Reasons & Compare

• Grammar: Present Perfect • Past Continuous • Comparatives • Modals

• Vocabulary: 1,500–2,500 General + Basic Academic Words

• Reading: 200–300 words — understand sequence & reason

• Writing: 100–150 words — Main Idea → 2 Reasons → Conclusion

• Speaking: Give opinion • Explain • Compare two things

• Connectors: First / Second / For example / Also / Although

• Meetings: 8

🟠 LEVEL 3 — INTERMEDIATE

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GOAL: University-Level English — Think & Write Structured

• Grammar: All Tenses • Passive Voice • Relative Clauses • Conditionals

• Vocabulary: 3,000–4,000 Core Academic Words

• Reading: Academic passages — Main Idea • Purpose • Inference

• Writing: 200–250 words — Intro → Body 1 → Body 2 → Conclusion

• Speaking: Summarize • Explain pros & cons • Give supported opinion

• Connectors: however / therefore / furthermore / in contrast

• Meetings: 8

🔴 LEVEL 4 — TOEFL PREPARATION

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GOAL: TEST READY — Master All 4 TOEFL Sections

• 📖 READING: Passages 500–700w — Main Idea • Details • Inference

• 🎧 LISTENING: Conversations & Lectures — Note-taking • Main Points

• 🗣️ SPEAKING: 4 Tasks — Opinion • Summarize • Timed Responses

• ✍️ WRITING: 2 Tasks — Integrated Summary • Opinion Essay 300w+

• 📋 STRATEGY: Test Format • Timing • Scoring • Full Practice Tests

• Meetings: 8

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✅ TOTAL: 4 LEVELS × 8 MEETINGS = 32 MEETINGS (4–6 MONTHS)

✅ TOPICS: GENERAL ENGLISH • ACADEMIC THEMES • NO SOP CONTENT

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