{"id":13489,"date":"2017-02-20T07:32:57","date_gmt":"2017-02-20T12:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grockit.com\/gmat\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2020-09-11T20:42:25","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T20:42:25","slug":"gmat-verbal-study-plan-for-non-native-speakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/gmat\/gmat-verbal-study-plan-for-non-native-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"GMAT Verbal Study Plan for Non-Native Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By <strong>far<\/strong>, the easiest and fastest way to learn English is to be a tiny baby growing up in an English-speaking environment. If you are reading this article, though, you are no longer in a position to take advantage of that opportunity, and will have to improve your English the hard way: practice. Not all practice is equally good, however! English, like all living languages, is complex and constantly-changing; what is acceptable in spoken English is not always accepted in Standard (written) English. The key to improving your English reading, processing, and writing skills for the GMAT is consistent high-quality practice. It&#8217;s true that native speakers have a big advantage &#8212; they have typically been listening to correct English for at least two decades. Non-native speakers, however, have a small advantage &#8212; they (unlike native speakers) have not been listening to <strong>incorrect<\/strong> English for two decades. Build your study around quality writing and daily practice &#8212; and start as early as you can.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >What to Read<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/\">The New Yorker<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.economist.com\/\">The Economist<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.harpers.org\/\">Harper&#8217;s Magazine<\/a>, <\/em>and<em>\u00a0<\/em><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/\">The Atlantic<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>all offer quality writing that can be used in your studies.<br \/>\nA note about <em>The Economist<\/em> in particular: you may be tempted to choose that above all the others, as it is the most business- and world news-focused. However, this would be a mistake.\u00a0<em>The Economist<\/em> is known for its very precise and concise use of language; you all should be reading it for this reason. On the other hand, <em>The Economist<\/em> assumes a very high level of familiarity and comfort with not only standard language usage, but also the rarer, more complex, and more concise usage of English found more commonly in the humanities (it also occasionally chooses British English usage over American English usage). The other three periodicals mentioned above have a smaller portion of their content devoted to finance and business and a greater portion devoted to the humanities &#8212; often without <em>The Economist&#8217;s<\/em> trademark concision. You will get more practice tracking longer English sentences, which can also shed more light on English usage: sometimes things are easier to understand when more words are used to explain. In addition, the greater variety present in the other periodicals prepares you better for the variety of topics you&#8217;ll get in GMAT Reading Comprehension passages. In short: use <em>The Economist<\/em>, but not only <em>The Economist<\/em>.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >One Year Away From Test Day<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>One half hour per day reading (or even listening to) quality English writing. Podcasts\/audio books are an acceptable occasional substitute; reading words on the page is better, but only one of the two is legal or smart while you&#8217;re driving to work<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Look up words you don&#8217;t know, every time.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Six Months From Test Day<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nDo the following in addition to the steps noted above:<br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Take a full-length practice test to assess your weaknesses; take two more in the next two months<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Take inventory of the places you are likely to be caught due to language differences<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Start writing down idioms that give you trouble; take note of movie\/book\/song titles, or other key phrases in English that can help you remember the idioms<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Begin a weekly commitment to GMAT study, starting with the Official Guide. Move to other sources when you have exhausted the Official Guide material<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Three Months From the Week of Your Test<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Begin taking at least two full-length practice tests every three weeks; you are taking full-length tests because the Quantitative section is also written in English. The goal is to improve your comfort level with the overall timing of the test, and to help you adjust to the range of English that appears on the full test<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>One half hour per day of Verbal Study at\u00a0minimum; do not save it all for one weekend afternoon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>For harder CR and RC passages, you can also use LSAT prep materials<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Keep reading!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >One Month From the Week of Your Test<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Take one full-length practice test per week<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Study every day, even if it&#8217;s just 15 minutes. You gain much more from repetition than you do from cramming<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Keep reading!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By far, the easiest and fastest way to learn English is to be a tiny baby growing up in an English-speaking environment. If you are reading this article, though, you are no longer in a position to take advantage of that opportunity, and will have to improve your English the hard way: practice. Not all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28711,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[55],"tags":[56,84],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13489"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13489"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36008,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13489\/revisions\/36008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}