₦airaland Forum

Good People, e don show o. Thank you, Jesus! May the rest of the journey be easy and beautiful for us all.

Ifeoma77:

I have been waiting for this post my favourite part of any ITA day

Don't worry, it's coming

Thanks for the assurance.
My body dey hot ni. I no wan hear stories with my 481 o.

How long does it take to get the email after ITA!?! Still haven't received any. My profile still reads "You don't have an invitation..." blah blah blah. Should I be worried?

I haven't seen my ITA mail oo. My profile still says "You do not have an invitation to apply at this time."

adebee16:
Timeline
EE Profile: November 11,2018
ITA: November 15, 2018
AOR: November 28, 2018
MEP/BIL: January 7, 2019
Biometrics Completed: January 9, 2019
PPR: June 11, 2019, dated June 10
Visa Office: Ottawa
ADR: None
Family of






I wish us all God's very best and may Canada favour us.

Congrats. May God bless you and yours in Canada.

Joromi12:
but she passed na lol. Jay e2 is a phd student/ holder in english. He had 7.5 twice and 8.5. Writing is a skill most of us rarely use because there is auto correct and gramarly . If you check the marking criteria for writing you would see the reason for 7. My friend wrote 3 times in nigeria and wrote once in the USA she had 6.5 in writing all through.

Exactly my point.

I'm a doctoral student as well and I teach first year composition in the US. Trust me, most people don't know how to write, even Americans. Writing is an art. It's difficult. For some, the difficulty is because they are from a disadvantaged background (family, work, lifestyle, etc.). For others, it's because they are unwilling to unlearn many of the things they have been told about writing.

The kind of writing you do in IELTS is rooted in the the Communicative Approach to Language Teaching (CALT). And there is a lot of spontaneity that comes with that. You should be able to make-up and weave ideas together on the spot. And they should make sense. Now, if you aren't familiar with CALT, the spontaneity part is usually difficult.

Unfortunately for Nigerians, most of us were taught writing in secondary school and college using the Traditional/Grammatical Approach to Language Teaching. We focused way too much on things that do not really matter: where to put the comma, the full stop, the semicolons, etc.

In the US and most Western countries, grammar is the last thing you learn if you are learning a language. Same approach is used to teach writing. There is a reason most writing tutors on YouTube will tell you to focus on paragraph development and coherence first before thinking about grammatical accuracy.

The approach is usually difficult for Nigerians. Most Nigerians want to ensure that their writings are grammatically sound WHILE also developing their paragraphs. That is not a good way to write. Writing is a process. Your first and most important task is to make sense - - communication. Grammatical accuracy should come last.

The problem with focusing on grammar WHILE developing your paragraph is that you tend to lose track of your ideas/thoughts. Consequently, your essay will end up not having coherence. No flow.

I'm not telling you that you don't have to worry about grammar; rather, I'm telling you that you have to worry more about communicating your thoughts in the simplest and most coherent way possible.

If I have to take some glucose to be able to make sense of your writing, then something is off somewhere.

Good luck to those putting in the work.

ednut1:
automatic na . Make e sha reach my side too 465 The wait is killing

It will, bro. We will all be alright, by God's grace.

ednut1:
Hoping for a favourable draw for all this week

Amen o. Patiently waiting with 481.

Pascal2016:
Can we just move this up. BC needs to do something in respect to this IELTS Nigeria system of marking.

Brother, there's nothing to move up about it. Put in the work, have a good attitude towards the test (don't obsess over it) and see magic. Let's be mindful of how we think there's something wrong with IELTS administration in Nigeria. We might be discouraging a lot of people.

(Please Note o: I'm not saying that all is well with IELTS administration in Nigeria. Neither am I saying that anything is wrong with it. I'm saying no one knows. Whatever we say on here are only speculations.)

psalmizt:
I will definitely come here to give my PPR story. But for now my story is that of nomination and successful AOR. I believe when we thank God for little mercies, we invariably invoke greater successes. I have been accused of writing too much English in times past so I'll just be brief pending the time the real gbemu comes.

....

Congrats. Godspeed in the rest of the journey.

Oopsy:
I requested for EOR and my writing changed from 6.5 to 8 and my speaking changed from 7 to 8.5.

In my 1st ielts with no preparation per say, i had 7.5 in listening and 7 in writing. With more preparation, i had 8.5 in listening then 6.5 in writing.

Ielts in Nigeria should be checked.


Cheers!

Wow. Lucky you, sis! Thank God o! You seem to be an outlier in regards to the EOR, though. It's quite uncommon.

It could be that your were a bit anxious with the "more preparation". Our mind can achieve a lot if we can trick it to be calm and see things as fun.

Maybe I am a bit bias since I have had to shadow a standardized test design group for a day before. If we really know what goes into the design and scoring of a standardized test, we would all agree that the margin of error is usually very slim.

Another thing that seems to be making it look like the IELTS GT test is unfair is the self-selection bias on here. Since we are all here for the same purpose which requires the test, stories of disappointments with test scores won't be out of place.

Overall, I pray we all excel!

Ifeoma77:
I agree with you that adequate preparation is key and I'll even admit that yes, a lot of us Nigerians don't write that well.
But it can't be denied that the marking scheme for the writing module changed significantly when immigration became popular. People who score 6.5 in Naija would score 8 if they wrote from another country.
A friend of mine wrote IELTS academic four years ago with little or no preparation and had 7 all through.
She just attempted GT last month. You don't want to know her score

True. It's a possibility.

Make God help everyone putting in the work.

Joromi12:
that is his hobby. He likes being scammed . Check his posts lol

Someone's hubby is being scammed, brother?!

Ifeoma77:
More like a presumptuous initiative. Basically saying lower your standards so I can get in.
But that's not the even the solution to the problem, because once 6.5 becomes acceptable, BC and MOD will start dishing out 6.0 as IELTS writing scores.
Have you noticed that once someone has a 7/7.5 in listening, their writing is also a 7? Then they rewrite and get 8/9 in listening and suddenly the writing slips down to 6.5.
The petition should be made against the examining bodies, not CIC

Really, I have seen this in people's IELTS stories. I have also had to consider whether those BC people dey do ojoro.

But, frankly, it has very little to do with the BC and more to do with the test-takers. Barring any uncommon factor, there's no way anyone will adequately prepare for any exam and not hit his/her target scores. And adequacy doesn't have to be about the quantity of preparation. It's the quality that matters.

Of course, I know that the IELTS scoring (for the Speaking and Writing modules) is subjective. However, even with the subjectivity, it's quite uncommon to see someone's EOR in Writing, for instance, jump from 6.5 to 8.

I hate to say this, but I strongly believe that the bulk of the problem people encounter with the IELTS exam can be linked to how adequate their preparations were and how they think about the exam. Most people think way too much about it.

While thinking too much about it may be good, there is a thin line between overthinking and fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety have made many people fail exams they would have otherwise passed.

To those still trying to cross the IELTS hurdle, hang in there! Best wishes.

LagosismyHome:
Greetings ....

Greetings. How's it going?

ObodoNaija:
Thanks a lot @walspring for my sevis fee payment. I received payment confirmation within few hours.

Wow! Walspring sef still dey here. Brother, I hail o.

LagosismyHome:

Lagosismyhome still comes here. Nice.

Pepperoni001:
PROPOSED TRANSCRIPTS.

PEOPLE OF GOD, YOUR FEED BACK IS NEEDED.

THANKS

VO: Good Morning, Pass me your I-20 and SEVIS receipt.
ME: Good Morning, handed over the requested docs.
VO: Why are you going to US?
ME: I am going to US for my Graduate Study in Sustainable Energy.
VO: How Many Universities did you apply to?
ME: 4 Universities: Eastern Illinois University, North Eastern Illinois University, Murray State University and Georgia Southern University.
VO: How many accepted you and how many rejected you.
ME: Eastern Illinois University and Murray State University accepted me, NEIU rejected me and I am awaiting decision from GSU.
VO: Why did you Choose EIU.
ME: I met with an Alumni who gave me firsthand information about the Sustainable energy program and the faculty at large. The Renewable Energy Center in EIU is the largest university biomass in the country. The center will afford me the firsthand opportunity to learn how renewable energy is utilized to support the need of a campus or community. I exchanged series of email with the Director of Studies; Dr. Peter Liu who advised me to apply after vetting my credentials and supporting documents.
The ratio of Lecturer to Student, and the state of Art facilities where also the convincing factors.
VO: Any standardized test?
ME: GRE: 280 and TOEFL: 80?
V.O: What will the degree do for you?
Me: The program is a science-based and technology management focused, it will equip me, put me on the edge to accept the challenging mission of achieving renewable energy utilization and its sustainability in the food industry, which will reduce our over dependence on crude based source of fuel which will lower the prices of and demand for natural gas by increasing competition and diversifying our energy supplies.
VO: Who is paying the school bills?
ME: My dad is paying the bills.
VO: What does he do? Pass me his SOA
ME: He’s a lecturer of Law at University of Ibadan, hands her SOA
VO: I can see you married with Kids, why are you not going with them.
ME: My wife just got started work with XYZ bank and there’s a bond she signed with them that won’t allow her leave her duty post for two years.

VO: You can pick your visa in 3 days.
ME: Alright, have a great day.

Great. But don't be too rigid about this. Be flexible. The interview may not go as planned. I usually encourage people to be confident about their choices and be ready to answer questions (in any form) about them. Good luck.

Denerystormborn:
Thank you very much ladymarshall.

I really like you.

It will end in praise.

Bosslady LadyMarshall, someone is liking you here.

Topsmamen:
Congrats sis. Your hard work has paid off. NOC 4011 is good.

Boss, don't you think 4021 makes more sense for her husband? Just a random thought.

majamisile:
Apology accepted on behalf of all lawyers on the thread . They all have to look out for their own so I understand their stance. I guess @jjohndoe has said it all when he said the guy was being overzealous. The truth is that the questions were questions were way too much and even his asking what you want to use the money for dey somehow because that must have been clearly stated in the letter. E be like say na POF of family for 6 you go notarize so he just had to shake you up well well .

Thanks, Mi Lords. Exactly, the questions just made me a bit uncomfortable. But, it's all good jare. Hahaha. After reading through what folks have said on here, I decided not to notarize the thing again.

Again, thanks everyone. Y'all are amazing!

Tochai007:
@godG
I understand where you are coming from sha.
However, I am not a lawyer but I know that NPs are meant to "attest authenticity of signature" with their red seal/ stamp. Which means that the document to be notarized has to be signed in his presence. But we know, this is Naija, people will hardly do what is expected of them; especially when money can be involved.

My point is, your actions might have also left the NP feeling that you are fraudulent because he is actually required to see the person that gave you the gift deed sign the document.

So, try relax small

Brother, hahaha It's not that deep. It's fine. Maybe I got suspicious because of the questions. I have had to use notaries many times in the US, and those were even documents involving money. The experience with the guy is new to me.

But it's all good, people. Thanks for your insightful contributions.

Jennypharb1:
His request is not stupid because the document contains another person's name. I understand he may have been overzealous but it is not unusual. What if your donor was the only person who signed the deed? Afterall it was a gift.Would it be stupid to ask to see him? The document could also have been forged, you could borrow cash from friends and state that your donor gave you cash. Ascertaining authenticity or 'originalness' of a document is also under his discretion, he could ask to see your valid ID cards and you cannot go and bring a random person then except you want to forge documents. Dissecting the contents of the document could also help him in determining his course of action. So yeah he may have wanted to 'overbill' you, but that doesn't invalidate his other questions.

I agree, ma'am. Maybe he was only trying to be diligent. Regardless, I still believe that he was a bit awkward or overzealous about it. Thanks for casting a broader light on this. Really appreciate.

jjohndoe83:
As a lawyer, I feel pained that you denigrated this NP as a crook for no apparent reason. I believe he was entitled to ask these questions, I might have asked same. It doesn't make him a crook I think he was just doing his job and may have been overzealous about it.

In other news, a gift deed should only have one signature, that of the giver, just like a power of attorney. I don't think it should be so.

Apologies if my words come out as demeaning, brother.

Nonetheless, I still stand by my statement about the NP wanting to overbill me. And that, to me, makes him a shyster.

Why must he see the person who gave me the money before he tells me my bill?

Besides, why would anyone be asking who sent the money to me when everything is clearly stated in the document? Why would he be interested in what I want to use my money for? That's my business. Not his.

Jennypharb1:
I don't know how much he planned to charge you that's his business. There's no fixed fee for notaries in Nigeria, most of them are lawyers 7years and above at the bar, so it's not supposed to be chicken fee anyway and maybe not too exorbitant, but that also depends on the document and the notary involved.
But ehn, apart from the price I don't see anything wrong he did. If he had no ulterior motives, he was just doing his job. For example, when a school in the abroad asks you to send a certified true copy of your certificate issued by a notary public, they do this because they believe that the notary will cite the original of that document before certifying a photocopy. They trust notaries more than they trust your courts in Nigeria. So if one person brings an agreement signed by two parties(which is what the gift deed is) and asks him to 'certify' it without seeing the second party, that's asking him to lie.
It is the hunger in the land and our culture of bastardizing everything here that makes it possible for business centres to carry notary stamps and charge 200-500 per page. That is how even notary publics will come to mean nothing in this country in the next few years.

True. I totally get it.

Indeed, our anyhowness in Nigeria has made a lot of people go through avoidable stuff.

However, I honestly think that his request for the other party was a stupid one. And, not taking the other party with me was not me telling him to lie! His job, like all notary publics, is to verify the authenticity/originality of a document. His job is not to dissect the content of the document(?).

Plus, me bringing the other party would do nothing to ascertain the authenticity of the document. I could take anyone with me and tell him that was the other party, you know?

Notary Publics only need to see the original copy of a document. All this other party request was just the guy trying to be Nigerian. The gift deed I presented na original. Original as original gets. The crook was only trying to overbill me after seeing the money on the document ni. That's what I think. I could be wrong (but I doubt it).

And about your comment on notary publics in Nigeria loosing their credibility? I don't think that would be anytime soon. Maybe after India sha. Nigerians are nothing close to Indians.

Scandinavian02:


It is not compulsory that you notarize a gift deed nawww. People have gotten PPR without having to notarize it.

Funny right? I found it funny too. Something wey my bank go do for me for free in the US o.

I was going to ask about the necessity of gift deed notarization as well. Thank you.

Topsmamen:
See this link. It would be prudent if you can get someone who's traveling to the US to submit on your behalf. If not, then DHL it is.

Again, thanks for being the plug, brother! I don search tire... I will go with the DHL option.

ladymarshall:
LOE is the reconciliation tool as Topsmamen has said before

Thanks, Bosslady.

Topsmamen:
Lol. You want to shift the NYSC 19,800 goal post to 19,650. Sure, you can. Basically, do what you're comfortable with you like

Hehehe. I guess I should stick with it as it is. Thanks, brother.

Topsmamen:
An LOE will suffice. Are the bank charges displayed in your bank statement?

I don't like LOEs. Would you suggest that I should request that the reference letter should reflect the #1960?