FSWE\EE — English Expression Study Suggestions

The State Department's information about the FSWE clearly states what this section of the exam will entail:

This section of the examination measures knowledge of correct grammar, organization, spelling and punctuation, which would be required for writing reports and for editing the written work of others. In addition, it tests the ability to express ideas clearly and accurately, to correct sentences, and to read with comprehension.

Growing up, English class was frequently derided. After all, we already spoke English, didn't we? Why must we learn to diagram sentences, or struggle with gerunds or participles? [skip the monologue]

None of the explanations given were ever satisfactory. And why is this? Because we as Americans have collectively forgotten why we should learn the fine mechanics of this crazy patchwork quilt of a language.

Many will guess that it is to help them write better, should they ever choose or have need to write. Some students might suggest that the spelling and vocabulary portions could enable them to find better jobs. Both are true to some extent, but they for the most part are trickle-down effects, and do not address the primary historical reasons for teaching English.

The first reason is self-evident: to communicate and to comprehend with precision.

The second has been obscured by time and by the nature of our society. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, a "classical education" included Greek and/or Latin, along with perhaps French and/or German, each of which enjoyed being the lingua franca for significant periods of time.

The Classical languages helped us to understand the foundation of our language, and the Romance languages enabled us to communicate with the rest of the world.

One needed a firm understanding of the intricacies of the "mother tongue" so as to better understand the differences and similarities encountered during the acquisition of the "foreign language".

Up until the early Twentieth Century, the isolationist attitude of America lulled it's citizens into becoming increasingly monolinguistic. Although we have become more sensitive to the needs of local non-English speakers, the current status of English as "the" lingua franca has further entrenched us into linguistic isolation.

As diplomats, we need to communicate "clearly and accurately", and we will be required to become fluent in multiple languages. We will not be taught English. Thus, this exam 'filters' for candidates who already show a remarkable understanding of and ability in the English language.

[Finish Monologue]
Coincidentally, excelling in this section of the exam can greatly raise one's overall score with a minimum amount of preparation. By contrast, the JK section covers a vast array of topics (for which it is almost impossible to adequately 'study'); likewise, the BIO section is enigmatic, almost nebulous (although certain preparations can certainly help).

"The Elements of Style", by Strunk and Williams, is frequently recommended to help prepare for the FSWE. Reviewing the fundamentals of grammar are indeed necessary, but without some real world practice, one could still fall short.

English-Test.net is for English speakers of all levels, basic, intermediate, advance, and has something useful and challenging for everyone!

If you are a naturalized citizen, if English is your second language, or if you are curious how and why grammar works the way it does, Englishforums provides a great place to discuss and to learn.

If you want to improve your vocabulary, learn some of the history of the development of the English language, and discover how we got some of the oddball words we use everyday, Worldwide Words is a great jumping-off point.

Finally, if you are interested in why many people around the world find English so fascinating and necessary to learn, take a look at this article by Antimoon.

Best of Luck!

Editfish

FSWE Registration

The Registration for the 2006 Foreign Service Written Exam (FSWE) is now open. It will remain open until March 8th, 2006 (for domestic testing); however, if you plan on taking it abroad at one of our many missions, please note that you will not be able to register after March 1st, 2006.

Some of the testing centers tend to fill up rather quickly, so it's in your best interest to register as early as possible, just to make sure that you are able to test at your first choice.

Still undecided about taking it? The FSWE is the first step toward a rewarding career with the United States Foreign Service, representing the peaceful side of America. Register for the exam, join the Yahoo FSWE Group, learn more about the process and the job. The exam is free, and just takes up part of a Saturday (April 8 this year). There's no obligation, there's no coercion.

See you on the 8th,

Editfish

Back in Control

The site recently started sprouting popup ads, and I finally traced the source to my nedstat counter. I apologize for that. Apparently the new owners of that tracking site decided that 'free' wasn't good enough for a smalltime blog like mine. ;)

Anyhow, I've disabled that counter, so everything should work normally now. Please do let me know if anyone has any further issues or problems with the site.

If you haven't already felt the love, now is as good a time as any to switch to Firefox, which is quite effective at blocking popups (that's why I can't be certain how long the ads were being served). Enhanced functionality can be added with the use of extensions, which, out of the thousands available, I would recommend Adblock, IE View, and my favorite, the Yahoo! Mail Notifier, which automatically logs you into Yahoo and alerts you whenever new mail is posted to your inbox (that's right, it also means no more signing into the groups). Of course, if you prefer Gmail, there's an extension for that as well.

If you're inclined to give it a go, just click on the link above, or scroll down to the Firefox button towards the bottom of the page.

OK, </shill>

Cones and the 2006 FSWE

Registration for the 2006 FSWE will begin within a few short weeks, and for those of you who are new to the process (or still undecided), you will have to choose a cone (or track) when you register.

The five available cones are: Management (MGMT), Consular (CON), Economic (ECON), Political (POL) and Public Diplomacy (PD).

Each cone has it's upsides and downsides, and although Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) do spend some time working outside of their respective cones, it is generally recommended that aspiring candidates select a cone that best 'fits' with their interests and talents.

To that end, I have included a number of links (all from the State Department's website) that I hope will assist you in making an informed decision:

Which Career Track is Right For You?

What Does a Foreign Service Officer Do?

Assignment Abroad: Experience the world of a Foreign Service Officer

Diplomacy at Work: A U.S. Embassy

Don't stress, however, if you change your mind after you register; you will be given an opportunity to change your cone/track of choice on April 8, 2006 during the Exam itself.

If you haven't already, it's recommended that you join the Yahoo! FSWE Group. You are not alone! ;)

Best of Luck.