2013 TOEIC Speaking & Writing test dates. Dates and expected locations for public TOEIC Speaking & Writing testing are now up on our site! We are still working to update our online registration site and finalize current center commitments for the year, so if you don't see your center listed for a particular date on the system, e-mail us and we'll be back in touch right away.

Surprised by the spoken word. The situation described by Sava Mounange-Badimi on the Voice of America Student Union blog is not uncommon: "When I came to the United States, I was barely fluent in spoken English, although on paper I seemed competent." (She goes on to provide lots of great advice for learners in this thoughtful piece.) Employers sometimes hesitate to deal with non-native English speakers because of worries about such speaking problems, but once you've taken the TOEIC Speaking & Writing test, you can show your proficiency right on your résumé and move on to a successful interview!

U.S. scores low on immigrant English skills. For the first time, the annual "EF English Proficiency Index" includes rankings for primarily English-speaking countries. The news for the U.S. isn't good. (One of the report's recommendations for worldwide improvement—tests such as TOEIC.)

English Language Site of the Month. The Guardian Weekly's "Learning English" section is a great source not only of lessons but also the latest news related to English language learning and teaching worldwide. In December, the section leaves the print issue to go online only (with e-mail alerts on updates available to readers). We can only hope the current high quality will continue....

Accent versus pronunciation. Great explanations and examples of the difference in this "Understanding How We Learn" blog post. For superior pronunciation practice that's accent-neutral, order ETS English Skills pronunciation modules.