<p>So, I'm filling out the supplement for BU, and I come across the question, "Is English your first language?" It's technically not, since I was born in China, lived there for six years, and therefore learned Chinese first. However, after I came to the U.S., English became my primary language.</p>
<p>Now, the problem is that the application says if my answer to this question is no, then I have to take the TOEFL. I haven't got time to prepare for the TOEFL, and I don't know anything about it.</p>
<p>Should I say that English is my first language?</p>
<p>My parents won't let me email or call the admissions office about this. They won't let me ask my GC either. They think that the question is more asking what my primary language is, that if I couldn't really write Chinese well, then it's not considered my first language.</p>
<p>But on the application, I noted my place of birth, and in my essay, I do talk about my childhood in China. So wouldn't it look fishy to the admissions office?</p>
<p>My parents say that if I ask about this, I'm just inviting trouble because the answer might be, "Yes, you do have to take the TOEFL exam."</p>
<p>Say no that English is or isn't my first language? It seems like at most schools, the policy is that if English has been the primary language for a certain amount of time, you don't need to take the TOEFL.</p>
<p>English will be considered as your primary ie.-first language - what you speak on a daily basis - if you have been raised and educated in English - and barely know your original language. English is the language you respond to your world with - on a daily basis. I really don't think you have to complicate things - and have to take the TOEFL - to answer that question.</p>
<p>TOEFL is a test of English skills needed to succeed - ie they want to know if you can function in the English world - you obviously can and do - Test of English as a Foreign Language!! You don't need to prove that you speak and know the english language if you have been brought up in it as your primary language.</p>
<p>FYI, there is a stipulation in the TOEFL which says that if you have studied for more than 3/4 years ( not sure which one ) in school whose primary language of instruction is English, you do not need to take TOEFL. THis obviously holds true in your case. Hence, even if English is considered as a second languaged for you, there is no need to take the toefl since you've been in the US for a long time.</p>
<p>The requirement is 3 years in an English institution at practically all universities I've seen. So you don't need to take the TOEFL (which would be a waste of money anyway, the actual amount of English knowledge you need to pass that test is ridiculously low).</p>
<p>interesting how the last three posts stated the some point but were only worded differently :)</p>
<p>I second what blobof says about the difficulty level. I've been speaking English all my life even though I wasn't born and brought up in the US. The TOEFL was a piece of cake!</p>
<p>if you speak and think in english, then english is your first language. but you can also write that you are bilingual, which will score you major points</p>
<p>which one looks better, first language in English or something else?</p>
<p>I used to think it looks better if they see how great your English is but it's not your first language. </p>
<p>Therefore, for International students in the US, isn't it better to take the TOEFL anyway? Doesn't signing the first language in something else give you extra credit for being so well in English?</p>
<p>Well when I was filling out my applications last year, I had the same issue, because I grew up in a household that only spoke Spanish for the first few years of my life, but once I got involved in elementary education I started picking up English, so instead I made the choice of English and another language, do they still offer that? Because I felt that the first language I learned and mastered was Spanish, but when I was sevenish English became my primary language, so...</p>
<p>Nope. They don't offer that option. I'm not really an international student, as I have a U.S. citizenship. </p>
<p>I don't want to check "no" and create extra hassle for myself, but I don't want to check "yes", have the admissions office read my essay, and say that I lied.</p>
<p>if u're an us citizen i suppose there's no problem, other way, toefl is freaking easy for a english speaker like you, unless there are financial difficulties, if not just take it for godness sake, many ppl in my place learn 2 different language before english, ie their mother tongue and our national language, still most get 290 and above for toefl for CBT~ if u're good, u just prove them right~</p>