How to write better essays

"When you write an essay you are making a case for the validity of a particular point of view, analysis, interpretation, or set of facts or procedures."
Dawson, J. (2007). The little blue writing book: essays. Bentley, Australia.

Standard Essay Model

Important steps in writing a essay

Introduction
Though many students make mistakes while writing introductions, Tim Squirrel a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh on Guardian says "Introductions are easiest things in the world to get right and nobody does it properly." According to him, “It should be ‘Here is the argument I am going to make, I am going to substantiate this with three or four strands of argumentation, drawing upon these theorists, who say these things, and I will conclude with some thoughts on this area and how it might clarify our understanding of this phenomenon. You should be able to encapsulate it in 100 words or so. That’s literally it.”

Analyse the question: Clearly you cannot write a great essay without understanding the question properly. Most students start writing without understanding the meaning of all the words in the question. Students should look for limiting words and phrases, content words and phrases, and directive words in the question to know the parameters of the task. 

It is important to understand the actual meanings of the directive verbs so that you clearly know what you should do. Here is a list of common directive verbs used in essay questions. This list is adapted from Cottrell, S 1999, The study skills handbook, MacMillan Press, London by Jane Mangano.

• account for - explain (reason)
• analyse - examine closely, examine in parts, show how the parts contribute to the whole.
• argue - present the case for and/ or against
• assess - decide the value of
• judge - measure the importance of
• compare - discuss two or more things in terms of their similarities and differences
  
• critically evaluate - weight arguments for and against something, assessing all evidence. Decide which opinions, theories, models or items are preferable
• define - explain, give full meaning(s), make clear what is meant by, use definition(s) to explore the concept of
• describe - give a detailed account of the features of something without interpreting the information
• discuss - present and give a judgement on the value of arguments for and against, consider all angles
• distinguish - bring out the differences between two possibly confusable items
• enumerate - an item-by-item account, such as all steps in a process
• evaluate - judge, criticise in terms of impact/significance, and investigate the implications
•  examine - make clear the details/ meaning of, look in particular at reasons causes and effects, account for, give reasons, justify, explore describe in detail, and note impact
• illustrate - use example to show a concept
• indicate - focus on specific areas (similar to illustrate)
• interpret - make clear the meaning of, consider implications
• narrate - concentrate on saying what happened telling a story
• outline - describe main features, a broad but thorough account, identify briefly the main features of
• prove - show by logical argument
• relate - show similarities and connection between two or more things
• review - describe chief features, criticise generally (important parts)
• to what extent - consider how far something is true or not true, consider how far something contributes to a final outcome
• trace - identify and describe the development or history of
• what is - describe

Knowing content words and delimiting words gives you a clear sense of direction about what to write. Content words tell you about the topic and the area of study you will be looking at. Similarly, delimiting words limit your research: to a particular place, time or demographic.

example. Critically evaluate two contemporary theories of nursing.
Critically evaluate- directive verbs; two contemporary- delimiting words; theories of nursing- content words.

To what extent does obesity impact upon the coronary health of middle age women.
To what extent- directive verbs; obesity - content words ; coronary health- content words ; middle age women - delimiting words ; 

Some common mistakes to avoid in an essay

• Failing to answer all or part of the question and writing copied or learned response rather than properly deconstructing essay question.
• Writing off-topic and giving inadequate evidence to support viewpoints expressed.
• Using overly casual and informal expressions.
• Writing essay having no paragraph divisions and no logical flow of thought and lacking proper shape and structure.
• Writing paragraphs which have no central or easily recognisable main idea. With no central idea, there is no essay, as there is no thesis and therefore nothing to prove.
• Writing paragraphs which fail to distinguish between a thesis statement, explanation, illustration and summary statement and diminishes the informative and persuasive communication of ideas.
• Ignoring the instructions regarding the essay type. For example, discursive and evaluative essays demand different arrangements of ideas and different choices of language selection.
• Using jargon poorly, thereby making the essay confusing or misusing jargon.
• Using quotations taken out of context. 
• Ignoring word limits, either writing over length or under-length. This is linked to failing to develop the skill of conciseness.
• Obscuring own argument by over-reliance upon the words of others.
• Plagiarism.
• Being too opinionated and not supporting views strongly.
• Cluttering the essay with verbose language.
• Not using referencing and citation properly.
  
• Failing to manage time effectively. 
• Failing to proofread.

Acknowledgement:
This blogpost partially draws from the powerpoint slides 'Success with Writing Online Workshop' prepared by Jane Mangano | University of Notre Dame Australia

Obtaining Tax Clearance Certificate and Pan Card correction from Inland Revenue Department (Antarik Rajaswo Bibhag)

Picture source:-newbusinessage.com

Recently I had visited Inland Revenue Department (Antarik Rajaswo Bibhag) Lazimpat in order to rectify  the date of birth in my PAN Card which was not consistent with my Citizenship Card and to get Tax Clearance Certificate of my salary for visa purposes.

Please note that, though PAN card of, either you or your sponsor, is (almost?) always required to send tuition fees abroad. Tax Clearance Certificate is required only in the case of some countries and in certain cases, and you need to produce it when the embassy specifically asks for it. For example, if you have applied for the residence permit to Finland, and to fulfill the means of support requirement, you have shown your or your sponsors' (who work in Nepal) salary, Finnish Immigration Service usually asks for the Tax Clearance Certificate from Inland Revenue Department. If it is not required for the country you are applying to, do not let it puzzle you.

In order to correct the date of birth on my PAN Card, I had to write an application in Nepali on a piece of paper, and submit there. You will find IRD staff there to assist customers and can consult them about what to do in your specific case. After submitting the application and waiting in the waiting area (which has a fair amount of sofa for you to sit) for almost an hour, I received a new and corrected PAN card. To get that, I did not have to fill out the application form all over again. The PAN number was the same as before on the new card and they even used the same photograph I had initially submitted for my first PAN card.

Now, for the Tax Clearance Certificate of your salary, first you need to make sure that your taxes have been regularly paid from your salary. Sometimes your employer might not have paid your taxes for the fiscal year, and nothing will be shown on the Tax Clearance Certificate. In that case, you need to first contact the person responsible for paying the taxes, in your office, probably the accountant, and make sure if the applicable taxes have been paid. If those have not been paid, request the accountant to pay it so that the amount of taxes paid will be shown in your Tax Clearance Report from Inland Revenue Department(IRD). IRD will issue the document in Nepali, and you can have it translated into English from any registered notary public office. I had mine translated at NPR 300, but the charges may vary; also you can bargain to see if you can bring the price down.

How to obtain a Bank Statement if the owner of the account is not in Nepal?

Photo by: Robert Bye -Unsplash

 This is a somewhat unique case, but it can happen to students whose sponsors are abroad, and own bank accounts in Nepal. And, students need to show the bank statement of their sponsors for visa purposes of different countries.

Ideally, a bank statement is only provided to the respective account owner, by the bank, after showing valid ID card and affixing his/her authorised signature to the application form, due to the sensitive nature of the document.

But now, as many Nepali nationals are abroad for the purpose of foreign employment; if a student wishes to show someone residing and working abroad as his/her sponsor, they need to show their bank statement of either their foreign bank or their bank in Nepali if applicable.

It is possible to get the bank statement no matter where you are via email by filling out the bank statement request form, downloading it from bank's official website and sending it to bank's email in the case of many Nepali banks. It could take a few days to receive the statement through this method. Machhapuchchhre Bank Limited had taken almost 5 days to send the document through email request.

However, if you need the statement more urgently and if you want to visit the bank yourself and receive the statement on behalf of your sponsor, you can do the following.

I am sharing my experience of a similar case here. This approach might not work in all banks because each bank has their own set of policies that govern them. You need to understand with your sponsor's bank about their requirements.

In order to obtain the bank statement in the aforementioned case, you need to request your sponsor who's abroad to write an application (either in English or in Nepali) and send it to the bank's email, either customer service email or branch manager's email of a specific branch. Also request your sponsor to include their account number, authorised signature and define your relationship with him/her. In addition, the application should include your citizenship card number so the bank will be sure that you are the authorised recipient of the document.

It is better to visit the bank before the application is sent by your sponsor and ask the bank if they require any other details and have your sponsor send the application fulfilling the requirement laid out by their bank.

I had obtained the bank statement following the above-mentioned procedure at Machhapuchchhre Bank Limited's head office Lazimpat, Kathmandu. However, Machhapuchchhre Bank had told me that if the email is received from the bank owner's authorised email registered in Machhapuchchhre Bank's system, the signature of the account owner may not be needed. But if the owner does not have his email registered in MBL's system, the owner's signature is a must with the email application. It does not hurt in any case though, to affix a signature of the account owner.

 I hope this blogpost will be helpful if you are in a similar situation and are wondering what to do.

Bank Statement and Bank Balance Certificate for abroad study purposes

A bank statement by definition is the summary of financial transactions, which typically shows your deposits and withdrawals, during a specific period of time.

Bank Balance Certificate is a document issued by the bank that shows that an individual has a certain amount of money in this account.

Bank Statement and Bank Balance Certificate are required, to apply for a student visa of different countries. In order to obtain them, you need to visit the bank where you own your bank account. Depending on your bank, you might need to fill out a small Bank Statement and Bank Balance Certificate form. So, as you enter the bank, ask if you are required to fill out a form, to obtain those.

Fill out the form and then wait in a queue. In most banks, both Bank Statement and Bank balance certificate are issued at customer service department or reception of the bank. Some banks might have a separate department for Bank Balance Certificate and Bank Statement. For example, at NIC Asia Kamaladi Branch, when I visited, Bank Balance Certificate was issued on the ground floor and Bank Statement was issued from the counter on the first floor. However, the branches of NIC Asia bank of Gongabu and Samakushi provide both services from the reception. Depending on customer flow, different branches have different arrangements as to how they provide their services. Make sure how your bank provides those services.

If you have to take a token, take the right token. In some branches of NIC Asia, for instance: NIC Asia Gongabu Branch, there's a separate token called CSD which is called Customer Service Department. However, up until the day I visited the NIC Asia Samakhushi Branch, there was no token system. Things might be different in the future and depending on the branch and bank you visit.

Normally, issuance of Bank Balance Certificate and Bank Statement should not take much time. However, sometimes, the system of the bank to generate Bank Balance Certificate might not function and you might be required to wait for long hours. E.g. Nabil Bank Maharajgunj Branch, had made my friend wait for the entire day citing their system was not functioning, which normally takes around 30 minutes or less, when the system is working normally.

When visiting your bank, make sure everything you need is in order, so you get the document you need without much hassle.You need to have your account number handy because you need to fill that in the form. Also, fill out address and other details as per your Citizenship Card.

Biswo Bhasa Document Translation- Translators' phone numbers.

If you need to have authorised translation of documents from a foreign language into English language, you need to have it translated from Biswo Bhasa Campus (campus of international languages), which is in Pradarshani Marga.

Photo Credit: Saroj Baral, Google Maps

The front of the building features, Sajha Publication Exhibition and Sale Showroom, as we enter from the gate we can see Biswo Bhasa Campus. For translation, we do not go to the campus building. Instead, we need to go to Administrative building- building which is shown in the photo above. We then head to 3rd floor of the building where we can find administration for translation purpose. On the door there is a name list of translators and their contact numbers. We first contact the administration and ask what we need to do for translation, if they asked us to leave the documents there which they'll hand to translators, we can do so. Or we can call the translator ourselves, send the documents to them by Viber and receive it when they are done with the translation. We need to again visit the Campus to receive our documents. It is stamped by Biswo Bhasa Campus. One page translation costs NPR 700. We need to pay NPR 700 per page at the counter of Nepal Bank Limited. There's one Nepal Bank Limited counter, almost 200m from Biswo Bhasa Campus towards Putalisadak, where we can ask for a form to pay cash for Biswo Bhasa Campus. That form will already contain account information of Biswo Bhasa and other information so we need not ask for account number with anyone.

After paying the fee we then go to Biswo Bhasa Campus show the receipt and ask for our documents if they're ready. The officials there will stamp our documents and give them to us. Then only the translation is deemed official or authorised.

If you do not need official or authorised translation you can still have it translated from the translators of Biswo Bhasa, and have the document sent by Viber. Documents translated like that will bear no official stamp from Biswo Bhasa Campus. Translators usually charge NPR 700 even for unofficial translations.

I have a photo containing phone number and name of translators which I took when I visited Biswo Bhasa Campus few days ago. Translators might keep changing there, so, if it is feasible, visit the Campus yourself, and check on the administration office door of the 3rd floor and ask the officials there.

Documents required to send tuition fees from Nepal to your foreign university.

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

It is somewhat a complex process to transfer money from your bank in Nepal to a foreign bank, mainly due to the rules  and regulations of Nepal Government and Nepal Rastra Bank. In fact Government of Nepal has just allowed USD 500 Pre-Paid Dollar Card.  500 USD might be enough to make purchases of small amount, it is however nowhere near enough to pay the tuition fees of your university abroad for one academic year or 6 months, which majority of the students wishing to study abroad have to pay. Having said that, it is not impossible to send the tuition fees either, so in this blogpost I will explain you the process, if you read this carefully and plan beforehand you will avoid a lot of possible hassles.

Documents required

1) Offer Letter from your foreign university

2) College Invoice

3) No Objection Certificate (NOC), issued by MOE Nepal.

4)PAN Card, (if you do not already have one, you can get one from Inland Revenue Department, Aantarik Rajaswo Bibhag Nepal, there are many offices of Inland Revenue Department in Kathmandu).

5) Your Passport ( Take a photocopy of it.  Of course they'll copy themselves, but banks are usually                                            overcrowded so prepare it ahead of time to avoid the hassle)

6) Sufficient funds on your or your sponsor's bank account.
           (Remember that you need to calculate the total amount on today's date converting your money to  the currency (e.g. USD, AUD, EUR, CAD) you want to deposit also add 2% government tax applicable when sending tuition fees abroad and required transfer fees, usually we pay all transfer charges ourselves (OUR) to make sure that university receives the exact amount mentioned in the invoice).

There's also another option (SHA-Shared) in which we only pay our bank's outgoing charges, but OUR option would be preferable so the University gets the exact amount you are sending. However do not confuse yourself with OUR and SHA as some banks put OUR themselves, but if they asked you, you can now make an informed decision.

Then with those 5 documents and ensuring you have enough funds, you head to your bank where you have an account. This type of transaction is normally handled by the "Remittence" department of the banks. Then they will give you the form to fill in, where you need to put beneficiary's name- which is the account name of your university. It needs to be exactly the same as what's written in the invoice you receive from your university. And, beneficiary's bank - which is the name of your university's bank. IBAN number which is International Bank account number and it is mentioned in the invoice as well. Address of your beneficiary's bank. And then you put your name, address, phone number and signature. All these details need to be clear as bank in Nepal does not want to take a risk sending money with incorrect details because even a minor mistake will result in your money being returned to your account. Hence, if something is unclear, email your university immediately and ask for clarification. Usually, bank officials want everything in print. If you have clarification details in your email, print that one out as well.

After the form is duly filled in with all the details, you can then submit all the documents at the remittence counter. If they say everything is ok, then they will transfer the money. After the money has been transferred they will issue you receipt of it. You need to visit the bank after few hours to obtain the receipt of transfer.

Though it may not be mandatory, you can send the scanned copy (Or a photo ) of the transfer receipt to your university so they can verify it and send you the acknowledgement document of the tuition fees paid, which is required when you apply for your visa.

As long as you have an offer letter, NOC issued by MOE, a PAN card issued by IRD, and a clear invoice from your university vividly mentioning account name, IBAN, Swift Code, Bank Address, and Beneficiary's bank name, the process should be rather smooth. 

Also read.
List of Documents required for Canada.
NOC
Costs of applying to Canada

German Embassy Kathmandu- Au Pair Visa- Questions and Answers

Here's questions and answers taken from German Embassy Kathmandu's Facebook Page regarding Au Pair Visa. Questions are asked by prospective applicants and answers are given by German Embassy Kathmandu ( referred hereunder to as GEK) itself

Which level of German Language Certificate is required to apply for Aupair Visa?
GEK: Hey! It is A1 and the certificate should not be older than 6 Months.

Is it mandatory to have language certificate which is not older than 6 months?
GEK: Yes that is correct! Because you can suspect that a beginner's niveau like A1 or A2 will "fade away" within six months, if the language is not practiced.

I already applied 3 years ago but I was rejected and I'm planning to reapply is there any possibility?
GEK: You are always allowed to file an application if you have an appointment and all necessary documents.

What if we have A2 certificate and it is from before lock down and is expired already. But I did online course and have certificate of the online course from Germany? Can I apply for Au Pair?GEK: If the Online class was held in Germany and they issued you an A2 Certificate according to the European standards, then you can apply with that certificate. However it has to a a certificate and not only a "teilnahmebestätigung"/Participation confirmation.

Is there any changes in application process due to COVID-19?
GEK: Only that the health insurance needs to cover COVID-19.

What are the main things to look for during an Au Pair process?
GEK: You should not learn the answers by heart but be able to explain in your own words why this programme is relevant for you. Au Pair is a cultural exchange, not a training for child education etc. Why did you chose Germany and not France or the UK? How did you learn about the programme? What are your future plans and how does a one year GAP year help you with that? You have to give an individual explanation.

Does embassy accept b1 certificates even if they are not united?
GEK: what do you mean by united? You mean for each module, like "listening" speaking etc?

Yes. 4 certificates of b1. Nicht Gemeinsamt
GEK: Yes, that's ok.

if we got 63 in A1 can we apply for Au pair?
GEK: if you have an A1 certificate you can apply.. however you need to prove your language skills also during the visa interview.

How many time can we apply after rejection?
GEK: As often as you wish. However please note that Germany does not have a quota system. Meaning if you fit the criteria for a visa category, you can get the visa - there is no fixed number of Au Pair visa that we can issue and once we reach that number we stop issuing the visa category - that is NOT the case. So as long as something has not changed in your situation and you can't give a plausible explanation why you want to take this GAP year, also your future applications are likely to be rejected.

Is it risky to get visa with A1 certificate for Au Pair? Should have do A2 too?
GEK: A1 is the requirement. You then need to proof you language skills also in the Visa interview. Some applicants have a A1 certificate but when we speak with them at the counter they are not able to answer the questions and might get rejected.

German Embassy Kathmandu- Student Visa- Questions and Answers.

Study in Germany

Germany Embassy Kathmandu conducted live question round to answer prospective students' questions concerning student visa matters on 20th of April, 2021. Here are the questions and answers taken from German Embassy Kathmandu's facebook page, which will be important for Nepali the students thinking of pursing higher studies in the developed European nation Germany.

GEK= German Embassy Kathmandu

I have been awarded with DAAD scholarship for 2021 winter semester starting September when shall I book an appointment for visa?
And, I want to bring my spouse together should I book different visa appointment date or same appointment will work?
GEK: Congrats! You can apply three months in advance (so June if you want to go in September). It would be ideal if both of you can book separate appointments through our webpage. We try to avoid to having too many people at the Embassy due to COVID. Feel free to book two consecutive appointments!

Thank you, and when should  I be booking the date for appointment? The visa appointment dates may be packed. Can I book the dates for June by now to be assured?
GEK: Appointments are open and easily bookable (because of COVID-restrictions the application numbers are low), usually you can book two weeks in advance.

Student visa of my friend was rejected 2 years ago though he has done his best in the interview, his document- language proficiency and other were perfect. I was shocked about the reason behind the rejection. His Sprachkenntnisse, His ability fades away. I think getting visa of someone depends on embassy employees MOOD. He is one of victim who was capable of getting visa. Embassy should give the criteria to the students about reason of rejection of visa, so they don't waste their time in learning Deutsch and can easily move another way ,make future plan so on

GEK: There are clear criteria who is eligible for a study visa and who is not. As an Embassy we act according to the German law, not randomly. The rejection letter is rather short. However if your friend disagrees with the decision or there was a misunderstanding, he can file "remonstration" and present new arguments/documents in the process. his application would then be rechecked by another consular officer and he would receive a written explanation (several pages!), why the visa was rejected.

HELLO ! I have 2 Questions
(1) My German language certificate is 1.5 years Old Goethe Zertifikat B2.  Can I apply for Study Visa in Studienkolleg?
(2) I want to apply for Kiel ,but I have heard from my many friends that we won't get any Visa from there? Is that true?
GEK: You will have to renew your language certificate. What your friends say is WRONG. There are not universities that get more rejections than others - it's about the applicant, not the university.

Should I have a new certificate?
Is it valid or not in german embassy? or I have to take a new exam? Because of lockdown there was no B2 exam.
GEK:You should try to give a new exam. If there is no B2, you can take the B1 exam and submit the fresh B1 certificate and the old B2 certificate.

I want to raise questions on present issue. If aufnahme is to be given in online, then should we give it from our country or we can go to Germany and give there. Please clarify this.
GEK: You should do the aufnahmetest online from Nepal If you the receive a confirmation, the application process is much quicker.

Another student's feedback: this should be the case every time. Going to Germany just to participate in the Aufnahme is really costly. A lot my friends have spent thousand of euros in Germany because they could not pass the Aufnahme test and have sadly returned to Nepal. This all could have been avoided if the Aufnahmetest was in Nepal. And maybe next time Embassy could host the Aufnahme test just like in Vietnam.
Thank you so much . Have a nice day

I have completed 4 years Bachelor's in civil engineering .but have poor grade. Can I apply for Bachelor's program in Germany in English medium. Is there any problem in visa if I redo the Bachelor's program again in Germany?
GEK: It depends on whether a German university accepts you. If you get an acceptance letter from a university and have the requested financial funds, the visa is usually issued.

Is the German language necessary for Master's programme or one can apply with IELTS and related language test?
GEK: German universities offer study courses in English and in German - it's your choice! If you chose an English course you need to submit an English language certificate (IELTS or TOEFL), if you chose a German study course it has to be a German language certificate (Goethe or VHS).

Do we need our birth certificate? It is mentioned but not highlighted in the checklist.
GEK: It is better if you submit it.

Namaste! I already have my student visa, however, I have been postponing my entry to Germany because of the spike in COVID-19 cases. I am taking my classes online from Nepal. I wanted to know what could I do to extend my visa because I am afraid I would enter Germany within my visa period.
GEK: A visa cannot be extended. If you are not using an issued visa, you need to reapply for a new visa. However the issuance of the second visa would be easier since you already have all the documents.

Can student with A2 passed apply for learning B1 in Germany.
GEK: Usually no, you should try to do B1 in Nepal.

Can a thirteenth year degree be in any stream if one wishes to study BIT in Germany?
GEK: You would need to contact the German university that you have in mind directly and ask if you qualify. You can always apply for a visa if you have an admission letter.

Can one apply for student Visa while studying B1?
GEK: No, B1 is minimum

Is the Migration Certificate is required for the studienkollege? But in the checklist is is not mentioned?
only HSEB certificate and mark sheet are mentioned. Also for visa interview,  is migration mandatory?
GEK: A migration certificate is not needed.

How about if the visa is expired, and can't use because of COVID-19. Can I get the visa again..how much sure I get the visa again? Is it sure I get the visa again?
GEK: You need to file a new application. If nothing much has changes compared to your last application, a new visa should be possible.

Why German embassy doesn't provide student visa when candidates are nervous during interview time.? Authorities know Deutsch is not even our second language, it is our 3rd language and it's normal to be nervous when we're going to face interview in foreign language.
GEK:  if you are planning to move to a foreign country and to study in German language, you should be able to give relevant information during the interview - how else will you succeed in your studies? If you are going to study in English language in Germany, the interview will also be in English - and same, if you are planning to do an academic degree in that language you have to be able to answer the simple questions of the visa interview.

Can we bring our spouse with us while pursuing masters degree? What is the procedure?
GEK: Unfortunately you cannot sponsor your spouse while being on a student visa - only if you would receive a scholarship or stipend!

thank you so much. But, What if my spouse could fund her living expenses and accommodation by herself during her stay in Germany until I would be able to sponsor her?
GEK: Unfortunately it is still not possible, since the student visa category cannot sponsor spouses . however if your wife manages to find employment in Germany, she might be eligible for employment visa.

Any possibilities to get working visa in Germany?

GEK: There is, check here..

Hi, what about english proficiency ? Is PTE (Pearson test of english ) is acceptable by German embassy ?

GEK: Usually you should have an IELTES or TOEFL.

Three years of Bachelor's degree of BSW (Bachelor of Social Work), can I apply for Master's?
GEK: if a German university accepts you and issues you a letter - yes!

How do we connect?

GEK: VIA HERE

B.P. Koirala India- Nepal Foundation - Translator Written Job Experience

Here's the experience of a candidate who appeared in the Written Examination of B.P. Koirala India- Nepal Foundation for the position of translator. 
 
B.P. Koirala India- Nepal Foundation had advertised vacancy for the position of translator on 16th March  2021. It conducted the written exam for the same on 12th April at Nepal-Bharat Library, NAC Building, New Road Gate. 

In the written examination, candidates were asked to translate a piece of English text to Nepali, Nepali passage (press release) to English, to write essay on the socio-economic situation of Nepal post Covid-19 (in English) and essay on ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Nepal and India (in Nepali). The questions were thoughtfully set to assess the overall command of both Nepali and English languages of the candidates.

The Nepali text that was given to translate to English was taken from current constitution of Nepal (76:-Constitution of Council of Ministers), which was meant to check the candidates' ability to translate legal documents. Here's the Nepali Text that was given and its translated version, taken from the website of Nepal Law Commission.

(Below is the translated text)

1) The President shall appoint the leader of a parliamentary party that commands majority in the House of Representatives as the Prime Minister, and the Council of Ministers shall be constituted under his or her chairpersonship.

(2) In cases where no party has a clear majority in the House of Representatives under clause (1), the President shall appoint as the Prime Minister a member of the House of Representatives who can command majority with the support of two or more parties representing to the House of Representatives.

(3) In cases where Prime Minister cannot be appointed under clause (2) no later than thirty days after the date of declaration of the final results of election to the House of Representatives or the Prime Minister so appointed fails to secure a vote of confidence under clause (4), the President shall appoint as the Prime Minister the parliamentary party leader of the party which has the highest number of members in the House of Representatives.

(4) The Prime Minister appointed under clause (2) or (3) shall obtain a vote of confidence from the House of Representatives no later than thirty days after the date of such appointment.

(5) In cases where the Prime Minister appointed under clause (3) fails to obtain a vote of confidence under clause (4) and any member under clause (2) presents a ground on which he or she can obtain a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, the President shall appoint such member as the Prime Minister.

(6) The Prime Minister appointed under clause (5) must obtain a vote of confidence under clause (4).

The second question required us to translate a part of the press release of  sixth meeting of the Nepali-India Joint commission, from English to Nepali language.

Here's the part of the text given, taken from the website of Ministry of External Affairs, India.

The sixth meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission was co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal H.E. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali in New Delhi on 15 January 2021. The two delegations included Foreign Secretary of India, Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Mr. Bharat Raj Paudyal and other senior officials from both sides.

The Joint Commission comprehensively reviewed all aspects of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and explored ways to further strengthen the traditionally close and friendly ties. Both sides discussed several areas of cooperation including in the areas of connectivity, economy and trade, power, oil and gas, water resources, political and security issues, border management, development partnership, tourism, culture, education and capacity building. The significant and concrete progress made since the last meeting of the Joint Commission in taking forward several bilateral initiatives was acknowledged.

The close cooperation between the two sides in combating Covid-19 pandemic in the region was noted. Nepal congratulated India on the remarkable success in production of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines in India and requested for early provision of vaccines to Nepal.

And third question asked us to write 150 words essay about the socio-economic situation of Nepal post Covid-19 in English, and final question asked us to write an essay in Nepali,  and the question was नेपाल भारत सम्बन्धलाई थप बलियो गर्न के गर्नुपर्ला आफ्नो बिचारहरु लेख्नुहोस्।

Interview Experience

The same candidate was shortlisted based on the performance of the written exam for the interview. Here's his experience.

 On the interview day first as soon as I got in the NAC Library, I was taken to the computer and my Nepali and English typing skills were tested. I was given 5 minutes to type one paragraph in Nepali and one paragraph in English. Candidates were asked to type as much as they can within the given timeframe. For the Nepali, I used unicode Nepali to type, but the font they happen to use was Preeti. And the paragraphs were the same that were given in the written examination.

After typing the took a printout of the paragraphs and gave the paper to the interviewers. The interviewer then called for for the interview. There was one Nepali interviewer and another Indian. 
First I was asked to tell me about myself...

Then, I was asked if I had related job experience...And then about my family Background. Since, my father was an ex-serviceman of the Indian Military, the Indian interviewer asked a few questions related to it. He also asked about my siblings and what they were doing and how long will I work for them, my salary expectations and so on.

He also asked questions such as what kind of political course of action would be good for Nepal? How do you see the recent future of Nepal? This job requires working early sometimes are you flexible?

And the Nepali interviewer asked if I read Nepali newspapers regularly and Name of 3 major political parties of Nepal. In the end he also asked about the difference between two Nepali words Amantran and Mantrana.

  

Working conditions of Nepali workers in Poland and Romania - The Kathmandu Post stories

Now many Nepali youths are going to Poland and Romania for work. I found two pieces on The Kathmandu Post's website exclusively on Poland and Romania which could help prospective workers to know more about these countries. Things are way different in reality from what recruiters tell you here. So, it's always advisable to do your own homework and see if the country is really appropriate for you. Click the links below to know about the working conditions in the respective countries. 

Poland

Nepali migrant workers find themselves entangled in Poland’s red tape

Romania

The road to Romania is bumpy and once there, workers are exploited too

The stories reveal that, It is very difficult to save up and send money back home from Poland. Living condition is also poor with 4 workers sharing the same room. Agents are charging workers up to NPR 5 to 13 lakhs carrying out informal transactions thereby making it difficult to prove fraud.

The article also mentions that, the the case of Poland the salary is way less than what recruiters in Nepal tell NPR 60,000 (vs NPR 275,800, amount manpower agents say that workers will get in Poland). Actually, workers get PLN 2,000 and agents in Nepal, in order to trick workers into applying, say that they would get 2,000 Euros in Poland, which is very misleading.

Moreover, the article also mentions that red tape is a major challenge for Nepali workers in Poland. If you want to change your job, you need to apply for a new work permit, and that, in Poland's case take months.

As for Romania, the TKP story suggests that workers are exploited with them having to work many hours more than what is mentioned in the contract. Although, Romanian hiring companies pay commissions to agents and airfare for the workers, deceptive manpower agents make workers pay a large sum (almost NPR 5 lakhs) of additional money as well. In Romania Nepali workers are working as much as 12-hours, without even taking toilet breaks and after pandemic, some workers have not been paid for four months. There's no labour agreement between Nepal and Romania. Some agencies also give false promises of PR  and provisions to bring families to Romania to workers. Read the full story clicking the link above.

How much money a Nepali student loses if his/her Canadian student visa gets rejected?

Photo by
Karolina Grabowska
 from Pexels

 Now there's a fad for applying abroad without weighing in the pros and cons of it and possible financial damages it can cause. For most consultancies and agents students are milch cows and they only care about the money. There are some consultancies/agents, who genuinely care about students and provide genuine and expert guidance and only take applications that have good odds of succeeding, tell students clearly about everything beforehand and let students make an informed decision. Clearly, such consultancies/agents deserve respect.

It is important that students know how much money they will lose in the processing if their student visa to Canada is denied. Here's the tentative amount, given by a student. It might vary, and be even more depending on your case.

1. Consultancy Charge (if you use one) - NPR 25,000 (Twenty-five thousand).
2. Offer Letter Charge - NPR 5,000 (Five thousand)
3. Certificates from Ward Office: NPR 11,000 (Eleven thousand : varies from one ward to another)
4. No Objection Letter: NPR 2,000 (Two thousand)
5. Translation (of Lalpurja and other income related documents that are in Nepali) and notary costs : NPR 5,000 -NPR 10,000 (Five to Ten Thousand)
6. CA Audit Report cost: NPR 2,500 (Two thousand five hundred).
7. Bank Balance Certificate with income source : NPR 50,000 (Fifty Thousand) (If you intend to take a loan, add interest for the loan).
8. VFS Charges
   DEMAND DRAFT 
   Student visa: INR 7,890 = NPR 12,624
   Biometric Fees: INR 4,470 = NPR 7152
   VFS Processing Charges = NPR 1000 (learn about the current charges from VFS)
9. Nepal Government Tax (2%) + Bank Charges while sending fees of 6 months to Canada: NPR 15,500
10. Administration Charges deduction by university while reimbursing (refunding) tuition fees including money transfer costs: Almost NPR-60,000-70,000 (Sixty to seventy thousand) 
    
    There will be a lot of hidden charges as well like travel expenses and other. So altogether, an applicant will lose around NPR 2 Lakhs 50 thousand to 3 lakhs, if his/her visa gets rejected. It's a huge sum and applicant needs to be prepared for it. 
    
    I have not taken into account the IELTS fee charged by British Council Nepal which is NPR 23,000 for Paper-Based test and NPR 21,500 for Computer-delivered test and Passport charge for first passport NPR 10,000 if taken from Department of Passports in 3 days because you can use those documents later as well. However please note that IELTS Test Score has a 2-year validity, and you need to retake the test if you decided to apply after 2 years.
    
    Please write a comment below if I am missing any and to update the new changes in the fees and others.
    
    Check this out too if you have not yet. (Document Checklist for Canada). 
    https://nepalihal.blogspot.com/2021/04/list-of-documents-required-for-nepali.html
    

Indian Embassy Kathmandu - Assistant Post - Written Examination Experience of a candidate

I had applied for the position of an assistant in the Indian Embassy by Email. Because that time due to pandemic situation, Embassy of India, which would normally ask for paper application, had entertained online applications. I sent my Cover Letter, CV, academic documents and a passport size photograph to the email provided. Normally, vacancies are published on national newspapers and Embassy of India, Kathmandu's official website. I hope my experience helps you get a general idea of how the exam is conducted in Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Nepal. 

I had applied in January, and I got called for the written exam regarding that job in April. Hence it can be  understood that hiring process is rather long.

I received a call from an individual from the Embassy. He told me to come at Kendriya Vidhyalaya for the exam with my Citizenship card at 10:30 am.

Until that point, I did not know anything about the format of the exam. I did not even know whether to dress formally or casually.

Hence, I decided to dress semi-formally and went for the exam. There was airport-like security check-up in the main entrance of Kendriya Vidhyala. I was required to enter my name in the ledger and then I was told to go to the main exam building inside the main gate.

When I went there there were invigilators to receive us. They directed me to the exam room. There were already some examinees seated. The vacancy announcement was for two positions of Assistant and there were almost 20-30 examinees.

Before the exam started, they checked my ID card to verify I am the genuine applicant.

The exam lasted for like 30-45 minutes. And all the questions were multiple choice questions covering subject matters such as English, Mathematics, IQ, Computer and GK. For every correct answer we would get 3 points and 1 point penalty for every incorrect answer. 

For the English section first question was, if I remember correctly, changing from active voice to passive voice and the sentence given was

We must endure what we cannot change

There were four options given, I do not remember them all but I circled the box
What cannot be cured must be endured.

Second question was on synonym. I was asked the synonym of ‘dubious’ to which I answered ‘doubtful’.

Third question was on antonym of the word 'Futile' and my answer was fruitful. Also, there were 2 questions based on English Idioms and their meanings. First idiom was “In high spirits” and its meaning and I forgot the second idiom, I couldn’t answer its meaning as well.

Then IQ questions were asked. From what I remember there was one question about finding how is A related to B is A is C’s mother and so on.

Here’s the sample question I copied from the internet so that you get an idea. For more such questions visit this site. Logical Question.

A is B’s brother. C is D’s father. E is B’s mother. A and D are brothers. How is E related to C?
a) Sister b)Sister-in-law c)Niece d)Wife

I suppose there were two questions on relations.

And there was also a question on direction like the following question.

A man walks 5Km towards north and then turn to the right. After walking 3Km he turns to the left. Now in which direction is he facing?
A. North B. South C. West D. East


Another question was like this 9 * 12 = 36
9* 15 = 15 and we needed to find out an unknown value. And one was about number sequence. Visit this site to learn similar problems HERE.

As for mathematics, there were questions covering various topics like Area and volume of a cylinder, Equations and inequalities, proportion.

And 2 questions were like x men can finish work in 10 days and y women can finish the same work in 20 days..
Example 2 men and 3 women can do a piece of work in 10 days while 3 men and 2 women can do the same work in 8 days. Then, 2 men and 1 women can do the same work in ……

And I guess there was also a mathematical / Physics related question about angle of observation or something, which I don’t remember clearly.

From computer section, the questions covered the basic knowledge about computer. Like who is the founder of WWW, and another question read

The process of transferring files from a computer on the Internet to your computer is called

A) Downloading, B) Uploading C)FTP d)downsizing

And the last one question was from GK, which was, what’s the name of the only novel written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota?, and the Correct answer was Champa.

IELTS Writing - Sample 9 (Before and after map)

 This questions comes from Cambridge IELTS book 9.

The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities.

Image:-Ielts-mentor.com

The diagrams illustrate some changes to a small island which has been developed for tourism.

It is clear that the island has changed considerably with the introduction of tourism, and six new features can be seen in the second diagram. The main developments are that the island is accessible and visitors have somewhere to stay.

Looking at the maps in more detail, we can see that small huts have been built to accommodate visitors to the island. The other physical structures that have been added are a reception building, in the middle of the island, and a restaurant to the north of the reception. Before these developments, the island was completely bare apart from a few trees.

As well as the buildings mentioned above, the new facilities on the island include a pier, where boats can dock. There is also a short road linking the pier with the reception and restaurant, and footpaths, connect the huts. Finally, there is a designated swimming area for tourists off a beach on the western tip of the island.

(175 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1- Sample 8 (Life Cycle of the Silkworm)

Sometimes, instead of Bar Graphs and Line Graphs you can also get a question like this in IELTS Writing Task 1. Here's the question and sample answer.

The diagrams below show the life cycle of the silkworm and the stages in the production of silk cloth.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Images:-ielts-mentor.com

Model Answer

The first diagram shows that there are four stages in the life of the silkworm. First of all, eggs are produced by the moth and it takes ten days for each egg to become a silkworm larva that feeds on mulberry leaves. This stage lasts for up to six weeks until the larva produces a cocoon of thread around itself. After a period of about three weeks, the adult moths eventually emerge from these cocoons and the life cycle begins again.

The cocoons are the raw material used for the production of silk cloth. Once selected, they are boiled in water and the threads can be separated in the unwinding stage. Each thread is between 300 and 900 metres long, which means they can be twisted together, dyed and then used to produce cloth in the weaving stage.

Overall, the diagrams show that the cocoon stage of the silkworm can be used to produce silk cloth through a very simple process.

(Answer Provided by RTC ENGLISH, Lazimpat Kathmandu)

IELTS Writing Task 1 - Sample 7 (Pie Chart)

 You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task.

Look at the figures for the proportion of people involved in agriculture, as shown in the pie charts below.

(Model answer from an actual Nepalese student)

The pie charts compare the percentage of agricultural workers in developed and developing countries in 1950, 1990 and 2025. Basically, the figures show that developed countries always have lesser proportion of people engaged in agriculture than developing countries and with time the proportion decreases for both (countries).

In 1950's, a large percentage of people, i.e. 81.1%, in developing countries were engaged in agriculture. After 40 years in 1990, the figure dropped to 59.6% and it is estimated that the numbers will continue to fall. In fact, the percentage may decline to 37% in 2025. 

The trend is same for developed countries. In 1950's more than 1/3 of the population was involved in agriculture but by 1990's, the proportion dropped by almost 4 times to 8.4%. The proportion has been estimated to slump to 2% by 2025. This decrease in agricultural workers might decline the agricultural productivity. On the second thought, if technology does replace the labourers the rate of unemployment will increase.

Corrected Version

The pie charts compare the percentage of agricultural workers in developed and developing countries in 1950, 1990 and predicts for 2025. The figures show that developed countries always have a lesser proportion of people engaged in agriculture than in developing countries and with time the proportion decreases for both country areas.

In 1950, a large percentage of people, i.e. 81.1%, in developing countries were engaged in agriculture. After 40 years, the figure dropped to 59.6% and it is estimated that the numbers will continue to fall. In fact, the percentage may decline to 37% in 2025.

The trend is the same for developed countries. In 1950, more than one third of the population was involved in agriculture, which matches the forecast for developing countries in 2025. By 1990, the proportion dropped by almost 4 times to 8.4% and the proportion has been estimated to slump to 2% by 2025. 

(150 words) 

Note: Last 2 sentences were removed as they are the writer's opinion which is not part of the task.

IELTS Writing Task 1- Sample 6 (Strong and Weak answer samples and assessment).

 The graph below gives information about changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand between 1901 and 2101.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

Write at least 150 words.

Sample A

The graph gives information about changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand between 1901 and 2101.

In 1901 the birth rate was 20,000 and the death rate was 9,000. In 1961 the birth rate reached a peak of 66,000 while the death rate was 23,000. In 2001 there were 55,000 births and 38,000 deaths, and in 2061 there were 60,000 deaths and 48,000 births.

At the end of the period there were 58,000 deaths and 45,000 births.

Both the births and death rates changed between 1901 and 2101. Perhaps this was because a lot of people did not want to have children.

(105 words)

Assessment

This is a weak answer which would score a low IELTS band. Problems.

• under length.
• introduction is copied from task
• no comparison between figures
• no focus on general trends
• no reference to the future (see projection on graph)
• conclusion tried to explain information rather than summarise it
• poor linking of ideas (only done by time markers)
• limited range of grammar and vocabulary. 

Sample B

The graph shows changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand since 1901, and forecasts trends up until 2101. It can be seen that the death rate will probably overtake the birth rate in around 2041 and the large gap between the two levels will increase with time.

Between 1901 and the present day, the birth rate has been consistently higher than the death rate. It stood at 20,000 at the start of this period and increased to a peak of 66,000 in 1961. Since then the rate has fluctuated between 65 and 50 thousand and it is expected to decline slowly to around 45,000 births by the end of century.

In contrast, the death rate started below 10,000 and has increased steadily until the present time. This increase is expected to be more rapid between 2021 and 2051 when the rate will probably level off around 60,000, before dropping slightly in 2101.

(166 words)

Assessment
This is a strong answer which would score a high IELTS band. Good points.

• fulfils criteria for length
• introduction is paraphrased
• main sets of data are compared and contrasted
• clear focus on the different trends
• important features of the graph, (e.g. cross-over point) included
• information summarised in conclusion
• well organised information
• range of linkers and referencing expressions
• good range of vocabulary and structures, used accurately
  

IELTS Writing Task 1- Sample 5 (Model Answer with guidelines).

The chart below shows the different levels of post-school qualifications in Australia and the proportion of men and women who held them in 1999.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparison where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

 

This is the model answer provided by teacher at RTC ENGLISH with guidelines.

1.  Re-Write / rephrase the title/task (try to make it simpler and more straightforward.
   The bar chart compares the levels of qualifications that are available in Australia after school and the percentages of male and female students who studied for those qualifications in 1999.
   
   
2. Identify the main points described by the data ( look for a pattern in the data and describe it).
   Overall, men obtained more qualifications than females. In addition, more women than men studied at the undergraduate level and a far higher proportion of men obtained post-graduate level credentials.
   
   
3. Describe the data in a clear and organised way (are you describing change or difference - in this case a difference but in the past tense).
   Far more males studied for a vocational diploma, 90%, while only one in ten students was female, 10%.
   Undergraduate diplomas and degrees were more popular with women. Twice as many women, over 70%, studied for an undergraduate diploma than men. The difference was less significant at the degree level, where over 50% were female and just below 50% for males.
   
   The majority of post-graduate students were men. 70% of post-graduate diploma students were male, more than twice as many as women, and 60% of Master's degree students were men and 40% were female.
   
   
4. Write at least 150 words.
   152 words

IELTS Writing Task 1- Sample 4

The graph shows typical levels in enthusiasm, confidence and ability of students attending a ten-week IELTS course. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.

Here's my answer with teacher's feedback.
 

IELTS Writing Task 1 - Sample 3

The graph below compares figures for the production and consumption of energy in the US from 1950 to 2013. It also predicts figures to 2023.

Describe the information in the graph, comparing and contrasting production and consumption levels.

You should write at least 150 words.

Here is my sample answer. I have forgotten to mention imports, which will reduce score in the real rest. Also, I have not divided the main body into paragraphs, which I should correct.

Another sample from a Nepalese student (corrected version)

The graph shows the changes in the amount of energy produced and consumed in the US since 1950 and projects trends until 2025.

Both the production and consumption of energy has been increasing. The gap is projected to be wider in the future, as we can see that consumption is consistently higher than energy produced in US (should be: in the US) . The deficit of energy is compensated by the imports ( by imports : do not use the).

In 1950, US (the US) produced 25 units of energy which has now increased to around 70 units in the year 2013. The energy production is anticipated to increase steadily to 90 units in 2025. It showed fluctuation for a small period time (period of time) in the years following 1975.

On the other hand, consumption of energy was above 25 units in the starting year. Since then, the consumption has been increasing consistently until the present year (add: reaching just below 100 units). In the following years, the demand is expected to rise sharply and by 2025, 140 units of energy is expected (are expected) to be consumed in US (the US).

(Uncorrected 165 words, corrected 173 words)

IELTS Writing Task 1- Sample 2

 Here's another sample answer with teacher's feedback. Please note that you can only spend 20 minutes on this task, so plan accordingly.

WRITING TASK 1 

The charts show the share of the Australian and British cinema markets in 2001 and cinema admissions in Britain and Australia from 1980 to 2001. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information. You should write at least 150 words.

IELTS Writing Task 1 -Sample 1

 

The charts below give information about travel to and from the UK, and about the most popular countries for UK residents to visit.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words.

My Answer with instructor's Correction

Model answer provided by my instructor at RTC ENGLISH with Guidelines.

1. Re-write / rephrase the title / task (try and make it simpler and more straightforward).

The graph shows the number of UK citizens who travelled overseas and the number of visitors to the UK between 1979 and 1999. The bar chart shows the most popular overseas destinations of British people.

2. Identify the main points described by the data ( look for a pattern in the data and describe it).
It can be seen that overseas travel by UK citizens grew substantially over the period and that the most popular destinations ( apart from the USA) were in Europe. Visits to the UK also increased, but at a slower rate.

3. Describe the data in a clear and organised way ( are you describing change or difference in this case a difference, but in the past tense).

In 1979, over 10 million overseas journeys were made by UK citizens. By 1984, this increased to 20 million and after that the rate of increase grew. In 1999, over 50 million UK residents traveled overseas.

There was a similar rate of increase in the number of people visiting the UK. In 1979, the number was 10 million and this number increased slowly until approximately 1986 and then the rate of increase became more marked. In 1999, almost 20 million people visited the UK.

By far the most popular destinations for UK residents in 1999 were France ( with approximately 11 million visitors) and Spain ( just under 10 million). The third most popular destination was the USA ( approximately 3 million visitors) followed by Greece and Turkey.

4. Give a summary statement.
In summary, overseas travel by UK residents grew five-fold between 1979 and 1999 while the number of visitors to the UK doubled. The most popular destinations for the British were France and Spain.

5. Write at least 150 words.

(232 words) in this answer.