Levels of foreign language proficiency. English language levels

Do you want to know if your knowledge corresponds to the Intermediate level? Take ours and get recommendations that will help you improve your English language skills.

Intermediate is the level required by most employers

Intermediate - what level is this? How to determine whether your knowledge corresponds to this level?

The Intermediate level of English, which is designated B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, comes next after Pre-Intermediate. The name of this stage comes from the word intermediate, the translation of which is “middle”. Thus, Intermediate is the so-called “average” level of language proficiency, which allows you to speak English quite fluently, discuss many professional and everyday topics, and understand by ear almost everything said in English at a normal pace. Language proficiency level B1 allows you to take entrance exams to Russian universities and preparatory courses abroad. However, the most important thing is that virtually all employers require that their potential or actual employees know at least Intermediate English.

We recommend starting to study English at the Intermediate level if you:

• speak fluently, able to carry on a conversation, but choose your words, so you want to “talk”;
• you have a good vocabulary, but you can’t always use it easily; you often have to consult a dictionary;
• correctly understand the questions of a foreign interlocutor and the English speech in the recording, but only if the speaker speaks clearly and measuredly;
• understand the basic grammar of the English language and operate with different tenses of English, but feel unsure of more complex grammar;
• have studied English at this level for a long time, remember a lot and now want to brush up on your knowledge;
• recently completed a course of studying English at the Pre-Intermediate level.

Material that people with knowledge of English at the Intermediate level should know

How to determine that you know English at level B1? The table indicates what knowledge a person with an Intermediate level should have.

If you are not sure that you have all the knowledge required at this level, we recommend checking to see if your knowledge of the English language is at level .

The Intermediate level program involves studying such topics in the training course

How will your speaking skills develop during the Intermediate course?

The Intermediate level is a kind of key stage at which the student really begins to “get off the ground” in speaking skills (Speaking skills). At this stage you become a “talking” student. If you want to speak fluently, try to speak as much as possible in class. Don’t be afraid to reason and express your point of view, try to use complex colloquial clichés.

Concerning vocabulary (Vocabulary), in addition to general spoken vocabulary, at the Intermediate level you study the so-called “general business” English - widely used words that are associated with communication in the business sphere. In addition, the “intermediate” level is rich in various phrases, idioms, figures of speech and set expressions. You remember not just words, but entire phrases in context, learn to construct new words using prefixes and suffixes. Much attention is paid to the ability to explain the meaning of a word in English, name its synonyms and antonyms.

Listening(Listening) is still a problem for many students starting at the Intermediate level. Audio texts at this level are much longer than texts for the Pre-Intermediate level, however, long tracks are divided into parts for which different types of tasks are offered. An Intermediate student can understand factual information related to work, school, and everyday life, recognizing both the general meaning and specific details; in this case, speech may be with a slight accent.

Concerning reading(Reading), the Intermediate level allows you to understand fairly complex, although still adapted, texts, but you can try to read non-adapted literature. At level B1, a simple retelling of the text read is no longer enough; you need to be able to give your assessment, express an opinion for or against, imagine yourself in the place of the characters, etc. All texts for reading at the Intermediate level are a kind of “context” for consolidating and automating the use of the vocabulary being studied and grammar.

Another aspect that receives a lot of attention is letter (Writing). You will learn how to compose English sentences not only in colloquial style, but also in formal style. Level B1 usually includes the following written tasks:

• Describing a person
• Telling a story
• An informal letter
• Describing a house or flat
• Formal letter and CV
• A film review
• An article for a magazine

At the end of the Intermediate level, the student will be able to successfully use English in a variety of standard situations and clearly express his opinion. In addition, he will learn to write letters, fill out declarations, questionnaires and other documents that require providing basic information about himself, take part in negotiations, make presentations and correspond with native speakers. Knowledge of English at the Intermediate level is a good achievement and provides a variety of opportunities, such as an advantage when applying for a job. From this level you can begin to prepare for exams and.

Duration of training at the Intermediate level

The duration of studying English at the Intermediate level may vary, it depends on the initial knowledge and personal characteristics of the student. On average, the training period is 6-9 months. It is the Intermediate level that is considered a strong base, the final stage in the formation of vocabulary and grammatical knowledge. Further levels are the deepening and expansion of active and passive vocabulary, immersion in the subtleties and nuances of the language.

To make sure that this course of study is right for you, we recommend taking ours, which tests basic English skills. And if you want not only to accurately find out your level of knowledge of the English language, but also to improve it, we suggest enrolling in our school. The teacher will determine your level, weaknesses and strengths and help you improve your knowledge.

Any student of English dreams of speaking it fluently and communicating with native speakers on equal terms. The famous Italian polyglot Luca Lampariello will share his secrets for achieving this level.

A foreign language at the native level - isn’t this the level every student strives for? Understanding all the subtleties of the language, grasping the shades of meaning is what beginners and experts stubbornly try to achieve. However, not everyone even understands what is hidden behind the meaning of the expression “speaking like a native speaker.” Demonstrating a high level of language proficiency in an exam, reading books in the original or watching films without subtitles, people can get confused in a simple conversation with a foreigner. However, you should not despair in trying to get closer to such a high bar. By knowing what a native speaker level requires and using specific strategies, every learner can achieve high results.

Who is a native speaker?

When talking about language proficiency levels, we often recall a table where the highest level is the designation C2, which is defined as “native speaker level.” What does it mean? First of all, it shows that you have a fairly rich vocabulary, certain reading and writing skills, understand speech by ear and formulate an answer quickly enough. All these indicators, unfortunately, characterize you not as a carrier, but as a highly educated person.

The situation is that even half of the English-speaking population is far from level C2, and a certain percentage is unable to read or write in this language, nevertheless being a native speaker. Conversely, having a certificate will not protect you from difficult language situations.

A native speaker is someone who thinks in the target language. This manifests itself in small things: facial expressions during a conversation, dialogues with neighbors, shopping, and more. Of course, you can achieve such heights only by living abroad among those for whom the language you are studying will be native. But there are a few tips that will help you get closer to the ideal without wasting time.

The Four Knights Paradox

Asking the question “Do you speak English?” (“Do you speak English?”), we are often inclined to attribute to our interlocutor the ability to both read and write in this language. But, as noted above, in order to express yourself calmly, it is not necessary to have a high level of literacy.

What is needed to feel at ease when dealing with foreigners? This is where the so-called “four knights” paradox comes in handy.

Every language has four aspects, four skills that must be mastered to become fully proficient. This is the ability to listen, speak, read and write in that language. This is your language army of four knights. Imagine that a foreign language is a fortress that you need to capture. Sending only one warrior to attack or sending them to capture the castle in turn is not as productive as attacking on all four fronts at once. Therefore, when studying a foreign language, pay equal attention to the development of these skills.

Strategies for Successful Language Acquisition

Mastering a foreign language no longer seems like an impossible dream when you understand how necessary it is to do it. There are several useful tips that guide polyglots and those who want to quickly and efficiently master a new language.

• Skill development. In the previous paragraph of the article, the “four knights” were identified, the foundation necessary for mastering any language. It is important not to focus on the development of one of them, but to deal with them in parallel;
• Fluency. A factor such as fluency of speech allows one to judge the degree of language acquisition. But to quickly build a phrase, it is not necessary to master the language perfectly. The level of general fluency, when you can freely express yourself on everyday topics, is accessible to everyone. Next comes the level of personal fluency, reflecting the specifics of your type of activity (the words that you use in your profession). The highest level allows you to speak fluently, demonstrating your broad knowledge;
• Time. It is its lack that is referred to when it comes to learning foreign languages. In fact, it’s not so difficult to allocate 5, 10, 20 minutes a day that we spend on social networks or TV. Learn a dozen new words, read a foreign newspaper or listen to the radio - any of these actions will become a building block in your foundation for mastering a foreign language. The main thing is to do this regularly.

And finally

If you set a goal to learn a language at a native level, be prepared to spend time and energy on this activity. Focus on those aspects of the language that will really help you when communicating with foreigners. The ideal option is immersion in the language environment, mastering the language from the inside, taking into account the behavioral characteristics of native speakers. But even without living abroad, you can get closer to this level with a minimum of effort.

You can learn more about this from the video lecture by Luca Lampariello:

What helps you quickly learn a new language? What obstacles did you encounter on your way to perfect language proficiency? We are waiting for your stories!

They say that there are no peaks that cannot be taken, but there are those that we do not want to take. Have you already decided to conquer the pinnacle of English - the Advanced level? Great, then we will make sure that your journey is easy and fun. In this article you will find 65 interesting and useful resources for learning English at a high level, and before that you will find out what a high level of knowledge means and what opportunities it opens up for you.

What does a high level of knowledge mean?

To begin with, we would like to tell you how a high level of knowledge differs from previous levels and what opportunities the treasured “advanced” English provides. Of course, there is a higher level of proficiency - Proficiency, however, to achieve it, you need to “live” English, that is, minimize communication in your native language. Goals should be realistic and achievable, so we suggest you focus your efforts on the Advanced level for now.

So, what can you do at a high level of English:

1. Talk on any topic

   If previously you could only talk about topics that were familiar to you, then at Advanced you can talk fluently and competently about anything. At the same time, you can easily construct complex, detailed sentences and freely use introductory words and any constructions in speech.

2. Talk naturally

   We all want to speak English naturally, like native speakers do. However, at lower levels it was important to “talk”, to learn how to construct sentences competently and quickly. At a high level, you “polish” your speech, that is, give it the most natural sound possible. So, you can appropriately use idioms, phrasal verbs, stable combinations, and this makes your speech lively and expressive.

3. Use complex grammatical structures in speech

   Grammar is the thread on which you “string” words in order to ultimately get beautiful and literate speech. At a high level, you not only know English tenses, but confidently use various grammatical structures. For example, you know how to use inversion, mixed types of conditional sentences, modal verbs with perfect infinitives, etc. That is, grammar is no longer a set of rules, but a tool that helps you accurately express your thoughts.

4. Express your thoughts freely in writing

   At a high level, you can easily write business and personal letters, essays, etc. You are familiar with their structure and have sufficient vocabulary and knowledge of grammar to clearly and competently express your thoughts in writing.

The Advanced level opens up the following opportunities for you:

1. Easy to understand English

   You can open, for example, Forbes, read and understand any article without the help of a dictionary or translator. And all because at a high level you already have enough knowledge to read literature on any subject, including professional ones. In addition, now you don’t have to wait for the translation of the next blockbuster or episode of your favorite TV series: on the day of the premiere, you can watch the video in English and enjoy getting to know the real voices of the characters. That is, a high level of knowledge gives you a kind of ticket to the world of literature, cinema, and music in English.

2. Apply English in real life

   High-level English opens up unique opportunities for you: you can study abroad, work in a prestigious foreign company, or conduct scientific research abroad. By the way, having one of the international exam certificates will make achieving these goals much easier.

3. Receive a prestigious international certificate

   “Advanced” knowledge of English makes it possible to pass the FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS or TOEFL exam, that is, to achieve the important ultimate goal of language learning. Moreover, the exam is an independent assessment of your knowledge, so the certificate is highly valued both within our country and abroad.

4. Study for free

   Educational sites like coursera.org, udemy.com or open2study.com offer a variety of free online courses. So you can gain professional knowledge for free and without leaving home or simply study information on a topic that interests you: from the basics of physics and chemistry to fitness and cooking. And during your studies, you will greatly expand your vocabulary and practice your listening comprehension skills - you will receive additional benefits for your English.

What resources to use at a high level of English

The main difficulty in learning English is choosing truly effective and convenient resources for studying. There are so many different language learning sites on the Internet that many are confused: “What to choose?” That's why we've made for you a selection of 65 proven resources that our teachers recommend using. Check it out and choose the ones you like.

For you, we have compiled the TOP 10 “best of the best” sites that will help you achieve the desired Advanced:

1. Engvid.com - educational videos from native speakers.
2. Ted.com - video lectures and podcasts on a variety of topics.
3. Dailywritingtips.com - a blog for English learners.
4. Lingualeo.com - a resource with exercises and materials for learning English online.
5. Vocabulary.com is a site for learning new words.
6. Urbandictionary.com is an English-English dictionary that includes a large number of slang expressions.
7. Bbc.co.uk - podcasts from the BBC.
8. Theguardian.com is an online newspaper in English with articles on various topics.
9. Grammarly.com is a spelling and spelling checking site.
10. Flo-joe.co.uk is a resource for preparing for English language exams.

The 10 resources presented will be enough for you to improve your knowledge. However, as you may have noticed, none of the sites will help develop oral speech. How to work on it? Our school constantly receives many requests from students who want to study English at a high level, so we know from our own experience how to improve speaking at this level. Starting from the Upper-Intermediate level, the greatest effect comes from classes with native speakers. With foreign teachers, our students learn to speak fluently and naturally on a variety of topics, expand their vocabulary with relevant words and expressions, and master high-level grammar. If you also want your speech to sound at an “advanced” level, we invite you to. In addition, you can try to find yourself an interlocutor on sites like polyglotclub.com or italki, however, they mostly communicate with English language learners, not experienced teachers.

Well, now let's plunge into the rich world of resources for learning English at a high level.

1. Universal resources

To get you started, here's a list of resources that can help you work on listening, writing, reading, vocabulary, and grammar simultaneously. And below you will see sites where you can improve a specific skill. We think you already know perfectly well what “works” best for you, so you can choose the optimal materials for learning English at a high level.

• “Upstream” Upper-Intermediate and Advanced;
• “New English File” Advanced;
• “New Total English” Advanced;
• “Speakout” Advanced.

• Engvid.com is one of the world's most popular sites for learning English. Go to the “All Lessons” section, select the 3-Advanced level in the left menu and watch lessons from native speakers, expand your vocabulary and understand complex grammar.
• Advanced English with JenniferESL- videos for an advanced level from native English speaker Jennifer, which are devoted to learning complex grammar, vocabulary and improving listening skills.
• Dailywritingtips.com is a wonderful blog for English learners. Here you will find useful information about the peculiarities of using different words, punctuation marks, pronunciation of complex words, as well as articles for increasing your vocabulary.
• Lingualeo.com is a well-known resource where you can learn new words and phrases, listen to podcasts and watch videos, and study grammar. In addition, you can download the application of the same name and practice English on your tablet or smartphone.
• Memrise.com - the site offers courses of different levels for learning English, including quite complex ones. For example, you can take a Business English course or a 400 Word TOEFL course. You will definitely find a lot of new things for yourself there. This resource also has an application, we recommend you try using it.
• Mooec.com - interesting interactive English lessons on various topics. As a rule, they present sets of various videos or articles. The lessons are divided into several stages, at each of which you need to take a test to check your understanding of what has been learned.

2. Resources for learning new words

A rich vocabulary filled with relevant vocabulary will make your speech more emotional and natural. This is especially important at a high level: you are no longer just learning standard “survival” phrases, but learning to communicate fluently in English. Now you need to study and actively use phrasal verbs, frequently used idioms, and also slang words in informal communication. One more nuance: at a high level, you must be able to describe the same phenomenon in different words, that is, if necessary, paraphrase your speech, choosing synonyms.

• “English Vocabulary in Use” for Upper-Intermediate and Advanced levels;
• “Oxford Word Skills” Advanced;
• “English Collocations in Use” Advanced;
• “English Idioms in Use” Advanced;
• “English Phrasal Verbs in Use” Advanced.

• Vocabulary.com is one of the most convenient sites for learning new words. In the “The challenge” section you can test your vocabulary, in “The dictionary” you can find definitions of unfamiliar vocabulary. You can also create your own mini-dictionary and learn only certain words you need. The site has an application where you can also learn new vocabulary.
• Vocabahead.com is a resource that helps you learn high-level difficult words. For each word there is a short video that will help you better understand the meaning of the vocabulary and remember it. The site also has a mobile application for Android and iOS.
• Urbandictionary.com is the most comprehensive dictionary of English slang. If you like to watch TV series and films, read books in the original, then it will be difficult to do without the help of urbandictionary. Find out more about good dictionaries from our article "".
• Englishvocabularyexercises.com - tasks to increase your vocabulary. Here is a list of frequently used high-level vocabulary.
• English-test.net - interesting tests on knowledge of words on various topics, as well as idioms, slang and phrasal verbs. You can not only check all the answers, but also listen to them in order to remember them better.
• Grammarist.com is a resource for those who like to read in English. Here you can find interesting articles about set expressions, words that are used incorrectly or confused, as well as cases of tautology in the English language. Such knowledge may seem difficult for beginners, but it will be useful for you to “polish” your speech.

3. Materials for studying grammar

Many people think that tenses are the most difficult part of grammar. However, this is not true: there are much more difficult topics that you need to understand at a high level. To do this, use good textbooks and support your theory learning with practical exercises and tests.

• “Advanced Grammar in Use”;
• “Oxford Practice Grammar Advanced”;
• “Advanced Learners' Grammar”.

• Grammarbook.com is a blog dedicated to teaching English grammar. There is theoretical information, videos with detailed explanations of all grammatical structures, as well as tests where you can check how well you understand the theoretical material.
• Grammar-quizzes.com is a site where you will find many grammar tests and theoretical explanations.
• Esl-lounge.com - exercises and tests on advanced level grammar.
• Speakspeak.com - grammar and vocabulary tests for Upper-Intermediate and Advanced levels.
• Englishteststore.net - online grammar tests. We recommend completing tasks from the Advanced grammar section.
• Nonstopenglish.com - tasks on grammar and vocabulary for a high level of knowledge.
• Esolcourses.com - a variety of exercises for people with a high level of knowledge.
• Dictionary.cambridge.org - one of the best English dictionaries can also help you learn grammar. When you enter some words, you will see a “Grammar” section, which briefly and clearly explains the grammatical topic associated with the word you are searching for. For example, when you enter the word little, you will receive help about the difference between the words little, a little, few, a few.
• The application “3350+ English Grammar Practice” for Android and “English Grammar Test” for iOS are voluminous collections of grammar exercises for 3 levels of English knowledge.

4. Materials for the development of listening comprehension

We are sure that you can already perceive the speech of Americans and British by ear. However, if you listen to the English of a resident of a non-English-speaking country, then because of the accent it is not always possible to understand what he is saying. In addition, understanding rapid speech by ear can be difficult even at a high level.

• Ted.com is perhaps the best site for podcasts on various topics. We recommend that you do not dwell only on what interests you, but challenge yourself and watch videos on topics unfamiliar to you, then you will meet new words and can also expand your vocabulary. Also pay attention to the lessons from ted, they will appeal to those who like to spend time productively.
• CNN Student News - news from the famous CNN company especially for English learners. Here you can watch videos with high-quality subtitles, as well as read the transcript (text for the video) and learn useful vocabulary.
• BBC Radio 4 - BBC radio is ideal for those who want not only to listen to interesting information, but also to enrich their vocabulary with useful expressions.
• Learnenglish.britishcouncil.org - professional podcasts from the BBC. Recordings with complex vocabulary and fast pace of speech. Each material has a recording text, so you can use it if you have difficulty listening.
• Podcasts.ox.ac.uk - podcasts from the famous Oxford University. Similar to the previous materials, complex topics are raised here, and the language of presentation is academic and difficult.
• Waywordradio.org - podcasts in English about the origin and use of English words, idioms, slang, proverbs, etc. Here you can not only practice your listening skills, but also expand your vocabulary - kill two birds with one stone (kill two birds birds with one stone).
• Talkenglish.com - listening exercises with verification tests. You need to listen to the dialogue, complete 4 tests and check your answers, after which you can read the text of the recording. These are excellent exercises to prepare for the Listening portion of the exam.

5. High-level reading sites

Texts in English are some of the most interesting materials for learning a language. Their value is that you see how various grammatical structures and words and phrases that are unfamiliar to you are used in context. This way, new vocabulary will be easy to remember, and you will see how English grammar “works” in practice. So let's see what will be useful for you to read.

• At a high level, the main resources for reading are English magazines and newspapers that interest you. Firstly, we learn English so that we can read whatever we want. Secondly, such publications are the best sources of “living” language. When reading, for example, The Guardian, you will come across expressions and new words that you can write down for study, this will allow you to expand your vocabulary with really high-level vocabulary. We recommend reading the publications from the articles “” and “”.
• Englishteststore.net - excellent advanced articles with reading comprehension tests. Each task contains 10 texts with tests, so get ready for hard work.
• Esl.about.com - advanced level articles with various exercises for reading comprehension, finding errors or learning new words.
• Esl-lounge.com - texts with a variety of tasks for people with an advanced level of knowledge.

6. Materials for the development of written speech

Good written communication is a must for people at a high level of English. No matter how quickly and wonderfully you speak this language, the ability to clearly and competently express your point of view in writing is an equally important indicator that you have approached the level of an educated native speaker.

• “Successful Writing” Upper-Intermediate;
• “Successful Writing” Proficiency.

• Spelling and spelling checking services. No one to check your essay? Try expresso-app.org, onlinecorrection.com, grammarly.com or languagetool.org. They will help you identify mistakes and produce a perfect written paper.
• Theeasyessay.com is a site that will help you learn how to write essays. Just fill in the required data, and in the end you will receive a finished text. This will allow you to study the structure of the essay and understand exactly how to express your thoughts in it.
• Esl.about.com - practical advice from native speakers on how to improve your writing.

7. Resources for preparing for international exams

One way to achieve a high level of English is to prepare for an international exam such as FCE or CAE. These exams are taken for the sake of knowledge, and not “for show,” that is, you will seriously prepare for them, study complex topics and grammatical structures, phrasal verbs, idioms, etc. You can use such knowledge in real life, because when preparing you will only learn relevant vocabulary and grammar. Besides, “high level” is a rather vague concept, and the goal should be specific and achievable, so passing the exam is a great goal to set for yourself.

• Objective First;
• Gold First (new edition);
• Complete First;
• Compact First;
• Objective Advanced;
• Gold Advanced;
• Cambridge English Advanced Result;
• Cambridge Grammar for CAE and Proficiency.

• Splendid-speaking.com - a resource for improving oral speech. Here you can learn words and common expressions, listen to how to answer exams, and also get useful information on how to pass the Speaking part.
• Flo-joe.co.uk - website for preparing for Cambridge exams. You can take tests, learn tips on preparing for the selected exam. In addition, here you can study the structure of typical written works and try to write an essay. Give this work to your teacher for review so that he can tell you what exactly you need to work on.
• Esl-lounge.com is a resource where you can test your knowledge and find out whether you are ready to take a particular exam. You will be offered exercises similar to the exam tasks, as well as answers to them, so you can work with the site materials without outside help.
• Examenglish.com is a site where you can practice taking an international English language exam. You will become familiar with the exam format and practice completing tasks in each part (except Speaking).
• Englishrevealed.co.uk is another resource with exercises similar to the Cambridge exams. Practice and take the exam.

Before you start talking about the levels of the English language, you need to immediately agree that they cannot be driven into a strictly defined framework. No one can tell you that if you learn 15 more words, your level will no longer be beginner, but intermediate. And in general, no one judges the level of language proficiency only by the volume of vocabulary. Therefore, if you were told that you successfully passed the exam at the Intermediate level, then you can boast with full confidence to your friends that you have the Upper-Intermediate level, that is, its initial part.

To a person inexperienced in teaching methods, it may seem that there is absolute confusion in the classification of language proficiency levels. So, for example, if you take the famous grammar book "English Grammar In Use" by Murphy (blue bound version), on the cover of which it is written "for intermediate students" (for intermediate students), you will notice that this textbook covers material which is quite enough to pass the FCE exam, for which the courses prepare Advanced level students. This begs a logical question: aren’t there several classifications of English language levels? Let's look at their classification and lift the veil a little over the mysticism that hovers over determining the level of the English language.

There is an organization accredited by the European Commission for Education ALTE(The Association of Language Testers in Europe), which has developed a general scale of levels of proficiency in foreign languages. This scale divides all students into six levels: A1 (Breakthrough level), A2 (Level 1), B1 (Level 2), B2 (Level 3), C1 (Level 4) and C2 (Level 5), covering the range from basic to almost perfect level of language proficiency.

The Cambridge exams are tied to this scale. British publishers of dictionaries for learners of English, reference books and collections of exercises on grammar, vocabulary, etc. also rely on this scale. In general, it is used for almost all types of teaching aids, except for one large group: basic English courses.

In simple terms, basic English training courses are the well-known Top Notch, True Colors, Headway, Cutting Edge, Streamline English, True to Life, Reward, etc. These textbook series use their own English language level scale. It consists of six levels: Beginner or Basic, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate And Advanced. Almost all English courses that use a communicative approach are guided by this scale.

Is it possible to find out the correspondence between this scale and the one proposed? ALTE? Yes, the approximate ratio is presented in the table below.

Comparison table of English levels

As can be seen from the table, the Advanced level, which is offered by almost all language courses, corresponds to only the average level on the scale ALTE.
Let’s say right away that you shouldn’t be upset, dear English language learners, since all organizations and educational institutions that work with people for whom English is not their native language are familiar with the scale below and are aware of these differences in levels. And if you are going to study at a university in an English-speaking country or get a prestigious job directly related to the use of language knowledge, then they won’t ask you much about your language level - they will need results TOEFL, IELTS etc.

All these exams have their own gradation and correspond to the last levels on the scale ALTE. In the case of preparation for TOEFL or IELTS, we usually talk about passing the exam to a certain score. Preparation courses for Cambridge exams - FCE, CAE, CPE - last at least an academic year each, and it is understood that each of these levels takes you to a qualitatively new level of language proficiency. Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) is a document confirming that you speak English almost as fluently as your native one.

The last level that can be achieved is Post-Proficiency. It describes people who know English almost perfectly, at the level of an educated native speaker. At this level, when communicating in English, difficulties may arise only on a cultural level: for example, the meaning of a joke may slip away if it plays on a quote from a TV show, film or book. A Post-Proficiency student rarely makes mistakes when using English, but he practices a lot so as not to lose his skills. There is no further gradation of levels; you will simply be called a “native English speaker”.

Below is a description of English language proficiency levels as recommended by the British Council:

• Beginner
• Elementary
• Pre Intermediate
• Intermediate
• Upper Intermediate
• Advanced

Beginner level

Conversation

• say your name and personal details
• answer basic questions (what’s your name, how old are you, etc.)
• count to one hundred

Understanding

• Know the alphabet and be able to spell words
• Understand basic sentences and questions

Level Elementary

Conversation

• Learn and provide brief information about yourself and others
• Find out and provide brief information of a non-personal nature
• Express your thoughts so that you are understood and ask for clarification of this or that situation so that it becomes clear to you what is being said
• Express simple ideas and feelings
• Speak with a pronunciation that everyone can understand
• Use the language to communicate and solve problems in any English-speaking country

Understanding

• Capture the main meaning of listening in class
• Understand the main key points of listening
• Read short texts and grasp main ideas.

Letter

• Compose sentences correctly
• Write a postcard, e-mail, small request or notification
• Write a short description about yourself
• Start a phone conversation wisely

Pre Intermediate level

Conversation

• Speak with clear pronunciation
• Provide personal and abstract information
• Clearly explain that you don’t understand something
• Understand the explanation of certain issues in situations of misunderstanding
• Express your thoughts and feelings clearly
• Operate with basic communication situations

Understanding

• Understand the main idea of ​​the text
• Clearly distinguish between stress, sounds and intonation
• Read simple texts and understand main ideas

Letter

• Describe a situation, place or person
• Formulate your attitude towards objects, problems and people
• Write a postcard, formal/informal letter, e-mail, request, apology or petition
• Write about yourself
• Construct a sentence clearly and grammatically by coordinating words with each other

Upon completion of this level, students can prepare to take the international Cambridge exam PET(Preliminary English Test).

Intermediate level

Conversation

• Find out other people's opinions, attitudes and emotions and express your own
• Express misunderstanding of the situation and ask for clarification
• Express your ideas in a simple way
• Speak with clear and understandable pronunciation for others
• Express emotions and feelings using stress and intonation
• Correctly combine words in a sentence in spoken and written English

Understanding

• Understand the main ideas in listening exercises in class
• Understand main points and general meaning from context and recognize content
• Recognize and distinguish the pronunciation of a person speaking English
• Improve the ability to understand and distinguish between informal and formal written and spoken language in a variety of situations

Letter

• Fill out various papers: declarations, questionnaires, etc.
• Write letters, postcards
• Write informational formal and informal letters
• Write down the sequence of events, write stories
• Describe people, places and situations
• Supplement the presentation of a particular situation with personal comments
• Express thoughts and attitudes simply and grammatically correctly

Upper Intermediate level

Conversation

• Record and provide information under various circumstances
• Use formal and informal language in different situations
• Discuss with two or more people and be able to carry on a conversation
• Catch your own shortcomings and mistakes in pronunciation
• Speak with a small number of grammatical and lexical errors and be able to correct them during a conversation (with explanation)

Understanding

• Understand the main ideas of the text the first time
• Understand by ear the relationships and emotions expressed in the text
• Pick up different regional accents
• Perceive and conduct a telephone conversation
• Read newspapers and magazines and understand basic key points
• Distinguish between styles: conversational, formal, street, etc.
• Draw conclusions from what you read

Letter

• Writing formal and informal letters
• Write basic instructions and instructions
• Write a short review of a movie or story
• Operate with simple and complex syntactic structures
• Use different styles in writing letters and stories
• Express thoughts clearly and grammatically correctly so that the listener can easily understand what is said

Upon completion of this level, students can prepare and take international Cambridge exams IELTS(International English Language Testing System), FCE(First Certificate in English) and American exam TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Advanced level

Conversation

• Use formal and informal styles to suit the place and time
• Speak with a limited number of grammatical and lexical errors
• Speak fluently on various topics
• Know and be able to put into practice idiomatic expressions and established phrases or phrases
• Operate with the phonological features of the language, be able to highlight with intonation or place logical stress in accordance with the laws of the language at the place in the sentence to which you want to draw the interlocutor’s attention.

Understanding

• Understand key points the first time and recognize the speaker’s attitude and opinion on the issue
• Evaluate intonation and draw conclusions about the speaker’s feelings and emotions

Letter

• Write official and informal letters, e-mail and convey your own feelings and emotions in accordance with the canons of etiquette
• Write a narrative
• Write discursive essays, e.g. by logical conclusions
• Compile reports, write articles and reviews of books, films, events

Upon completion of this level, students can take the Cambridge exam CAE(Certificate in Advanced English), and also prepare for the exam CPE(Certificate of Proficiency in English).

Answer from TheQuestion partner

This question can be answered from two different angles depending on what you mean by the word “native”. Often a “native” is a person who knows a language at the C2 level. This means that he can:

It is easy to understand everything that one hears and reads;
- easily structure information from any oral and written sources and reproduce it verbatim;
- freely express your thoughts even in difficult and emergency situations.

Sometimes a native is understood as a person who speaks without an accent. If we are talking about reaching level C2, then long and hard work awaits you. If we are talking about speech without an accent, then you need to increase your vocabulary and sign up for Received Pronunciation courses, where they hone their accent. Read about Received Pronunciation Can .

What needs to be done to achieve C2?

(the picture is described in detail in Russian below)

1. Start with basic knowledge: words and expressions that are used every day. And, of course, grammar, which will help you express your thoughts accurately. The main advice is not to learn individual words and grammar, but to memorize phrases and even whole sentences. This will help you understand sentence structure better.

2. Achieve excellence in any topic that concern you. Let's say you work in marketing and collect postcards around the world. You must be able to speak and discuss these topics fluently. These are also topics related to your loved ones.

When we talk about micro environment, this is reading books in a foreign language, communicating with people. For example, it is often said that when your boyfriend or girlfriend is a native speaker, it helps a lot. He/she will be able to teach you the expressions and abbreviations that native speakers use, and will suggest watching films/series that are popular in a particular country.

At busuu we create a micro-environment for our users through communication with native speakers. All exercises that our users do are verified by native speakers. This way you learn new words, expressions, grammar and learn to use them correctly.

When we talk about macro environment, here we are already talking about life in the country whose language you are learning. Until you are faced with the problems that ordinary people face, many words and expressions cannot be learned. That is, how to fill out a declaration at the bank, how to ask to stop at the desired stop, and so on.

And further little advice: To speak a foreign language as a native speaker, constant training is required. The main mistake that those who learn a language make is studying once a week, but for several hours.

This way, your knowledge is not stored in your long-term memory and you have to learn everything several times. We recommend exercising every day for at least 10 minutes. This way you will create a linguistic atmosphere for yourself, and your brain will quickly get used to the foreign language.

speaking a foreign language as a native speaker is difficult, but it is possible :) first you just need to determine what you need it for: to assimilate comfortably in a new country or to talk with foreigners from time to time and feel on top? for the second there is a fairly common vocabulary and lack of accent, but for the first you will need a lot of knowledge.

The most effective way would be to immerse yourself in the environment - move to a country where they speak the language you want to learn. this way it’s much easier to master the basics, develop an accent (you will hear it every day), because you will have to speak a new language every day and everywhere - in the store, at the post office, etc. It is best to enroll in courses - this way your knowledge of the language will be systematized. I talked to several self-taught people who spoke at an acceptable level, but they still lacked knowledge of the simplest rules. although, of course, you can go to courses and not learn anything... besides the courses, you should study at home - repeating the rules, homework, listening (for example, you can watch cartoons/bloggers/movies/porn) and reading (I would advise starting with newspapers like Metro - short articles, clear language). As for the accent, it’s more complicated: it’s very good if you have an excellent music. rumor, but even this may not be enough. Personally, phonetics classes helped me - they happen in language courses. The Russian accent is very expressive, it will be difficult to get rid of it, especially if you are learning a language from the Slavic group. but accent is very important, as I noticed, people first of all pay attention to the melody of speech. if it is as it should be, then some small errors in grammar miraculously go unnoticed.

we took courses, read newspapers, watched films, talked to people. it is likely that you will have B2 after this. a lot of people stop there because, essentially, that's enough. but what if you want even better? There is only one answer: university. you need to learn to write smart and long texts, make long and smart presentations and read thick and smart books, COMPLETELY immersing yourself in the environment. Honestly, I don't know how to do this without university. in my case it was a specialty closely related to language. because what is C2? This is not only an excellent knowledge of grammar and sufficient vocabulary, but also knowledge of the realities of the country (Landan from the Capitals of Great Britain will not be enough), the ability to distinguish semantic nuances between synonyms, a basic understanding of the history of the language and, of course, the ability to switch between different language styles (and, most importantly, between languages ​​- native and foreign). it's all very long and tedious, so you need to really want it. really WANT.