English proficiency levels. Intermediate: what does it mean, what level of English is it?
At what level do you need to speak English? Who needs this and why?
What does language proficiency at one of these levels indicate and who even invented them? Where to go to study?
How to link language proficiency levels with the international certification system?
What are language certificates and where can I get them?
This year, my colleague decided to enroll in a master's program in finance. Like all perfectionists, he made life as difficult as possible for himself: for admission he chose a serious university and a course that was taught in English.
The problem was that the university’s website clearly stated “TOEFL and professional interview”, and my colleague’s command of English, in my estimation, was at the level of “Landon from the Capital City of Great Britain”.
To find out the level, a teacher from a well-promoted language school was invited, who, after two hours of testing and interviews, pronounced “confident Intermediate”. At this point I was very surprised and once again plunged into thinking about how deeply foreign languages penetrate into our lives, and not only now, and not only English. And how important it is to own at least it... At what level should you own it? What are these levels and what does language proficiency at each of them indicate? And how to link language proficiency levels with the international certification system?
WHAT WILL WE MEASURE IN?
We measure the immeasurable. How can you assess your level of language proficiency? By number of words? Of course, this is an important criterion. But Lev Shcherba and his “glok kuzdra” almost a century ago proved to the whole world that the main thing in a language is grammar. This is the backbone and the foundation. But to have a conversation, read a book or watch a movie, the basics are not enough. If you don’t know the vocabulary, the meaning of what is happening will still elude you. So again, vocabulary?
In fact, both are important, and also knowledge of the history, culture and modern realities of the country whose language you are studying - this is what your competencies are made of.
Each of us has heard something about language proficiency levels. For example, in English one of the initial levels is Elementary, in Hebrew the stages of study are named by the letters of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph, bet, gimel, etc.), and in Polish they correspond to the pan-European classification (from A0 to C2).
In addition to the system of divisions into levels for each individual language, there is also a pan-European classification. It describes not the amount of grammatical knowledge, but what knowledge and skills a person has, how well he reads, perceives speech by ear and expresses himself. It is impossible to formulate evaluation criteria common to all languages, such as “he knows this from grammar, but knows how to handle vocabulary like this.” European languages, although close to each other, have their own characteristics: the presence/absence of genders, cases and articles, the number of tenses, etc. On the other hand, the existing similarities are enough to create a common assessment system for the whole of Europe.
EUROPEAN LANGUAGES: LEVELS OF LEARNING AND PROFICIENCY
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: learning, teaching, assessment(Common European Framework of Reference, CEFR) is a system of levels of foreign language proficiency used in the European Union. The corresponding directive was developed by the Council of Europe as a main part of the project “Language Learning for European Citizenship” between 1989 and 1996. The main purpose of the CEFR system is to provide an assessment and teaching method applicable to all European languages. In November 2001, a resolution of the Council of the European Union recommended using the CEFR to create national systems for assessing language competence.
Today, this classification offers us three levels, each of which has two sublevels:
■ Beginner (A1)
In class. The student understands and uses phrases and expressions necessary to perform specific tasks. (Remember, in foreign lessons: “Sit down, open your textbooks”? That’s it.) He can introduce himself and introduce another person, tell and answer simple questions about his family, home. Can support a simple dialogue - provided the other person speaks slowly, clearly and repeats three times.
In life. Yes, this is the level of Where are you from and London is the capital city of Great Britain. If in a foreign country you can call yourself by name, tell the cafe that you want tea, point your finger at the menu, ordering “this,” and ask a passerby where the Tower is, this is the level of survival. “Tu tickets tu Dublin,” so to speak.
■ Below average (A2)
In class. The student understands individual sentences and frequent expressions related to the main areas of life (information about himself and family members, purchases in a store, general information about work), and can also talk about this and maintain a conversation on everyday topics.
In life. At this level, you can already answer the standard question of the seller in the store (Do you need a package?), withdraw money from an ATM if there is no menu in your native language, clearly tell the seller at the market how many kilograms of peaches you need, instead of gesticulating expressively , you can find your way around the city, rent a bike and much more.
Free dialogue about Nietzsche is still a long way off, but, as you noticed, the key word in defining this level is basic. From now on, your knowledge will be enough to survive in a foreign city.
■ Medium (B1)
In class. The student understands the essence of messages clearly formulated in literary language. Message topics: everything that surrounds a person during work, study, rest, etc. Being in the country of the language being studied, he can communicate in most standard life situations. Can compose a simple message on an unfamiliar topic, describe impressions, talk about some events and plans for the future, justify his opinion on any issue.
In life. The name of this level - self-sufficient mastery - suggests that you will be able to be in a foreign country and act independently in most situations. Here we mean not only and not so much shops (this is the previous level), but also trips to the bank, post office, going to the hospital, communicating with colleagues at work, teachers at school, if your child studies there. Having attended a performance in a foreign language, you are unlikely to be able to fully appreciate the acting skills and talent of the director, but you will already be able to tell your colleagues exactly where you went, what the play was about and whether you liked it.
■ Above average (B2)
In class. The student understands the general content of complex texts on abstract and concrete topics, including highly specialized texts. He speaks quickly and spontaneously enough to communicate with native speakers without much effort.
In life. In fact, this is already the level of language that most people use in everyday life. We don’t discuss string theory or the architectural features of Versailles with our colleagues at lunch. But we often discuss new films or popular books. And the great thing is that now they will be available to you: you don’t need to look for films and publications adapted to your level - you can handle many works yourself, not only modern ones. But reading specialized literature or fully understanding the terminology of the House Doctor series is, of course, still a long way off.
■ Advanced (C1)
In class. The student understands voluminous, complex texts on various topics, recognizes metaphors and hidden meanings. Can speak spontaneously, at a fast pace, without searching for words. Effectively uses language to communicate in professional activities. Knows all the ways of creating texts on complex topics (detailed descriptions, complex grammatical structures, special vocabulary, etc.).
In life. At this level, you can participate in seminars, watch films and read books without restrictions, and communicate with native speakers as freely as with your compatriots.
■ Professional (C2)
In class. The student understands and can produce virtually any written or oral communication.
In life. You can write a dissertation, give a lecture and participate along with native speakers in discussions on any general or professional topic.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE: LEARNING AND PROFICIENCY LEVELS
The classification of English language proficiency levels is somewhat different. It is not always clear what English course teachers mean when they promise you to achieve the Advanced level from scratch in a year, and what the employer wants if they indicate the Upper-Intermediate level in a vacancy announcement. To clarify, let’s compare the levels of proficiency in European languages and English (see table).
Beginner
Yes, this level is not indicated in our table. This is the beginning of the beginning. There is no talk of any language proficiency at this stage, but this is the foundation on which the house will be built - your language proficiency. And how strong this foundation is will determine how beautiful, large and reliable this house will be.
■ Knowledge and skills at the Beginner level. At this level you will start by learning the alphabet, English phonetics, numerals and basic
features of grammar: three simple tenses, direct word order in sentences, absence of cases and genders.
Pay special attention to phonetics, try to understand how intonation differs in interrogative and declarative sentences.
Practice your pronunciation. Once you learn a language well, a terrible accent will not only spoil the experience, but also make communication difficult. Then it will be much more difficult to correct it.
■ Training period. Typically, it takes about four months of group study to acquire such a wealth of knowledge. By studying with a tutor, this result can be achieved much faster.
■ What is the result. If an Englishman asks you on the street to help him find the embassy, you will be upset, because you will still understand the word “embassy”, and he will pronounce everything else in such a way that you are unlikely to recognize him as an Englishman at all.
Elementary
This level corresponds to level A1 in the European classification and is called the survival level. This means that if you get lost in a foreign country, you will be able to ask and then follow the directions to find your way (in case your phone with a navigator dies), you will be able to check into a hotel, buy groceries not only in the supermarket, but also at the market, where you will have to deal with the seller albeit in a short, but quite lively dialogue. In general, from now on you will not be lost.
■ Knowledge and skills at the Elementary level. If you have reached this level, you already know much more.
■ Our recommendations. In pursuit of vocabulary, do not try to skip over grammar - it only seems simple at first, but in fact, as the level of complexity increases, many nuances appear. If you do not pay attention to them, it will be difficult to eradicate errors in speech later.
Learn numerals and how to form them until they are completely automatic.
Write down the names of the objects that surround you in a dictionary and memorize them. So you can ask a hotel for a pen or a needle and thread, offer a guest a glass of water, or buy an avocado at the market, not just “this one,” but an avocado.
Training period: 6-9 months depending on the intensity of training and your abilities.
What is the result. Now our Englishman has a real chance to get to the embassy.
Pre-Intermediate
This is the “pre-threshold level”. That is, you somehow got onto the porch. Now you stand before the threshold, and your main task is to step over it. This is true in any language, not just English. At this level it suddenly becomes really difficult. A lot of new vocabulary appears, and the amount of grammar knowledge that the teacher diligently puts into your head increases significantly. New information hits you like a wave. But if you go out now, you are almost guaranteed to learn this language.
■ Knowledge and skills at the Pre-Intermediate level. At this level, the list of your knowledge and skills is significantly expanded.
In fact, we can say that language proficiency begins at this level. You will not only survive in an unfamiliar city and be able to make new friends, but you will also begin to independently improve your level of language knowledge. You will begin to understand what vocabulary is missing in the first place, you will clearly see your weak points and will already know what you need to do to improve them.
In addition, here we can already talk about the use of language in work. A secretary who speaks English at the Pre-Intermediate level may not be able to call the hotel to clarify the reservation details, but he will definitely be able to write a letter to them. He will also be able to write a message about the meeting, receive guests and engage in small talk, which is so popular in the English environment.
■ Our recommendations. Never give up! You can handle it. If you realize that a certain topic is not easy for you, do not be too lazy to figure it out - by contacting a teacher, or on your own, or with the help of numerous Internet resources. Without any tests, you will suddenly discover how much you already know and how much you can already do. At this moment, you can safely step across the threshold - move to the next level.
■ Training period: from six to nine months. And here it is better not to rush.
■ What is the result. Our Englishman is guaranteed to get to the embassy thanks to your recommendations. You will also be extremely pleased with yourself.
Intermediate
This is the first self-sufficient level. Congratulations if you speak the language at this level. This means that you have entered a new world where many amazing discoveries await you. Now boundaries are a convention for you. You can make acquaintances in all corners of the globe, read news on the Internet, understand jokes in English, comment on photos of friends from the USA on Facebook, chat in a general chat with friends from China and Peru while watching the World Cup. You have found your voice.
■ Knowledge and skills at Intermediate level. In addition to what was listed at previous levels, you know and can do the following:
It’s not for nothing that many employers require the Intermediate level. In essence, this is the level of free communication in the office (unless, of course, you are in the habit of discussing the principle of operation of the power steering over coffee). This is the level of working with documents and maintaining a free conversation on general and general professional topics.
Yes, as long as it's not fluent. You still select words in your mind, use a dictionary when reading books - in words, until you can “think in language”. And no, it won't make it any easier for you. But it will become really interesting for you. You won't be able to stop anymore.
■ Our recommendations. At this level, you can increase your stock of professional vocabulary. A solid vocabulary on the topic of discussion automatically and very noticeably increases your level of language proficiency in the eyes of your interlocutor. If you have somewhere to apply your knowledge (work, study, hobby), do not neglect this opportunity. Remember also that language is living, it is constantly evolving.
Read not only adapted classics, but also books by modern authors in English, watch videos on topics that interest you, listen to songs.
■ Training period: 6-9 months.
■ What is the result. Perhaps you have half an hour - why not accompany this nice English gentleman to the embassy.
Upper-Intermediate
This is the first level of language proficiency, sufficient for trouble-free living in another country. You can chat with your neighbors, go to a party, and even go to the theater. Not to mention work. Most professionals who receive job offers in another country have at least this level of language proficiency.
■ Knowledge and skills at the Upper-Intermediate level. So, what new do you know and can do:
In fact, B2 is already fluent. No, of course, there are still restrictions. It’s unlikely that you can handle “House” or “The Big Bang Theory” - they have a lot of special vocabulary, and even wordplay. But after watching a classic play, you will not only understand what it’s about, but you will also be able to enjoy the actors’ performances.
You'll stop listening to half your favorite songs because you'll realize how crap the lyrics are. Your world will become much larger, not to mention the fact that with this level there is a chance to go to work abroad and enroll in a foreign university.
Read as many literary texts as possible to make your speech rich and imaginative. This will also help you make fewer mistakes in writing - constantly encountering a word in the text, we remember how it is spelled.
Spend a holiday in the country of your target language and speak as much as possible there. It is best to take some kind of intensive language course, for example in Malta. But this is a very expensive undertaking. On the other hand, it is in such places that you can make useful business contacts. So consider spending on such a trip as an investment in a happy future.
■ Training period depends on so many factors: your efforts and abilities, as well as how intensively you study and how good your teacher is. You can do it in a year.
■ What is the result. While walking with the Englishman to the embassy, we chatted casually and even giggled a couple of times.
Advanced
This is the level of fluency in English. Above it is only the level of the carrier. That is, when you master the language at this level, there will be almost no one around you who knows the language better. After all, it’s true that 80% of your communication in English occurs not with native speakers, but with those who, like you, learned it. As a rule, graduates of the Faculty of Philology with a degree in English speak the language at this level. What does fluency mean? The fact that you can speak on any topic, even if you have almost no understanding of the subject. Yes, like in Russian. Having reached this level, you can receive one of the certificates: CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), IELTS - 7-7.5 points, TOEFL - 96-109 points.
■ Knowledge and skills at the Advanced level
Congratulations, you have found freedom! For everyday life and office work, this level is quite enough. You will clearly explain to your boss why you need a salary increase, and to your English husband why it seems to you that he does not love you.
■ Our recommendations. Having reached this level, you not only speak the language, you can think in it. Even if for some reason you do not use it for a long time, you will completely restore all your knowledge on your own in a short time.
■ What is the result. You had a pleasant time escorting the Englishman to the embassy and chatting with him along the way. And they didn’t even notice that he had a lisp.
Proficiency
This is the level of an educated native speaker. Educated is the key word. That is, this is a person who graduated from a university and has a bachelor's degree. The level of Proficiency is close to the level of proficiency of a native speaker. As a rule, only people who graduated from university in the country of the language they are studying know it this way (and even then not always).
■ Knowledge and skills at the Proficiency level. If you know a language so well, this means that you can take part in scientific conferences, write scientific papers, and get a scientific degree in the country of the language you are learning.
Yes, this is exactly the level of "Doctor House" and "The Big Bang Theory". This is the level at which you will not have any difficulties in communication: you will equally well understand a grandmother from Brooklyn, a professor from the University of Massachusetts, and an Englishman who, on the way to the embassy, will tell you why he considers her to be untenable
big bang theory. Having proficiency in the language at this level, you can receive a CPE certificate, IELTS (8-9 points), TOEFL (110-120 points).
■ Job prospects. As you can see, if you write “fluent” on your resume, the employer will decide that you have at least an Upper-Intermediate level. The funny thing is that your level may be lower, and he will not notice it, since most often the employer needs an employee with English at the level of “Good afternoon. Would you like tea or coffee?”, but in the requirements for the applicant he writes “fluent.”
Fluency in the language is required when working as an expat or in a foreign company. Or if you are entrusted with the responsibilities of not only a personal assistant, but also a translator. In all other cases
For high-quality performance of your duties and a comfortable stay in the office, the Intermediate level is quite enough.
It is also very important to remember that even if you know English at the Upper-Intermediate (B2) level and above, when preparing for negotiations, speeches, or conversations on a specialized topic, you need to create a glossary.
Perhaps you have ever noticed that some translators do not translate some phrases during negotiations. Most often, these are irresponsible translators who were too lazy to prepare and learn new vocabulary. They just don't understand what we're talking about.
But some mining engineer at the same negotiations, who is familiar only with the Present Simple, may turn out to be much more useful than a professional translator. Because he works with technology, knows all the words, draws a diagram on a piece of paper with a pencil - and now everyone understands each other. And if they have AutoCAD, they don’t need a translator, or even Present Simple: they will understand each other perfectly.
CERTIFICATES FOR LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE
What certificates are we talking about here all the time? This refers to official documents confirming your knowledge of English.
■ CAE(Certificate in advanced English) is an English language exam developed and administered by the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) unit at the University of Cambridge.
Developed and first introduced in 1991. The certificate corresponds to level C1 of the Common European Classification of Languages. The validity period of the certificate is unlimited. Required for admission to universities where education is taught in English, and to get a job.
Where to get a certificate: in Moscow, the CAE exam is accepted by Education First Moscow, Language Link, BKC-IH, Center for Language Studies. Other educational organizations also accept, but they work only with their students. A full list of centers where you can take the exam is available at: www.cambridgeenglish.org/find-a-centre/find-an-exam-centre.
■ CPE(Certificate of Proficiency in English) is an English language exam developed and administered by the University of Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) unit. The certificate corresponds to level C2 of the Common European Classification of Languages and confirms the highest level of English language proficiency. The validity period of the certificate is unlimited.
Where to get a certificate: the Moscow Institute of Foreign Languages offers courses and exams: www.mosinyaz.com.
Testing and exam preparation centers in other cities in Russia and the world can be found at: www.cambridgeenglish.org/find-a-centre/find-an-exam-centre.
■ IELTS(International English Language Testing System) - an international testing system to determine the level of knowledge in the field of English. The good thing about the system is that it tests knowledge in four aspects: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Required for admission to universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland. And also for those who plan to go to one of these countries for permanent residence.
Where to get a certificate, see here: www.ielts.org/book-a-test/find-atest-location.
■ TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language, Test of Knowledge of English as a Foreign Language) - a standardized test of knowledge of the English language (in its North American version), the passing of which is mandatory for non-English-speaking foreigners upon admission to universities in the USA and Canada, as well as Europe and Asia . The test results are also accepted in a number of other English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries for admission to universities with English as the language of instruction. In addition, the test results may be used when recruiting for foreign companies. The test results are stored in the company database for 2 years, after which they are deleted.
The certificate also assesses language proficiency in four aspects.
Where to get a certificate: www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=TOEFL.
WHERE TO GO TO STUDY?
This is the most important question. Of course, if you graduated from the English department of the Faculty of Philology, it is not in front of you. In all other cases, you will have to make this difficult choice.
■ Tutor. Courses or tutor? I'm for a tutor. Moreover, for classes in a group of two people. Three is a lot, but one is expensive and not as effective.
Why individual training? Because in this case, the teacher sees all your strengths and weaknesses, he does not have the task of bringing the course to an “acceptable” level for the exam and forgetting about the group, he has the task of really teaching you the language, because then, thanks to word of mouth, he will have more students and, therefore, income.
In addition, the specificity of the tutor’s profession is that every minute of his working time is paid. And when a person works in such conditions, he cannot afford to slack.
It's better to work in pairs because it disciplines. You can cancel a lesson due to bad weather or a bout of laziness - you pay the tutor wherever he goes. But my conscience will not allow me to disrupt a lesson that is planned for two.
Where to find and how to choose a tutor? First of all, on the recommendation of friends whose successes inspire you.
If you don’t have such acquaintances, you need to find courses at a reputable educational institution: university, institute, consulate. They try to hire good teachers there - they keep their mark. And teachers go there because they view such courses as a free advertising platform for recruiting individual students. You can go there to the level you need, and there you will agree with the teacher. By the way, now language schools often present their teaching staff on their websites, and you can search the Internet for reviews of specialists.
■Language schools. If you decide to take courses at a language school, choose accredited centers where you can take an exam for one of the certificates. As a rule, such schools have a good level of teaching, there are various exchange programs, study abroad programs, and the teachers in them are native speakers.
■ Skype. Another option is to learn English via Skype. Why not?
This can be done at work, if conditions allow, and at home. Among international well-established schools, we recommend paying attention to Glasha: www.glasha.biz.
■ Study courses abroad.
If you have the opportunity (financially) and knowledge of the language is at least Intermediate level, then you can choose language learning courses abroad. For example, here: www.staracademy.ru. Yes, there is training in Australia. There are also summer camps for adults. In Malta. And in Ireland. And many other places. It's expensive, but very effective.
Tricks and Useful Tips for Learning a Language
■ Learn grammar. Reading adapted literature is boring. Useful, but unbearable. Learning grammar is generally a nightmare. But grammar in language is like formulas in mathematics. Once you have learned them, you can move on and take on new heights. No - it will only get worse, and with every step there is less and less chance of getting to the top.
■ Use all available resources. In the pursuit of knowledge, all means are good: interactive Internet resources, comics, video games, pulp literature, beauty blogs - whatever.
The more interesting the topic is for you, the easier it will be for you to complete the training. Also, try to find or organize a conversation club (you can even create a group on WhatsApp) and discuss topics that concern you there. No, it’s not what books you liked that you read this year, but what qualities infuriate you in your partner, why you are still offended by your mother, and when the stadium on Krestovsky Island will finally be completed. When a person is interested in a subject, he will find a way to say it.
■ Read books. Starting from the Intermediate level, you can safely read:
Books by Sophie Kinsella;
Her own works under the name Madeline Wickham;
Bridget Jones series;
Jane Austen;
Somerset Maugham.
Choose books by modern authors that do not have a twisted detective plot, complex allegory, excessive philosophizing, or a large amount of special vocabulary. You need a simple narrative text: she wanted to marry him, and he wanted to become an astronaut. And so on for three hundred pages. You will get used to modern British/American/other English, learn new words willy-nilly, and at the same time you will not get confused in the twists and turns of the plot and the high feelings of the main character.
■ Watch movies and TV series:
Any action films, especially with subtitles - there is little dialogue, the video sequence is beautiful;
Comedies in the spirit of “Home Alone”, “We Are the Millers”, “Beethoven” - no discussions about Nietzsche’s philosophy, a simple and understandable plot, a lot of everyday vocabulary;
Melodramas of the “Eat, Pray, Love” format;
TV series “Sex and the City”, “Friends”, “The Simpsons”, etc.
Learning a language is a long and difficult journey. And he is also very interesting. In addition to knowing the language, you will receive a pleasant bonus - you will begin to understand how native speakers think. And it will open up another world for you. And if you lack motivation, just remember that you have no choice. A modern person must know English. And period.
Intermediate is the level of English proficiency that employers most often require from candidates. But how can you determine whether you speak a language at an Intermediate level or not? And what is this scale? According to the European Framework of Reference for Languages, the Intermediate level of English is designated B1 and comes after the Pre-Intermediate level. In general, you can download that Intermediate is confident “average” English. People with such skills can speak a foreign language fluently, communicate on business or everyday topics, understand spoken language and even write letters.
What should a student know at the Intermediate level?
Once a student reaches this level, he can be considered to have already achieved some success. Your speech or Speaking skills must also be at an acceptable level. To improve your speaking skills, try to speak more in class, communicate on topics that are new to you, and don’t be afraid to express your point of view. Vocabulary or vocabulary includes expressions of general colloquial vocabulary and some words on a business topic. Moreover, Intermediate includes various idioms, common phrases, figures of speech, set expressions, etc. Try to write down and remember all new words. For many students, it remains difficult to get used to listening or listening. Audio texts at the Intermediate level are more capacious and complex than at previous stages. To simplify tasks, divide large audio files into parts and translate them separately. At this level of English, you must understand text that is related to business activities, learning, everyday affairs, and so on. At the same time, try to get rid of the accent and pay attention to details in the texts.
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Main topics covered at Intermediate Level
At the Intermediate level, you should already be able to read complex, adapted articles. In addition, you can gradually begin to get acquainted with non-adapted fiction. Remember that simply retelling the text is not enough. You must express your opinion about the work you read, describe the positive and negative traits of the characters in the book, etc. Written texts at this stage are a good foundation for consolidating your vocabulary and grammar. Quite a lot of attention is paid to writing. At level B1 you write sentences in both conversational and business style. The intermediate level of English involves written tasks such as:
Thus, the path along this ladder from the level of a graduate of a good special school with English to the level of an applicant to Oxford University takes at least a whole year of study abroad, no matter how offensive it may seem to our graduate. Well, 9 months may be enough for a capable and hardworking graduate. And with intensive training (30 hours a week), perhaps six months.
Some clarifications need to be made here. When we talk about the level of language proficiency of a local resident (native speaker), we mean a decently educated and moderately erudite local resident for whom this language is native. And even then, not every Englishman will be able to pass the Cambridge Proficiency exam. What can we say about the huge number of immigrants from different countries of the world who speak English in a very specific way. Sometimes students who come to study English at high levels speak it much better than those whom they encounter, say, on the streets of London.
But without studying in the country of the language being studied, it is almost impossible to master a living modern language - no textbooks have time to track what happens to the language when a variety of jargons, dialects, argot, and foreign borrowings are mixed. You need to find yourself not only in the linguistic, but also in the cultural context, to know what the newspapers write about, what is discussed on TV, what songs are sung, what jokes are told... Only then will it be possible to pass the English exams with the highest score.
So how long does it take to learn English to enter Oxford University (this educational institution has the highest possible requirements for the level of English proficiency of foreign applicants; many universities have much lower requirements)?
According to Western estimates (approximate, average and published solely as information of a recommendatory nature), from zero to passing the IELTS exam at 7.5 you need to study 1000-1200 hours of classroom lessons with a qualified teacher. Hours of self-study, preparation, assignments, etc. must be added to this figure.
Theoretically, you can complete all levels without traveling abroad - this can take approximately 2.5 - 3 years if you take courses a couple of times a week for 4 hours. “Theoretically” because in practice this is quite difficult to achieve, except perhaps to enroll in the philology department of a prestigious university. In regular language courses, it is rarely possible to move from level to level without interruptions in classes, and at high levels, groups are very rarely formed at all. At the Advanced level, it is no longer possible to do without a trip to study abroad.
If you study abroad, it will take three times less time - one year is usually enough even for a graduate of a regular high school to reach the required level of proficiency in a foreign language.
Thus, the well-known formula “time is money” is clearly embodied: you can save money, but you will have to spend a lot more time. You can reach the next level faster, but you will have to pay more. You can learn a language even faster by studying more intensively, in mini-groups or individually, but it will cost even more.
But what doesn’t happen is miracles. No one anywhere can learn a foreign language in a month for any money - no matter what the sellers of all sorts of miracles like “25-frame”, “unique author’s techniques”, “English in 16 lessons” and other nonsense promise. Parents who plan their child’s future career in advance can successfully combine studying in our country with periodic trips to summer language courses abroad - then by the end of our school, in addition to a certificate, the teenager can also receive a certificate of passing an international exam.
If you need advice on how to most effectively and quickly improve your level of foreign language proficiency, please contact us! We help everyone, regardless of region or country of residence.
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Someone promises that you will learn English in a month, and someone shows a training program for a year and a half or two. Who determines how long it takes to learn a language? Since September 2016, our training center has added a new level to the training program - Intermedia+. Who needs it and why – read this article.
Plus or minus?
In recent years, many language training centers have offered students, after completing the Intermediate level, to move on to studying not Upper-Intermediate, but Intermediate+. The question arises: where did the “+” come from and is it necessary to spend time on it? Is this not a trick to gain additional profit?
For decades we have been taught that training centers use a classification of 6 levels of the English language: Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate and Advance. Why was the 7th suddenly developed? And it is not offered everywhere; some continue to teach according to the 6-level system. Should your training center be considered a scam if it has 7 levels?
Where do the legs “grow” from?
But in reality the following happens. Intermediate+ was introduced by the British themselves, or rather by the organization that initially developed its 6-level system, wrote the program and published textbooks - Oxford University Press (most of all educational centers teach exactly according to the methodology and with the help of Oxford textbooks).
The main reason is the large gap between knowledge after completing the Intermediate level and the expected level at the beginning of studying Upper-Intermediate. That is, a student who passed the test well and confirmed his Intermedia, feels like a bad student on Upper, because the tasks at the new level turn out to be very difficult for him. For this reason, many “don’t live to see Advance” at all.
Why only now?
Textbooks for the “new” level began to be published in 2012, when it became especially popular. Ailts began to be required not only for admission to foreign universities operating under the British education system, many employers became interested in the international certificate; in Kazakhstan, you don’t have to take the English exam for admission to a master’s program if you have a valid Ailts certificate (with a score of at least 6 points) .
In some English-speaking countries, Ailts is required to obtain a work/student visa or to move there for permanent residence. In general, IELTS forever!
And everyone knows that preparation for Ailts is accepted only with a completed Intermedia level. But not all students with the Intermedia level are then able to master Ailts; sometimes people feel as if they never learned the language. The result is stress, low scores, and wasted money.
We also cannot ignore the fact that our country is increasingly integrated into the international space and more and more people have an incentive or even a need to learn English.
The number of language centers and their graduates is increasing, the number of people is increasing who do not learn English “for themselves” or do not consider this process as a fashion or hobby (such students, after mastering Elementary, go to learn the next language), but purposefully strive to master the language at a good level.
And this is where a discrepancy emerges - why there is such a big difference between the closed Intermedia level and the base that is expected of those students who came to study at the next Upper level.
What were you hoping for?
Was there a mistake initially made by Oxford methodologists in creating the classification and textbooks, or are local educational centers and language courses somehow insufficient or teaching the language incorrectly?
In fact, it’s just a different mentality and idea of learning. Our post-Soviet teaching methodology, which is still in effect in Kazakhstan, primarily in school, presupposes the following scheme: what the teacher gave in the lesson, he will ask later. Accordingly, no one does anything else - the limit is to do your homework.
The Western system does not view the teacher as a mentor or absolute authority, but only as a coordinator who gives direction and helps in case of difficulties. A student in the same British school is accustomed to looking for materials on a topic on his own, completing additional homework assignments, and being responsible for his own knowledge.
Therefore, Oxford methodologists implied that at the Intermedia level, foreign students themselves would develop and improve the language, read additional literature, do not only homework, but also practice similar tasks, expand their horizons and list of topics, and therefore their vocabulary. Do everything that the British themselves do when they learn a foreign language. Sorry, this is not how we study. 🙂
Intermediate+ is...
What does Intermediate level of English mean? You can already speak quite freely on everyday topics, you read and write at a good level, you have a good command of grammar, but you still have many mistakes and have problems understanding spoken language. Welcome to the Intermediate Plus (B1+) course!
In-depth study of previously covered material with analysis of idioms, improvement of pronunciation and improvement of colloquial vocabulary. Intermediate+ eliminates existing defects in grammar and vocabulary.
This course is specially designed as a smooth transition from Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate. This course is suitable for you if:
- You have successfully completed the Intermediate level, but still feel unsure about applying the acquired knowledge.
- You are starting to study English after a long break.
- You need practice to develop all four types of speech skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing.
- Do you want to continue learning English and pass all levels well?
- You are about to start preparing for the IELTS/TOEFL program.
- In fact, Intermediate+ is for those who still want to stay in the “strictly according to the recipe” mode or are not sure that self-training will give a guaranteed result.
Summary
Intermedia+ also consists of 60 hours (not academic, but full-time) and lasts approximately 5 months, just like Intermedia. Intermedia+ does not replace the Upper level; it allows you to deepen and consolidate the knowledge acquired at Intermedia. If upon completion of Intermedia on Ailts, for example, you would receive 4-5 points on the exam, then with Intermedia+ this is already 5-5.5 points without special preparation.
Intermedia+ will not be needed for those students who have passed the final Intermedia tests almost 100%, continue to study a lot on their own, or if a person has the opportunity, having closed Intermedia, to constantly communicate with native speakers (living in an English-speaking country, working in an English-speaking company, etc.). Provided that after this and before the student decided to improve his knowledge of the language, there was no long period of time.
In any case, remember that now there are many sites on the Internet where you can free and online check your language level online.
Also, before you start studying the Upper-Intermediate level in a group or individually, at almost any training center you can take a free trial lesson and evaluate your strengths and capabilities.
If you can move from Intermediate straight to Upper-Intermediate, do so. If you feel that Upper is too tough for you yet, it’s better not to rush, otherwise you can lose both time and money.
Learn English as you like and have fun! We will be waiting for you at Rocket Stadium!
