Minimum knowledge of English. Elementary level - first steps in English

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 language.

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, as well as knowledge of history, culture and modern realities 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 objective CEFR systems - to provide a method of assessment and teaching 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 frequency expressions related to the main areas of life (information about himself and family members, shopping in a store, general information about work), and can also talk about it and support 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. Uses language effectively to communicate professional activity. 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 covers 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 new world, where many amazing discoveries await you. Now boundaries are a convention for you. You can make acquaintances in all corners 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 is unlikely that you will be able to do "Dr. House" or "Theory big bang" - they contain 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 walking 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).

■ Proficiency level knowledge and skills. 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, but 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 responsibilities not only 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 Present Simple, may 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. Others also accept educational organizations, but they only work 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 Cambridge University division of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). 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: Moscow Institute offers courses and exams foreign languages: 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 for recruiting 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 weak sides, 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, large quantity 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. Modern man must know English. And period.

So, what are the levels, what level of language proficiency do you personally need (depending on your goals), and how much time will you have to spend to achieve this level? For convenience, we will focus on English, as the most popular language, and in which there is the most developed system of various tests and international exams. Conventionally, we will evaluate the level of English language proficiency on a twelve-point scale. In many English language courses abroad, and in decent courses in our country, the formation study groups occurs precisely in accordance with these levels.

0 - "zero level" of English

Full Beginner. Many people immediately begin to say: “yes, yes, this is just about me!” I learned something at school, but I don’t remember anything at all! Complete zero!" No! If you learned something at school, then it no longer has anything to do with you. Those who have never learned English and don’t even know the alphabet have a zero level. Well, if, for example, you taught at school German or French, but I’ve never encountered English.

1 Elementary. Elementary English level

I have no experience using English. Some simple words and expressions are understandable, while others can be difficult to guess. I have the vaguest idea about grammar. In general, this is a typical level for a graduate of a post-Soviet school, who twice a week pretended to study some “topics”, but in fact copied mathematics under his desk. In case of urgent need, some words still pop up in your head - “passport, taxi, how-to”, but a coherent conversation does not work out. To reach this level from scratch, it is enough to take a decent English course abroad for 3-4 weeks, approximately 80-100 hours of study. By the way, about all the calculations (weeks, hours, etc.) - these are average figures for the bulk of students with normal abilities (which is approximately 80%), ten percent of linguistically gifted students will learn everything much faster, and ten percent will need more time and efforts to achieve the same result. There are no people who are generally incapable of learning languages - I declare this categorically. If you speak Russian, you can speak any other language, you just need to put in some effort and spend some time. So, I wrote, and I myself felt sad: whatever one may say, a month or a month and a half at language courses abroad successfully replaces five years of language study in our usual high school... well, this is, of course, if it's a three. If you diligently complete your homework for five years, you can achieve much greater success and rise to a higher level.

2 – Upper-Elementary. Highest elementary level

Have knowledge of simple grammatical structures of the English language. It is possible to maintain a conversation on a familiar topic - but, unfortunately, the number of familiar topics is very limited. There is an understanding of simple sentences and speech structures - especially if they speak slowly and clarify what is said with gestures.

We can call this level a “living wage” for a tourist who is relatively independent of guides and translators. Add 80-100 training hours to the previous level. By the way, in most decent language courses in Russia, one level is approximately 80 hours, that is, if you study twice a week for 4 academic hours, then this is about 10 weeks, two to three months. Abroad, you can complete three weeks of intensive training.

3 – Pre-Intermediate. Lower intermediate level

You can carry on a conversation on a familiar topic. Knowledge of English grammar is quite good, although vocabulary is limited. You can pronounce fairly coherent sentences with virtually no errors if you covered this topic in class. This sometimes leads to a paradoxical situation if you have to communicate with foreigners - it seems to them that you speak English quite well, and they happily begin to explain something to you at a normal pace, excitedly waving their hands. But you, having laid out everything you knew, realize that you no longer understand a damn thing, and you feel out of place.

At this level, you can already try to pass some kind of language test, although there will be no practical benefit from this. This level approximately corresponds to the result of 3-4 when passing the IELTS exam, 39-56 points when passing the TOEFL iBT, you can try to pass the Cambridge PET exam (Preliminary English Test).

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This only applies to those who know absolutely nothing about the language, not even the alphabet. If you studied English at school or, then this is definitely not about you. Considering the prevalence of the English language, it is difficult to find an adult who would have an absolute zero level.

Basic knowledge, 1 Elementary

Unfortunately, this is exactly the level of those who studied English at school. The man knows a few simple words, has a vague understanding of grammar, but he cannot speak. With a certain amount of diligence and sociability, possession of basic knowledge will allow you to communicate with a salesperson in a store or staff at a hotel, but nothing more.

Advanced Elementary Level, 2 Upper-Elementary

A person at this level can speak using the simplest grammatical structures. Vocabulary is limited to topics that have been studied in class, but this is already enough to support a conversation on a familiar topic. Although it’s still difficult to express your opinion. It is possible to communicate at this level if the interlocutor speaks slowly and supplements his words with gestures.

Slightly below average, 3 Pre-Intermediate

Having command of the language at this level, a person can carry on a conversation on a familiar topic with ease. He speaks practically without making mistakes, the pace of speech is already quite decent. But when communicating with native speakers, a difficult situation often arises. An English-speaking person decides that his interlocutor speaks well and begins to communicate in “normal mode,” and here a person with a Pre-Intermediate level realizes that he still understands little, usually feeling awkward.

Intermediate level, 4 Intermediate

This is already good knowledge. A person can speak quite freely on everyday topics, knows grammar, and can explain himself in writing. Vocabulary is still, as a rule, low. This level allows you to pass international tests IELTS with 4.5-5.5 points, and TOEFL with 80-85.

Advanced intermediate level, 5-6 Upper-Intermediate

Upon reaching this level, a person can already go to university or work in a foreign company, if he does not need to communicate too much with clients. The test results are as follows: IELTS 5.5-6.5, TOEFL 100.

Advanced. 7-9 Advanced

This is already excellent knowledge of the language, and further differences everyday communication impossible to notice. You can work in any position at any university. Test results: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 110.

Level 10-12 is considered even higher. This is knowledge of the language, like a native, highly educated resident of Great Britain. This is called perfect command of the language. The IELTS score is 8.5.

Friends, you, of course, remember that learning English is divided into levels. We have already talked about initial, basic, pre-threshold, intermediate and advanced levels. Today I would like to discuss the level of professional English language proficiency, this is the Advanced level. The Advanced level is a level of fluency in English, which is assigned category C1.

Today we will talk about what knowledge in various areas of the English language this course provides, what opportunities it provides, and what is needed to pass this level.

Before you start learning English at the Advanced stage, you must be aware that this is a serious stage. This is the same level of knowledge of the English language that graduates of philological faculties of higher education should have. educational institutions. This means that the teachers teaching you English speak it at a professional Advanced level. Advanced level - professional knowledge of English

Someone may ask: but I passed the Upper Intermediate level, isn’t this enough for me to speak English fluently? No, friends, Upper Intermediate is fluent, but not professional, knowledge of English. At this stage, you can speak on almost any topic, read books in the original, watch films and TV series in English. However, if at this level you speak on the most common topics, then at the Advanced level you are able to talk about everything, even if you do not understand the topic of conversation. You will have lively spontaneous fluent and literate speech.

So, friends, you have already realized that your knowledge of the English language acquired at this level is much more extensive than at previous levels. To begin with, to test your English language skills, you can take an English proficiency test at the Beginner and Elementary levels, then a test at the Pre Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper Intermediate levels. Make sure that your knowledge of English corresponds to these levels and that you do not have any omissions or gaps, then you can proceed to the Advanced level.

You can safely start learning English at the Advanced level if you:

Speak fluently and competently on almost a variety of topics, but make minor mistakes and encounter minor difficulties when rephrasing your speech.
You have a good understanding of English grammar, but want to learn more complex structures so that your speech sounds like a native speaker.
You understand original speech well, watch films, listen to English-language music, but from time to time you resort to the help of subtitles or a dictionary.
We had previously taken an English language course at this stage, but we had already forgotten some things.
Previously studied at a language university, achieved a good level of proficiency in English, but want to improve your abilities and skills.
Are you going to take a test or exam at the Advanced level?
Recently completed English language training at the Upper Intermediate level.

Now let’s look at what material and what English language skills this stage of learning offers us.

In grammar:

Knowledge of all verb tenses and their aspects
Understanding and use in speech modal verbs with perfect infinitive
Knowledge of inversion and its use in speech
Knowledge and understanding of the three types of conditionals
The use of complex linking words in speech, such as in fear of, with a view to, supposing, admittedly, henceforth
Knowledge of introductory constructions and their use in speech
Understanding the difference between the constructions he was to do smth, he was about to do smth, he happened to do smth, he was set to do smth

In vocabulary:

Possession vocabulary from 4000 to 6000 words
Knowledge and use of idioms, set expressions, abbreviations and phrasal verbs in English
The concept of compatibility of words and their selection to each other
Ability to communicate freely with business partners

Ability to hold a conversation in English on any topic
Possession of competent speech and clear pronunciation
Ability to speak coherently, use long complex sentences with introductory words and complex conjunctions
The ability to express the same thought in different ways; ability to paraphrase what has been said
Using complex grammatical structures in speech
Ability to operate with all tenses of verbs, passive voice, conditional sentences
Ability to answer a variety of questions and maintain a conversation on any topic

In reading:

Ability to read any literature in the original
Ability to read and understand academic and technical texts of average difficulty level
Ability to read and understand articles from BBC, The Times, The Guardian and others

In listening:

The ability to understand the speech of the interlocutor, regardless of his pace, rhythm, accent and pronunciation
Ability to watch films and programs in English without subtitles
Ability to listen to audiobooks and songs in English

In the letter:

Ability to correctly construct sentences and use different times and constructions, serious vocabulary and complex phrases
Ability to perform various types of written work
Ability to write an argumentative essay on any topic

If you are not sure that you have knowledge of this course, we advise you to take the English language test at an advanced level. Perhaps you should raise the previous level a little.

As for the English language teaching program, the grammar section includes the following topics:

All verb tenses (including active/passive voice)
All groups of modal verbs
Impersonal designs
Mixed conditionals
Inversion
Split sentences

Speech section:

Feelings and emotions
Work and workplace
Sport and health
Law and politics
Environment
Technology and progress
Education and upbringing
Trips, free time and rest

At the end of this English language course, you can take a test, the CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) exam, to test your knowledge.

How will your knowledge improve at this level?

A professional level of English is a huge advantage. All doors are open for you. You are able to freely express your opinion in English, you can answer any questions, find out the information you need, talk on absolutely any topic.

You have a complex vocabulary, not just complex, but also active. Your speech is replete with phraseological units, stable idioms, etc. You speak freely and fluently.

You perceive perfectly English speech by ear, you understand the interlocutor. Also, you can write any written work on any topic. At the Advanced level you are an English specialist!

The duration of training at this level is from 6 to 9 months. The Advanced level is what everyone who studies English should strive for. This is important and necessary not only for admission to foreign universities and when applying for a job, but will serve as the basis for self-realization and professional placement.

Quite often on forums dedicated to learning foreign languages, there are questions about levels of English proficiency - “How can I tell if I have Beginner or Elementary?”, “What do you need to know to start with Pre-Intermediate?”, “How to correctly indicate the level of language proficiency on your resume? or “I once studied English at school, am I Intermediate?” To avoid problems with your English, you need not only to choose the right school, but also to have a good understanding of what level you should start learning the language at. Let's try to figure it out together. Shall we?

English proficiency levels

If you have ever wondered about the levels of English proficiency, you may get the impression that there is complete confusion here. But actually it is not. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) was specifically developed to describe levels of English proficiency and is an international standard. Consists of the following levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.

What then should we do with the Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate and Advanced levels that are so well known to us and dear to us from school? And besides, these names can be found with various additional words, such as False, Low, Very, etc. Why all these difficulties? Let's explain. This classification was invented by the creators of basic textbooks such as “Headway”, “Cutting Edge”, “Opportunities”. For what? These levels divide the CEFR scale into passages for better language acquisition. And it is precisely this division of levels that schools and language courses usually focus on.

You can't do this without the help of a pivot table. We invite you to carefully consider which widely known levels of English proficiency correspond to those on the CEFR scale.

English Level Table

LEVEL	Description	CEFR level
Beginner	You don't speak English	;)
Elementary	You can say and understand some words and phrases in English	A1
Pre-Intermediate	You can communicate in “plain” English and understand the other person in a familiar situation, but have difficulty	A2
Intermediate	You can speak quite well and understand speech by ear. Express yourself using simple sentences, but have difficulty with more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary	B1
Upper-Intermediate	You speak and understand English well by ear, but you can still make mistakes	B2
Advanced	You speak English fluently and have full listening comprehension	C1
Proficiency	You speak English at the level of a native speaker	C2

A few words about False, Low, Very and other prefixes to standard level names. Sometimes you can find such formulations as False Beginner, Low Intermediate or Very Advanced, etc. This can be called division into sublevels. For example, the False Beginner level corresponds to a person who previously studied English, but for a very short time, and who remembers practically nothing. Such a person will need less time to complete the beginner course and move to the next level, so he cannot be called a full Beginner. It's a similar story with Low Intermediate and Very Advanced. In the first case, the person has already passed full course Pre-Intermediate and began to study Intermediate, but at the same time he mastered and uses in speech only a few grammatical structures and vocabulary of this level. A speaker in English with a Very Advanced level is already halfway to the coveted Proficiency. Well, you get the idea.

Now let's look at the specific skills of English learners at different levels.

Beginner level of English, also known as Starter

Initial, zero level. This course begins with a phonetics course and learning the rules of reading. Vocabulary is studied, which makes it possible to communicate on everyday topics (“Acquaintance”, “Family”, “Work”, “Leisure”, “In the store”), and basic grammar is also analyzed.

After completing the Beginner course:

Vocabulary is about 500-600 words.
Listening comprehension: phrases and sentences spoken slowly, with pauses, very clearly (for example, simple questions and directions).
Conversational speech: you can talk about yourself, your family, friends.
Reading: simple texts with familiar words and previously encountered phrases, as well as studied grammar, simple instructions (for example, an assignment for an exercise).
Writing: single words, simple sentences, fill out a form, write short descriptions.

English level Elementary

A basic level of. A student at this level has all the basic skills of the English language. Such everyday topics as: “Family”, “Recreation”, “Travel”, “Transport”, “Health” are studied.

After completing the Elementary course:

The vocabulary is about 1000-1300 words.
Listening comprehension: sentences that relate to the most common topics. When listening to the news, watching movies, there is an understanding of the overall theme or plot, especially with visual support.
Colloquial speech: expressing opinions, requests, provided that the context is familiar. When greeting and goodbye, talking on the phone, etc. "blanks" are used.
Reading: short texts with a small amount of unfamiliar vocabulary, advertisements and signs.
Writing: describing people and events, composing simple letters using familiar clichés.

English level Pre-Intermediate

Speaking level. A listener who is confident in everyday vocabulary and basic grammar is able to express opinions on everyday topics.

After completing the Pre-Intermediate course:

The vocabulary is 1400-1800 words.
Listening comprehension: dialogue or monologue on everyday topics; when watching, for example, the news, you can catch everything key points. When watching films, a listener at this level may not understand individual phrases and sentences, but follows the plot. He understands films with subtitles well.
Conversation: you can evaluate and express your opinion regarding any event, maintain a fairly long conversation on familiar topics (“Art”, “Appearance”, “Personality”, “Movies”, “Entertainment”, etc.).
Reading: complex texts, including journalistic articles.
Letter: written expression of one’s opinion or assessment of a situation, compilation of one’s biography, description of events.

English Intermediate level

Average level. The listener is confident in the language and can use it in a variety of situations. Usually the Intermediate level is enough to work in a foreign company. A person who speaks English at the Intermediate level can conduct negotiations and business correspondence in English, and give presentations.

After completing the Intermediate course:

The vocabulary of a listener at this level is about 2000-2500 words.
Listening comprehension: grasps not only the general meaning, but also specific details, understands films, interviews, videos without translation and subtitles.
Conversational speech: expresses a point of view, agreement/disagreement on almost any non-isolated topic. Can take Active participation in discussion or discussion on non-specific topics without preparation.
Reading: understands complex texts not related to familiar topics and areas of life, unadapted literature. Can understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from context ( fiction, information sites, dictionary entries).
Writing: can compose a letter in formal and informal style, can use written English proficiently, can compose long descriptions events and history, give personal comments.

English level Upper-Intermediate

Above average level. An Upper-Intermediate level listener knows and skillfully uses complex grammatical structures and a variety of vocabulary.

After completing the Upper-Intermediate course:

The vocabulary consists of 3000-4000 words.
Listening comprehension: understands well even linguistically complex speech on unfamiliar topics, almost completely understands videos without translation or subtitles.
Conversational speech: can freely give his assessment of any situation, make comparisons or contrasts, uses different speech styles.
The conversation is conducted in both formal and informal style. Speaks competently with a small number of errors, can catch and correct his mistakes.
Reading: has a large vocabulary to understand non-adapted English texts.
Writing: Can independently write articles, formal and informal letters. Can know and use different styles when creating written text.

English Advanced level

Advanced level. Students at the Advanced level have a very confident command of the English language and make only minor mistakes in their speech, which do not in any way affect the effectiveness of communication. Students of this level can study special disciplines in English.

After completing the Advanced course:

The vocabulary is about 4000-6000 words.
Listening comprehension: understands speech that is not clearly pronounced (for example, announcements at a train station or at the airport), perceives complex information in detail (for example, reports or lectures). Understands up to 95% of information on video without translation.
Spoken Language: Uses English very effectively for spontaneous communication, uses colloquial and official style communication depending on the speech situation. Uses phraseological units and idioms in speech.
Reading: easily understands non-adapted fiction and non-fiction literature, complex articles on specific topics (physics, geography, etc.)
Writing: Can write formal and informal letters, narratives, articles, essays, scientific papers.

Level of English Proficiency

Fluency in English. The last level according to the CEFR classification C2 describes a person who speaks English at the level of an educated native speaker. The only problems such a person may encounter are cultural problems. A person may, for example, not understand a quote if it refers to some popular program or book that is known to almost all native speakers, but may be unknown to a person who did not grow up in the environment.

Conclusion

It should be remembered that the level of language proficiency is assessed by a set of skills and there is no universal recipe for achieving a particular level. You can't say, "You should learn 500 more words or 2 more words." grammar topics and voila, you’re already at the next level.”

By the way, you can check your level of English on our website: comprehensive English language test.

There are a great many ways to achieve one level or another - these are all kinds of courses and language schools, tutors, tutorials, newsletters, online lessons, and of course English via Skype. Which one to go with is up to you. The main thing is that it is useful.

There are also many additional services to improve the language. This and social media, created specifically for learning foreign languages, and various discussion clubs, and resources that provide films with and without subtitles in the original language, audio recordings, adapted and non-adapted literature. You can find out about all these aids and how exactly and at what levels to use them in the blog on our website. Stay tuned for new articles.

By the way, as you read this article, 700 million people around the world are learning English. Join us!

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