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Spoken English intermediate. At the intermediate level - this is how and what you need to know

Or in courses, you will definitely come across the concept of “English language levels” or “English language proficiency levels”, as well as such incomprehensible designations as A1, B2, and more understandable Beginner, Intermediate and so on. From this article, you will learn what these formulations mean and what levels of knowledge of the language distinguish, as well as how to determine your level of english.

The levels of English were invented so that language learners could be divided into groups with approximately similar knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking and writing, as well as to simplify testing procedures, exams, for various purposes related to emigration, study abroad and employment. Such a classification helps in recruiting students into a group and preparing teaching aids, methods, and language teaching programs.

Of course, there is no clear boundary between the levels, this division is rather conditional, necessary not so much for students as for teachers. In total, there are 6 levels of language proficiency, there are two types of division:

Levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2,
Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency levels.

In fact, these are just two different names for the same thing. These 6 levels are divided into three groups.

Table: English language proficiency levels

The classification was developed in the late eighties - early nineties of the last century, it is fully called the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (abbr. CERF).

English levels: detailed description

Beginner level (A1)

At this level you can:

Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and simple phrases aimed at solving specific problems.
Introduce yourself, introduce other people, ask simple personal questions, such as “Where do you live?”, “Where are you from?”, be able to answer such questions.
Maintain a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly, clearly, and helps you.

Many who studied English at school speak the language at about the Beginner level. From the vocabulary only elementary mother, father, help me, my name is, London is the capital. You can understand well-known words and expressions by ear if they speak very clearly and without an accent, as in audio lessons for a textbook. You understand texts like the “Exit” sign, and in a conversation with the help of gestures, using individual words, you can express the simplest thoughts.

Elementary level (A2)

At this level you can:

Understand common expressions common topics, such as: family, shopping, work, etc.
Talk about simple everyday topics, using simple phrases.
Tell in simple terms about yourself, describe simple situations.

If at school you had 4 or 5 in English, but after some time did not use English, then most likely you speak the language at the Elementary level. TV shows in English will not be understood, except perhaps for individual words, but the interlocutor, if he speaks clearly, in simple phrases of 2-3 words, in general, you will understand. You can also incoherently and with long pauses for reflection tell the simplest information about yourself, say that the sky is blue and the weather is clear, express a simple wish, make an order at McDonald's.

Beginner - Elementary levels can be called "survival level", Survival English. It is enough to "survive" during a trip to a country where the main language is English.

Intermediate level (B1)

At this level you can:

Understand the general meaning of distinct speech on general, familiar topics related to everyday life (work, study, etc.)
Cope with the most typical situations on a trip, travel (at the airport, in a hotel, etc.)
Write simple connected text on topics that are common or familiar to you personally.
Retell events, describe hopes, dreams, ambitions, be able to briefly talk about plans and explain your point of view.

Vocabulary and knowledge of grammar is enough to write simple essays about yourself, describe cases from life, write a letter to a friend. But in most cases, oral speech lags behind written speech, you confuse tenses, think over a phrase, pause to pick up a preposition (to or for?), but you can more or less communicate, especially if there is no shyness or fear of making a mistake.

It is much more difficult to understand the interlocutor, and if it is a native speaker, and even with fast speech and a bizarre accent, then it is almost impossible. However, simple, clear speech is understood well, provided that the words and expressions are familiar. You generally understand if the text is not very complex, and with some difficulty understand the general meaning without subtitles.

Level Upper Intermediate (B2)

At this level you can:

Understand the general meaning of complex text on concrete and abstract topics, including technical (specialized) topics in your profile.
Speak quickly enough so that communication with a native speaker occurs without long pauses.
Compose clear, detailed text on various topics, explain the point of view, give arguments for and against various points of view on the topic.

Upper Intermediate is already a good, sound, confident command of the language. If you are talking on a well-known topic with a person whose pronunciation you understand well, then the conversation will go quickly, easily, naturally. An outside observer will say that you are fluent in English. However, you can be confused by words and expressions related to topics that are poorly understood by you, all sorts of jokes, sarcasm, allusions, slang.

You are asked to answer 36 questions to test listening, writing, speaking and grammar.

It is noteworthy that to test listening comprehension, phrases like “London is the capital” recorded by the speaker are not used, but short excerpts from films (Puzzle English specializes in learning English from films and TV shows). In English-language films, the speech of the characters is close to how people speak in real life so the test may seem harsh.

Chandler from Friends doesn't have the best pronunciation.

To check the letter, you need to translate several phrases from English into Russian and from Russian into English. The program provides several translation options for each phrase. To test knowledge of grammar, a completely ordinary test is used, where you need to choose one option from several proposed ones.

But you are probably wondering how the program can test the skill colloquial speech? Of course, an online English proficiency test will not test your speech as a person, but the test developers came up with an original solution. In the task, you need to listen to a phrase from the movie and choose a cue that is suitable for continuing the dialogue.

Talking is not enough, you also need to understand the interlocutor!

The ability to speak English consists of two skills: to understand the speech of the interlocutor by ear and to express one's thoughts. This task, albeit in a simplified form, tests how you cope with both tasks.

At the end of the test you will be shown full list questions with correct answers, you will find out where you made mistakes. And of course, you will see a chart showing your level on a scale from Beginner to Upper Intermediate.

2. Test to determine the level of English with a teacher

To get a professional, “live” (not automated, as in tests) assessment of the level of English, you need English teacher who will test you with assignments and an interview in English.

This consultation is free of charge. Firstly, there may be a language school in your city that offers free language testing and even a trial lesson. Now this is a common practice.

In short, I signed up for a trial test lesson, got in touch on Skype at the appointed time, and the teacher Alexandra and I held a lesson, during which she “tortured” me in every possible way with various tasks. All communication was in English.

My trial lesson on SkyEng. Checking grammar knowledge.

At the end of the lesson, the teacher explained to me in detail in which direction I should develop my English, what problems I had, and a little later she sent a letter with a detailed description of the level of language skills (with grades on a 5-point scale) and methodological recommendations.

This method took some time: three days passed from the application to the lesson, and the lesson itself lasted about 40 minutes. But it is much more interesting than any online test.

At what level do you need to speak English? Who needs it and why?

What does language proficiency say at one of these levels, 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 enter a master's program in finance. Like all perfectionists, he made life as difficult as possible for himself: a serious university and a course taught in English were chosen for admission.

The problem was that the university website clearly stated “TOEFL and professional interview”, and my colleague spoke English, according to my estimates, at the level of “Landon from the capital city of Great Britain”.

To determine the level, a teacher from a popular language school was invited, who, after two hours of testing and interviews, pronounced a verdict "confident Intermediate". At this point, I was very surprised and Once again plunged into reflections on how deeply foreign languages penetrate our lives, and not only now, and not only English. And how important it is to master at least it ... At what level do you need to master it? What are these levels and what does language proficiency say at each of them? And how to link the levels of language proficiency with the international certification system?

WHAT WILL WE MEASURE?

We measure the immeasurable. How can the degree of language proficiency be assessed? By the number of words? Of course, this is an important criterion. But Lev Shcherba and his "gloky kuzdra" almost a century ago proved to the whole world that the main thing in a language is grammar. It is the backbone and the foundation of the foundations. But to have a conversation, read a book, and watch a movie, the basics are not enough. If you do not know the vocabulary, the meaning of what is happening will still elude you. That is again vocabulary?

In fact, both are important, as well as knowledge of the history, culture and modern realities of the country whose language you are studying - this is what your competencies are made up of.

Each of us has heard something about the levels of language proficiency. For example, in English one of the initial levels is Elementary, in Hebrew the levels of study are called by the letters of the Hebrew alphabet (alef, bet, gimel, etc.), and in Polish they correspond to the common European classification (from A0 to C2).

In addition to the system of division into levels for each individual language, there is also a common European classification. It does not describe the amount of grammatical knowledge, but what knowledge and skills a person has, how well he reads, perceives speech by ear and speaks. It is impossible to formulate assessment criteria common to all languages, such as “he knows this from grammar, but knows how to handle vocabulary like this.” Although European languages are close to each other, they 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: STUDY AND PROFICIENCY LEVELS

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: learning, teaching, assessment(Common European Framework of Reference, CEFR) - a system of levels of foreign language proficiency used in the European Union. The relevant directive was developed by the Council of Europe as the main part of the Language Learning for European Citizenship project between 1989 and 1996. The main goal 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 that the CEFR be used to establish national language proficiency assessment systems.

To date, this classification offers us three levels, each of which has two sublevels:

■ Beginner (A1)

In the classroom. 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 maintain a simple dialogue - provided that the interlocutor speaks slowly, clearly and repeats three times.

In life. Yes, this is the level 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, poke your finger on the menu, ordering “this”, and ask a passerby where the Tower is, this is the level of survival. “To tickets to dublin,” so to speak.

■ Below average (A2)

In the classroom. 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 keep up the 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 in the market how many kilograms of peaches you need, instead of expressively gesturing , you can get your bearings in the city, rent a bike and much more.

Free dialogue about Nietzsche is still very far away, but, as you have noticed, the key word in defining this level is the main ones. From now on, your knowledge will be enough to survive in a strange city.

■ Medium (B1)

In the classroom. The student understands the essence of the messages clearly articulated on the literary language. Topics of messages: everything that surrounds a person during work, study, leisure, etc. Being in the country of the studied language, he is able to 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 possession - suggests that you will be able to be in a foreign country and act on your own in most situations. Here we mean not only and not so much shops (this is the previous level), but also going to the bank, to the post office, going to the hospital, communicating with colleagues at work, teachers at school, if your child is studying there. Having visited 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 the classroom. 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 effortlessly.

In life. In fact, this is already the level of language that most people use in Everyday life. After all, we do not discuss string theory with colleagues at lunch or the peculiarities of the architecture of Versailles. But we often discuss new films or popular books. And the most wonderful thing is that now they will become available to you: you do not need to look for films and publications adapted to your level - you can handle many works, and not only modern ones, yourself. But before reading special literature or fully understanding the terminology of the series "Doctor House", of course, is still far away.

■ Advanced (C1)

In the classroom. The student understands large, complex texts various themes, recognizes metaphors, hidden meanings. Can speak spontaneously, at a fast pace, without choosing words. Effectively uses language to communicate in professional activities. Knows all ways of creating texts on difficult topics(detailed descriptions, complex grammatical constructions, special vocabulary, etc.).

In life. At this level, you can participate in seminars, watch films and read books without restrictions, communicate with native speakers as freely as with your compatriots.

■ Professional (С2)

In the classroom. The student understands and can compose almost 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: LEVELS OF LEARNING AND PROFICIENCY

The classification of English 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 the vacancy announcement. To clarify, let's compare the levels of ownership European languages and English (see table).

beginner

Yes, this level is not indicated in our table. This is the beginning of beginnings. There is no question of any language proficiency at this stage, but this is the foundation on which the house will be built - your proficiency in the language. And how strong this foundation will be, depends on how beautiful, large and reliable this house will turn out to be.

■ Knowledge and skills at Beginner level. At this level, you will begin by learning the alphabet, English phonetics, numbers, and basic

grammar features: three simple tenses, direct word order in sentences, absence of cases and genders.

Pay special attention to phonetics, try to understand the difference between intonation in interrogative and declarative sentences.

Practice your pronunciation. When you learn the language well, a terrible accent will not only spoil the impression, but also make it difficult to communicate. Then it will be much more difficult to fix it.

■ Training period. It usually takes about four months of group training to acquire such a wealth of knowledge. Working with a tutor, this result can be achieved much faster.

■ What is the result. If an Englishman turns to you on the street with a request to help him find an embassy, you will be upset, because you will still make out 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 level of survival. This means that if you get lost in a foreign country, you can ask and then follow the instructions to find the way (suddenly the phone with the navigator runs out of power), you will be able to check into a hotel, buy food not only in the supermarket, but also in 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. Do not try to jump over grammar in pursuit of vocabulary - it only seems simple at first, in fact, with an increase in the level of complexity, many nuances appear. If you do not pay attention to them, it will be difficult to eradicate errors in speech later.

Learn the numerals and how to form them to full automatism.

Write down the names of the objects that surround you in the dictionary and memorize them. So you can ask the hotel for a pen or a needle and thread, offer a guest a glass of water, buy an avocado at the market not “this is it”.

Training period: 6-9 months depending on the intensity of the classes and your abilities.

What is the result. Now our Englishman has a real chance to get to the embassy.

Pre-Intermediate

This is the "preliminary level". That is, you somehow climbed onto the porch. Now you are standing in front of 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, the amount of grammar knowledge that the teacher diligently puts into your head increases many times over. New information sweeps over you like a wave. But if you swim 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 replenished.

In fact, we can say that language proficiency begins at this level. You will not only survive in unfamiliar city and you will be able to make acquaintances, but you will also begin to independently improve your level of knowledge of the language. An understanding of what vocabulary is missing in the first place will begin to come to you, you will clearly see your weak spots and you will already know what you need to do to pull them up.

In addition, here we can already talk about the use of the language in the work. A secretary who speaks English at the Pre-Intermediate level may not be able to call the hotel to clarify the details of the reservation, but he will definitely be able to write a letter there. He will also be able to write a message about the meeting, receive guests and start small talk with them, which is so popular in the English environment.

■ Our recommendations. Never give up! You can do it. If you realize that some topic is not given to you, do not be too lazy to deal with it - by contacting a teacher, or on your own, or with the help of many Internet resources. Without any tests, you will suddenly discover how much you already know and how much you already get. At this moment, you can safely step through the threshold - go to the next level.

■ Training period: 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, too, will be extremely pleased with yourself.

intermediate

This is the first self-sufficient level. Congratulations if you speak the language at this level. This means you are logged in. new world where you will find many amazing discoveries. Now the boundaries for you are a convention. You can make friends from all over the world, read the news on the Internet, understand jokes in English, comment on photos of friends from the United States on Facebook, chat with friends from China and Peru while watching the World Cup. You have found a voice.

■ Knowledge and skills at the Intermediate level. In addition to those listed at the previous levels, you know and are able to:

The Intermediate level is not in vain required by many employers. In fact, 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 freehold. You still pick up words in your mind, use a dictionary when reading books - in a word, until you can "think in a language." And no, it won't get any easier. But you will be really interested. You won't be able to stop anymore.

■ Our recommendations. At this level, you can increase the 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 the interlocutor. If you have a place to apply knowledge (work, study, hobby), do not neglect this opportunity. Remember also that language is alive, 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 see 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 to the theater. Not to mention work. Most professionals who receive job offers in another country speak the language at least at this level.

■ Knowledge and skills for Upper-Intermediate level. So what do you know and can do:

In fact, B2 is already free possession. No, of course there are limits. It is unlikely that you can do House Doctor or The Big Bang Theory - they have a lot of special vocabulary, and even puns. But after watching a classic performance, you will not only understand what it is about, but you will also be able to enjoy the performance of the actors.

You will stop listening to half of your favorite songs because you will realize what nonsense there is in the lyrics. Your world will become much bigger, not to mention the fact that with such a level there is a chance to go to work abroad and enter 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 meeting a word in a text, we remember how it is spelled.

Spend a holiday in the country of the language you are learning 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 costly 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 take 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 carrier level. That is, around you, when you master the language at this level, there will be almost no one who knows the language better. Indeed, 80% of your communication in English is not with native speakers, but with those who, like you, have learned it. As a rule, graduates of the philological faculty with a degree in English speak the language at this level. What does freehold mean? The fact that you can talk about any topic, even if you have little knowledge of the subject. Yes, like in Russian. Having reached this level, you can get one of the certificates: CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), IELTS - for 7-7.5 points, TOEFL - for 96-109 points.

■ Knowledge and skills at Advanced level

Congratulations, you have gained freedom! For everyday life and office work, this level is quite enough. You will clearly explain to your boss why you need a pay rise, and to your English husband why you think 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 will not use it for a long time, then in a short time you will completely restore all knowledge on your own.

■ What is the result. You had a pleasant time walking the Englishman to the embassy and chatting with him on the way. And they didn’t even notice that he was lisping.

Proficiency

This is the level of an educated native speaker. Educated is the key word. That is, this is a person who graduated from the university and has a bachelor's degree. The level of proficiency is close to the level of language proficiency of a native speaker. As a rule, only people who graduated from the university in the country of the language being studied know it this way (and even then not always).

■ Proficiency level knowledge and skills. If you know the language so well, it means that you can take part in scientific conferences, write scientific papers, you can get a scientific degree in the country of the language being studied.

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, and a professor from the University of Massachusetts, and an Englishman who, on the way to the embassy, will tell you why he considers insolvent

big bang theory. Knowing the language at this level, you can get a certificate CPE, IELTS (8-9 points), TOEFL (110-120 points).

■ Job prospects. As you can see, if you write “fluency” on your resume, then 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, because most often the employer needs an employee with English at the level of “Good afternoon. Do you want tea or coffee?”, but at the same time, in the requirements for the applicant, he writes “fluency”.

Fluency in the language is required when working as an expat or in a foreign company. Or if you are entrusted with the duties of not only a personal assistant, but also an interpreter. In all other cases

for the quality performance of their duties and a comfortable stay in the office of 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, then when preparing for negotiations, a speech, a conversation on a specialized topic, you need to compile a glossary.

Maybe you've ever noticed that some interpreters don't 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 is at stake.

But some mining engineer at the same negotiations, who is only familiar with Present Simple, can 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.

LANGUAGE CERTIFICATES

What certificates are we talking about here all the time? This refers to official documents confirming your knowledge of the English language.

■ CAE(Certificate in advanced English) is an English language exam developed and administered by the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) division of 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 not limited. Needed for admission to universities where education is taught in English, and employment.

Where to get a certificate: in Moscow, the CAE exam is taken by Education First Moscow, Language Link, BKC-IH, Center for Language Studies. Accepted by others educational organizations but they only work with their students. A complete 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 ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) division of the University of Cambridge. The certificate corresponds to the level C2 of the common European classification of languages and confirms the highest level of English proficiency. The validity period of the certificate is not limited.

Where to get a certificate: The Moscow Institute of Foreign Languages offers to take courses and pass an exam: www.mosinyaz.com.

Testing and exam preparation centers in other cities of 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 system is good in that it tests knowledge in four aspects: reading, writing, listening, speaking. Needed for admission to universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland. And also for those who plan to leave for one of these countries for permanent residence.

See www.ielts.org/book-a-test/find-atest-location for where to get certified.

■ TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language, Test for knowledge of English as a foreign language) - a standardized test for knowledge of English (in its North American version), the delivery of which is required for non-English-speaking foreigners when entering universities in the USA and Canada, as well as Europe and Asia . Test results are also accepted in a number of other English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries for admission to English-medium universities. In addition, the test results can be claimed when recruiting to foreign companies. The test results are stored in the company's 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 have graduated from the English department of the philological faculty, 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 the tutor. And 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 forget 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, earnings.

In addition, the specifics of the profession of a tutor is that every minute of his working time is paid. And when a person works in such conditions, he cannot afford to hack.

Working in pairs is better because it disciplines. You can cancel a lesson due to bad weather or an attack of laziness - you pay the tutor where he goes. But to disrupt the lesson, which is planned for two, conscience will not allow.

Where to find and how to choose a tutor? First of all, on the recommendation of friends whose successes inspire you.

If there are no such acquaintances, you need to find courses with a solid educational institution: university, institute, consulate. They try to take good teachers there - they keep the brand. And teachers go there because they see such courses as a free advertising platform for recruiting individual students. You can go there to the level you need, and there you will already 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. Typically, these schools good level teaching, there various programs exchange, study abroad, teachers in them are native speakers.

■ Skype. Another option is to learn English via Skype. Why not?

You can do this at work, if conditions allow, and at home. Of the international well-established schools, we advise you to pay attention to Glasha: www.glasha.biz.

■ Courses of study abroad.

If you have the opportunity (financial) and knowledge of the language is not lower than the Intermediate level, then you can choose language 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 in many other places. It's expensive, but very effective.

TIPS AND UTILITIES IN LEARNING A LANGUAGE

■ Learn grammar. Reading adapted literature is boring. Helpful but unbearable. Learning grammar is a nightmare. But grammar in language is like formulas in mathematics. Learned them - you can move on and take new heights. No - it will only get worse further, and with each step there is less and less chance of reaching the top.

■ Use all available resources. In the pursuit of knowledge, all means are good: interactive Internet resources, comics, video games, tabloid literature, beauty blogs - anything.

The more interesting the topic is for you, the easier it will be for you to learn. Also, try to find or organize a conversation club (you can even create a group in WhatsApp) and discuss topics that concern you there. No, not what books you liked from the ones you read this year, but what qualities infuriate you in your partner, for which you are still offended by your mother and when the stadium on Krestovsky Island is finally 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 of Madeleine Wickham;

Series about Bridget Jones;

Jane Austen;

Somerset Maugham.

Choose books by modern authors, where there is no twisted detective story, complex allegory, excessive philosophizing, 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 three hundred pages. You will get used to modern British / American / other English, willy-nilly learn new words 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 series:

Any action movies, especially those with subtitles - there are few dialogues, the video sequence is beautiful;

Comedies in the spirit of "Home Alone", "We are the Millers", "Beethoven" - no reasoning about Nietzsche's philosophy, a simple and understandable plot, a lot of everyday vocabulary;

Melodramas of the "Eat, Pray, Love" format;

The series "Sex in big city”,“ Friends ”,“ The Simpsons ”, etc.

Learning a language is a long and difficult journey. And he's also very interesting. In addition to knowing the language, you will get a nice bonus - you will begin to understand how native speakers think. And it will open up a different world for you. And if you lack motivation, just remember that you have no choice. A modern person must know English. And point.

Intermediate is the level of English proficiency most often required by employers from candidates. But how to determine if you speak the language at the Intermediate level or not? And what is this scale? According to the European Framework of Reference for Languages, the English Intermediate level is designated as B1 and comes after the Pre-Intermediate level. In general, you can download that Intermediate is a confident "medium" 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 at the Intermediate level know?

Once a student reaches this level, it can be considered that he has already achieved some success. Your speaking or speaking skills must also be at an acceptable level. To improve your speaking skills, try to talk more in class, talk about 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 is various idioms, common phrases, turns of speech, set expressions, etc. Try to write down and memorize all new words. For many students, it remains difficult to get used to listening or Listening. Audio texts of the Intermediate level are more capacious and complex than at the previous stages. To simplify tasks, divide large sound files into parts and translate them separately. At this level of English, you should be able to understand text related to business, education, household chores, and so on. At the same time, try to get rid of the accent and pay attention to the details in the texts.

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The main topics covered at the 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 read work, describe the positive and negative features 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 (Writing). At level B1, you write sentences in both conversational and business style. The level of English intermediate involves such written tasks as.

Intermediate level (or intermediate level) is the average, threshold level of English proficiency. In the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (), he is assigned the letter B. This level is between A (beginner and pre-threshold) and C (advanced, native speaker level). The intermediate level, in turn, is divided into B1 (threshold level) and B2 (advanced threshold level). In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to overcome the Intermediate level and start communicating in English without any restrictions.

Content:

Possession of the intermediate level (intermediate) involves that the student understands the content of English-language texts of general or specialized subjects, can communicate for a long time with a native speaker on various topics, and is able to reasonably express his opinion on various issues. The vocabulary includes about 3000 words.

Having achieved the intermediate level (intermediate), many stop in training. Indeed, this knowledge is enough for everyday communication, for reading books, watching films in English and traveling. However, if you want to go further, master English perfectly, move to an English-speaking country for a long time, get rid of your accent and match the level of native speakers, you still have a lot of work to do.

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Breaking through the intermediate level requires a change in your thinking and teaching methods. Fortunately, this also means moving towards more interesting ways of learning.

How to overcome the Intermediate level

Immerse yourself in the language environment

It is not necessary to move to an English-speaking country to immerse yourself in the language environment. The materials needed for this (video, television, audio, books, music, etc.) are available anywhere with an internet connection. Create your own English environment by continuing to do everything you do using only English. For starters, use Google, not Yandex, and always in English. Change the language of all your devices (phone, tablet, computer) to "english". Read books and news in English, read Wikipedia articles in it. It is not worth adding that all English-language films, series, TV shows must also be watched in the original.

At the intermediate level, your goal is the advanced level, and in order to reach it, English should be in your daily life as much as possible.

Focus on context while mastering grammar

Surely you used to put off difficult sections of grammar that are almost never used in colloquial speech. It's time to deal with them once and for all. Because in order to move forward, you must learn to intuitively follow the rules of grammar, without thinking every time what tense to use or what preposition to use. Read more and listen grammatically correct speech so that these rules are deposited in your memory. Memorizing the rules will help you make sense of the grammar, but it can only be understood and remembered through practice. Do not learn words separately, but learn them in the context of specific phrases and sentences, which in turn form the context of long and short meaningful texts.

Work on your pronunciation

At the intermediate level, it is no longer enough that native speakers simply understand you. “Understanding” you, they still make allowances for the fact that English is not your native language, forgive mistakes and speak as simply as possible. Your goal at this level is to speak in such a way that the English-speaking interlocutor perceives you as an equal. To do this, it is very important to get rid of the Russian accent. Pay special attention to the letter r and the combination of letters th. They are the most difficult for Russian-speaking students.

The key to perfect pronunciation lies in three steps. The first is theory: you will learn how sounds are pronounced and how they combine with each other. The second is constant practice: you talk as much as possible, trying to get as close to perfect pronunciation as possible. The third is feedback: you ask native speakers for their opinion about your pronunciation, ask them to point out gaps in it, and together figure out how to deal with them.

Enjoy

Enjoying the process is an important condition for the successful learning of a foreign language. If you can still get to the intermediate level with the help of cramming, doing exercises and memorizing vocabulary, then in order to overcome it, this will no longer be enough. Without interest, even an obsession with English, you will never reach advanced level unless you live in English speaking country, Certainly.

Reward yourself for good results, reward yourself for every big and small success, brag about them to friends and family. Let the English language become your favorite thing, and not just another subject studied. Well, if it is connected with some of your hobbies. For example, if you are a fan of American hip-hop and the good old English rock, imagine how cool it is to understand all the texts of your idols.

Intermediate text parsing video:

Often, when applying for a job, the employer is interested in the applicant's knowledge of a foreign language and requires his knowledge at the B1 level. Having an Intermediate level will make it easier to pass exams and enter a university abroad. How to speak English at the Intermediate level?

What levels of English are there?

Division into levels when teaching a language:

facilitates the recruitment of a student group whose representatives have similar competencies;
publication of textbooks;
development of curricula and methods;
organization of testing and entrance examinations.

Separation is required more by teachers than by students.

Allocate:

Level group	Levels
A Novice user (basic ownership)	A1	beginner	Elementary
A Novice user (basic ownership)	A2	Elementary	Elementary
B Independent user (confident possession)	IN 1	Pre Intermediate	Below the average
	IN 1	intermediate	Average
	AT 2	Upper Intermediate	Above average
C Advanced user (fluency, high level)	C1	Advanced	Professional
C Advanced user (fluency, high level)	C2	Proficiency	In excellence

Intermediate - what level is it?

The main requirement of employers is English proficiency at the Intermediate level. Allows you to travel, explore the unknown, keep in touch with the indigenous people, describe the surrounding space.

Voicing one's position, discussing general everyday and industrial topics, understanding what was said by ear are essential features of the middle stage.

Pre Intermediate

Students apply grammar rules at this level with confidence, but active vocabulary is limited.

Upon completion of the level, they master the necessary communication skills and maintain a conversation on general topics.

Upper Intermediate

At this level, students communicate easily, know in-depth grammar. The vocabulary is diverse, the transition to reading books in the original is carried out.

There is an opportunity to get an education in the West or find a job: work without close contact with clients.

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

Grammar

Students understand:

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Learn how to write good sentences in English without learning grammar
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Lexicon

It ranges from 2000 to 3000 lexical units. Along with general colloquial vocabulary, they study common words that are associated with communication in business area. The Intermediate level is enriched with phraseological units.

Students operate phrases in context. The vocabulary is expanded due to word formation with the help of prefixes and suffixes, addition of stems and conversion. They show attention to the interpretation of semantics, bringing close and opposite words in meaning.

speaking

You can at the Intermediate level:

Reading

It is typical for you at the Intermediate level:

understanding of adapted literature;
unfamiliar vocabulary does not make it difficult to read articles from the World Wide Web and the media;
there is a transition to reading books in the original.

listening

Differs at the Intermediate level:

relatively complete understanding with direct contact and in the sound recording of what was heard;
instant comprehension of non-adapted audio recordings, despite the ignorance of individual words, the accent of the speaker;
the ability to distinguish the pronunciation of a native speaker from the pronunciation of a non-native speaker;
watching TV series and films with subtitles;
listening adapted or not very difficult original audiobooks.

Letter

You can:

construct a sentence grammatically correct;
sign a greeting card, invitation, letter, advertisement, request;
fill out a questionnaire, if necessary;
describe phenomena, people and incidents, give a comment.

How do you know that you have an intermediate level of language proficiency?

A grade check means a lot in language acquisition and mainly influences the selection of a training program at the Intermediate level.

How to correctly determine the level of training so that testing determines the true state of affairs? There are many sites on the Internet that offer online tests to check the level. However, not everyone copes with the task of determining the language level.

The standard test involves choosing one correct answer from the proposed set. Accurate answers indicate excellent theoretical knowledge of grammar, but are silent about your skills: writing and speaking, listening, reading. Many answer randomly.

There are tests that establish:

The first variation is considered as inferior, therefore, they turn to the second type of test.

Popular English proficiency tests:

British
American

The IELTS exam is suitable for:

study in New Zealand and Great Britain, Ireland and Canada, Australia;
move to these countries.

There are two main types of IELTS:

It is used to control the level of Intermediate in the professional field. Looking to work or study abroad
general training. Assesses language proficiency in everyday situations. Enough for immigration. Consists of:
- Interviews with the examiner. When an appeal is filed, a recording is made on a dictaphone. Topics are varied. It is important for the inspector to hear your thoughts on this or that matter. It is important to sound and look natural. Express your ideas, use the accumulated experience or caused associations. When you find it difficult to say something about museums, think about which one you want to visit. Tell us about your attitude to art, even if it does not arouse interest.
- Letters or essays. 2 tasks are given, where you need to describe the table or write a mini-essay on the specified topic. For General Training: writing (informal or formal), Academic - composition. When passing the written part, they clearly formulate thoughts, avoid repetitions and tautologies, consistently cover the topic. If you have problems with the first task, do not get hung up and move on to the next exercise. Competently completed task number 2 is rated higher: concentrate on its implementation. Keep in mind the required length of the task: #1 - 150 words, #2 - 100 words more. Achieving this mark will save the number of points.
- Listening. Listen to 4 passages and answer questions. Entries are on general topics or are associated with studies. They are presented in the form of a monologue or dialogue and are the same for everyone. To pass successfully, a worksheet with tasks will help: there is a chance to quickly view and pay attention to the necessary information. In case of poor hearing, be sure to warn the staff. The control is built in such a way that points are awarded for a correct answer, however, they are not reduced for an incorrect one.
- Readings. Tasks are given: to answer questions, to choose an unmistakable version and title of the text, to insert the necessary word forms instead of gaps.

When performing, follow the instructions exactly. Do not disregard font changes, accents, headings - they may contain important information. Don't focus on every token - the questions are only relevant to certain factors. The final grade is derived from the scores of all sections: minimum - 1, maximum - 9. Usually 6-7 points is the minimum result that foreign institutions require from applicants.

Courses by Intermediate level

An acceptable and simple way to improve the level of the language is online learning. Self-study language fit for those who do not have the opportunity to attend courses. The disadvantage of studying is the lack of speech practice for the Intermediate level. The way out is to improve the knowledge of the language with the help of interactive courses via Skype. The optimal solution to the problem is face-to-face courses.

English courses:

English on Skype. EnTouch lessons are the acquisition of knowledge with comfort and passion.
- Business English online. Entrepreneurship is growing rapidly. Hence the demand for this service.
- Accelerated English. It is undeniable, but true: English is a means of international interaction and constructive agreements.
- English with a certificate. Most of the functions of English clear the way for climbing the corporate ladder.
- English for schoolchildren. Classes for students will be cognitive and interesting.
- Spoken English. To have a sense of decisiveness in any verbal situation, it does not hurt to speak fluently in online lessons.
- English for students. Foreign language is a mandatory component curriculum many specialties. Sometimes students find the subject difficult.
- English for adults. It doesn't matter how old you are. The price is the desire to speak English. EnTouch will help you turn your dreams into reality.
- Corporate English. In the variety of EnTouch courses, there was a place for corporate consumers.
School of Daria Dzyuba. Business English: Intermediate (B1).
Online courses at "Ischool of English".
Global Link. Courses for adults and children.

Intermediate level program

Grammar Topics

plural nouns (special cases), agreement of subject and predicate;
article and pronouns;
degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs;
Present Indefinite and Present Progressive;
Present Progressive with stative verbs;
Past Indefinite and Present Perfect;
Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive;
Past Indefinite and Used+ Infinitive;
Ways of Referring to the Future;
Reported Speech;
Indirect Questions and Imperatives (Suggestions/Requests/Commands);
passive voice and the formation of species-temporal forms;
Modal verbs and the ir equivalents;
prepositions;
The Gerund and the Infinitive;
The Complex Sentences;
Different Types of Questions.

Conversational Topics

applying for a job;
At the cafe;
At the kitchen;
Books are our friends;
challenge and approving the goals;
family affairs;
fashion and new trends;
holidays abroad;
mass media and newspaper;
modern society;
my career;
my personality;
my point of view;
natural d;
old people;
social problems;
sport and health;
The place where I live;
the world around us;
The way I spend my pastime/ Parties/Hobbies/Music;
We are interested in our past;
We learn to communicate.

How will your speaking skills develop in the Intermediate course?

Intermediate-level - the pivotal period when the development of the listener progresses.

Acquired skills have distinctive features:

The term of study at the Intermediate level

In practice, the duration of training depends on the student's enthusiasm and motivation, as well as the knowledge base.

Teaching takes place systematically and is based on previously acquired skills and abilities. The educational process is characterized by intensity and speed, when the student actively owns vocabulary and grammar. When you realize gaps in certain topics, you should not be upset.

It is advisable to try to assimilate the required material in full in order to reach the required level, and then fearlessly move to a new level. In the second case, it will take more effort and time to study, but in the end, the student will have a full understanding of all the language components.

The next levels are a deepening and expansion of the active vocabulary and a concentration on linguistic micro-details and nuances.

Books to read at the Intermediate level

The best assistants and friends for learners of the language of international communication.

List of books that are used in the educational process:

Nevil Shute. On the Beach / On the shore. Novel. (1957);
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button / Misterious story Benjamin Button. Story (1922);
Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper / The Prince and the Pauper. historical novel;
Live and Let Die / Live and let die. Thriller. (2010);
Lewis Carroll. Alice Through the Looking Glass / Alice Through the Looking Glass. Books for children. (2013);
Dal road. Matilda / Matilda. Books for children;
Mario Puzo / The Godfather / The Godfather. Fiction (1999);
Arthur Conan Doyle. short stories / short stories (2012);
Alexandre Duma. The Three Musketeers / Three Musketeers. Fiction;
Seven-Day Magic / Seven days of magic. Books for children (2004);
English Fairy Tales / Fairy Tales of Britain (2008);
Henry. The Gift of the Magi / Gifts of the Magi. story;
Romeo and Juliet / Romeo and Juliet. Tragedy (2010);
Treasure Island / Treasure Island. adventure novel. (2008);
Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White / Woman in white. Fiction.

Tutorials for the Intermediate level

English: service and tourism (N.E. Koroleva, E.Z. Barsetyan, A.M. Serbinovskaya);
A Frequency Dictionary of Russian: core vocabulary for learners. Sharoff S., Umanskaya E., Wilson J. (2013. - 400 p.). Directory;
Business Grammar Builder Macmillan;
Business Resource Book Oxford;
Essential English for Foreign Students (C.E. Eckersley, 2002);
Communicating in Business Cambridge;
English Result Intermediate Workbook with Key + MultiROM-E;
Headway Business English;
Language to go. Araminta Crace, Robin Wileman;
market leader. David Cotton, David Falvey, Simon Kent;
New Opportunities;
New Cutting Edge. Sarah Cunningham, Peter Moor;
Teach Business English Cambridge;
Textbooks "Practical course of the English language" linguist, Doctor of Philology V. D. Arakin in 5 volumes;
I want and will know English. T.I. Arbekova, N.N. Vlasova, G.A. Makarova.

Movies and series for the Intermediate level

English-language films are suitable for training and practicing audiotive skills.

Desperate Housewives / Desperate Housewives (2006). USA. Comedy, detective, romance, drama;
Restless / Restless (2012). Great Britain, Germany. Romance, drama;
Come Sunday / Heretic (2018). USA. drama;
The White Princess / White Princess (2017). USA. drama;
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel / The Amazing Mrs Maisel (2017). USA. Drama, comedy
White Collar / White Collar (2009). USA. Drama, crime, comedy
Paterno / Paterno (2018). USA. Drama, biography;
War & Peace / War and Peace (2016). Great Britain. War, romance, drama;
The 15:17 to Paris / Train to Paris (2018). USA. historical;
The Kennedys After Camelot / The Kennedys: After Camelot (2017). Canada, USA. historical, drama;
Peter Rabbit / Rabbit Peter (2018). Australia, USA. Cartoon, family;
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell / Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (2015). Great Britain. Fantasy;
Kickboxer: Retaliation / Kickboxer returns (2018). USA. Drama, thriller
The Lost Room / Lost room (2006). USA. science fiction, fantasy, thriller;
Lost / Stay alive (2006). USA. science fiction, thriller, adventure;
American Gods / American Gods (2017). USA. Detective, fantasy;
Happy! / Happy (2017). USA. Fantasy, crime, thriller, comedy, detective;
McMafia / McMafia (2018). USA, Great Britain. Thriller, drama, crime;
Game Night / Night games (2018). USA. Thriller, comedy, detective, crime;
Bent / Addiction / (2018). USA, Spain. Thriller, crime.

Grammar Tutorials for Intermediate Level

Goldenkov M.A. street english. For the lazy, for the restless, for those who don't know English, for those who think they know. (2003. - 224 p.);
Ivantsov English Grammar Untangled. (2012. - 123 p.);
Litvinov P.P. 2000 English expressions. Memory technique. (2010. - 320 p.);
Matveev S.A. English for the intermediate level. Level B1. (2016.– 160 pp.);
Tretyakov Yu.P. American English. Tutorial for adults. Advanced course. (2005. - 327 p.) + mp3;
Khidekel S.S., Kaul M.R., Ginzburg E.L. Difficulties in English vocabulary. (2002. - 175 s);
Chernikhovskaya N.O. 200 dialogues in English for all occasions. (2014. - 336 p. + mp3);
Chernikhovskaya N.O. Modern English words and expressions + Slang. (2013. - 496 p.) + mp3;
Collins Cobuild Basic Grammar / Fundamentals of English Grammar (2004. - 240 p.);
Elaine Walker, Steve Elsworth. New edition Grammar Practice for Upper Intermediate;
Grammar Games Oxford;
Gina Caro. English Grammar from A to Z. / English for ours in 2 volumes (1998. - 265 p.);
Macmillan English in Context;
Raymond Murphy. English Grammar in Use;
Reward Resource Pack Macmillan.

How to level up Intermediate?

The main task when studying at the Intermediate level is to immerse yourself entirely in the English language. In addition, they pay attention to topics that are of interest and are directly related to work.

These strategies will allow you to raise the level of a foreign language in the future:

Apply language skills in everyday life. Change language settings in devices, gadgets, email correspondence, social media account. Make a list of cases and queries for a search engine in a foreign language, do not use translation. Sign up for a conversation club.
Reading in English is the best teaching. It is preferable to read publications from popular magazines or newspaper news. Studying or busy in the field of international relations, entrepreneurship and commerce - it's time to switch to English-language publications: The Week, or The Washington Post - can be downloaded for free on the Internet. Remember about notes, especially try to learn idioms.
Regularly listen to audio podcasts and watch video files, listen to audio books. Highlight the variety of English you want: Australian, British, or American.
Expand your vocabulary. However, not by cramming and not in large volume. Use the context to remember, group the vocabulary by thematic principle, this will allow you to learn words. Develop your imagination by making up stories with new vocabulary.
Improving speech skills is impossible without speaking practice, which is 80%. lesson at the Intermediate level, for this you will need either an English-speaking friend or a teacher.
If you love pop music, there is a reason to go with a girlfriend or friend to karaoke. You can find your favorite songs online and sing at home. Don't be modest!