When starting to learn a foreign language, many people ask: How to learn a language quickly?
Indeed, how can one learn such a rich language, for example, English, whose vocabulary includes more than 500,000 words? An incredibly huge number! The answer to this question will be: Reduce the vocabulary of the language you are studying to the required minimum!
This can be done and is even easier than it seems at first glance. I will try to convince you of this.
Learn English with Basic English
Just 40 correctly identified, high-frequency words cover about 50% of word usage in everyday speech in any language! And 400 words will cover about 90%.
This is not just idle chatter, these statistics were revealed by the famous Swedish polyglot and author of the book “The Art of Learning Languages” E.V. Gunnemark.
Nevertheless, when we begin to learn a language that is still unfamiliar to us, the need arises to choose this basic dictionary. There are several options on how to do this:
- look into the frequency dictionary
- use phrase books
- resort to computer training programs, etc.
When learning English, you won't need to do any research on your own, because there is already a wonderful dictionary called "Basic English" by Charles Ogden.
The history of the creation of the Basic English language
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the need for international communication prompted the idea of creating a language that would be understandable and easy to learn for everyone. Thus, British linguist Charles Ogden created a new artificial language by simplifying existing English, which was called Basic English(Basic English). Basic is translated as “basic”, but there is another interpretation of the choice of such a name - the decoding of each of the letters, which in translation means British American Scientific International Commercial.
Grammatically, the new language is practically no different from standard British. But his vocabulary is only 850 tokens!
Basic English vocabulary
The dictionary includes
- 600 nouns, of which:
- 400 are general concepts, such as:
Act - action
Answer - answer
Belief - faith
Earth - earth
End - end, etc.- 200 words - descriptive, that is, those that help describe what surrounds us, such as:
Baby - child
Bridge - bridge
Door - door
Moon - moon
Tree - tree, etc. - 150 adjectives, including:
- 100 common adjectives, for example:
Automatic - automatic
Complex - complex
Possible - possible
Medical - medical
Wise - wise, etc.- 50 – adjectives-opposites:
Bad - bad
Cold - cold
Different - unlike
Small - small
Wrong - erroneous, etc. - 100 other parts of speech
These 100 words included only 18 verbs, and the remaining 82 were prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns and adverbs.
You are rightly wondering how it is even possible to reduce the English vocabulary so much, turning 500,000 into 850. The answer lies in the fact that in English 300,000 words are terms. Indeed, practice shows that these 850 words of Basic English are enough to express and understand an English speaker when it comes to everyday speech. You will not be able to understand literary texts well, but the first stage of learning a language does not require this. The main thing is to start speaking English and understanding it, and this is the first obstacle that needs to be overcome.
Also interesting are the modern revisions, in which the main drawback of Ogden’s dictionary, such as some spontaneity and unsystematic nature, is corrected. Recently, categorized Basic-English dictionaries have appeared.
Basic English program for language learning
Nowadays, computerization has deeply penetrated the spheres of human activity; it is not surprising that it has also affected the learning process. I lead to the fact that the Basic English program was created.
Basic English is a program for learning the basic 850 English lexemes; it makes it possible to learn them quickly and efficiently. Today there are already several versions of the program: 1.0, 1.1, 2.0.
When opening the program, you choose which section of the dictionary you want to learn:
- Objects and phenomena (600 nouns)
- Words that convey qualities (150 adjectives)
- Words expressing actions and movements (100 different parts of speech)
Having chosen a section, you begin directly to study. After each word there is a transcription, Russian translation and its correct audio pronunciation below.
After studying, you can also take a test to check your accumulated knowledge. Your choice will be offered testing with or without prompts. You have the opportunity to choose the type of verification between three options: “English-Russian”, “Russian-English” and mixed.
This way of learning starter vocabulary is very effective and fun.
Good luck!
Download the basic dictionary Basic English dictionary Basic English
Video: Replenishing vocabulary
My English teacher always asked the students in the first lesson: “For what purpose do you need a foreign language? If you want to be a translator, get ready to enroll in the Faculty of Philology. And for basic communication It’s enough to learn 850 basic words and a few grammar rules.”
Basic English
Skeptics will be surprised, but this scheme works! And its advantage is that you can master a minimum vocabulary in just a month. Do not believe? Today there is a unique opportunity to test the theory on your own experience. Editorial "So simple!" I have prepared for you those same 850 words, which are quite enough to communicate with a resident of any English-speaking country.
To master basic vocabulary, don’t be lazy and study every day. Be sure to consolidate your knowledge in practice; any person who agrees to examine you is suitable for these purposes.
© DepositPhotos
For more convenience words are combined into groups: objects and phenomena (600 words, of which 400 are general, and 200 are designations of objects); actions and movements (100 words); expression of quality (150 words, of which 100 are general and 50 with the opposite meaning). Each group is shown in the picture. Save and learn now!
850 words for basic English
- Objects and phenomena (designations of objects)
If you studied English at school, most of these words are probably familiar to you. Don't try to learn everything at once, learn in alphabetical order. First, read the words with translation 2-3 times a day. Within a week it will turn out that you know 80% of them.
- Objects and phenomena (general)
To remember words better, be sure to say them out loud. In your free time, while walking or in transport, try to mentally name the objects around you in English. It would be great if someone tested your knowledge 1-2 times a week.
- Actions or movements
This list includes basic english words, not only verbs, but also pronouns, prepositions and polite phrases. You can study in any order, or draw diagrams with arrows indicating movement or movement.
- Expression of quality (general)
Adjectives enrich the language so that it does not become too formal. Helps improve memorization next exercise: Take any object or picture and describe it using adjectives. The more words you use, the better.
- Expression of quality (with opposite meaning)
To better memorize adjectives with opposite meanings, complete the previous exercise describing an object using antonyms. You can do it differently: write down the word, and after a hyphen - its opposite meaning.
With this basic dictionary you can confidently go on a journey! And in order to better understand the English language and learn how to put the necessary words into sentences, which takes into account the coordination of tenses.
Experts say that. The most important thing is desire, patience and perseverance. Don’t quit classes after a week, study, be sure to practice speaking, read English texts, watch films without translation, and everything will work out. I wish you success in learning English!
Write to us in the comments how you or your friends managed to quickly learn. And don’t forget to show this useful article to your friends on social networks.
Alexandra Dyachenko is perhaps the most active editor of our team. She is an active mother of two children, a tireless housewife, and Sasha also has an interesting hobby: she loves making impressive decorations and decorating children's parties. The energy of this person cannot be put into words! Dreams of visiting the Brazilian carnival. Sasha's favorite book is “Wonderland Without Brakes” by Haruki Murakami.
So, you have started learning English. If your goal is to gain speaking skills, then you have come to the right place. Here are the most commonly used English words. In the end, everyone needs to start somewhere. Learning English words without knowing which way to approach it is not an easy task. You may also need this lexical minimum for further study of grammar. And this is undoubtedly a big plus for you.
I bring to your attention a list that includes basic English words that are most often found in everyday communication. This includes nouns, verbs, pronouns, prepositions that Americans and English use a hundred times a day and even more. By learning these words, you will not only be able to grasp the essence of the conversation, but maybe even support it.
100 English words is the minimum we recommend starting with. If you find yourself in a foreign country, you will most likely be understood, even if you simply say the word “time” to a passerby in order to find out the time. Believe me, this is much better than if you start piling incomprehensible verbal structures one on top of another.
All words are spoken
The suggested words are the most commonly used words in the English language. They are found in almost all frequency dictionaries. To improve perception, they were divided into small groups.
Each group includes one dozen words and is accompanied by an audio recording, where they are voiced by professional speakers with correct pronunciation, who are native English speakers. This way you will learn to pronounce words clearly and almost without accent.
Trans... what? Transcription
Since you are just starting to learn English words, most of them are given a transcription, i.e. a graphic recording of the sound of the words. Transcriptions help beginners correctly pronounce individual sounds in words. Don't be alarmed when you see these unfamiliar and unfamiliar icons to your eyes. Soon you will learn to distinguish between them and understand how much easier they make life.
Practice for your health
However, in order for this basic knowledge to become firmly ingrained in your memory, you must use it in communication. Your interlocutor can be your friend, colleague, or even yourself (why not try conducting a monologue?). The important thing is that you often use the learned words in your speech. Some of them can even be written out on adhesive pieces of paper (stickers) and pasted on the corresponding objects in the apartment.
And most importantly, repeat the words until you memorize them. Repetition is the mother of learning. Remember that knowledge does not come easy, which means that you will have to work hard to achieve good results. The proposed 100 words are the most popular and most used in the English language. Based on them, you can already build proposals. It is impossible to start learning a language without resorting to new vocabulary.
Conclusion
Thus, based on the above, we can note the following: if you decide to learn English from scratch, then the presented list, which includes the basic and most popular English words, will undoubtedly help you. Each word is voiced, translated and provided with transcription.
All you have to do is learn them, remember the correct pronunciation and practice often. Of course, we cannot say that we should limit ourselves to this list only. The 100 words presented are a base that will allow you to navigate the further process of learning English.
№ 1
I - I you - you, you he - he his - him
it - he, she, it (about inanimate objects)
they - they
is - is, is located
was - was, was, was
are - we are, are, are
and - and
/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Basic-English-words-1-10.mp3 № 2
as - how, since, when
for - for, for the sake of, because of
in - in, during, through, on of - something (with a noun in the genitive case)
on - on, in that - that, that, that, then with - with, together with to - to, in, on the - definite article - this, this, this
a is the indefinite article before a singular noun
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№ 3
word - word
all - everything, everything, all, all
this - this, this, this
one - one, unit, someone
we - we your - yours, yours, yours, yours
be - to be, to be
have - to have
had - had
were - were, were
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№ 4
can - be able to, be able to, be able to
said - said, said, said
at - at, with, on, in from - from, from, with or - or, nor by - at, about, to, past, with the help
but - but, but, except, however
not - not, nor what - which, how much
when - when, while
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№ 5
use - use, application, benefit
many ["mænı] - many, many
other [Λðə] - other, different
each - everyone, everyone
she [∫i:] - she
their [ðεə] - theirs, belonging to them them [ðəm] - them/them
these [ði:z] - these
which - which one
do - do, carry out
/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Basic-English-words-41-50.mp3
№ 6
will - will, firm intention + auxiliary verb to form the future tense
how - how, how much
so - thus, so, also, therefore
then [ðen] - then, then
there [ðεə] - there, there, here
about [ə"baut] - around, about, about, approximately
if [ıf] - if
out - outside, behind, outside, beyond
up [Λp] - up, along, at the top, above
an [ən] - indefinite article a + letter n, used before vowels
/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Basic-English-words-51-60.mp3
№ 7
time - time, period
number ["nΛmbə] - number, quantity, figure
way - road, path, direction, opportunity
people - people, population
her - her, her, hers, belonging to her him - to him, to him
some - which, some, some, some, several
more - more
would - used as an auxiliary verb when forming the future in the past tense, when forming the conditional mood, as well as a modal verb to express a polite request, opportunity or desire
make - do, create, force
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№ 8
like - like, love, want, similar, equal
has - has, possesses
look - look, glance, look
write - write, write
go - go, walk, go, leave
see - to see, examine, know, understand
could - could/could
no - no, no, no
two - two, deuce
into ["ıntə] - into, inside
/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Basic-English-words-71-80.mp3
№ 9
day - day, day
oil - oil, grease, petroleum
part - part, share, participation, role, separate, part
water ["wo:tə] - water, moisten, water
long - long, long, slow
my - mine, mine
its [ıts] - his, her, yours
who - who, which
been - past participle of the verb be “to be”
call - to call, call, hail, call, visit
/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Basic-English-words-81-90.mp3
№ 10
find - find, acquire, count
did - did, did
get - receive, achieve, become
come - to come, to arrive, to happen
made - did, did, created, created
may - be able, have the opportunity
now - now, now
first - first
down - down, below
than [ðən] - than
What does it mean - speak a foreign language? Each person has their own idea about this: some are content with a level that allows them to travel around Europe without hindrance, while for others it is not enough to read Shakespeare in the original. Subjective criteria in this matter vary greatly - from knowledge of the necessary phrases to an intuitive sense of the language (which is sometimes lacking even for those who have spoken it since childhood). However, we learn a foreign language for a certain purpose - moving to another country, studying at a foreign university, the need to speak English for work.
Needless to say, “just like that”, the language itself will never be learned. Accordingly, no one can do without external criteria, that is, those parameters by which language knowledge will be tested in practice. Therefore, below we will look at the gradation of proficiency levels in the most common foreign language - English - according to the CEFR scale developed by the Council of Europe, compare it with the results of popular exams (IELTS / TOEFL / Cambridge / PTE) and give some tips for gradually mastering the language from elementary to higher levels.
Comparison table of levels and exam scores
How can you find out your level yourself?
Today, the level of English language proficiency can be determined even without leaving home, thanks to numerous online tests. Below is a selection of several such tests. It should be borne in mind that such tests will not allow an absolutely accurate reflection of the level of language proficiency, since the resources on which they are posted are most often associated with language schools that have paid or offline resources to accurately assess the level. Therefore, even after receiving a result on the CEFR scale, you should take into account the possible errors of online tests. In addition, some tests, due to their content, cannot objectively assess knowledge of the language at an advanced level (C1–C2).Some of the tests below require registration before testing, but there are many tests on the Internet that allow you to get the result only after registering on the site or contacting the language school, which is very annoying and leads to additional time expenditure, so such tests are included in the tables not taken into account.
Complex tests
Tests of this kind include tasks in various areas of language knowledge: listening (listening), text comprehension (reading), grammar (grammar) and knowledge of the dictionary (vocabulary). Comprehensive online tests do not include only one important parameter - speaking. Such tests can be considered the most objective.| Resource | Questions | Time | Level | Answers | Grade | Timer | Registration | Listening | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 50 min | A2–C2 | 4-5 var. | 9.7 | + | + | + | + | |
| 50 | 20 minutes. | B1–C2 | 5 var. | 7.4 | - | + | + | + | |
| 50 | 20 minutes. | A2–C1 | 3–4 var. | 7.4 | - | + | + | + | |
| 140 | 70 min. | A1–C1 | 4 var. | 7.2 | - | - | + | + | |
| 30 | 20 minutes. | A2–C1 | 4 var. | 7.0 | - | - | + | - | |
| 40 | 15 minutes. | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7.0 | - | + | + | - | |
| 50 | 20 minutes. | A2–C1 | 4 var. | 6.8 | - | - | - | + | |
| 20 | 15 minutes. | A2–C2 | 4 var. | 6.5 | + | - | + | - | |
| 60 | 30 min. | A2–C1 | 4 var. | 6.5 | + | + | - | + | |
| 40 | 15 minutes. | A1–B2 | 3–4 var. | 6.2 | - | - | + | + |
Vocabulary and grammar tests
A good option for those who want to quickly determine their approximate level of language proficiency. The level of knowledge of grammar will allow you to quickly navigate your level, because good knowledge in this area constitutes an important “skeleton” on which you can successfully build up other language knowledge.| Resource | Time | Questions | Level | Answers | Grammar | Verbs | Dictionary | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 min. | 83 | A2–C2 | 6 var. | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8.0 | |
| 25 min. | 40 | A1–B2 | Writing | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7.3 | |
| 10 min. | 10 | B2–C1 | 4 var. | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6.7 | |
| 35 min. | 68 | A2–B2 | 4 var | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.7 | |
| 10 min. | 25 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6.7 | |
| 20 minutes. | 50 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6.3 | |
| 20 minutes. | 50 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6.3 | |
| 20 minutes. | 40 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6.3 | |
| 20 minutes. | 50 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6.3 | |
| 15 minutes. | 40 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6.0 | |
| 15 minutes. | 40 | A1–B1 | 3 var. | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5.7 | |
| 10 min. | 25 | A1–B1 | 3 var. | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4.3 |
The rating is based on a ten-point scale based on five main criteria:
- Grammar - how deeply the knowledge of English grammar is tested, including knowledge of tenses, conditional sentences, subordinate clauses, tense agreement, passive voice.
- Verbs - it is separately assessed how thoroughly the test tests knowledge of English verbs: irregular, modal, phrasal. The same parameter includes the presence in the test of tasks on knowledge of the use of prepositions with verbs, infinitives and gerunds.
- Vocabulary - assessment of the diversity of testing vocabulary, as well as the availability of tasks for its use.
- Listening - if the test contains this part, then the level of its complexity, the speed of listening, the presence of different voice tones, artificial interference, accents, etc. are assessed.
- Reading - assessment of tasks for perception and understanding of the text, if any in the test. The complexity of texts is primarily assessed.
Why is it important to know your language level?
- To correctly determine your goals, only knowing your level of foreign language proficiency can you adequately assess your capabilities, as well as determine short-term and long-term goals, which will allow you to choose the right training program and find a competent mentor.
- The need to indicate when applying for a job - many modern companies ask applicants to indicate in their resume their level of foreign language proficiency, confirmed by an appropriate certificate. To get a good position in an international company, you need to know the language at a high level.
- To study abroad, it is impossible to enter a prestigious college or university without good knowledge of a foreign language. And again, members of the admissions committee need confirmation - a language certificate.
Foreign language in practice: what is important?
The first thing you need to know: the level of language proficiency is only checked in practice. It is almost impossible to independently determine real language skills, even with the help of Internet tests, since they only determine knowledge of grammar and a very limited vocabulary. Therefore, you should not rely too much on such results, since in reality everything will be completely different.When determining the level of proficiency in any foreign language, including English, experts pay attention to 4 basic skills: listening, reading, speech And letter. It is these skills that are usually tested on various international tests. Obviously, online tests will help assess only the first two criteria, although in practice it is much more important to be able to express yourself in speech and writing.
The difficulty of independently determining the level of a foreign language lies not only in the fact that it is difficult to evaluate yourself, but also in the fact that the second language as a whole rarely remains at any particular level. That is, you can be able to understand complex texts in a foreign language that correspond to an advanced level, but have great difficulty speaking independently. It turns out that, on the one hand, a person knows the language at a professional level, but on the other hand, his communication skills are almost undeveloped. How then can you determine your level of English? Professional linguists and experts define foreign language proficiency according to several levels that apply not only to English, but to most languages of the world.
A0 - Zero level of English proficiency
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
In truth, this level does not exist at all, but it is certainly worth mentioning, since 80% of self-critical beginners confidently attribute complete ignorance of the language to themselves. Attention: if a person knows how the word is translated dog or house, then this is already some level. Whatever the source of knowledge: two years of studying English at school, an English phrasebook once read, or two weeks of classes with a tutor 15 years ago - this knowledge remains in a person’s head forever. This is important because even a minimal base will serve as an excellent basis for subsequent study.
If we talk about zero level, this means complete ignorance English (this will be true if the person knows English as well as Filipino). In this case, you can enroll in English courses in your home country. In about 3 months, the language level will rise to spoken B1. If a person is still visually familiar with the English alphabet and knows what “Hello! How are you?” means, this indicates language proficiency at level A1.
start with lessons for absolute beginners, where you can master the alphabet, reading rules, key words for understanding simple English, learn 300 new words (this will take no more than two weeks).
A1 - initial level of English proficiency - Beginner
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 15 | - |
This level is also called the "survival level". This means that once in one of the cities of England or America, a person, with the help of local residents, will be able to get at least to the Russian embassy. This level can in no way be called conversational, since, of course, there will be no coherent conversation. But jokes aside, with this level you can go to language courses abroad.
Even minimal skills already allow you to at least convey some information to your interlocutor, albeit not without the help of gestures. Typically, this level is mastered by those who learned English a long time ago and without much pleasure. Of course, there are absolutely no practical skills, but there is knowledge deposited deep in memory that will serve as a good basis for further language learning.
The student speaks the language at level A1 if:
- answers basic questions: name, age, home country, profession;
- understands familiar phrases provided the narrator speaks slowly and clearly;
- understands some individual words in the English text.
A2 - basic level of English proficiency - Elementary
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 31 | KET pass | 30 |
If you can live with the initial level and not think about it, then the basic level Elementary presupposes some awareness or, at least, memory that “I once taught something similar.” Again, there is still a long way to go to the conversational level, but unlike A1, some kind of dialogue can already happen.
If we return to the hypothetical situation of staying in one of the cities of England, then the situation here is a little rosier: with a basic level you can not only get to the embassy, but also communicate with a foreigner (for example, talk a little about your profession or place an order in a cafe).
In practice, A2 differs little from A1, and the main advantage of the first is rather greater self-confidence and a slightly richer vocabulary. However, communication capabilities are still limited, so level A2 is only suitable as a basis for study, since there is nowhere to apply it in practice.
The student speaks the language at level A2 if:
- talks about everyday topics: he can give directions or ask for directions, talk about himself and the things around him;
- understands the interlocutor’s speech in a dialogue, provided that he speaks clearly and on a familiar topic;
- can read and understand basic sentences ( I have..., You are..., He goes...);
- write a simple sentence in text form or fill out a form in English.
Very often, between the initial and conversational levels, an intermediate level is distinguished, which implies that a person can already use English to solve some vital tasks, but does not yet speak spoken English. If we compare it with the A0-C2 scale, then this level can be characterized as A2+ or B1-.
It can be defined as follows:
- partially falling under the characteristics of level B1, but lack of practice in some aspects (for example, writing) indicates knowledge of the language at level Pre-Intermediate;
- Completely falling under the description of level A2 and partially falling under level B1 (for example, speaking skills are more developed) indicates knowledge of the language at level Upper-Elementary.
B1 - Intermediate level of English proficiency
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 60 | PET pass | 43 |
When language competence goes beyond confused speech about the location of museums and restaurants, and English speech and text become more and more understandable, these facts indicate that the student is at the first stage of spoken English. But in addition to conversation, this level also implies good reading skills of adapted texts, as well as an understanding of basic English grammar. Statistically, the majority of tourists know the language at this level, which allows them to easily communicate with their interlocutor on everyday topics. Typically, modern graduates graduate from school with at least a B1 level (with a maximum of B2). However, you still need a lot of work to become fluent in the language.
The student speaks the language at level B1 if:
- confidently carries on a conversation on any everyday topic with good pronunciation, although still with some hesitations and errors;
- understands the interlocutor, and also partially grasps the meaning of a complex speech (lecture) or conversation between English speakers (film);
- reads literature adapted for intermediate level with a dictionary and understands the meaning of simple texts;
- can compose a short essay about himself or the world around him, using common semantic structures and words.
B2 - Higher intermediate level - Upper-Intermediate
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 90 | FCE grade C | 59 |
If a student has good conversational skills (above average level), can maintain a detailed conversation with a foreigner, understands speech by ear, watches English-language films and TV series without translation or subtitles, this means that he speaks a foreign language at level B2. It should be noted that people who are completely unfamiliar with the English language are sure that a real foreigner is standing in front of them. However, don't be fooled. Upper-Intermediate- this is truly a great achievement, but even this is sometimes not enough for professional activities. Another disadvantage is the fact that it will be much more difficult to move higher on your own. However, for admission to a foreign university with average requirements for applicants, this level is quite enough, so you don’t have to worry and feel free to sign up for the TOEFL or IELTS exams.
The student speaks the language at level B2 if:
- speaks measuredly on almost any topic, expresses his own attitude or spaciously describes his thoughts (however, at this level some errors in verb conjugation, tenses and the use of complex words are still acceptable);
- understands oral speech on everyday topics and about 80% of complex speech (lectures, films, interviews);
- understands well the meaning of informational texts in English, draws information from English-language resources without significant loss of meaning (it is permissible to use a dictionary to read texts on an unfamiliar topic);
- expresses his thoughts in writing in a reasoned manner, using common constructions (albeit with minor errors).
C1 - advanced level of English proficiency - Advanced
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | 100 | CAE grade C | 76 |
Perhaps, the difference between an advanced level and a higher intermediate level can only be understood by a professional or an anglophone and, of course, the speaker himself, but only if he has the so-called “sense of language”: when, when speaking, it becomes clear that the words are used correctly, but the sentence can be constructed a little differently , choosing more elegant words or suitable terms. This is a sign that the problem of knowledge of the language has slowly spilled over into the problem of its competent use, which, in turn, indicates an extremely high level of knowledge of English as a foreign language. Of course, there is no question of any misunderstanding of the language. A student with level C1 perfectly perceives information by ear and is able to express his thoughts on paper. The only thing that he is not quite capable of yet is Shakespeare and Nabokov’s “Lolita” in the original without a dictionary. This level is recommended for employment in a foreign company; it opens doors to almost all foreign universities (including top ones - Yale University, University College London,).
The student speaks the language at level C1 if:
- speaks without problems on any topic, expresses shades of emotions and relationships in language;
- understands any spoken language;
- fluently reads texts in English, both informational (articles, newspapers, interviews) and scientific (articles in scientific journals, textbooks, works of philosophers, journalists, critics), occasionally encountering unfamiliar words;
- knows how to write appeals to employers, motivation letters, clearly understands the difference between a formal writing style and an informal one.
C2 - professional level of proficiency - Proficient
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | 118 | CPE grade C | 85 |
The highest level in the gradation of English language levels is level C2. It should be noted that this is still a step, not a final stop. In essence, level C2 corresponds to excellent knowledge of English as a foreign language, its competent use for any professional and everyday situation, and the ability to read fiction and professional literature in English fluently (or almost fluently). However, knowing English at C2 level does not mean knowing it, as they like to say, in excellence.
Any linguist or philologist will confirm that mastering a language perfectly is the lot of very few, and these few usually become brilliant writers or wordsmiths. But if we take the most obvious example, say, an educated Londoner, then this also goes beyond the C2 level (usually those who speak English from childhood are called native speakers, and, of course, this is not included in the gradation of knowledge of English as a foreign language).
You should always remember that there is no limit to perfection, although language proficiency at the C2 level is an excellent result that few achieve. With a similar level, you can enroll in any postgraduate program, publish works in English, conduct conferences and lectures, i.e. for almost any professional activity this level will be more than enough.
The student speaks the language at level C2 if:
How to improve your English: Spend several years in an English-speaking country, for example at university or on an internship. And, of course, read.
What should you know about learning foreign languages?
Independent study of a foreign language is quite possible, but this undertaking requires a lot of effort, time, and such qualities as perseverance, diligence and dedication from the student. At first, classes seem interesting, but the lack of a clear program, correctly set goals, time frames and a teacher who controls the learning process and motivates the student leads to another breakdown and a lack of desire to continue learning the language.That is why it is advisable to learn a new language together with a teacher in individual or group lessons. When the basic material has been completed, you can go abroad to improve your communication skills and increase your vocabulary. Without studying in a country where the language being studied is the main one, it is impossible to master it perfectly, even if you study using the most advanced textbooks.
The fact is that living modern language changes daily, and special educational publications simply do not have time to track these metamorphoses. We are talking about modern slang, foreign borrowings, a variety of dialects, etc., which change the language every day. It is possible to know English at the native level, but for this it is necessary to be in an appropriate language environment, where the student will have to join a foreign-language society and keep abreast of news that is covered in the press or on the Internet.
How long will it take to learn a foreign language?
The answer to this question depends on several factors: the student’s goals, his perseverance and diligence, as well as his ability to pay. It is quite logical that you can learn a foreign language faster only with the help of a qualified teacher (perhaps even a native speaker). This is a real investment in the future, which will definitely pay off, but will also require quite a lot of capital investment.The faster a student wants to learn a foreign language, the more he will have to pay. Theoretically, it can take about 2.5 - 3 years to complete all levels (without living abroad), for this you will have to attend special courses several times a week. If you study on your own, it will take much longer to learn the language. When studying abroad, a student gains the same amount of knowledge much faster.
There are no miracles!
Beginners in learning a foreign language should clearly understand that the learning process requires a lot of time from the student, as well as some effort on oneself, since there will always be a reason to reschedule a lesson or postpone homework until later. Training is a colossal work! Therefore, it is impossible to learn a language in a month using a new “unique author’s technique” or the 25th frame. There are no miracles! Only working on mistakes and consistent analysis of new material will help you reach the desired level.Time spent on leveling up
The table shows the number of weeks of intensive English language to improve the language level in schools There is a general scale of language proficiency; it divides students into 6 levels, ranging from initial (basic) to advanced level. This scale is used by British publishers of dictionaries and textbooks. We can say that this scale is used for all textbooks except basic English courses.
Basic English courses are textbooks that use their own personal English level scale. These include Blueprint, English File, Headway. This scale covers only half the path from beginner to advanced level, with the last level in the basic course corresponding to the ALTE intermediate level. The scale has six levels, such as: Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate and Advanced.
Of course, it is hardly beneficial for anyone to return students who have already completed Headway at the Upper-Intermediate or Advanced levels back to the general scale, because in this case they clearly lose, since their level of English is unlikely to be above average. Therefore, no one does this, and in order to somehow make up for this circumstance, schools and English language courses invent their own names for levels after basic, resulting in the following group levels: Pre-Advanced, Post-Advanced, Advanced 1, Advanced 2, Advanced A, Advanced B And so on. And at the same time, it is clear that if you study in the Super-Puper-Mega-Extra-Advanced Double Plus group, then you will have more desire to learn the language than if the name of this group was simply Upper-Intermediate, although in fact This is exactly what she is on the ALTE scale.
There is another approach, namely, it is believed that all levels above the basic course are sections of interest, for example courses for preparing for TOEFL and IELTS, conversation courses, business English courses, and so on.
And the last level that everyone strives for is called Post-Proficiency. This is the level of an educated native speaker, that is, at this level you can speak absolutely fluent English, discuss any topics, write essays, and so on. If you are at this level of English, you need to constantly practice it, otherwise you may end up a level lower.
Comparison table of English levels
| ALTE level scale | Level scale for tutorials like Headway/ Streamline/ Hotline/ Cutting Edge etc. | Exam scale | Cont. each level in the courses | How long will it take to reach the level* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Breakthrough | Beginner | - | 2 months | 0 months |
| A1 Breakthrough | Elementary | - | 5-6 months | 2-3 months |
| A2 Level 1 | Pre-Intermediate | - | 5-6 months | 7-9 months |
| B1 Level 2 | Intermediate | - | 5-6 months | 1-1.5 years |
| B1 Level 2 | Upper-Intermediate | - | 5-6 months | 1.5-2 years |
| B2 Level 3 | Advanced | FCE (First Certificate in English) IELTS 5.0-5.5 TOEFL 570-610 (paper), 230-255 (computer) |
6-12 months | 2-3 years |
| C1 Level 4 | - | CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) IELTS 6.0-7.0 TOEFL 630-677 (paper), 270-300 (computer) |
9-12 months | 3-4 years |
| C2 Level 5 | - | CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) IELTS 7.5-9.0 |
1-2 years | 4-6 years |
*- with regular classes. The starting point is the first acquaintance with English. The approximate time frames for adult students to reach each level have been calculated.