So, what are the levels, what level of language proficiency do you personally need (depending on your goals), and how much time will it take to reach this level? For convenience, we will focus on English as the most demanded language, and in which there is the most developed system of various tests and international exams. We will conditionally assess the level of English proficiency on a twelve-point scale. In many English language courses abroad, and in decent courses in our country, the formation of study groups takes place precisely in accordance with these levels.
0 - "zero level" of English
Full beginner. Many immediately begin to say: “Yes, yes, this is just about me! I learned something at school, but I don’t remember anything at all! Complete zero!" Not! If you learned something at school, then it has nothing to do with you. Zero level for those who have never learned English and do not even know the alphabet. Well, if, for example, he studied German or French at school, but never came across English.
1 elementary. Elementary level of English
There is no experience of using English. Separate simple words and expressions are clear, something can be guessed with great difficulty. Grammar is the most vague idea. In general, this is a typical level for a graduate of a post-Soviet school who pretended to study some “topics” twice a week, but in fact cheated mathematics under his desk. In case of urgent need, some words still pop up in my head - “passport, taxi, how mach”, but a coherent conversation does not work. To reach this level from scratch, it is enough to study at decent English courses abroad for 3-4 weeks, approximately 80-100 hours of study. By the way, about all the calculations (weeks, hours, etc.) - these are averages for the bulk of students with normal abilities (which are about 80%), ten percent of linguistically gifted students will learn everything much faster, and ten percent will need more time and efforts to achieve the same result. There are no people who are generally incapable of learning languages - I declare this categorically. If you speak Russian, you can speak any other language, you just need to make some effort and spend some time. So, I wrote it, and I felt sad myself: whatever one may say, a month and a half in language courses abroad successfully replace a five-year study of the language in our ordinary secondary school ... well, this, of course, if it’s a three. If you diligently do your homework for all five years, you can achieve much more significant success and rise to a higher level.
2 - Upper-Elementary. Highest elementary level
There is knowledge of simple grammatical constructions of the English language. It is possible to maintain a conversation on a familiar topic - but, unfortunately, the number of familiar topics is very limited. There is an understanding of simple sentences and speech constructions - especially if they speak slowly and explain what was said with gestures.
You can call this level the "living wage" for a relatively independent tourist from guides and interpreters. Add 80-100 hours of study to the previous level. By the way, in most decent language courses in Russia, one level is just about 80 hours, that is, if you study twice a week for 4 academic hours, then this is about 10 weeks, two to three months. Abroad, you can meet three weeks of intensive training.
3 - Pre-Intermediate. Lower Intermediate
You can keep up the conversation on a familiar topic. Knowledge of English grammar is quite good, although vocabulary is limited. You can pronounce fairly coherent sentences with virtually no errors if you have studied this topic in class. This sometimes leads to a paradoxical situation if you have to communicate with foreigners - it seems to them that you speak English quite tolerably, and they happily begin to explain something to you at a normal pace, waving their arms excitedly. But you, having laid out everything you knew, realize that you don’t understand a damn thing anymore, and you feel out of place.
At this level, you can already try to pass some language test, although there will be no practical benefit from this. This level roughly corresponds to the result of 3-4 when passing the IELTS exam, 39-56 points when passing the TOEFL iBT, you can try to pass the Cambridge exam PET (Preliminary English Test).
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Knowledge of foreign languages is considered by many to be an incredible talent and almost a gift from the gods. But every polyglot knows that it's more about hard work and personal interest than natural abilities, and even more so a miracle. Anyone can do this if they choose the right training method. We will share tips on how to learn English for beginners today.
In the material, we will consider all the nuances of the educational process: from the motivational part to lesson plans and the transition to the next level. With us, you can 100% learn English from scratch on your own!
In any case, the most important thing is to take the first step. That is, it is not easy, for example, to spontaneously take and play 10 minutes in learning English words on a smartphone or work out grammar for half an hour. We are talking about purposefully starting to learn English, that is, conducting regular classes, doing exercises, repeating the material covered, and so on. And here the problem arises: how to force yourself to do this?
The solution is simple - to be genuinely interested in the English language. And setting goals will help develop interest in classes. Think about why you want to learn English. A variety of things can act as motivation, for example:
- Go on a trip;
- Make acquaintances with foreigners;
- Move to another country;
- Read books in the original;
- Watch movies without translation.
And even the most banal - a burning shame that everyone around understands at least a little English, but you still do not. This state of affairs needs to be corrected, right? So let this be your goal!
The main point in setting a goal is to understand that it is 100% important and necessary for you.
And as an additional motivator, before mastering English lessons for beginners, set yourself the desired reward for achieving a successful result. For example, every 5 classes carried out give the right to an extraordinary trip to your favorite restaurant or the purchase of some pleasant little thing.
The main thing is that skipping the next lesson should not become a reward, because. in no case should the regularity of the process be violated. In extreme cases, it is allowed to transfer the lesson to a free day, but not a complete cancellation.
The goal and encouragement are effective tricks for the psyche, which are very important to use at the initial stage of learning English. Thanks to them, after a few lessons, a program will be formed in your subconscious mind that learning English is very useful and profitable. Well, in the future, when you begin to understand the language culture and features of the language, on the basis of these partly selfish motives, a natural interest in further study will develop.
At what level to start learning English
Before you start learning English, you need to determine the level of your knowledge.
It's one thing if you have never come across this language and just now decided to choose a course for independent study of the basics of English speech at home. In this case, you are completely learning English from scratch: starting with the pronunciation of sounds, memorizing the alphabet, learning numbers, and so on. To master these skills, the Beginner level training program (initial) is used.
The situation is completely different if you have already studied some material in school lessons, university classes, or studied spoken English on your own. Then you probably know such basics of speech as:
- Sounds, letters, numbers;
- Personal pronouns;
- Uses of the verb tobe;
- This is/There are constructs.
If this is true, then you have already moved from the beginner class to the second stage of knowledge - Elementary (basic). With this level, you can learn English for beginners not from the very beginning, but with more complex topics, for example. Present simple, degrees of comparison of adjectives, practical exercises for tenses of the verb, etc. But, if you are not sure about the quality of your knowledge, then it will not be superfluous to repeat English from scratch.
How long does it take to master an elementary English course
We all learn English or another language in different ways. Some memorize vocabulary in 5 minutes, others quickly pick up the basics of grammar, and the third got perfect pronunciation. Accordingly, for each of the students, some lessons are easy, while others cause difficulties and require more time.
Affects the duration of the course of study and the chosen methodology. Classes with a teacher in a group are usually designed for 3 months. Individual lessons can reduce this figure to two or even one month: this result is achieved by daily and long lessons. For self-learning, the time frame is completely blurred.
Thus, the time spent on learning English is individual. On average, this period is from 3 to 6 months. And you can speak specifically only knowing the program of the training course and the abilities of the student. Our methodology, for example, suggests that beginners learn English from 0 on their own in about 4 months. Let's talk more about this tutorial.
English for beginners - lesson plan for the entire course
The section presents the curriculum for the English language course for beginners. This is a step-by-step timetable with English lesson topics for Beginner and Elementary students. The course is designed for 4 months, and ends with the transition to the next level of knowledge. If you plan to study the language on your own, then the material provided will be an excellent help in organizing classes.
General rules
Before we start studying the plan, I would like to dwell on the important points of the educational process. To obtain a positive result, the following rules must be observed.
- Always speak English out loud . This moment is important not only as a study of the correct pronunciation, but also as a psychological factor. Be sure to say out loud all the letters, words and sentences, and then you will "get used" to speaking English. Otherwise, there is a risk of never speaking English at all. But why teach him then?
- Do not skip "uncomfortable" topics. Yes, it happens that the material does not work at all, but this does not mean that it is necessary to abandon it. Just as it does not mean that you need to understand it for 3 years until you become a “pro”. If you feel that the topic is heavy, then try to capture at least its essence. The use of an "uncomfortable" construction in speech can be minimized, but you should know what it is about and why you are obliged.
- Be sure to repeat what you have done. Repetition is indicated in the plan, and it is no less important than learning new material. Only thanks to the timely repetition of information is fixed in memory for a long time.
- Keep your own grammar book. In the age of the Internet, many people prefer to learn the rules right from the screen. But handwritten writing is necessary, because this is how information passes through you, and is better absorbed and remembered.
- Do the exercises in writing. Again, the more you write, the more you master in a “foreign” language: you remember the spelling of words, the order in the sentence and the construction of grammatical structures. In addition, the letter helps to focus more on the task and not make unnecessary mistakes.
Here is such a kind of code for a beginner "Englishman" who learns the language on his own from scratch. In fact, there is nothing complicated in these points, and after a few lessons, their implementation will already become a habit. At the same time, we note that the neglect of at least one point negatively affects the effectiveness of training, and can bring all the work to naught.
First month
The first English lessons for beginners are more educational and playful. The emphasis is not on the amount of material, but on getting used to the new language, creating a positive atmosphere, developing interest in classes. Therefore, this stage can be called an introductory course in learning English.
The following table contains the work plan for the first month of study. Classes must be held three times a week, and the duration of the lesson depends on the degree of perception of the material. In other words, you study the topic until you can freely navigate it.
| English for beginners (month #1) | |||
| A week | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| First | 1. Introduction to the alphabet
We study the sound of letters and memorize their spelling. 2. Phrases of greeting and farewell Learning by heart the first vocabulary in English. |
1. Sounds and transcription
We learn transcription signs, carefully work out the pronunciation of vowels (short and extended sounds). 2. Repetition of the alphabet and learned vocabulary |
1. Sounds and transcription
Now we focus on the transcription and pronunciation of consonants. 2. Repetition of material about vowel sounds 3. New vocabulary (20-30 popular words) |
| Second | 1. Personal pronouns + to
be
We consider only the affirmative form. 2. Practicing pronunciation Repetition of phonetics and transcription. 3. Repeating the alphabet and all learned vocabulary |
1. Word order in a sentence
2. Design to be Repetition of the last lesson + study of questions and denials with to be. 2. Articles Catch the difference in the use of a and the. 3. New vocabulary household words. Designation of objects, professions, food and drinks. |
1. Drafting proposals
We use personal pronouns, a bunch of to be, articles and thematic vocabulary. We work on all types: affirmations, questions, denials. 2. Possessive pronouns Learning versus personal (I-my, You-your, etc.) 3. Making sentences with possessive pronouns 4. Review of learned vocabulary + new words Hobbies, entertainment, days of the week and months |
| Third | 1. Acquaintance with the rules of reading
Open and closed syllables. If necessary, repeat transcription marks. We study 1/3 of the rules. 2. Fixing the rules We work out selections of words for each rule. 3. Exercise on learned grammar Making proposals 4. New vocabulary Family, friends, relationships. |
1. Continuing to master the rules of reading
After a little repetition, we learn the remaining 2/3 of the rules. 2. This designs is /There are and demonstrative pronouns Features of use, building your own examples. 3. Reading and translating light text 4. Written exercises on the studied constructions + to be |
1. Design I
like
/don
't
like
Use, construction of sentences. 2. Learning numbers up to 20 3. Listening Listening to dialogues or learning new words from audio recordings. 4. Repetition of the studied vocabulary |
| Fourth | 1. Building a dialogue
We use all grammatical combinations and studied vocabulary. 2. Working out dialogue by roles If you practice alone, then just change the tone of your voice. 3. Singular and plural nouns Ways of education, exceptions. 4. Numbers up to 100 |
1. Adjectives
General concepts and vocabulary (colors, characteristics). 2. Reading and translating text Preferably with lots of adjectives. 3. Construction of sentences with adjectives and nouns in different numbers For example, He is a good doctor. They are bad drivers. 4. New vocabulary Weather, travel |
1. Possessive case of nouns
education and use. 2. Listening 3. Special questions Words and sentence structure. 4. Repetition of all grammatical structures Compilation of a simple text with the maximum variety of combinations and vocabulary used. |
Let's sum up the intermediate results. In just a month of not very hard work, you will learn to read, listen to English speech, understand the meaning of popular phrases, and also make up your own sentences and questions. In addition, you will be familiar with numbers up to 100, articles, the basic grammar of English nouns and adjectives. Not enough already, right?
Second month
Now it's time to start the main work. In the second month of study, we actively learn grammar and try to speak English as much as possible.
| A week | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| First | 1. Verb
Indefinite form and general concepts. 2. Prepositions General concepts + stable combinations like go to school, for breakfast 3. Vocabulary Common verbs 4. Listening |
1. Repetition of prepositions
2. Verb have Forms and features of use 3. Exercises for working out sentences with to have 4. Reading and translating text |
1. Making sentences with prepositions
2. Listening 3. Repeat constructions I like, There is/are, to have 4. Vocabulary Daily routine, work, study, leisure |
| Second | 1 Present
Simple
Affirmations, questions, denials. 2. Working out the theory in practice Self-compilation of sentences in Present Simple. 3. Vocabulary repetition |
1. Questions and negation in Present
Simple
Making mini-dialogues. 2. Reading and translating text 3. Repeating phrases with prepositions 4. Vocabulary Verbs of movement, thematic selections (in a store, hotel, train station, etc.). |
1. Exercises for all the nuances of Present
Simple
.
2. Listening 3. Vocabulary review + new words |
| Third | 1. Modal verb Can
Features of use. 2. Time designation in English + repetition about the days of the week and months 3. Vocabulary Thematic collections |
1. Repeat Present
Simple
Drafting a short text with all kinds of sentences. 2. Prepositions of time and place 3. Reading thematic text (topic) 4. Listening Dialogue + vocabulary |
1. Writing exercises for the verb Can
2. Compilation of mini-dialogues on the topic of time What time is it, in what month were you born, etc. 3. Number repetition 4. Repeating forgotten vocabulary |
| Fourth | 1 Present
Continuous
Forms and features of use. 2. Practice Making proposals 3. New vocabulary Popular verbs, adjectives |
1. Questions and negatives in Present
Continuous
Working off for units and pl. 2. Learning numbers from 100 to 1000, writing and reading years 3. Countable and uncountable nouns |
1. Exercises for using the Present
Simple
and continuous
2. Modal verb May Situations of use 3. Practice May 4. Repeat Expired/Unexpired nouns 5. New vocabulary |
third month
We continue to master grammar, and bring more variety to our speech.
| English for beginners (month #3) | |||
| A week | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| First | 1. Past
Simple
Usage and forms 2. Practice 3. Reading and translating a topic 4. New vocabulary |
1.
Questions
and
Negative Past Simple
and Present Simple
Making sentences on do/does/did 2. Time in English Vocabulary repetition. 3. Listening 4. Repeat forgotten vocabulary |
1. Modal verbs Must
, have
to
Difference in use 2. Practice 3. Compilation of a story on the topic "My family" At least 10-15 offers 4. Listening |
| Second | 1. Writing exercises for Past
Simple
2. Drinking much , many , few , little 3. Listening 4. New vocabulary |
1. Degrees of comparison of adjectives
2. Practice 3. Reading and translating a topic 4. Reuse of articles + special cases |
1. The use of any
, some
, nothing
, no
2. Writing exercises for adding articles 3. Modal verb should Situations of use 4. New vocabulary |
| Third | 1. Exercises on the studied modal verbs.
2. Adjectives. Turnover as …as 3. Reading and translation 4. Repeat tenses of the verb. |
1. Practical exercises to use
present Simple /continuous , Past Simple 2. Compilation of the story "My hobbies" 3. Listening 4. New vocabulary |
1. Exercises for adjectives.
Degrees of comparison + as…as 2. Imperative mood 3. Practice 4. Repetition of the studied vocabulary |
| Fourth | 1. Future
Simple
Forms and situations of use 2. Practice 3. Listening 4. New vocabulary |
1. Questions and negatives of Future
Simple
2. Written imperative exercises 3. Reading and translating a topic 4. Repeating prepositions |
1. Listening
2. Exercises for all studied tenses of the verb. 3. Compilation of the story "My dreams" Use as many different tenses and combinations as possible 4. New vocabulary |
fourth month
The final stage of the course "English for Beginners". Here we pull up all the shortcomings and finish mastering the grammatical minimum level.
| English for beginners (month #2) | |||
| A week | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| First | 1. Adverbs
Features and use 2. Indirect and direct object Place in the offer 3. Listening 4. New vocabulary |
1. Turnover to
be going to
Situations of use 2. Practice. 3. Adverbs of manner 4. Writing exercises Interrogative sentences of all tenses, combinations + special questions |
1. Written exercises for the difference Future
Simple
and to
be
going
to
2. Reading, listening and translation 3. Verbs that do not take continuous Features + vocabulary |
| Second | 1. Practicing verbs without continuous
2. Listening 3. Adverbs of frequency 4. New vocabulary |
1. Exercises for learned verb tenses
2. Cardinal and ordinal numbers 3. Reading and translating a topic 4. View adapted video Small and easy to understand video. |
1. Tests for modal verbs and imperative
2. Writing a story on any topic Minimum 15-20 offers 3. Listening 4. Repeat forgotten vocabulary |
| Third | 1. Exercises for adjectives and articles
2. Irregular English verbs What is it + vocabulary (top50) 3. Watch video |
1. Reading, listening and translating the topic
2. Working out dialogues based on the studied text Self compilation 3. Repeating irregular verbs |
1.
construction like/love/hate + ing-
verb
2. Practice 3. Watch video 4. Repeating a list of irregular verbs |
| Fourth | 1. Exercises to test knowledge of irregular verbs
2. Repetition of prepositions and adverbs 3. Watch video 4. New vocabulary |
1. Composing a story in Present
Simple
using irregular verbs
2. Tests for articles and prepositions 3. Reading, listening and translating the topic 4. New vocabulary |
1. Making sentences for all verb constructions
2. Tests for 3 forms of irregular verbs 3. Exercises for adjectives 4. Exercises on missing/non-existing nouns + few , many , much , little etc. |
Having mastered this base, you will advance immediately to the Intermediate level. And from here it is already within easy reach of fluency in the language.
An excellent selection of English videos for beginners for every day
Good luck with your studies and see you soon!
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| A - Elementary proficiency | B - Self Ownership | C - Fluency | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
| Survival Level | Pre-threshold level | threshold level | Threshold advanced level | Proficiency Level | Ownership at the carrier level |
| , Elementary | |||||
Want to know if your knowledge is at the Elementary level? Take our course and get recommendations to help you improve your English.
The Elementary English level is the foundation on which your knowledge of the English language will rest
In the European system of levels of foreign language proficiency, the A1 Elementary level has the same letter designation as Beginner. However, it is the Elementary level of English that is considered the survival level. That is, the knowledge gained at this stage is enough to communicate in English at the everyday level. For example, if you are abroad, you can check the direction of travel with local residents, make purchases, book a hotel room, etc.
As a rule, students come to the Elementary level already with a small amount of knowledge gained on the Beginner course, at a school or other educational institution. If you have previously studied English, it means that you already have at least some basic knowledge, even if it seems to you that you have studied for a long time and do not remember anything. In fact, you have already “get acquainted” with the English language, you know the letters and sounds, you can read, you can introduce yourself and say simple phrases about yourself, your friends, family, home. This is enough to start studying at the Elementary level.
We recommend that you start learning English at the Elementary level if you:
- have studied English a little or for a short time, received elementary knowledge;
- almost do not speak English, although you know elementary grammar and about 300-500 words;
- have a vague idea of English grammar and would like to understand all tenses and constructions;
- have basic knowledge, but do not understand English at all by ear;
- completed the Beginner level in English courses or with a personal teacher.
Material that a person at the Elementary level should know
If you think your English is a little better than in the categories above, you may already be able to speak English at the Elementary level. To verify this, check out the table below. It is considered that you know English at the Elementary level and can move to the level if you have the following knowledge:
| Skill | your knowledge |
|---|---|
| Grammar (Grammar) | You understand how the verb to be is used (I am a student, It is cold). You know the three simple tenses (Present, Future and Past Simple), the present continuous tense (Present Continuous), and you have an idea of the present perfect tense (Present Perfect). You understand the difference between sentences in the future tense: I'm going to bake a cake (to be going to construction), I'll bake a cake (Future Simple), I'm baking a cake (Present Continuous to indicate future action) . You know three forms of irregular verbs (drive-drove-driven). You can ask questions to your interlocutor (Word order in questions). You understand the difference between a cat and the cat (the indefinite and definite articles). You are not surprised that you can say a cookie, but not a toast (toast, a toasted piece of bread) (Countable and uncountable nouns). You understand what lady's dress, James' house (Possessive Case) means. You know the degrees of comparison of adjectives (big-bigger-the biggest). You understand the difference between that cup, this cup, these cups, those cups (Demonstrative pronouns). You know object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) and how to use them. You know some adverbs of frequency (often, usually, always, sometimes) and mode of action (well, quickly, hard). You know what There is no snow on the ground (There is/are/was/were) means. You know what the sentences I can read, I can't swim, You should work (Modal verbs can/can't/should) mean. You understand what I like reading, I hate shopping means (Construction like/love/hate + -ing). |
| Vocabulary (Vocabulary) | Your vocabulary is between 1000 and 1500 words and phrases. You know commonly used words and phrases in English. |
| speaking (Speaking) | You can describe yourself, your family and home in a few simple sentences. You know how to talk about your preferences and hobbies. You can easily describe your working day and weekend rest. You can make purchases in a store abroad or communicate with the staff at the hotel in terms of vocabulary familiar to you. You can talk about simple everyday topics. You can answer simple questions within topics that are familiar to you. |
| Reading (Reading) | You understand adapted literature at your level. You can understand signs and announcements in public places or on the street. You can understand the essence of general news. |
| listening (Listening) | You understand audio recordings adapted to your level. You understand what native speakers are saying to you if they speak slowly and use familiar vocabulary. |
| Letter (Writing) | You can write a simple personal letter to a friend. You can write a short text about yourself, your hobby, family, home. You can fill in simple personal data. |
If you are still not sure about the choice of the level of study, we recommend that you check your knowledge using ours.
The Elementary level program includes the study of such topics in the curriculum
| Grammar Topics | Conversational Topics |
|---|---|
|
|
How will your speaking skills develop in the Elementary course?
In the Elementary course, as in the other levels, you will work on four core skills: speaking, by listening, By reading, letter. You will get acquainted with simple grammatical constructions of the English language, replenish your vocabulary with the most necessary words and phrases, and develop the correct pronunciation and intonation.
Your main task at any level is to learn speak(Speaking). At the Elementary level, you will already be able to take part in a small dialogue, ask questions within the framework of the topics you have studied and understand the answers to them, especially if the interlocutor does not use words you do not know. You will be able to tell a monologue of 5-10 sentences about yourself, your family, hobbies.
At A1 Elementary level you will learn understand by ear (listening) individual familiar words and simple phrases that sound rather slow and clear. Simple texts and dialogues are used as listening material, which will be completely clear to you after the second listening.
Concerning reading(Reading), new texts in English will be present in almost every lesson. Each of these texts is a source of new words and expressions that you have to learn at this level. On the Elementary course, the basic vocabulary is studied: you learn the most necessary words and phrases in everyday life. Also at this stage, you will fix the reading rules in memory. You will learn to read correctly "on the machine" all the letter combinations you meet, without checking the dictionary. And you will do this in the process of reading an interesting text.
Concerning letters(Writing), then the training will begin with the simplest actions. You will learn how to sign postcards, fill out small questionnaires, where you need to indicate your name, surname, nationality, and so on. By the end of the level, you will be able to write short essays and personal letters.
At the level of English Elementary vocabulary (Vocabulary) will expand to 1000-1500 words. Level A1 is saturated with the most useful words and phrases that are often used in all typical communication situations (shop, airport, on the street, etc.). Most of the words at this level are universal and can be used in written and spoken language, regardless of style. However, the amount of material to study will be quite large, because even for simple dialogues we need to know a lot of words. But do not be afraid that you will be forced to learn lists of words by heart. is aimed at mastering the language in the process of communication, so you will memorize new words with the help of dialogues on the topic under study.
Term of study at the Elementary level
The term for studying English at the Elementary level depends on the individual characteristics of the student and his initial knowledge. The average duration of study on the Elementary course is 6-9 months. Although this is one of the first levels of language proficiency, it covers a lot of material that will allow you to express yourself in the most typical situations of daily communication. At this stage of study, you gain basic knowledge, which is why it is important to lay a solid foundation that will allow you to subsequently achieve high levels of English proficiency.
And for those who want to not only test their knowledge of the English language, but also improve it, we suggest enrolling in our school. The teacher will determine your level, weaknesses and strengths and help you improve your knowledge.
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 questions of a personal nature, 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 on general 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 for individual words, but if the interlocutor speaks clearly, in simple phrases of 2-3 words, you will generally 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 such as “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 of speaking? 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 a complete list of questions with the 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.
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