How many dreamers of "finally learning English" do you know? Perhaps you also have a goal and sometimes download textbooks or sign up for some courses. And together with it, the cherished Advanced or at least Intermediate level remains just a dream.
Is there a way to learn English if you aren't born and don't live in a language environment? We will tell you how to reach the maximum level of English proficiency and what to do if you quit work halfway.
Interestingly, people cannot explain what they mean when they say: "I want to learn English." Sometimes it seems as if they will invent a couple of textbooks in English and then speak like real Americans.
Learning a language (any language) is a long and detailed process. It may seem scary and unpleasant, but you will learn English for the rest of your life.
But don't be in a hurry to get upset, unsubscribe from courses, and throw away dictionaries in despair. Native speakers also learn their language throughout their lives. Firstly, because any language is multi-level and diverse (includes dialects, slang, and jargon). Secondly, it's constantly changing and developing: new words, rules, phrases, etc.
Therefore, the question is not even how to learn English but what level of English you need and for what.
You probably have seen some vacancies that require not only knowledge of English but also the necessary level: for example, "the English level not lower than Upper Intermediate." This means that the candidate must have English sufficient for business conversation and the performance of his duties.
In essence, English levels are a system by which you can determine how deeply you have "learned" the English language. The advanced vocabulary determines it, acquired grammatical skills, understanding of vocabulary, etc. There are six levels in total.
One might say, of the basics of English or a start level. Here you can talk about every day and introductory issues like:
At this level, you can introduce yourself, proudly say: "London is the capital of Great Britain!" and also understand the speaker if he speaks slowly and helps you.
This level is also known as Survival English, i.e., enough to survive in a country where English is the primary language. What this level allows:
Of course, until you can understand TV programs or radio fluently, only individual words. But A2 allows you to tell more about yourself, talk about the weather and make an order at a restaurant.
Level B already assumes a confident knowledge of the language, at least at a more or less sufficient level. For example, a person with the Intermediate level can already:
As for listening comprehension, it will be easy with an interlocutor with clear and unhurried speech. On the other hand, a conversation with a native speaker who babbles and has a strange accent can cause difficulties.
Generally, level B is sufficient to live and work in a country where English is a primary language. Given that Upper Intermediate is a higher level, confidence in English will be much greater. That is, at this level,, you will be able to:
At first glance, from the side, it even seems that you communicate in English fluently. But some phrases, slang, or idioms may confuse you.
The level already indicates fluency in the language. If you have reached the Advanced level, congratulations, someone can think you are a native speaker. The range of language capabilities in C1 includes:
You can speak freely on any topic, listen to TV and radio programs, and watch movies, even without subtitles.
This is the level of a well-educated native speaker. This is when you are pros in English:
The only thing that can betray you is ignorance of some cultural features.
That is, no matter how long you learn English, your level may be sufficient for some specific requests and not enough for more complex tasks, which means there is always room for growth. The question is how to do it right.
The difficulty of learning any language is that we often abandon our studies. It's not even about laziness or lack of motivation. The language takes practice. Without the need to apply or practice it anywhere, it will be just a set of foreign words that the brain will forget as something unnecessary.
Therefore, when learning English, think about where you can practice it. There are many options for this:
As for the sources (where to learn the language), then all means are suitable. Take courses and watch video tutorials, do exercises and watch movies with subtitles, and chat with native speakers.
Over time, you will not notice how you will gradually begin to even think and dream in English, let alone speak it.
Don't be afraid to try, keep improving, and good luck in your learning English!
P.S. You have as a minimum level higher than A2 if you read this text till the end ;)
