How many people do you know who took up the study of English and even years later still “began to learn” it? One of the reasons is the expectation of too fast results. People often want to “learn” a language and speak like a native speaker, although in reality, it doesn’t work that way.
But at the same time, the language is mastered gradually, by levels. There are different levels of English proficiency: from elementary to professional ones.
There are six English language proficiency levels in total, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, and CEFR CEF.
This is a system designed specifically to determine the levels of language proficiency for different purposes (tourism, citizenship, work, study, etc.) This system was developed by the Council of Europe in the framework of the project "Learning languages for European citizenship" from 1989-1996 years. So what are they, what English levels of proficiency, and how they are classified?
Quite often, A1 is divided into two levels of English: Beginner and Elementary. Beginner is the most basic of English levels that everyone starts with. The first step, having mastered this, the student can apply his knowledge for simple everyday purposes. Elementary is like a more advanced Beginner, which includes everything that level A1 suggests:
This proficiency level in English also implies a small vocabulary (up to 1500 words).
The next step is conquering English proficiency levels. Here you can already feel much more confident, although you are still considered a beginner. Pre-Intermediate features include:
As you master new levels of knowledge of the English language, you increase your vocabulary. And at this level, you already know exactly 1500-2500 words.
Conquering new and new levels of English proficiency, you will inevitably reach the middle. At this stage, you can feel much free in an English-speaking environment.
Your vocabulary increases to 2750-3250 words and you perceive English speech better and read and speak more confidently. A student who has reached the Intermediate level can already at this stage:
Also, you can already start watching English-language films and understand at least the context (or what is happening on the screen).
An advanced or “excellent from average” English level proficiency is already the level of English proficiency when you can already speak fluently with a native speaker and understand English content. After all, here the vocabulary will increase to 3000-4000 words. Upper-Intermediate opens up a whole range of possibilities:
All the above-mentioned levels of English allow you to freely navigate during tourism, and the average level even allows you to occupy simple positions (cashier, courier, service personnel, etc.)
Now let's talk about the levels of language proficiency, which are much closer to understanding the level of the native speaker. Advanced is already the level when you know at least 4000 words, sometimes all 6000.
Here you can even conduct business correspondence, participate in international conferences as a listener or as a speaker, as well as write essays, compositions, and articles on any topic. Besides:
You know complex grammar, you can write and speak sentences in complex structures, with turns, tenses, stylistic inversion, and causal forms.
This is a sufficient level of English proficiency to live and work in an English-speaking environment (and, moreover, occupy more highly qualified positions), participate in the cultural life of the country, study at a higher educational institution or run a business.
If you have received a certificate indicating that you have mastered this English proficiency level, congratulations, you have passed all levels in English and climbed to the very top. A person with a Proficiency level already knows the language like a native speaker and sometimes it cannot even be distinguished from it. So, possession of the Proficiency level is:
Speak competently, coherently, confidently, and even with a little accent (although it will still be because you are not a native speaker). You can even write books, articles, interviews, acts, and more.
All these levels of English are confirmed officially, on special tests like IETLS, FCE from Cambridge, and TOEFL. They are rented for a fee and they cover all aspects of knowledge of English levels: speaking, listening, grammar, and reading.
Such tests are taken to confirm the level of proficiency in English and receive a grant, the opportunity to study abroad, citizenship in an English-speaking country, a visa, etc. And no matter what level you have, there is always room to strive and improve. The main thing is to have a goal in front of you and follow it.
