Strategies for Success in Achieving an Advanced Level of English.

Ok, you have studied hard for years and achieved an Upper-Intermediate B2 level of English, but, you want to go further and you have hit a brick wall when it comes to opportunities to study up to a C2 level of English.

Unfortunately, for many students in the world, B2 is the ultimate level available to achieve through most institutes, and those that do offer courses are often inefficient and/or expensive.

But, how can you study alone, without the help of a teacher, without structure, and without guidance?

Well, actually, there are quite a few ways to achieve a B2 to C2 level of English autonomously, but for most students, the problem revolves around not knowing the methods and/or not having the correct materials to achieve it..

In this article, we are going to firstly share the secret of the Five "R"s and how this easy to follow method will help you, and secondly, I will share some links to other articles that outline a variety of helpful methods that are guaranteed to help any student who has the inner strength and determination to study autonomously to achieve their goals and dreams.

The Five "R"s refer to:

1. Reading out aloud.

Reading out aloud is one of the most effective ways to improve your English. In the Five "R"s, the purpose of reading out loud is to create a process that strengthens your entire learning process.

2. Record.

Using your cell phone, or any other method of recording that you may have, record yourself as you read aloud as a way to create a record of your reading that is able to be evaluated and used for self-improvement.

3. Review.

Review the recording and give yourself an honest assessment of your efforts. Listen for mistakes such as pronunciation, grammar, word choice, and fluency, etc.

4. Repair

Whilst you listen, take notes of your mistakes/weaknesses, and then make a plan about how you can improve. Make your plan thorough and complete.

5. Repeat

Repeat the process as many times as necessary. The old expression "Practice makes perfect" is so true when learning a second language, and especially for those students who are studying autonomously in order to achieve a B2 to C2 level of English.

I have used this method for many years, and it has proven extremely successful with my students, either as a classroom activity, homework or autonomous learning

Other methods and suggestions for improving your English from B2 to C2

Now, below, I have attached links to other articles that are designed to assist autonomous students to achieve their goals in English. If you read these articles, establish and maintain the discipline of a self-study plan and then put some of the suggestions into practice, then I have no doubt that you will achieve a C2 level of English.

Good luck and good studying.