Achieving and maintaining an advanced, or proficient level of English (C1/C2) is something that only a certain percentage of language learners will ever achieve. It is a journey, which for most people, is long and requires hard work and dedication to their studies. But once you get to an advanced level it can be tempting to just sit back and relax, sure in the knowledge that you have achieved your goal and often believing that you have nothing else to learn or do.
This is so far from the truth for the fact that whilst you may have achieved your goal, that does not necessarily mean that you will automatically maintain that advanced level of English.
Like the muscles of our body, our second languages require constant use and exercise in order to maintain their ultimate strength and level otherwise they will slowly weaken, and ultimately be lost. For example, many teachers learn English to an advanced level and then proceed to teach basic English to children in schools. This is a situation where they are unable to use the full scope of the English that they have learned, therefore, over time, creating a situation where their level of proficiency declines.
In this article, we will outline some of the ways in which language learners can improve and maintain their advanced level of English in a way that is both effective and easy to maintain.
The Essential Word List to Help You Pass Your B2 to C2 English Exams.
1. Focus on context and deeper understanding.
In written and
spoken English, there are always underlying meanings, things that aren’t said
but are generally understood by native speakers. Understanding this deeper
layer of context is key to developing your advanced skills. To achieve this
level of understanding, read academic books, websites, magazines, and papers
such on history, geography, social studies, university papers, world events, or even
those subjects which relate to your personal interests or profession.
Also, to improve your ability to comprehend spoken English, watch
documentaries, listen to podcasts, watch television shows or movies that relate
to a variety of subjects from general to academic, or, when possible, speak to
native speakers either on a casual basis or even as part of a conversation
class in an institute.
Strategies for Achieving an Advanced Level of English Using the 5 "R"s
2. Improving your academic skills
If you have
advanced skills, chances are that at some stage in the future, you want to
study or work in English. This means working on your academic skills such as
notetaking and listening to lectures. This will help you to develop the skills
you need for studying in English. It will also help you pass your international
English exams too.
Go to either Youtube, cable tv, or any of the many streaming services and find
documentaries on the subjects that interest you. Watch the documentaries,
listen carefully, take detailed notes and then create verbal or written
summaries.
You can also listen to podcasts, local or world news, or radio shows such as those that you find on NPR.
Every time that you
do this activity, listen closely, try to increase the amount of notes that you
take, and prepare a truly professional presentation or summary, even if it is
presented only to yourself.
3. Learn different accents.
English doesn’t just comprise British and American accents, it. is spoken in many different countries and with an incredibly wide range of accents. Many of these countries, such as The United Kingdom, The United States, and Australia have various accents within their countries, and some of these accents can be hard even for native speakers to understand, so if you want to really expand your level of comprehension and proficiency in English, take the time to study and master the many different accents that are found around the world.
This is a link to
one of the many excellent websites that help students to learn the different
English accents.
https://www.dialectsarchive.com/dialects-accents
6 Strategies for Achieving and Maintaining a B2 to C2 Level of English
4. Speak in different contexts.
If you’ve learned
English in a formal classroom setting, you’ll probably get a serious shock when
you go out into the real world and try to use your various English skills in the
many different contexts that encompass day-to-day life. Generally speaking, native
speakers will speak much quicker than your teachers and classmates did and they
won’t make as many allowances if you have problems communicating. This may be
a shock for you at first, and you’ll feel like you are a beginner once again,
but the more you practice in a range of contexts the quicker you’ll pick up the
different language rules and start to use them naturally.
To achieve this,
search out situations that will allow you to meet and mingle with native
speakers in a variety of situations. It’s not important if you speak to
professionals, university students, backpackers, or even elderly travelers,
each of these interactions will expose you to different accents, opinions, and
contexts.
5. Learn humor and sarcasm.
Every language and every culture has its own unique form of humor, and therefore, if you want to
build friendships with native speakers, these aspects of language are key to
you achieving success. You need to be able to understand and tell jokes and
recognize and decode sarcasm if you really want to interact with people on a
native level.
This is very
important because sometimes, a native speaker may say something that for your
culture could be culturally inappropriate, rude, or even shocking, yet for them,
is completely acceptable.
Therefore, when
speaking to a native speaker, evaluate everything that they say incorporating
their facial and body language as a way to gauge their true meaning.
Also, take the time to learn about humor and sarcasm by watching television comedy series or movies or even searching the internet for “English jokes”.
I hope that this
article has introduced you to some of the other methods to master and maintain
your advanced level of English.
Good luck and good
studying.
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