Preparation for international exams in English. TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, GMAT. Knowledge and study of foreign languages. Level of English, business language course. Preparing for tests. Certificate in English: which one will be useful for you?

» How to assess your English level? What are international language exams?

Knowing English is great, and everyone knows it. And the higher the level, the better. However, when it comes to a practical question - for example, when applying for a job - “Do you know English?”, difficulties begin. “I know English” – this is knowledge at what level?

In general, to measure language level there is a special universal scale of foreign language proficiency CEFR (read “si-ef-ar”). The result of most tests will be linked to the CEFR in one way or another. How this system appeared, what levels it has and how it all works -.

What is important for us now is that one of the key features of the CEFR is the description of levels, such as “can understand a short simple sentence by ear”, or “a way of reading non-adapted literature”. If you already have enough experience in the practical use of English and are ready to take an unbiased look at yourself from the outside, you can try to independently compare your skills with the CEFR levels.

The result is that within 5-10 minutes you can assess your level on a generally recognized international scale. The problem with this method is that this assessment will be your subjective assessment (“and here the card screwed me”), which is unlikely to be taken on faith when applying for a job or entering college. And is it possible to be as objective as possible about yourself, because “you can’t praise yourself, no one will.” This means that you need some independent way to test your knowledge. Here are some options:

(Marketing) online tests

If you type “English language test” in a Yandex or Google search, the results will show a whole mountain of entertainment and marketing tests - most of which work according to the scheme “find out your level of English right now (and then wait for a call from our call center).” This is a very popular online marketing tool, but can you really measure your level with it?

Let’s just say that if only marketing department employees had a hand in writing such a test, it’s unlikely. If sometimes employees of the academic department (teachers and methodologists) also came into the marketing department, then perhaps such a test will show something very approximate. With two very serious caveats.

First problem. At best, a test with 10-15 questions can only roughly assess your level of language proficiency. That is, if the test showed a B1 result, then in reality this means that “your level of English is most likely somewhere between strong A2 and weak B2, but almost certainly not A1 and not C1.” The more questions in such a test, the greater the accuracy, but... here problem number two arises.

Second. If you've already tried one or two of these online tests, do you remember what the questions looked like? A phrase with a missing word, into which you need to insert some verb in the required form... Or a suitable preposition... In the best case, choose the right word from a number of synonyms. As a result, almost always such tests test your knowledge of grammatical rules, and maybe a little vocabulary. But to find out whether you understand an article you read in a foreign newspaper or whether you can convey your point of view in a conversation with a foreigner - here such a test cannot give an answer.

English school certificates

At the end of a certain stage of training, English language schools issue students with certificates of successful completion of the course. As a rule, to obtain a certificate, you still need to not only pay for training, but also work the required number of hours and, possibly, pass some kind of test.

This option is already much better than online toy tests. If only because the school most likely will not enroll you in the advanced group if you cannot put two words together. And the fact that to obtain a certificate you need to take a certain number of classes means that you spent some time in a group of English learners of this level.

Do you want to know if your knowledge corresponds to the Intermediate level? Take ours and get recommendations that will help you improve your English language skills.

Intermediate is the level required by most employers

Intermediate - what level is this? How to determine whether your knowledge corresponds to this level?

The Intermediate level of English, which is designated B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, comes next after Pre-Intermediate. The name of this stage comes from the word intermediate, the translation of which is “middle”. Thus, Intermediate is the so-called “average” level of language proficiency, which allows you to speak English quite fluently, discuss many professional and everyday topics, and understand by ear almost everything said in English at a normal pace. Language proficiency level B1 allows you to take entrance exams to Russian universities and preparatory courses abroad. However, the most important thing is that virtually all employers require that their potential or actual employees know at least Intermediate English.

We recommend starting to study English at the Intermediate level if you:

• speak fluently, able to carry on a conversation, but choose your words, so you want to “talk”;
• you have a good vocabulary, but you can’t always use it easily; you often have to consult a dictionary;
• correctly understand the questions of a foreign interlocutor and the English speech in the recording, but only if the speaker speaks clearly and measuredly;
• understand the basic grammar of the English language and operate with different tenses of English, but do not feel confident in more complex grammar;
• have studied English at this level for a long time, remember a lot and now want to brush up on your knowledge;
• recently completed a course of studying English at the Pre-Intermediate level.

Material that people with knowledge of English at the Intermediate level should know

How to determine that you know English at level B1? The table indicates what knowledge a person with an Intermediate level should have.

If you are not sure that you have all the knowledge required at this level, we recommend checking to see if your knowledge of the English language is at level .

The Intermediate level program involves studying such topics in the training course

How will your speaking skills develop during the Intermediate course?

The Intermediate level is a kind of key stage at which the student really begins to “get off the ground” in speaking skills (Speaking skills). At this stage you become a “talking” student. If you want to speak fluently, try to speak as much as possible in class. Don’t be afraid to reason and express your point of view, try to use complex colloquial clichés.

Concerning vocabulary (Vocabulary), in addition to general spoken vocabulary, at the Intermediate level you study the so-called “general business” English - widely used words that are associated with communication in the business sphere. In addition, the “intermediate” level is rich in various phrases, idioms, figures of speech and set expressions. You remember not just words, but entire phrases in context, learn to construct new words using prefixes and suffixes. Much attention is paid to the ability to explain the meaning of a word in English, name its synonyms and antonyms.

Listening(Listening) is still a problem for many students starting at the Intermediate level. Audio texts at this level are much longer than texts for the Pre-Intermediate level, however, long tracks are divided into parts for which different types of tasks are offered. An Intermediate student can understand factual information related to work, school, and everyday life, recognizing both the general meaning and specific details; in this case, speech may be with a slight accent.

Concerning reading(Reading), the Intermediate level allows you to understand fairly complex, although still adapted, texts, but you can try to read non-adapted literature. At level B1, a simple retelling of the text read is no longer enough; you need to be able to give your assessment, express an opinion for or against, imagine yourself in the shoes of the characters, etc. All texts for reading at the Intermediate level are a kind of “context” for consolidating and automating the use of the vocabulary being studied and grammar.

Another aspect that receives a lot of attention is letter (Writing). You will learn how to compose English sentences not only in colloquial style, but also in formal style. Level B1 usually includes the following written tasks:

• Describing a person
• Telling a story
• An informal letter
• Describing a house or flat
• Formal letter and CV
• A film review
• An article for a magazine

At the end of the Intermediate level, the student will be able to successfully use English in a variety of standard situations and clearly express his opinion. In addition, he will learn to write letters, fill out declarations, questionnaires and other documents that require providing basic information about himself, take part in negotiations, make presentations and correspond with native speakers. Knowledge of English at the Intermediate level is a good achievement and provides a variety of opportunities, such as an advantage when applying for a job. From this level you can begin to prepare for exams and.

Duration of training at the Intermediate level

The duration of studying English at the Intermediate level may vary, it depends on the initial knowledge and personal characteristics of the student. On average, the training period is 6-9 months. It is the Intermediate level that is considered a strong base, the final stage in the formation of vocabulary and grammatical knowledge. Further levels are the deepening and expansion of active and passive vocabulary, immersion in the subtleties and nuances of the language.

To make sure that this course of study is right for you, we recommend taking ours, which tests basic English skills. And if you want not only to accurately find out your level of knowledge of the English language, but also to improve it, we suggest enrolling in our school. The teacher will determine your level, weaknesses and strengths and help you improve your knowledge.

Additional programs:

1-2 years of full-time study at a state university in your home country

1 year of preparation in Germany (Studienkolleg, equivalent to Foundation) and passing exams

Average score

The selection of candidates for admission to German universities is based on the average score of the matriculation certificates. There are two types of specialties at universities in Germany:

It’s easy to get into training in specialties that have no restrictions: you just need to fulfill the general requirements - the Abitur certificate of maturity or its equivalent or pass the FSP exams.

It is more difficult to get into specialties that have restrictions on admission: you need the average grade of the matriculation certificate to correspond to the passing grade (the minimum average grade of the certificate possible for admission to a university). The passing score is set either by the university itself for this specialty, or it is a uniform passing score throughout the country for all universities offering certain specialties: for example, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, dentistry, etc. When entering one of the specialties that has restrictions on admission , after completing the Studienkolleg preparatory course, exactly the same rules apply: the average score is calculated.

An average certificate score of 1.5 points opens the doors to almost all universities in Germany (except for some especially popular specialties). To enroll in most programs, it is enough to have a GPA between 3.0 and 1.5. However, there are specialties in which training is possible for holders of matriculation certificates with a very high average score, and there are also those in which you can enter with a fairly low passing score.

Attention! In Germany, the rating system is 6 points, where 6 is the lowest (bad) of all possible ratings, and 1 is the best possible.

List of specialties with the lowest and highest requirements for enrollment

DIRECT ENROLLMENT

Holders of the German Abitur and equivalent certificates can be enrolled in the first year of undergraduate programs at German universities immediately after school. The selection of candidates is based on the average score of the certificate and no entrance or selection exams are required.

Countries with equivalent Abitur matriculation certificates: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Holland, Greece, Denmark, Israel, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, USA, Finland, France, Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa , Japan

ENROLLMENT AFTER COMPLETING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

Holders of matriculation certificates that are not considered equivalent to the Abitur must either study for 1 or 2 years at a public university in their home country or pass exams in Germany in order to enroll in the first year of undergraduate programs at universities in Germany. These exams are similar to those that German schoolchildren take to obtain the Abitur. The only difference is that German schoolchildren take exams in a larger number of disciplines, and foreign applicants for admission to study at German universities must demonstrate knowledge of disciplines relevant to their future studies. Foreign applicants who do not have equivalent Abitur certificates must prove that they have the necessary knowledge to study at a university in their chosen specialty.

You can replace entrance exams by studying at a university in your home country for 1 or 2 years. Attention! You can only study full-time, the university must be state-owned and recognized in Germany, the direction of study must coincide with the direction of study in Germany.

Countries with non-equivalent Abitur matriculation certificates: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and others.

There are different requirements for applicants from these countries. Thus, for applicants from Ukraine who received a matriculation certificate before 2011 inclusive - 2 years of full-time study at a state university in Ukraine, after 2011 - 1 year. For applicants from Russia - upon receipt of a certificate in 2014 and earlier, 2 years of full-time study at a state university in Russia, after 2015 - 1 year.

Feststellungsprüfung

The Feststellungsprüfung entrance exams can be taken externally, without any preparation course. However, the difference in secondary school programs in different countries is colossal; we strongly recommend taking a special preparation course for exams Feststellungsprüfung - Studienkolleg. This course is designed for 1 year of study and is organized either by the universities themselves or by secondary education institutions. Taking such a course will not only significantly increase the chances of successfully passing exams, but will also facilitate the educational process at the university.

If you have passed the FSP, you can enroll in any specialty that has no restrictions on admission. If you pass the exams with 1.5 points, you can study even in those programs that have restrictions on admission. However, there are some specialties that require a 1.0 GPA (medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine).

Of course, which path to enter German universities to choose - through passing exams or through studying at a Russian university for 1 or 2 years - is the decision of the applicant himself. However, annual preparation for the Feststellungsprüfung exam and successful passing of the exam itself is a 100% guarantee of your capabilities and readiness to study at a German university. Studying in Russia, even at the best university, does not provide such a guarantee.

Requirements for admission to the master's program

Master is the second stage of higher education. A master's degree is issued after 1-2 years of study. Beginning of training either immediately after a bachelor's degree, or after several years of professional activity. The master's degree focuses on deeper specialization and scientific work. A master's degree is a prerequisite for admission to graduate school.

The general requirement for all candidates is a bachelor’s degree from a state or state-accredited university. Studying in the bachelor's program must be full-time. The university must be recognized in Germany, and the study program must correspond to the chosen study program in Germany.

Attention! We recommend that even when studying in English, you have at least a minimum level of German: most of the offered training programs are still in German, and by studying only in English you significantly reduce the choice of specialties and disciplines. Many programs are bilingual.

Requirements for admission to graduate school

Postgraduate studies (Promotion)– is considered in Germany as the third stage of the Bologna process. Writing a dissertation is possible only at universities. Preparation of a dissertation (Promotion) related to independent scientific research continues for 2–4 years after receiving a master's degree or equivalent degree (Diplom/Erstes Staatsexamen/Magister Artium). The degree of Candidate of Sciences (Doktor) is awarded after writing a dissertation and successfully passing an oral examination or defending a dissertation.

The selection procedure for those wishing to study in Germany as a graduate student is not as formal as in the case of a bachelor's or master's degree. The choice of a specific candidate largely depends on the willingness of a particular professor to act as your supervisor. Applicants should contact directly the professors with whom they would like to work.

To comply with formal requirements, the candidate is required to:

• Master's degree or its equivalent issued by a state accredited university
• Master's studies must be full-time
• the university must be recognized in Germany
• The specialization of the master's program must coincide with the direction of work in graduate school. The disciplines studied at the Russian University are compared with the program of the same disciplines at the German University and the corresponding number of hours (diploma supplement). For dentists and lawyers, a maximum of 1-2 semesters are counted from the diploma (differences in technology, legislation).
• proof of language proficiency (German or English, often both)
• Language: official certificate - German C1+/C2 and/or English C1+. Even when studying in graduate school in English, we recommend having at least a basic level of German.

Requirements for admission to MBA programs

Program Aufbaustudium- another type of postgraduate training. The duration of the program is 2 years. Upon completion, a paper of 50-100 pages is written. A certificate of completion of the Aufbaustudium is issued. This is also a Postgraduate program, like Promotion, but shorter by 1 year. Aufbaustudium programs for international students are MBA programs.

Requirements for admission to the program:

• A diploma of complete higher education obtained from a university that has state accreditation
• training should have been face-to-face
• The university must be recognized in Germany
• the curriculum must correspond to the required plan for each specific MBA program
• practical work experience (minimum 2 years in the specialty).
• English language: official certificate at level C1 (TOEFL 570-630 points or IELTS from 6.5 and above, CAE is accepted equally with them in private universities).
• German language: official certificate or certificate of study of the German language for at least 250-400 hours.

Documents are accepted once a year, for the winter semester.

Language requirements

You can study in Germany only if you prove the required level of proficiency in the language of instruction. Attention! Only official certificates issued after passing internationally accepted examinations are taken into account.

Most programs at universities in Germany are in German. However, there are quite a few programs offered in English. If you choose a program offered in German, you must prove your knowledge of German. If you are interested in an English-language training program, then English.

GERMAN

All applicants to universities in Germany must pass an official exam to determine their level of German language proficiency. The required level is C1 on the European scale, although some programs require a lower level. For example, for enrollment in Bachelor's programs in creative specialties, level B1 is sufficient. All universities in Germany accept TestDaF and DSH certificates for any training programs as proof of knowledge of the German language; other certificates are accepted by some universities. To enroll in the Studienkolleg preparatory program, any certificate in German at level B2 or even simple confirmation of completion of a German course (for example, a certificate from a course) is sufficient.

ADMISSION RESTRICTIONS (Numerus Clausus)

Programs in medicine, pharmacy and veterinary medicine are so in demand that admission to them is limited nationwide at all higher education institutions. These are the so-called Numerus Clausus restrictions. The selection of candidates and the allocation of places for these programs is carried out centrally through the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung. The reason for this limitation is that professors and other researchers can only fully work with a limited number of students, thus guaranteeing the quality of training. In practice, this means that the university, in agreement with professors, announces admission to a certain number of places for a certain specialty.

However, this restriction should not be understood as a ban or a decrease in the chances of enrollment for foreigners. Everyone is accepted - both Germans and foreigners, only the requirements for both are equally strict in relation to the average score of the certificate. Even if the average score of your certificate is below the passing grade, this does not mean a refusal of admission: you are simply added to the waiting list. The fact is that applicants send their documents to several universities at once, sometimes to 20 at once. If out of a total of 30 possible places in a specialty with limited admission, 10 remained free (those who passed on the average score chose another university), then the remaining 10 places are granted to those applicants whose average score is as close as possible to the passing grade (second round of the admission procedure - zweites Nachrückverfahren).

Do not despair if the average score of your certificate is lower than the passing score established by the university: the passing score is indicated by the university based on the results of the previous year.

Attention! If you want to study in one of these programs, then pay attention to the application deadlines: no later than July 15 when submitting documents for the winter semester and no later than January 15 when submitting documents for the summer semester.

Test structure:

1. Identifying the interests of the applicant (15 minutes)
2. Aptitude test:

• Speaking Test (20 - 30 minutes)
• Math test (30 minutes)
• Test to identify the capabilities of figurative and spatial thinking (30 - 35 minutes)

No more than 90 minutes are allocated to complete the entire test. Participation in the test is completely free.

TestAS

TestAS - Test für ausländische Studierende - test for foreign university students. TestAS is a central, standardized test for foreign applicants. The test was created on the initiative of the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD in cooperation with the TestDaF-Institut for German as a Foreign Language. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The results of this test show what position the applicant who has passed it stands in relation to other applicants. Good results in this test significantly increase your chances of getting a place to study at a university.

• TestAS has the right to conduct only specialized language centers that cooperate with educational institutions in Germany and have a license
• Persons over 16 years of age are allowed to take the exam
• It is necessary to speak a foreign language at a minimum level of B1 according to the 6-level scale of the Council of Europe
• The number of submission attempts is unlimited. Repeatedly retaking the exam on one topic (for example, only economics), as a rule, does not significantly improve the results.
• The test reveals the candidate’s aptitudes and abilities for a particular scientific field, so in order to identify these, it makes sense to take an exam on various topics.

It is prohibited to use dictionaries, translators or any other electronic devices during testing.

TestAS can be taken in German or English. It consists of the following components:

onScreen(30 minutes): language part of the test, assessment of general language competence in English or German. 6 texts are offered in which you will need to complete the missing words and phrases. This part of the test is administered online orally.

Kerntest(110 minutes): the main part of the test, assessing cognitive abilities in all academic areas of study. Conducted in writing. 4 task groups:

1. Solving numerical tasks - tasks in the form of texts, the solution of which is based on the ability of elementary mathematical calculations.
2. Finding correspondences - two pairs of words or phrases are offered in which two words are missing. It is necessary to add the missing words so that the meaning of the left pair matches the meaning of the right pair. The task is based on language understanding and vocabulary.
3. Adding shapes - a number of shapes are offered, such as lines, circles, squares and other geometric shapes, placed according to certain rules and according to a certain pattern. The task is to identify these rules and patterns and add the desired figure to the end of the row. In this part of the test, logical thinking on a figurative basis plays a big role. Knowledge of the language does not play any role in this part of the test.
4. Adding numbers is a similar task to the previous one, with the difference that instead of figures, rows of numbers are offered that will need to be supplemented based on recognized rules and patterns.

Studienfeldspezifische Testmodule(145-150 minutes): profile test modules, assessment of cognitive abilities necessary for training in a certain direction. Conducted in writing. There are 4 modules to choose from:

Humanities, cultural and social sciences

1. Understanding and interpreting texts: short texts and questions for them.
2. Ability to use representational systems: texts are proposed, the meaning of the content of which should be conveyed using graphic diagrams.
3. Recognition of language structures: it is proposed to familiarize yourself with texts in a “fictional” language, with a translation into German as close as possible to their meaning. Based on this, it is necessary to recognize the meaning of some individual words and concepts, as well as identify some grammatical rules of writing.

Engineering Sciences

1. Compiling formulas for technical phenomena: formulate formulas for various technical phenomena described in text form.
2. Discovery of new species: Based on one type of body, it is necessary to discover new prospects for its use.
3. Analysis of technical relationships: analysis and interpretation of various diagrams, tables and formulas.

Mathematics, computer science and natural sciences

1. Analysis of phenomena in the field of natural sciences: descriptions in the form of texts and graphs of various phenomena in the field of natural sciences and questions about them.
2. Understanding formal representation: Converting the information content of text into a graphical diagram.

Economic Sciences

1. Analysis of economic relationships: analysis of various charts and tables from the field of economic sciences.
2. Process analysis: formalization of various processes and analysis of process diagrams.

The results of passing the exam are calculated as a percentage; the concept of assessment or “pass or fail” is not used.

Depending on which test module was passed, TestAS test participants, after passing it, receive appropriate certificates, which are attached to the package of documents for admission to the university. In most cases, the results of the onScreen language test are not displayed in certificates. This is due to the technical capabilities of the test centers.

The TestAS test can only be carried out in special, licensed test centers. A significant part of TestDaF Centers also conduct the TestAS test.

Exam fee: 80 EUR

At what level do you need to speak English? Who needs this and why?

What does language proficiency at one of these levels indicate and who even invented them? Where to go to study?

How to link language proficiency levels with the international certification system?

What are language certificates and where can I get them?

This year, my colleague decided to enroll in a master's program in finance. Like all perfectionists, he made life as difficult as possible for himself: for admission he chose a serious university and a course that was taught in English.

The problem was that the university’s website clearly stated “TOEFL and professional interview”, and the colleague’s command of English, in my estimation, was at the level of “Landon from the Capital City of Great Britain”.

To find out the level, a teacher from a well-known language school was invited, who, after two hours of testing and interviews, pronounced “confident Intermediate”. At this point I was very surprised and once again plunged into thinking about how deeply foreign languages ​​penetrate into our lives, and not only now, and not only English. And how important it is to own at least it... At what level should you own it? What are these levels and what does language proficiency at each of them indicate? And how to link language proficiency levels with the international certification system?

WHAT WILL WE MEASURE IN?

We measure the immeasurable. How can you assess your level of language proficiency? By number of words? Of course, this is an important criterion. But Lev Shcherba and his “glok kuzdra” almost a century ago proved to the whole world that the main thing in a language is grammar. This is the backbone and the foundation. But to have a conversation, read a book or watch a movie, the basics are not enough. If you don’t know the vocabulary, the meaning of what is happening will still elude you. So again, vocabulary?

In fact, both are important, and also knowledge of the history, culture and modern realities of the country whose language you are studying - this is what your competencies are made of.

Each of us has heard something about language proficiency levels. For example, in English one of the initial levels is Elementary, in Hebrew the stages of study are named by the letters of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph, bet, gimel, etc.), and in Polish they correspond to the pan-European classification (from A0 to C2).

In addition to the system of divisions into levels for each individual language, there is also a pan-European classification. It describes not the amount of grammatical knowledge, but what knowledge and skills a person has, how well he reads, perceives speech by ear and expresses himself. It is impossible to formulate evaluation criteria common to all languages, such as “he knows this from grammar, but knows how to handle vocabulary like this.” European languages, although close to each other, have their own characteristics: the presence/absence of genders, cases and articles, the number of tenses, etc. On the other hand, the existing similarities are enough to create a common assessment system for the whole of Europe.

EUROPEAN LANGUAGES: LEVELS OF LEARNING AND PROFICIENCY

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: learning, teaching, assessment(Common European Framework of Reference, CEFR) is a system of levels of foreign language proficiency used in the European Union. The corresponding directive was developed by the Council of Europe as a main part of the project “Language Learning for European Citizenship” between 1989 and 1996. The main purpose of the CEFR system is to provide an assessment and teaching method applicable to all European languages. In November 2001, a resolution of the Council of the European Union recommended using the CEFR to create national systems for assessing language competence.

Today, this classification offers us three levels, each of which has two sublevels:

■ Beginner (A1)

In class. The student understands and uses phrases and expressions necessary to perform specific tasks. (Remember, in foreign lessons: “Sit down, open your textbooks”? That’s it.) He can introduce himself and introduce another person, tell and answer simple questions about his family, home. Can support a simple dialogue - provided the other person speaks slowly, clearly and repeats three times.

In life. Yes, this is the level of Where are you from and London is the capital city of Great Britain. If in a foreign country you can call yourself by name, tell the cafe that you want tea, point your finger at the menu, ordering “this,” and ask a passerby where the Tower is, this is the level of survival. “Tu tickets tu Dublin,” so to speak.

■ Below average (A2)

In class. The student understands individual sentences and frequent expressions related to the main areas of life (information about himself and family members, purchases in a store, general information about work), and can also talk about this and maintain a conversation on everyday topics.

In life. At this level, you can already answer the standard question of the seller in the store (Do you need the package?), withdraw money from an ATM if there is no menu in your native language, clearly tell the seller at the market how many kilograms of peaches you need, instead of gesticulating expressively , you can find your way around the city, rent a bike and much more.

Free dialogue about Nietzsche is still a long way off, but, as you noticed, the key word in defining this level is basic. From now on, your knowledge will be enough to survive in a foreign city.

■ Medium (B1)

In class. The student understands the essence of messages clearly formulated in literary language. Message topics: everything that surrounds a person during work, study, rest, etc. Being in the country of the language being studied, he can communicate in most standard life situations. Can compose a simple message on an unfamiliar topic, describe impressions, talk about some events and plans for the future, justify his opinion on any issue.

In life. The name of this level - self-sufficient mastery - suggests that you will be able to be in a foreign country and act independently in most situations. Here we mean not only and not so much shops (this is the previous level), but also trips to the bank, post office, going to the hospital, communicating with colleagues at work, teachers at school, if your child studies there. Having attended a performance in a foreign language, you are unlikely to be able to fully appreciate the acting skills and talent of the director, but you will already be able to tell your colleagues exactly where you went, what the play was about and whether you liked it.

■ Above average (B2)

In class. The student understands the general content of complex texts on abstract and concrete topics, including highly specialized texts. He speaks quickly and spontaneously enough to communicate with native speakers without much effort.

In life. In fact, this is already the level of language that most people use in everyday life. We don’t discuss string theory or the architectural features of Versailles with our colleagues at lunch. But we often discuss new films or popular books. And the great thing is that now they will be available to you: you don’t need to look for films and publications adapted to your level - you can handle many works yourself, not only modern ones. But reading specialized literature or fully understanding the terminology of the House Doctor series is, of course, still a long way off.

■ Advanced (C1)

In class. The student understands voluminous, complex texts on various topics, recognizes metaphors and hidden meanings. Can speak spontaneously, at a fast pace, without searching for words. Effectively uses language to communicate in professional activities. Knows all the ways of creating texts on complex topics (detailed descriptions, complex grammatical structures, special vocabulary, etc.).

In life. At this level, you can participate in seminars, watch films and read books without restrictions, and communicate with native speakers as freely as with your compatriots.

■ Professional (C2)

In class. The student understands and can produce virtually any written or oral communication.

In life. You can write a dissertation, give a lecture and participate along with native speakers in discussions on any general or professional topic.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE: LEARNING AND PROFICIENCY LEVELS

The classification of English language proficiency levels is somewhat different. It is not always clear what English course teachers mean when they promise you to achieve the Advanced level from scratch in a year, and what the employer wants if they indicate the Upper-Intermediate level in a vacancy announcement. To clarify, let’s compare the levels of proficiency in European languages ​​and English (see table).

Beginner

Yes, this level is not indicated in our table. This is the beginning of the beginning. There is no talk of any language proficiency at this stage, but this is the foundation on which the house will be built - your language proficiency. And how strong this foundation is will determine how beautiful, large and reliable this house will be.

■ Knowledge and skills at the Beginner level. At this level you will start by learning the alphabet, English phonetics, numerals and basic

features of grammar: three simple tenses, direct word order in sentences, absence of cases and genders.

Pay special attention to phonetics, try to understand how intonation differs in interrogative and declarative sentences.

Practice your pronunciation. When you learn a language well, a terrible accent will not only spoil the impression, but also make communication difficult. Then it will be much more difficult to correct it.

■ Training period. Typically, it takes about four months of group study to acquire such a wealth of knowledge. By studying with a tutor, this result can be achieved much faster.

■ What is the result. If an Englishman asks you on the street to help him find the embassy, ​​you will be upset, because you will still understand the word “embassy”, and he will pronounce everything else in such a way that you are unlikely to recognize him as an Englishman at all.

Elementary

This level corresponds to level A1 in the European classification and is called the survival level. This means that if you get lost in a foreign country, you will be able to ask and then follow the directions to find your way (in case your phone with a navigator dies), you will be able to check into a hotel, buy groceries not only in the supermarket, but also at the market, where you will have to deal with the seller albeit in a short, but quite lively dialogue. In general, from now on you will not be lost.

■ Knowledge and skills at the Elementary level. If you have reached this level, you already know much more.

■ Our recommendations. In pursuit of vocabulary, do not try to skip over grammar - it only seems simple at first, but in fact, as the level of complexity increases, many nuances appear. If you do not pay attention to them, it will be difficult to eradicate errors in speech later.

Learn numerals and how to form them until they are completely automatic.

Write down the names of the objects that surround you in a dictionary and memorize them. So you can ask a hotel for a pen or a needle and thread, offer a guest a glass of water, or buy an avocado at the market, not just “this one,” but an avocado.

Training period: 6-9 months depending on the intensity of training and your abilities.

What is the result. Now our Englishman has a real chance to get to the embassy.

Pre-Intermediate

This is the “pre-threshold level”. That is, you somehow got onto the porch. Now you stand before the threshold, and your main task is to step over it. This is true in any language, not just English. At this level it suddenly becomes really difficult. A lot of new vocabulary appears, and the amount of grammar knowledge that the teacher diligently puts into your head increases significantly. New information hits you like a wave. But if you go out now, you are almost guaranteed to learn this language.

■ Knowledge and skills at the Pre-Intermediate level. At this level, the list of your knowledge and skills is significantly expanded.

In fact, we can say that language proficiency begins at this level. Not only will you survive in an unfamiliar city and be able to make new friends, but you will also begin to independently improve your level of language knowledge. You will begin to understand what vocabulary is missing in the first place, you will clearly see your weak points and will already know what you need to do to improve them.

In addition, here we can already talk about the use of language in work. A secretary who speaks English at the Pre-Intermediate level may not be able to call the hotel to clarify the reservation details, but he will definitely be able to write a letter to them. He will also be able to write a message about the meeting, receive guests and have small talk with them, which is so popular in the English environment.

■ Our recommendations. Never give up! You can handle it. If you realize that a certain topic is not easy for you, do not be too lazy to figure it out - by contacting a teacher, or on your own, or with the help of numerous Internet resources. Without any tests, you will suddenly discover how much you already know and how much you can already do. At this moment, you can safely step across the threshold - move to the next level.

■ Training period: from six to nine months. And here it is better not to rush.

■ What is the result. Our Englishman is guaranteed to get to the embassy thanks to your recommendations. You will also be extremely pleased with yourself.

Intermediate

This is the first self-sufficient level. Congratulations if you speak the language at this level. This means that you have entered a new world where many amazing discoveries await you. Now boundaries are a convention for you. You can make acquaintances in all corners of the globe, read news on the Internet, understand jokes in English, comment on photos of friends from the USA on Facebook, chat in a general chat with friends from China and Peru while watching the World Cup. You have found your voice.

■ Knowledge and skills at Intermediate level. In addition to what was listed at previous levels, you know and can do the following:

It’s not for nothing that many employers require the Intermediate level. In essence, this is the level of free communication in the office (unless, of course, you are in the habit of discussing the principle of operation of the power steering over coffee). This is the level of working with documents and maintaining a free conversation on general and general professional topics.

Yes, as long as it's not fluent. You still select words in your mind, use a dictionary when reading books - in words, until you can “think in language”. And no, it won't make it any easier for you. But it will become really interesting for you. You won't be able to stop anymore.

■ Our recommendations. At this level, you can increase your stock of professional vocabulary. A solid vocabulary on the topic of discussion automatically and very noticeably increases your level of language proficiency in the eyes of your interlocutor. If you have somewhere to apply your knowledge (work, study, hobby), do not neglect this opportunity. Remember also that language is living, it is constantly evolving.

Read not only adapted classics, but also books by modern authors in English, watch videos on topics that interest you, listen to songs.

■ Training period: 6-9 months.

■ What is the result. Perhaps you have half an hour - why not accompany this nice English gentleman to the embassy.

Upper-Intermediate

This is the first level of language proficiency, sufficient for trouble-free living in another country. You can chat with your neighbors, go to a party, and even go to the theater. Not to mention work. Most professionals who receive job offers in another country have at least this level of language proficiency.

■ Knowledge and skills at the Upper-Intermediate level. So, what new do you know and can do:

In fact, B2 is already fluent. No, of course, there are still restrictions. It’s unlikely that you can handle “House” or “The Big Bang Theory” - they have a lot of special vocabulary, and even wordplay. But after watching a classic play, you will not only understand what it’s about, but you will also be able to enjoy the actors’ performances.

You'll stop listening to half your favorite songs because you'll realize how crap the lyrics are. Your world will become much larger, not to mention the fact that with this level there is a chance to go to work abroad and enroll in a foreign university.

Read as many literary texts as possible to make your speech rich and imaginative. This will also help you make fewer mistakes in writing - constantly encountering a word in the text, we remember how it is spelled.

Spend a holiday in the country of your target language and speak as much as possible there. It is best to take some kind of intensive language course, for example in Malta. But this is a very expensive undertaking. On the other hand, it is in such places that you can make useful business contacts. So consider spending on such a trip as an investment in a happy future.

■ Training period depends on many factors: your efforts and abilities, as well as how intensively you study and how good your teacher is. You can do it in a year.

■ What is the result. While walking with the Englishman to the embassy, ​​we chatted casually and even giggled a couple of times.

Advanced

This is the level of fluency in English. Above it is only the level of the carrier. That is, when you master the language at this level, there will be almost no one around you who knows the language better. After all, it’s true that 80% of your communication in English occurs not with native speakers, but with those who, like you, learned it. As a rule, graduates of the Faculty of Philology with a degree in English speak the language at this level. What does fluency mean? The fact that you can speak on any topic, even if you have almost no understanding of the subject. Yes, like in Russian. Having reached this level, you can receive one of the certificates: CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), IELTS - 7-7.5 points, TOEFL - 96-109 points.

■ Knowledge and skills at the Advanced level

Congratulations, you have found freedom! For everyday life and office work, this level is quite enough. You will clearly explain to your boss why you need a salary increase, and to your English husband why it seems to you that he does not love you.

■ Our recommendations. Having reached this level, you not only speak the language, you can think in it. Even if for some reason you do not use it for a long time, you will completely restore all your knowledge on your own in a short time.

■ What is the result. You had a pleasant time walking the Englishman to the embassy and chatting with him along the way. And they didn’t even notice that he had a lisp.

Proficiency

This is the level of an educated native speaker. Educated is the key word. That is, this is a person who graduated from a university and has a bachelor's degree. The level of Proficiency is close to the level of proficiency of a native speaker. As a rule, only people who graduated from university in the country of the language they are studying know it this way (and even then not always).

■ Knowledge and skills at the Proficiency level. If you know a language so well, this means that you can take part in scientific conferences, write scientific papers, and get a scientific degree in the country of the language you are learning.

Yes, this is exactly the level of "Doctor House" and "The Big Bang Theory". This is the level at which you will not have any difficulties in communication: you will equally well understand a grandmother from Brooklyn, a professor from the University of Massachusetts, and an Englishman who, on the way to the embassy, ​​will tell you why he considers her to be untenable

big bang theory. Having proficiency in the language at this level, you can receive a CPE certificate, IELTS (8-9 points), TOEFL (110-120 points).

■ Job prospects. As you can see, if you write “fluent” on your resume, the employer will decide that you have at least an Upper-Intermediate level. The funny thing is that your level may be lower, but he will not notice it, since most often the employer needs an employee with English at the level of “Good afternoon. Would you like tea or coffee?”, but in the requirements for the applicant he writes “fluent.”

Fluency in the language is required when working as an expat or in a foreign company. Or if you are entrusted with the responsibilities of not only a personal assistant, but also a translator. In all other cases

For high-quality performance of their duties and a comfortable stay in the office, the Intermediate level is quite enough.

It is also very important to remember that even if you know English at the Upper-Intermediate (B2) level and above, when preparing for negotiations, speeches, or conversations on a specialized topic, you need to create a glossary.

Perhaps you have ever noticed that some translators do not translate some phrases during negotiations. Most often, these are irresponsible translators who were too lazy to prepare and learn new vocabulary. They just don't understand what we're talking about.

But some mining engineer at the same negotiations, who is familiar only with the Present Simple, may turn out to be much more useful than a professional translator. Because he works with technology, knows all the words, draws a diagram on a piece of paper with a pencil - and now everyone already understands each other. And if they have AutoCAD, they don’t need a translator, or even Present Simple: they will understand each other perfectly.

CERTIFICATES FOR LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

What certificates are we talking about here all the time? This refers to official documents confirming your knowledge of English.

■ CAE(Certificate in advanced English) is an English language exam developed and administered by the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) unit at the University of Cambridge.

Developed and first introduced in 1991. The certificate corresponds to level C1 of the Common European Classification of Languages. The validity period of the certificate is unlimited. Required for admission to universities where education is taught in English, and to get a job.

Where to get a certificate: in Moscow, the CAE exam is accepted by Education First Moscow, Language Link, BKC-IH, Center for Language Studies. Other educational organizations also accept, but they work only with their students. A full list of centers where you can take the exam is available at: www.cambridgeenglish.org/find-a-centre/find-an-exam-centre.

■ CPE(Certificate of Proficiency in English) is an English language exam developed and administered by the Cambridge University division of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). The certificate corresponds to level C2 of the Common European Classification of Languages ​​and confirms the highest level of English language proficiency. The validity period of the certificate is unlimited.

Where to get a certificate: the Moscow Institute of Foreign Languages ​​offers courses and exams: www.mosinyaz.com.

Testing and exam preparation centers in other cities in Russia and the world can be found at: www.cambridgeenglish.org/find-a-centre/find-an-exam-centre.

■ IELTS(International English Language Testing System) - an international testing system to determine the level of knowledge in the field of English. The good thing about the system is that it tests knowledge in four aspects: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Required for admission to universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland. And also for those who plan to go to one of these countries for permanent residence.

Where to get a certificate, see here: www.ielts.org/book-a-test/find-atest-location.

■ TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language, Test of Knowledge of English as a Foreign Language) - a standardized test of knowledge of the English language (in its North American version), the passing of which is mandatory for non-English-speaking foreigners upon admission to universities in the USA and Canada, as well as Europe and Asia . The test results are also accepted in a number of other English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries for admission to universities with English as the language of instruction. In addition, the test results may be used when recruiting for foreign companies. The test results are stored in the company database for 2 years, after which they are deleted.

The certificate also assesses language proficiency in four areas.

Where to get a certificate: www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=TOEFL.

WHERE TO GO TO STUDY?

This is the most important question. Of course, if you graduated from the English department of the Faculty of Philology, it is not in front of you. In all other cases, you will have to make this difficult choice.

■ Tutor. Courses or tutor? I'm for a tutor. Moreover, for classes in a group of two people. Three is a lot, but one is expensive and not so effective.

Why individual training? Because in this case, the teacher sees all your strengths and weaknesses, he does not have the task of bringing the course to an “acceptable” level for the exam and forgetting about the group, he has the task of really teaching you the language, because then, thanks to word of mouth, he will have more students and, therefore, income.

In addition, the specificity of the tutor’s profession is that every minute of his working time is paid. And when a person works in such conditions, he cannot afford to slack.

It's better to work in pairs because it disciplines. You can cancel a lesson due to bad weather or a bout of laziness - you pay the tutor wherever he goes. But my conscience will not allow me to disrupt a lesson that is planned for two.

Where to find and how to choose a tutor? First of all, on the recommendation of friends whose successes inspire you.

If you don’t have such acquaintances, you need to find courses at a reputable educational institution: university, institute, consulate. They try to hire good teachers there - they keep their mark. And teachers go there because they view such courses as a free advertising platform for recruiting individual students. You can go there to the level you need, and there you will agree with the teacher. By the way, now language schools often present their teaching staff on their websites, and you can search the Internet for reviews of specialists.

■Language schools. If you decide to take courses at a language school, choose accredited centers where you can take an exam for one of the certificates. As a rule, such schools have a good level of teaching, there are various exchange programs, study abroad programs, and the teachers in them are native speakers.

■ Skype. Another option is to learn English via Skype. Why not?

This can be done at work, if conditions allow, and at home. Among international well-established schools, we recommend paying attention to Glasha: www.glasha.biz.

■ Study courses abroad.

If you have the opportunity (financially) and knowledge of the language is at least Intermediate level, then you can choose language learning courses abroad. For example, here: www.staracademy.ru. Yes, there is training in Australia. There are also summer camps for adults. In Malta. And in Ireland. And many other places. It's expensive, but very effective.

Tricks and Useful Tips for Learning a Language

■ Learn grammar. Reading adapted literature is boring. Useful, but unbearable. Learning grammar is generally a nightmare. But grammar in language is like formulas in mathematics. Once you have learned them, you can move on and take on new heights. No - it will only get worse, and with every step there is less and less chance of getting to the top.

■ Use all available resources. In the pursuit of knowledge, all means are good: interactive Internet resources, comics, video games, pulp literature, beauty blogs - whatever.

The more interesting the topic is for you, the easier it will be for you to complete the training. Also, try to find or organize a conversation club (you can even create a group on WhatsApp) and discuss topics that concern you there. No, it’s not what books you liked that you read this year, but what qualities infuriate you in your partner, why you are still offended by your mother, and when the stadium on Krestovsky Island will finally be completed. When a person is interested in a subject, he will find a way to say it.

■ Read books. Starting from the Intermediate level, you can safely read:

Books by Sophie Kinsella;

Her own works under the name Madeline Wickham;

Bridget Jones series;

Jane Austen;

Somerset Maugham.

Choose books by modern authors that do not have a twisted detective plot, complex allegory, excessive philosophizing, or a large amount of special vocabulary. You need a simple narrative text: she wanted to marry him, and he wanted to become an astronaut. And so on for three hundred pages. You will get used to modern British/American/other English, learn new words willy-nilly, and at the same time you will not get confused in the twists and turns of the plot and the high feelings of the main character.

■ Watch movies and TV series:

Any action films, especially with subtitles - there is little dialogue, the video sequence is beautiful;

Comedies in the spirit of “Home Alone”, “We Are the Millers”, “Beethoven” - no discussions about Nietzsche’s philosophy, a simple and understandable plot, a lot of everyday vocabulary;

Melodramas of the “Eat, Pray, Love” format;

TV series “Sex and the City”, “Friends”, “The Simpsons”, etc.

Learning a language is a long and difficult journey. And he is also very interesting. In addition to knowing the language, you will receive a pleasant bonus - you will begin to understand how native speakers think. And it will open up another world for you. And if you lack motivation, just remember that you have no choice. A modern person must know English. And period.