How do I succeed at the CEFR C2 level as an English language learner? #EnglishHelp

Your level is almost the same as a native speaker, but there are always areas to refine, right?

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Think about situations when people have asked you to repeat or clarify because they didn't understand you.

Maybe your choice of words was overly formal, or too informal? Maybe you wish you had a deeper vocabulary pool to draw from, or you needed more language to talk about less common topics?

Learning a language is a lifetime process.

CEFR levels are a way of describing language ability and you can use these to help you choose materials and courses at your level. There are six English levels of proficiency, from A1 for beginners up to C2 for users who are proficient in the language.

At C2, the highest level, these are some descriptors that outline what you can do:

• "I can watch TV shows and films in English without subtitles and without too much effort."

• "I can read articles and technical instructions even when they're not related to my field."

• "I can talk about ideas and opinions with precision and connect my contribution skillfully to other speakers."

• "I can write about complex subjects in a letter, an essay, or a report."

Take an online test to find out if you're a true C2 level. This British Council site gives an approximate indication of your level. Use your results to:

• Find materials at the right level to push your skills forward.

• Watch a collection of videos and tasks for CEFR C2.

Take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test to prove you are proficient to employers or professional organizations. The test costs, so make sure you are prepped to get that Band 9 (the highest level):

• Find out more about the IELTS test.

• The IELTS site also has lots of links to practice tests and exercises to get you ready for the test.

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Listening and reading are called "receptive skills" because you take in information to process and understand it. At your advanced level, there are many ways to make small changes to your skills that will add up to better fluency as you work your way to the highest English levels of proficiency.

Reading is a good way to build and deepen your vocabulary. When reading, don't translate words or phrases you don't know, but guess the meaning from context.Native speakers do this, too.

Challenge yourself by reading different types of texts to get a wide range of vocabulary.

• novels and short stories, both fiction and nonfiction

• online blogs

• academic articles and textbooks

• manuals and guides

When you can approximate meaning with words you don't know, reading is enjoyable!

Listening will improve your "ear" by feeding yourself a rich diet of accents and genres. Being a good passive listener will allow you to understand and enjoy what's going on around you without so much effort!

Give yourself practice in listening for the overall meaning.You don't need to understand every word.

Try doing this with a variety of sources:

• series and movies, new and old

• newscasts

• TedTalks

• music — all genres

• historical speeches

You can improve your language abilities just by listening to something everyday!

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Writing and speaking are called "productive skills" because you put out information to show you understand it. At your advanced level, there are still many ways to improve your skills that will make you a more fluent language speaker.

Writing practice makes writing perfect. Give yourself the opportunity to write in many styles. You can improve your writing by imitating a style. Try this with:

• a recipe

• a poem

• a play

Join a writing workshop. It can be online or in person. Feedback is also important for progress in writing. If you don't have a writing buddy, be your own editor. It's easier to edit your own work if you write one day and edit a day or two later!

Create opportunities to write in different styles and for different audiences. It promotes confidence in your writing.

Speaking a lot lets you be comfortable hearing your own voice and improves your fluency. When you're confident, you can easily jump into conversations just like a native speaker!

You can:

• Talk to yourself in the mirror — record and listen to your pronunciation and your message.

• Join a conversation circle online or at your local library — you'll get practice and feedback on everyday topics.

Have a conversation with anyone whenever you can. In a park or a cafe-don't worry about making mistakes or planning what to say. Just enjoy communicating!

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Asma works in Toronto, Canada. She is a researcher for an academic journal. She reads scholarly articles, writes educational summaries, and listens to university lectures every day.

Although English is her second language, her language level is quite high, especially in her area of expertise. However, she has noticed that with her friends, she is often misunderstood in conversation and sometimes has trouble following movies or TV because everyone speaks very fast.

Asma is eager to improve her fluency in everyday situations. What can she do?

A. Join a local conversation club or circle to gain opportunities to talk to others on everyday subjects.

B. Go to a language school or a college and take an academic class to practice and improve her skills.

C. Read novels or short stories for everyday vocabulary and watch movies/TV with subtitles to get her ears used to common patterns of speech.

D. Write a journal or letters to friends (she doesn't need to send them) to practice writing on common, everyday things.

It's easy to coast at higher English levels of proficiency. After all, your language level is very good, and the improvements are small. Don't settle! By committing to the work, you can make small tweaks to your language to move from a proficient speaker to a native speaker. Never stop learning!