Elementary level - first steps in English. Level Elementary – entry level of English

Or during courses, you will definitely come across the concept of “levels of English” or “levels of English proficiency”, as well as such incomprehensible designations as A1, B2, and the more understandable Beginner, Intermediate and so on. From this article you will learn what these formulations mean and what levels of language proficiency are distinguished, as well as how to determine your level of English.

English language levels are designed to allow language learners to be divided into groups with approximately similar knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking and speaking. writing, as well as to simplify testing procedures, examinations, for various purposes related to emigration, study abroad and employment. This classification helps in recruiting students into a group and preparing teaching aids, methods, and language teaching programs.

Of course, there is no clear boundary between the levels; this division is quite arbitrary, needed not so much by students as by teachers. In total, there are 6 levels of language proficiency, there are two types of division:

Levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2,
Levels Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency.

Essentially they are just two different names for the same thing. These 6 levels are divided into three groups.

Table: English language proficiency levels

The classification was developed in the late eighties - early nineties of the last century, it is completely called the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (abbr. CERF).

English language levels: detailed description

Beginner level (A1)

At this level you can:

Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and simple phrases aimed at solving specific problems.
Introduce yourself, introduce other people, ask simple personal questions, for example, “Where do you live?”, “Where are you from?”, be able to answer such questions.
Maintain a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly, clearly and helps you.

Many who studied English at school speak the language at approximately the Beginner level. From the vocabulary only elementary mother, father, help me, my name is, London is the capital. You can understand well-known words and expressions by ear if they speak very clearly and without accent, as in the audio lessons for the textbook. You understand texts like the “Exit” sign, and in a conversation with the help of gestures, using individual words, you can express the simplest thoughts.

Level Elementary (A2)

At this level you can:

Understand common expressions on general topics such as family, shopping, work, etc.
Talk about simple everyday topics using simple phrases.
Talk about yourself in simple terms, describe simple situations.

If you got a 4 or 5 in English at school, but after that you didn’t use English for some time, then most likely you speak the language at the Elementary level. TV programs in English will not be understandable, except for individual words, but the interlocutor, if he speaks clearly, in simple phrases of 2-3 words, will generally understand. You can also incoherently and with long pauses for reflection tell the simplest information about yourself, say that the sky is blue and the weather is clear, express a simple wish, place an order at McDonald's.

The Beginner – Elementary levels can be called a “survival level”, Survival English. It is enough to “survive” during a trip to a country where the main language is English.

Intermediate level (B1)

At this level you can:

Understand the general meaning of clear speech on common, familiar topics related to everyday life (work, study, etc.)
Cope with the most typical situations while traveling (at the airport, in a hotel, etc.)
Compose simple, coherent text on general or personally familiar topics.
Retell events, describe hopes, dreams, ambitions, be able to briefly talk about plans and explain your point of view.

Vocabulary and knowledge of grammar are enough to write simple essays about yourself, describe incidents from life, write a letter to a friend. But in most cases, oral speech lags behind written speech, you confuse tenses, think about a phrase, pause to find a pretext (to or for?), but you can communicate more or less, especially if you are not shy or afraid of making mistakes.

It is much more difficult to understand your interlocutor, and if he is a native speaker, and even with fast speech and a bizarre accent, then it is almost impossible. However, simple, clear speech is understandable well, provided the words and expressions are familiar. You generally understand if the text is not very complex, and with some difficulty you understand the general meaning without subtitles.

Upper Intermediate level (B2)

At this level you can:

Understand the general meaning of complex text on concrete and abstract topics, including technical (specialized) topics in your profile.
Speak quickly enough so that communication with a native speaker occurs without long pauses.
Compose clear, detailed text on various topics, explain points of view, give arguments for and against various points of view on the topic.

Upper Intermediate is already a good, solid, confident command of the language. If you are talking on a well-known topic with a person whose pronunciation you understand well, then the conversation will go quickly, easily, naturally. An outside observer will say that you are fluent in English. However, you may be confused by words and expressions related to topics that you do not understand well, all sorts of jokes, sarcasm, hints, slang.

You are asked to answer 36 questions to test your listening, writing, speaking and grammar skills.

It is noteworthy that to test listening comprehension, they do not use phrases like “London is the capital” recorded by the announcer, but short excerpts from films (Puzzle English specializes in learning English from films and TV series). In English-language films, the speech of the characters is close to the way people speak in real life, so the test may seem harsh.

Chandler from Friends doesn't have the best pronunciation.

To check a letter, you need to translate several phrases from English into Russian and from Russian into English. The program provides several translation options for each phrase. To test your knowledge of grammar, a completely ordinary test is used, where you need to choose one option from several proposed ones.

But you're probably wondering how the program can test a skill colloquial speech? Of course, an online English proficiency test will not test your speech like a human, but the test developers came up with original solution. In the task you need to listen to a phrase from the film and choose a line suitable for continuing the dialogue.

Talking is not enough, you also need to understand your interlocutor!

The ability to speak English consists of two skills: listening to the speech of your interlocutor and expressing your thoughts. This task, although in a simplified form, tests how you cope with both tasks.

At the end of the test, you will be shown a complete list of questions with the correct answers, and you will find out where you made mistakes. And of course, you will see a chart with an assessment of your level on a scale from Beginner to Upper Intermediate.

2. Test to determine the level of English with a teacher

To get a professional, “live” (and not automated, as in tests) assessment of the level of the English language, you need English teacher, which will test you with tasks and an interview in English.

This consultation can be done free of charge. Firstly, there may be a language school in your city that offers free language testing and even a trial lesson. This is now a common practice.

In short, I signed up for a trial lesson-test, got in touch on Skype at the appointed time, and teacher Alexandra and I had a lesson during which she “tortured” me in every possible way with various tasks. All communication was in English.

My trial lesson on SkyEng. We check your knowledge of grammar.

At the end of the lesson, the teacher explained to me in detail in which direction I should develop my English, what problems I have, and a little later she sent me a letter with detailed description level of language skills (with ratings on a 5-point scale) and methodological recommendations.

This method took some time: three days passed from submitting the application to the lesson, and the lesson itself lasted about 40 minutes. But this is much more interesting than any online test.

Today we will continue to talk about levels in English. Level A1-A2 or Elementary is the second level of knowledge of the English language in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a system for determining different language levels. In everyday speech, this level can be called basic. The term "Elementary" is the official level description in the CEFR. A student who has mastered a basic level of English can meet his or her basic communication needs. So, let's talk about everything in order.

English level table

LEVEL	Description	CEFR level
Beginner	You don't speak English	;)
Elementary	You can say and understand some words and phrases in English	A1
Pre-Intermediate	You can communicate in “plain” English and understand the other person in a familiar situation, but have difficulty	A2
Intermediate	You can speak quite well and understand speech by ear. Express yourself using simple sentences, but have difficulty with more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary	B1
Upper-Intermediate	You speak and understand well English speech by ear, but you can still make mistakes	B2
Advanced	You speak English fluently and have full listening comprehension	C1
Proficiency	You speak English at the level of a native speaker	C2

What is the difference between the Beginner level and the Elementary level?

Both levels are considered elementary. Both are designated by the same letter in the European classification (CEFR): Beginner - A1, Elementary - A2. But what's the difference? The Beginner level is intended for those who have not studied English, i.e. I haven’t worked at all, never. At the same time, perhaps the “beginner” knows a couple of words (for example, hello, yes, no, my name is, but that’s all). The Elementary level is for those who already have some basic knowledge, even if it’s from school 20 years ago. Even if a person speaks practically no English at all, he already has an idea of the language system.

have studied English a little or briefly before and have acquired basic knowledge;
speak almost no English, although you know basic grammar and about 300-500 words;
you have a vague idea of English grammar and would like to understand all tenses and constructions;
you have basic knowledge, but do not understand English by ear at all;
have completed the Beginner level of training in English courses or with a personal teacher.

There is also an Upper-Elementary level - the highest elementary level. Do you have knowledge of simple grammatical structures English language. You can carry on a conversation on a familiar topic, but, unfortunately, the number of familiar topics is very limited. You understand simple sentences and speech structures, especially if they speak slowly and clarify what is said with gestures. If you have this level, then you can safely continue your studies with Pre-Intermediate.

The Elementary level program includes the following topics.

Topics to be studied in the Elementary level program

Grammar topics

Lexical topics

- The verb To be in three tenses.
- Present (Simple, Continuous, Perfect).
- Future Simple + be going to.
- Past Simple (Regular / Irregular verbs).
- Imperative mood.
- Word order in questions.
- Demonstrative pronouns.
- Object Pronouns.
- Adjectives.
- Possessive Case (expression of ownership).
- Articles.
- The only thing plural nouns
- Countable and uncountable.
- Adverbs of frequency.
- Adverbs of manner of action.
- Prepositions.
- Modal verbs (can, can’t, should).
- K-construction like / hate / love + V-ing.
- The construction there is / are.
- Comparative and superlative adjective

- About myself and my family.
- Countries and nationalities.
- Personal preferences (likes/dislikes).
- Job.
- Daily routine.
- Holidays.
- Weather.
- Food and drinks.
- Sports and fitness.
- Cinema and music.
- Homes and furniture.
- City and attractions.
- Transport.
- In stores.
- Dates and numbers.
- Description of the person.

What does a language learning course at the Elementary level include?

In the Elementary course, as in other levels, you will work on 4 basic skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. You will become familiar with simple grammatical structures of the English language, complete vocabulary the most in the necessary words and phrases, you will develop correct pronunciation and correct intonation. At the end of the level you will be able to:

talk about the events of your life;
describe your past, giving details of the most important milestones;
discuss your vacation plans and tell friends and colleagues about it afterwards;
talk about nature and travel;
talk about your favorite films and choose some to watch with friends;
discuss the topic of clothing;
take part in conversations at work, talk about familiar topics in meetings;
evaluate the work of a colleague;
participate in simple business negotiations, greeting guests and attending general events:
Understand and communicate basic business propositions in your area of expertise.

Duration of study at the Elementary level

The length of time to study English at the Elementary level, like any other level, depends on the individual characteristics of the student and his knowledge base. The average duration of training on the course is from 4 to 6 months. Although this is one of the first levels of language proficiency, it covers quite a lot of material that will allow you to express yourself in the most common situations of daily communication. At this stage of training you receive basic knowledge, which is why it is important to lay a strong foundation that will allow you to subsequently achieve high levels English language proficiency.

To reach good results Don't limit yourself to just attending regular classes and doing homework. Try something new.

Don't forget to speak English, the more the better. If you have absolutely no one to talk to, start a conversation with your cat or dog, but believe me, in our time it is not so difficult to find an interlocutor who is eager to communicate in English. On the Internet, on forums dedicated to learning English, there are large number topics dedicated to finding people to talk to on Skype. You can try to teach a person their native language in exchange for knowledge of English. In addition, in social networks dedicated to learning English, there is the possibility of both audio and text communication in English.
Create a conversation club with friends or colleagues. This will give you the opportunity to meet more often and discuss pressing issues. Or come to our classes at the Conversation Club.
Watch movies, news and shows in English with English subtitles. Start with cartoons, where the vocabulary is usually easier and the visual accompaniment is very accurate, which will allow you to understand the meaning of what is happening as well as possible.
Start personal diary, where you can write down your thoughts in English. It is not necessary to immediately create entire stories or essays; at first, a few sentences will be quite enough. And remember, the more time you devote to English, the better the results will be.

Conclusion

So we got acquainted with another basic level of English. At this level, you begin to take the initiative in using language, begin to feel it and not just speak, but communicate. It is at this level that you can fall in love with English and turn your learning from a necessity into a favorite pastime. Learn English, don't give up and you will achieve your goal!

Have a great English and study with pleasure!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

We continue our conversation about levels of learning English. Last time we discussed the initial stage of mastering the English language, the beginner level. Today I would like to talk about the next stage of training - this is the level elementary. In the European system of degrees of proficiency foreign language The elementary level is designated in the same way as the beginner level, that is A1. However, these levels have significant differences. What material does the elementary level require?

The initial stage is the basics, a program for those who do not know English at all. The elementary level is a completely different matter. This level is the foundation on which your knowledge of the English language will rest. The knowledge acquired at this level is sufficient to communicate on everyday topics.

Knowing the language at a basic “level” will help you ask for directions, rent a hotel room, make purchases, walk around the city, and navigate the area and situation. That is why this stage is called the survival level.

How to recognize the elementary level?

Elementary level Suitable for those who have already acquired some knowledge of the English language, that is, have mastered the previous level, beginner level at school, or in additional courses. You already know how to read and write, are able to translate texts with a dictionary, compose simple sentences and phrases, can briefly talk about yourself, family, work, etc., then feel free to move on to the elementary level.

How to recognize that you are already able or ready to move to this level of learning English? Very simple! If you:

Have studied English before and gained at least basic knowledge;
You practically don’t speak English, but you have some idea of its grammar, know the most common grammatical rules and have a small vocabulary;
Your knowledge of English grammar is not that strong, but you want to understand all constructions and tenses;
You have basic knowledge of the English language, but you do not understand English by ear;
You have completed beginner level training at school, at home or in a language course.

If you answered yes to all of the above points, then you can safely move on to the elementary level.

What material does the elementary level require?

Let's figure out what material and what knowledge this stage of learning English offers us after completing it.

So, having mastered this level of knowledge, you have a clear understanding of the verb to be, you understand how and when it is used
In addition to the three simple tenses of verbs (present, past and future), you have the concept of continuous and perfect tenses
Do you understand the difference between the definite and indefinite article and their use in speech?
You have an understanding of irregular verbs and know the three forms of basic irregular verbs
You understand the degrees of comparison of adjectives, the plural of nouns, the possessive case, and some types of pronouns
As for your speech, you are able to communicate on various general topics, you can communicate abroad, namely: make purchases, rent a hotel room, etc. You can also talk about yourself, your family and ask your interlocutor about himself
You understand what native speakers are saying to you if the words are pronounced clearly and the vocabulary is familiar to you
You are able to read adapted texts at your level
You can write a test essay about yourself.

All these points are offered to us by the elementary level. From this we can conclude that this level really helps to “survive” in various situations when communication requires English.
Basic points of the elementary level

As for grammatical and conversational topics, their range here is much wider than at the elementary level. Grammar includes knowledge in such sections as: verb to be, basic tenses of verbs, including perfect and continuous, pronouns, adjectives, articles, prepositions, adverbs, modal verbs, There is / are construction, degrees of comparison of adjectives.

Conversational topics whose vocabulary is assumed at elementary level: a story about yourself and your family, preferences, hobbies, professions, daily routine, holidays, weather, food, home and its furnishings, city, shopping, description of a person, country.

What are the advantages of this level of training?

The most important thing this level works on is speech, speaking in English. After completing this stage of training, you will be able to speak fluently and will not be confused in a situation where communication in English is required. You can take part in the conversation and ask questions that interest you.

You perceive familiar words and expressions by ear, and your pronunciation at this level is correct and clear. Since the initial stage has already been completed, at this “level” you will learn something new in each lesson, and the pace of classes will be a little faster. As for writing, by the end of the level you will learn how to write letters and essays, comment on quotes and proverbs. Your vocabulary will expand to 1000, 1500 words.

The duration of study at elementary depends on the student’s abilities and lasts from 6 to 9 months. During this period, quite extensive material is studied, which provides a significant amount of knowledge in the English language. That is why it is important to lay a strong foundation, a reliable foundation, which will then allow you to improve your level, and therefore your knowledge!

Agree, this is no longer an entry level! We can conclude that with the elementary level you can safely join the feast, the world, and good people!

According to the pan-European scale of language competence CEFR (The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), it is customary to distinguish six levels: A1 - Beginner, Elementary, A2 - Pre-Intermediate, B1 - Intermediate, B2 - Upper-Intermediate, C1 - Advanced, C2 - Proficiency . The Elementary level of English includes the very minimum set of knowledge that you will need to survive in a foreign country. Without worrying, knowledge at the Elementary level will help you go to the store, check into a hotel, and even maintain a simple conversation. What kind of level this is and what features it has are revealed in detail below.

What is the Elementary level

The most necessary communication skills, basic phrases are at the Elementary English level. What does it mean? This is level A1 or, in other words, the basic level of English. The student will be able to solve only immediate problems; it is not for nothing that it is called the survival level. To make sure that a student’s knowledge is up to the level, it is enough to pass a standard test. Many tests are free and results can be found immediately online. Other options for determining the level are EF SET and TOEIC. According to the established criteria, to confirm the Elementary level, you need to score 31-40 points in EF SET, TOEIC Reading – 115-270, TOEIC Listening – 110-270.

A basic level of English gives you the basics you need. Do some shopping? - Easily. Give instructions to the taxi driver? - Please. As soon as the conversation becomes informal, the student may experience some problems. It is possible to maintain contact with the Elementary level, but if the student plans to make friends, this will be more difficult, because a set of standard, commonly used phrases is unlikely to help matters. A simple conversation on a familiar topic will be within the student’s strength, and in order to understand the interlocutor, he must speak in simple phrases and short sentences. Watching TV or reading a newspaper is also unlikely to be enjoyable - it will not be enough to understand the basic level.

Readiness to learn

Many people think that the Elementary level is the 3rd level of English, but in fact, it is the A1 level. Before you start learning English at the Elementary level, you need to complete the Beginner level. However, this is not necessary if the student still has some skills from school or university. In the Beginner course, you get to know the language for the first time - the alphabet, numbers, and constructing the simplest sentences. If the student has an understanding of the language system, he can begin to study English at a basic level.

Some signs indicating that a student will cope with tasks at the Elementary level:

he still has an elementary base after school or he studied the language at the Beginner (Starter) level;
the student's vocabulary is about 300-500 words;
has difficulty constructing sentences, however, can answer simple questions or at least understand them;
has difficulty understanding speech by ear, even if the tempo is slow;
familiar with the language system, at least superficially;
can say his name and make several sentences about his age, job; able to understand simple sentences and
answer questions that are asked when meeting (What is your name? How old are you?);
can count to 100;
knows what they are called english letters, can read, can spell a word.

On average, a course of study takes approximately 200 hours of study – this is about six months or 9 months. Ultimately, everything depends on the abilities and desires of the student - he can set the desired duration and frequency of classes. Someone can master this level in a much shorter period of time, this is determined by the individual abilities of the student. It must be remembered that “Practice makes perfect”, i.e. “Practice is the path to perfection.” Elementary is no exception. What level is this and what topics will be studied in the course, read below.

Topics for the Elementary program

Elementary is a level of English that covers a certain range of grammatical and lexical topics. Regardless of the textbook you choose, it will cover standard topics in one way or another. If a student has studied at the Beginner level, some topics may seem the same. The topic may be repeated, but the vocabulary and grammar will be more difficult. Each new level of learning is a deeper level of immersion in the language, not only repetition, but consolidation of acquired knowledge and its systematization.

The course of study includes the following grammatical topics:

the main English verb to be in the present, past and future tenses (Present Simple, Past Simple, Future Simple);
imperative constructions or imperative mood (Imperative mood);
present time in the aspects of Simple, Continuous and superficial acquaintance with Perfect;
three/two types of future tense: Future Simple, Present Continuous, to be going to;
simple past tense (Past Simple) and irregular verbs in three forms;
word order in various types sentences (Word order);
Demonstrative Pronouns
objective pronouns (Objective Pronouns);
adjectives and degrees of comparison (Degrees of Comparison);
case indicating ownership (Possessive Case);
plural nouns (Plural Nouns);
definite and indefinite articles (Definite/Indefinite Article);
countable and uncountable nouns(Countable/Uncountable);
adverbs of frequency
adverbs of manner;
prepositions of place, time (Prepositions of Place/Time);
modal verbs: can/can’t and should;
gerund (Gerund) after some verbs: like, love, hate;
location construction there is/there are.

Any Elementary textbook will contain explanations and assignments on these grammar topics. The order can be arbitrary and depend on the authors of the textbook or the curriculum chosen by the teacher.

Lexical topics, for the most part, are also standard:

about myself and my family (About myself and my family);
countries of the world, languages and nationalities;
personal preferences, what we like and don’t like – like/dislike (Personal Preferences);
professions, work and daily routine (Jobs and Daily Routine);
holidays and traditions (Holidays);
dates and numbers;
weather (The weather);
food and drinks, order at a restaurant (Food and drinks);
sports and healthy image life (Sports and fitness);
transport and fares (Transport);
the city and places in the city, how to navigate, ask for directions (Places in city);
music and films (Music and Films);
houses and furniture, describe the furnishings of the apartment (Houses and Furniture);
shop and shopping, ask about the cost of the item (In shops (clothes, coffee);
description of a person's character and appearance (Describing a person).

Having completed the training at the level, the student will be able to carry on a conversation on these topics. For successful communication, frequently used words and phrases must remain in memory.

Learning outcomes for level A2

The English elementary level, like other levels, involves the development of four basic skills - Listening (hearing speech perception), Reading (reading), Writing (writing), Speaking (oral speech). To understand that a student is ready to study the next level, you can test his acquired skills. What a student should be able to do at the Elementary level:

Listening

The student understands short sentences and phrases that are frequently used and common. The pace of speech should be slow or moderate. It is undesirable if the sentence contains ambiguity. The student can identify the main idea from audio recordings that are adapted for the Elementary level. Knowledge of the English language and its listening comprehension is possible within the framework of familiar topics related to the main areas of life. The student will understand simple stories about family, work, or descriptions of appearance.

Like listening, the student develops reading skills by reading short, simple texts. On the street in an English-speaking city, he can easily understand a sign or advertisement, and in a restaurant he will place an order after reading the menu. The student focuses on the words he knows and sees the information he needs. He is able to understand simple personal writing. At this level, adapted literature is best option. As a rule, the student easily reads fairy tales and short stories with simple vocabulary. The student often turns to the dictionary.

The student can easily fill out a questionnaire or registration form, and, if necessary, write a simple note or short personal letter. The results may not always be perfect, but experience comes with practice.

Speaking

Vocabulary

At the Elementary level, the vocabulary ranges from 1000 to 1300 words. Words and phrases occur frequently, so in simple situations the language barrier will be minimal.

When taking a level test, a student usually faces a grammar test. Grammar is the most common criterion for determining any level. English at the elementary level includes many topics, since at this stage the knowledge base is laid.

By trying to answer the questions, the student can test his knowledge.

Elementary level student:

Knows the peculiarities of using the verb to be. How to understand these sentences and are there any errors there? - He is a doctor. I am thirty-six.
Can use Present Simple, Future Simple and Past Simple, Present Continuous and a little Present Perfect. What is the difference between these offers? – Mike paints pictures. He painted three pictures last month. He is painting a picture right now.
Understands the difference between various forms of the future tense - Future Simple, Present Continuous and to be going to, for example: I’ll buy a computer. I’m going to buy a computer soon. I'm buying a computer tomorrow.
Knows irregular verbs in three forms. How to finish these chains? Give – … – given. Think – thought – ...
May ask questions, paying attention to the correct word order. How should these sentences be corrected? – Writing are you a note? Do you have a job?
Understands the difference between certain and indefinite articles. How to translate these sentences, paying attention to the articles? There was a house. The house was new, but ugly.
Understands the difference between Countable and Uncountable nouns. Which of the sentences is correct? - I have a lot of money. I don't have much money.
Knows how to use the possessive case. Which sentence is correct and why? My parents’ house is in Moscow. Mike's Smith's mother is a nice woman.
Knows degrees of comparison of adjectives. How to finish these chains? Big – … – the biggest, but comfortable – … – ….
Knows object pronouns and can easily translate the phrase “I like her.”
Knows the differences between types of demonstrative pronouns. What is the difference between: this house and that house? And these flowers and those flowers?
Understands what the phrase there is/there are means. Which sentence is correct and how to translate it? There is an orange in my bag. In the refrigerator there is an apple.
Knows the gerund and when to use it. Which is correct? – I love watching Netflix or I like watching cartoons.
Knows how to use adverbs of frequency/manner. Which of the sentences is correct? – I sometimes go to the theater. Mike always goes shopping to Walmart.
Knows modal verbs and knows how to use them. What is the difference between: I can do it. I should do it immediately.

Learning a language is a fascinating process, but it requires a lot of effort and time, even at the Elementary level. English level A2 allows the student to express himself on the simplest topics in standard situations.

So, what are the levels, what level of language proficiency do you personally need (depending on your goals), and how much time will you have to spend to achieve this level? For convenience, we will focus on English, as the most popular language, and in which there is the most developed system of various tests and international exams. Conventionally, we will evaluate the level of English language proficiency on a twelve-point scale. At many English language courses abroad, and at decent courses in our country, the formation of study groups occurs precisely in accordance with these levels.

0 - "zero level" of English

Full Beginner. Many people immediately begin to say: “yes, yes, this is just about me!” I learned something at school, but I don’t remember anything at all! Complete zero! No! If you learned something at school, then it no longer has anything to do with you. Zero level from those who have never learned English and do not even know the alphabet. Well, if, for example, you studied German or French at school, but never encountered English.

1 Elementary. Elementary English level

I have no experience using English. Separate simple words and the expressions are clear, something can be guessed with great difficulty. I have the vaguest idea about grammar. In general, this is a typical level for a graduate of a post-Soviet school, who twice a week pretended to study some “topics”, but in fact copied mathematics under his desk. In case of urgent need, some words still pop up in your head - “passport, taxi, how-to”, but a coherent conversation does not work out. To achieve this level from scratch, it is enough to take a decent English course abroad for 3-4 weeks, approximately 80-100 hours of study. By the way, about all the calculations (weeks, hours, etc.) - these are average figures for the bulk of students with normal abilities (which is approximately 80%), ten percent of linguistically gifted students will learn everything much faster, and ten percent will need more time and efforts to achieve the same result. There are no people who are generally incapable of learning languages - I declare this categorically. If you speak Russian, you can speak any other language, you just need to put in some effort and spend some time. So, I wrote it, and I felt sad myself: whatever one may say, a month or a month and a half at language courses abroad successfully replaces five years of language study in our regular high school... well, that’s, of course, if it’s a C grade. If you diligently complete your homework for five years, you can achieve much greater success and rise to a higher level.

2 – Upper-Elementary. Highest elementary level

Have knowledge of simple grammatical structures of the English language. It is possible to maintain a conversation on a familiar topic - but, unfortunately, the number of familiar topics is very limited. There is an understanding of simple sentences and speech structures - especially if they speak slowly and clarify what is said with gestures.

We can call this level a “living wage” for a tourist who is relatively independent of guides and translators. Add 80-100 training hours to the previous level. By the way, in most decent language courses in Russia, one level is approximately 80 hours, that is, if you study twice a week for 4 academic hours, then this is about 10 weeks, two to three months. Abroad, you can complete three weeks of intensive training.

3 – Pre-Intermediate. Lower intermediate level

You can carry on a conversation on a familiar topic. Knowledge of English grammar is quite good, although vocabulary is limited. You can pronounce fairly coherent sentences with virtually no errors if you covered this topic in class. This sometimes leads to a paradoxical situation if you have to communicate with foreigners - it seems to them that you speak English quite well, and they happily begin to explain something to you at a normal pace, excitedly waving their hands. But you, having laid out everything you knew, realize that you no longer understand a damn thing, and you feel out of place.

At this level, you can already try to pass some kind of language test, although there will be no practical benefit from this. This level approximately corresponds to the result of 3-4 when passing the IELTS exam, 39-56 points when passing the TOEFL iBT, you can try to pass the Cambridge PET exam (Preliminary English Test).

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