What is B2? B2 English level what does it mean?

To more accurately track progress in the study of foreign languages, a certain system was invented. This article will talk about what is level B2 (the level of English is above average).

English proficiency levels

There is a pan-European scale with which to assess the level of proficiency in any foreign language. The English name is Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This is a specific system of standards that allows you to define linguistic competence. Conventionally, knowledge of the language is divided into 6 levels: from A1 to C2. Each of these steps also corresponds to certain indicators of other assessment systems. This table presents the ratio of the levels of language proficiency in various assessment systems.

When can I start learning English at the level of Upper-Intermediate?

The separation between the levels of knowledge of any foreign language is very arbitrary, but there are certain indicators by which to determine the current progress.

Proficiency in English B2 - C1 corresponds to almost fluent written and spoken language. A higher level requires an understanding of terminology in various highly specialized fields, the ability to speak on serious topics, conduct business negotiations and read classical literature in the original. It is difficult to establish clear distinctions between the levels of knowledge. But, before deciding to overcome the level of English proficiency B2, you need to make sure that you freely read literature of level B1, and also are fluent in the basic rules of grammar, you can more or less freely express yourself in the language you are studying, read the press and modern entertainment literature. And although unfamiliar words still occur, this does not affect the general understanding of the text, you catch the meaning and understand what is being discussed.

Using this system, the linguistic skills of a student studying a foreign language, including English, are evaluated. Level B2, which means "advanced level", is knowledge above average, but at this stage there may still be some shortcomings that require further study.

Knowledge of grammar rules

Of course, grammar occupies a critical place in the study of any foreign language. The following are the main key topics that are required at the level of Upper-Intermediate.

• Time. B2 is the level of English at which you are already fluent in all aspects of the English language and clearly understand in which case you need to use Simple, Continuous, Perfect or Perfect Continuous. In addition, you know the table of irregular verbs and put them into practice.
• Understand the use of passive voice (Active voice).
• Know how to convert direct speech to indirect.
• You know modal verbs and know how to use them, understanding the subtle differences between words such as may, might, can, ought, must, have to.
• You know non-personal forms of the verb: participle, infinitive and gerund.

Lexical stock

Given that good knowledge of grammar rules is already achieved at the B1 level, the level of English B2 involves the development of other skills: fluency, listening, reading literature and, of course, increasing the vocabulary. At this level, attention should be paid not only to individual words, but also to phraseologisms, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs and more complex constructions.

One of the most common mistakes in learning any foreign language is the desire to memorize separate lists of words, without subsequently applying them in their written and oral speech.

Any new words and phrases should be included in your speech. Those lexical units that are not used will soon be simply forgotten. When reading, write out unfamiliar words and try to write sentences, dialogs, stories or articles with them.

First of all, you should learn those foreign words, the equivalents of which you use in everyday life, telling about yourself, your interests, hobbies, work, goals, relatives and friends. Another common mistake is an attempt to memorize lists of words, most of which you may not have to use often.

One of the best ways is keeping a diary. From the point of view of replenishing vocabulary, this method is useful in that you learn to use the vocabulary that is directly related to your life. Every day, recording your own observations, events, goals and dreams, you use exactly those words that you use in your native speech.

Idioms and phraseologisms

B2 is the level of English, which assumes that you know not only simple words and constructions, but also understand and know how to use a number of idioms. These are speech turns characteristic only of this language and not having a literal translation. The meaning of these phraseological units is conveyed by equivalent phrases acceptable for the target language.

Knowing these stable expressions will help make speech more imaginative and colorful. The table shows only an insignificant part of all possible phraseological units. You can create your own list of turns that you will later include in the speech.

Phrasal verbs (Phrasal verbs)

In the English language there is such a thing as phrasal verbs. Most often this is a combination of a verb with a preposition or adverb, in connection with which the meaning of the original word changes. These are peculiar stable phrases that do not obey any rules, exist only as indivisible semantic units and carry meaning only in this form.

The following is an incomplete list of phrasal verbs:

• be about - be nearby;
• be after - to achieve something;
• be back - to return;
• break out - suddenly start, break out;
• bring up - educate;
• call for - call for someone;
• clear up - tidy up;
• come about - to happen;
• come across - to meet unexpectedly;
• look for

Phrasal verbs are very common in English. However, they are used primarily in everyday speech.

Expanding vocabulary with synonyms

Try to replace frequently used words with synonyms. This will help make speech more sophisticated, beautiful and sophisticated.

Reading

There is a special adapted literature intended for gradual progression from the initial level (A1) to high (C2).

These are mainly works of art by famous authors. The books are adapted in such a way that a certain set of grammatical constructions and a lexical stock correspond to a specific level of foreign language proficiency. The best way to understand what level you are currently at is to read two or three pages and count the number of unfamiliar words. If you have met no more than 20-25 new lexical units, then you can very well take up reading this book. To get the most out of the reading process, it is advisable to write out all the unfamiliar words and phrases, and then work through them additionally. That is, include them in your vocabulary when compiling stories, dialogues, keeping a diary and writing essays. Otherwise, vocabulary is quickly forgotten. You can proceed to the next stage when you feel that work at this level becomes boring, and almost no new lexical units are found.

However, B2 is a level of English that allows you to read not only lite books, but also entertaining literature by contemporary authors, newspapers, and magazines.

Listening perception

Like reading literature, there are many adapted audio books. If you are still experiencing some listening difficulties, you can start by taking benefits that are appropriate for a lower level. For example, if your grammar and vocabulary are approximately at the level of B1, but you find it difficult to understand English, you can take books of the A2 level in audio format. Over time, you will get used to foreign speech.

A few tips:

• Listen to the chapter of the book without first reading the text. Understand, determine that it was possible to understand how acceptable this rate of speech is for you, how many unfamiliar words.
• Record from memory what you learned.
• Listen again.
• Read the text, write out unfamiliar words and determine their meaning in the dictionary.
• Record again.

Such a study will help you get used to English speech in the shortest possible time and increase your level of knowledge.

Levels of knowledge of English B2 - C1 allow you to expand opportunities. For a change, you can include films and series in your training. It is advisable to find films with subtitles. However, over a long period of time using the method of learning a language by watching movies with subtitles is undesirable. Otherwise, you will get used to reading the text, rather than listening to the speech of the actors.

This is one of the best methods to help you learn English. B2 level is quite sufficient for watching entertainment shows and TV shows.

Writing development

In order to learn how to write freely in the target language, you need to devote time every day to this lesson. Only regular work will help you begin to speak more fluently in English. Choose the most suitable method for yourself. This can be writing stories, essays, keeping a diary or blog, communication on social networks. Try enriching your vocabulary daily, including new expressions and constructs. B2 is the level of English that corresponds to a level above the average, which means you must have the following skills:

• Can build not only simple, but also complex and complex sentences;
• use various designs;
• apply stable expressions, idioms, phrasal verbs;
• You can write an essay, story or article on topics familiar to you;
• pretty free correspondence with native English speakers, discussing everyday issues.

Oral speech

Upper-Intermediate or B2 - the level of English corresponds to almost fluency in oral speech, provided that you discuss simple everyday topics.

The best way to improve your speech skills is with a native English speaker. The levels of knowledge of the English language B2 - C1 already allow you to freely communicate on everyday topics with English speakers. The easiest way is to find friends on social networks or language exchange sites. However, if this is not possible, alternative methods can be applied:

• Briefly retell books you have read, watched TV shows, or movies
• try to describe everything you see: landscape outside the window, picture, various objects;
• make a list of questions, then try to give a detailed answer to each of them.

It is very difficult to establish clear distinctions between the levels of proficiency in a foreign language. However, this article will help to form a general idea and give approximate answers to questions about what English B2 is, what level it is and what knowledge you need to have at this stage of training.