What is B2? Level of English B2 what does it mean?

For a more accurate tracking of progress in the study of foreign languages, a certain system is invented. In this article, we will talk about what constitutes a step B2 (the level of English is above the average).

Levels of English

There is a pan-European scale, by which the level of knowledge of a foreign language is assessed. The English name is the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This is a certain system of standards, allowing to determine the language competence. Conditionally knowledge of the language is divided into 6 levels: from A1 to C2. Each of these stages also corresponds to certain indicators of other evaluation systems. This table shows the relationship between the levels of language knowledge in various assessment systems.

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

The division between the levels of knowledge of any foreign language is very arbitrary, but there are certain indicators by which current progress can be determined.

Levels of knowledge of English B2 - C1 correspond to almost free possession of written and oral speech. A higher level implies an understanding of terminology in various highly specialized fields, the ability to speak 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 you decide to overcome the level of English B2, you need to make sure that you are free to read the literature of the B1 level, as well as freely navigate the basic rules of grammar, you can more or less freely express yourself in the language you are learning, read the press and modern entertainment Literature. And although there are still unfamiliar words, the general understanding of the text is not affected, you catch the meaning and understand what is at stake.

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

Knowledge of grammatical rules

Of course, grammar takes the most important place in the study of any foreign language. Here are the main key topics, knowledge of which is necessary at the level of Upper-Intermediate.

• Time. B2 is the level of English where you are fluent in all aspects of the English language and clearly understand when to use Simple, Continuous, Perfect, or Perfect Continuous. In addition, you know the table of irregular verbs and apply it in practice.
• Understand the use of passive voice (Active voice).
• You can transform direct speech into indirect speech.
• You know modal verbs and know how to use them, understanding the subtle differences between words like may, might, can, ought, must, have to.
• You speak non-personal forms of the verb: participle, infinitive and gerund.

Lexical stock

Given that a good knowledge of grammatical rules is achieved already at the level of B1, 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 phraseological units, 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 your written and spoken language.

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

First of all you should learn those foreign words, the equivalents of which you apply in everyday life, telling about yourself, your interests, hobbies, work, goals, close ones and friends. Another common mistake is trying to memorize lists of words, most of which, perhaps, you do not have to use often.

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

Idioms and Phraseologisms

B2 - 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. This speech is speech, peculiar only to a given language and not having a literal translation. The meaning of these phraseological units is conveyed by equivalent phrases acceptable to the target language.

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

Phrasal verbs

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

Here is an incomplete list of phrasal verbs:

• Be about - be nearby;
• Be after - to achieve something;
• Be back - return;
• Break out - start suddenly, break out;
• Bring up - educate;
• Call for - to go after someone;
• Clear up - put in order;
• Come about - happen;
• Come across - meeting unexpectedly;
• Look for.

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

Vocabulary expansion using synonyms

Frequently used words try to replace with synonyms. This will help make the speech more refined, beautiful and refined.

Reading

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

This is mainly artistic works of famous authors. Books are adapted in such a way that a particular level of knowledge of a foreign language corresponds to a certain set of grammatical constructions and lexical stock. The best way to understand at what level you are now is to read two or three pages and count the number of unfamiliar words. If you meet no more than 20-25 new lexical units, then you can do it for reading this book. To get the most out of the reading process, it is advisable to write down all unfamiliar words and phrases, and then work through them further. That is, include them in your vocabulary when writing stories, dialogues, keeping a diary and writing essays. Otherwise, vocabulary is quickly forgotten. You can move to the next step when you feel that work at this level is becoming boring, and there are practically no new lexical units.

However, level B2 is the level of English, which allows you to read not only light books, but also entertaining literature of contemporary authors, newspapers, and magazines.

Perception by ear

Like the literature for reading, there are a lot of adapted audiobooks. If you are still experiencing some difficulty in listening, you can first take benefits corresponding to a lower level. For example, if the grammar and vocabulary you have about B1, but you do not understand English, listen to A2-level books in the audio format. Over time, you will get used to foreign speech.

A few tips:

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

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

Levels of knowledge of English B2 - C1 allow you to expand the possibilities. For a change, you can include movies and TV shows in your training. It is advisable to find films with subtitles. However, for a long period of time to use the method of studying the language by watching movies with subtitles is undesirable. Otherwise, you will get used to reading the text, and not hearing the speech of the actors.

This is one of the best methods that will help you learn English. The level of B2 is quite enough to watch entertaining shows and serials.

Development of written language

In order to learn how to write freely in the language you are learning, you need to give time to this lesson every day. Only regular work will help you to begin to speak more freely in English. Choose the most suitable method for yourself. It can be writing stories, writing works, keeping a diary or a blog, communicating in social networks. Try to enrich your vocabulary daily, including new expressions and constructs. B2 - the level of English, which corresponds to a step above the average, which means that you must have the following skills:

• Know how to build not only simple, but also complex and compound proposals;
• Use different designs;
• Apply stable expressions, idioms, phrasal verbs;
• You can write an essay, story or article on a subject you know;
• Rather freely correspond with native speakers of English, discussing everyday issues.

Oral speech

Upper-Intermediate or B2 - the level of English corresponds to an almost free possession of oral speech provided that you discuss simple everyday topics.

The best way to improve speech skills is to communicate with a native English speaker. Levels of English B2-C1 knowledge already allow you to communicate freely on everyday topics with English-speaking. The easiest way is to find friends on social networks or on language exchange websites. However, if there is no such possibility, alternative methods can be used:

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

Clear distinctions between the levels of knowledge of a foreign language to establish very difficult. However, this will allow to form a general idea and give approximate answers to questions about what English B2 is, what level and what knowledge it is necessary to possess at this stage of training.