Pre-Intermediate – what is this level? in English? - you ask. – What exactly do you need to know and be able to do to fully master it?

Today we will try to understand this issue.

First of all, it should be clarified that this stage of training is not the longest or most difficult. capable of frightening much more: here, according to statistics, most students get stuck, or even “perish” completely.

The Pre-Intermediate level is important because this is where the condescension ends and preparation for the real, big and frightening world of the diverse and endless English language begins. For the last time, enjoy the indulgences: adapted texts, sleepy conversations and easy grammar; Prepare yourself mentally and physically for the end of your English childhood.

True, we still need to grow to this point. In the meantime, waiting for you...

Pre-Intermediate – what is this level of English? Description

Pre-Intermediate– This is still a basic (also known as “pre-threshold”) level of English. By the time students start learning it, they already know something:

They are able to even use the acquired knowledge a little:

• read an easy adapted text;
• listen to educational podcast , specially designed for the needs of beginners;
• try to speak (it’s hard to believe, but who knows).

But that's where the fun ends; Gray, harsh everyday life and hundreds of hours of hard, painstaking work begin. Do you still want to know what's coming to you?

Formally. According to definition pan-European system assessments of foreign language proficiency (Common European Framework of Reference, CEFR), level A2 (in common parlance - Pre-Intermediate) includes:

Ability to deal with simple, direct information (without linguistic complications in the form of phrasal verbs, idioms and other delights of English literature) and express yourself on familiar topics.

Translating from harsh European into Russian: you will finally gain the wonderful ability, by opening your mouth, to produce something other than a meaningful “Mmmm!” and “Ah-ah!”

Pre-Intermediate – what is this level? What you need to know and be able to do at this stage

Grammar

At the Pre-Intermediate level you need to understand the following topics:

• infinitive;
• imperative mood of the verb;
• Simple tenses and Continuous;
• present perfect time;
• questions;
• gerund;
• modal verbs;
• degrees of comparison of adjectives;
• passive voice;
• grammatical construction of the future tense – be going to;
• subordinate clauses time;
• difference between – a little, a few, little, few.

I will supplement the list with a link to the topics that need to be studied to pass the KET (Key English Test) - an English exam at level A2 (Pre-Intermediate) from the University of Cambridge - Grammar topics (A2).

Lexicon

In the process of studying grammar, reading and writing of appropriate complexity, you should develop a stock of words and phrases in the amount of - 1 .500 -2 .000 (check current lexicon A selection of sites from the article will help. The list includes various forms of words. For example:

2nd form of the verb, used to form the simple past tense ( Past Simple):

• regular verbs, are formed by adding the suffix – “- ed»;
• , have an individual spelling (for example: “see-saw-seen” - three forms of the verb “see”); they just need to be memorized.

Verb with -ing:

• participates in the formation of continuous tenses;
• forms a “gerund” – a verbal noun: teaching – teaching; speaking - speaking.

I will also add a link to a set of tasks that will allow you to feel the vastness or lack of vocabulary: they will allow you to understand Pre-Intermediate and understand what kind of level this is in terms of vocabulary - Vocabulary topics (A2).

Reading

Includes the ability:

• understand sentences and frequently used expressions in common topics related to basic information about yourself and your family, shopping trips and daily responsibilities;
• read a short text with a small amount of unfamiliar vocabulary.

Example of text of appropriate complexity:

“Remember, my friend, the gold was not taken – it was still there, on the floor. So what kind of thief is that? A very, very stupid one, a thief who murders two women and then he leaves, forgets to take the gold with him!”The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Listening

Includes listening comprehension of clear, medium-paced speech:

• in short dialogues with familiar vocabulary;
• in small entries with a minimal set of grammatical structures and unfamiliar words.

Test your listening skills with audio recordings about house hunting, weekend plans, shopping and discussing the weather (the most immortal and endless topic in the history of human civilization) - Listening practice (A2).

Letter

Here you must learn:

• write simple messages: a reminder on the refrigerator, a note to a family member or friend;
• using a dictionary, compose short texts (10-15 sentences), including a studied set of grammatical structures.

Self-testing in terms of active skills (writing and speaking) will be more difficult. Required:

Speech

For many, this is the most difficult aspect of any foreign language. But, fortunately for you, all that is required at the Pre-Intermediate stage is:

• communication and exchange of information on familiar topics, in fact basic level– monosyllabic sentences;
• explanation in simple terms of important issues concerning the environment and immediate needs.

True, in order to test your knowledge, you will have to (as in the case of “Letter”) either work hard to record your voice and find places to post the recording, or find a course/tutor.

Duration of mastering Pre-Intermediate

Depends on several factors:

Varies from 4 months (with a good base and a busy study schedule) up to of the year(when learning practically from scratch).

If you refer to the European rating system, then keep in mind the figure in 200 hours.

Of course, the period can be extended indefinitely: treats learning carelessly, does not make an effort, or constantly skips classes, citing being busy, headaches and bad mood. If you feel inclined to be lazy when it comes to English, then quit right away and don’t suffer. There will be no sense in doing such activities anyway, but you will waste your time and energy.

Why won't it make any sense? Yes because the basis successful study of any language – it’s not newfangled methods or a “cool” tutor, but consistency. Taking small steps and practicing every day is the key to success.

Development of skills at the Pre-Intermediate level

The few links given above clearly cannot be considered as full-fledged assistance in developing English language skills. Therefore, I decided to separately point out materials that will allow you to practice all the way to the Intermediate level.

Let's concentrate on the basic aspects (the most important ones in initial stages) – “Reading” and “Listening”.

Reading adapted literature

Here I will express my personal opinion. My little IMO is In My Opinion (in my opinion) about literature at the Beginner, Elementary and Pre-Intermediate stages.

Focus on Adapted Books!

The best site with adapted texts that I discovered a few years ago is English-e-books(this resource is described in detail). I used the literature from there, slowly climbing the “steps,” for more than six months.

Why adapted books and this site? There are several reasons for this:

• Reading: without stopping for long searches for texts that are suitable in complexity. Because the best thing a beginner can do to develop reading skills is to read. Read a lot!
• Clear distribution of difficulty will allow you to move in the right direction: you will not only know that this book is suitable, but also which one will be next.
• Of course, this site is not the only one with adapted books and, perhaps, not even the most extensive in the catalogue, but his collection is definitely enough for a person from the “Forgotten” level school curriculum“managed to get around to reading books in the original.(about myself) I’m not talking about children’s books with pictures and “horse” font, but about quite “serious” teenage literature: “The Pottery Games”, “The Hungry in Games”, “Twilight Hidden in the Darkness”.

On the way from Beginner to Intermediate, more than 75% can be works from this resource. The remaining 25% (for variety and respite) are easily collected along the “Path of the Network Wanderer”:

Classification of English proficiency levels

Depending on the degree of proficiency in certain language skills, several levels of language proficiency can be distinguished.

There are many classifications, but the disadvantage of any of them is the inability to draw a clear line between levels.

At the European Union level, it is adopted from A to C, where each group is divided into 2 more subgroups. However, in our country, another classification is more common, including from 3 to 8 stages in different sources.

On average, there are six of them:

1. Basic. At this level it is too early to talk about any language proficiency; we are only talking about the beginning of learning, getting to know the basics.
2. Elementary. At this stage, a person is already able to understand simple sentences and inscriptions in in public places. He should also be able to construct basic speech structures, for example, introduce himself, ask for directions, place an order in a cafe, etc.
3. Pre-Intemediate. This stage involves knowledge of the commonly used basics English grammar, and the ability to explain everyday topics when communicating with foreigners with good pronunciation. The average non-language school gives its students something like this.
4. . at this level means understanding the meaning when reading books and watching films, competent oral and written speech in the case of most non-highly specialized topics.
5. Upper-Intermediate. At this stage, a person is able to communicate fluently, albeit not without minor errors, orally and in writing, and masters the entire system of English grammar, although he may not understand the subtleties and nuances that are generally understandable only to native speakers. This level is sufficient for living, studying and working abroad.
6. Advanced. This stage means at the native level - an extensive vocabulary, knowledge of slang and everyday expressions, the ability to easily communicate on any topic using idiomatic and other established expressions. This level can only be achieved through continued use of language in communication.

Language level pre intermediate

Pre-Intermediate level skills

This level implies knowledge slightly below average, i.e. it corresponds to language proficiency at an everyday level.

Speaking and communication

• Speaking: skill with competent intonation, correct pronunciation and not talk too slowly on everyday topics.
• Speech understanding: the ability to understand calm and unhurried speech in situations of social and everyday interaction. We are talking not only about personal communication, but also, for example, about announcements on the streets, train stations, airports, etc., talking on the phone, using TV and radio, etc.

Reading and writing

• Reading Skills: the ability to correctly read and understand the essence of texts of a general orientation, both artistic and journalistic content.
• Writing skills: ability to describe a situation, person or event, compose the main types of electronic messages - request, apology, request.

Conditions for further study of English from the Pre-Intermediate level

Development of speech skills in the Pre-Intermediate course

Increasing and mastery of basic grammatical structures allows us to move from the simplest sentences to coherent and meaningful communication on the following basic topics:

• Family.
• Purchases.
• Transport.
• A story about yourself.

This is not the first online school I have attended, so I have something to compare with in practice. IEnglish classes are a godsend for me! Thanks to the school for introducing me to my teacher Julia! I managed to learn so many different subtleties and nuances of the English language used in live conversation. I thank the site administrators for their attentive attitude towards clients, efficiency and professionalism!

I recommend your school to all my colleagues as a very convenient, high-quality study of the English language. My husband will be studying at your school from September, he has already taken a trial lesson, and after his vacation he will take a Business English course. I would also like to note the work of the school administrators, with whom I communicate via Skype. Always prompt and answer any questions. Reminders about course extensions. And, most importantly, they collect feedback from clients, whatever it was.

I got into the school on the recommendation of a friend when I was looking for how and where I could learn English remotely. It turned out to be a big plus when getting to know the school free lesson via Skype, in which I was able to get acquainted with the format of the classes and the presentation of the material. I liked everything, and the final thing for me was a good discount for the first month of training. That's how I started. My teacher, Vadim, explains the material perfectly and clearly, and also explains conversational points that occur in live communication, which also made it possible to communicate more comfortably in English. At the moment I have been studying for 3 months. The results make me happy, I am gradually getting closer to my goal - the UpperIntermediate level

Now I am studying individually with Tatyana Sh. I like the teacher and her teaching style. Each lesson follows the attached lesson in personal account, homework is posted separately, all completed lessons are saved and can be viewed later. The site’s interface is also pleasing; everything is clear and easy to open. I like the training, I plan to continue studying at this school and improve my level of English, and then prepare for the IELTS exam.

I would like to say a few words about my teacher, Irina S. I really like her! I have no fear of the teacher and I calmly perceive and remember the information received in class. I'm sure that it won't be long before I can speak English fluently! Thank you, Irina, thank you, IENGLISH!

At your school I feel easy and at ease, although I have not studied English before. The material is presented in an interesting form and I learn to speak, listen, read, and write at the same time! My family and friends study here now. Good luck to you all in all your good deeds!

I have a wonderful teacher, Maria M. I want to thank her for her patience and interesting lessons. I enjoy studying, although the language is very difficult. I need English to move freely in other countries and not depend on tour operators. My husband and I's trips for Last year Thanks to my knowledge of English, they became much cheaper and much more interesting. I also gained a sense of confidence in any country, because English is spoken everywhere. So thank you to the school and to you, Maria, for my knowledge. I am very pleased.

At the Ienglish school, everything is structured very logically, and within a month you can feel the results. Special and biggest thanks to my teacher Anastasia. He explains the material very clearly and patiently; I feel very comfortable during the class.

This school was recommended by a friend who graduated from it and was very pleased. I enjoy attending classes, and most importantly, my teacher Anna explains things very clearly and clearly. Having completed the course, I can recommend it to those who still doubt it.

I would like to express my gratitude to Irina K. for individual lessons. The teacher selects interesting topics for discussion, knows how to motivate, is always attentive and friendly! She selected all the materials personally for me, took an interest in me and adjusted to me. The classes were lively and active. I also thank the staff of the English school for their good work!

It’s difficult for me to judge how things are going for other students with other teachers, since I’ve been studying with Maria for the entire period, namely, for half a year, but I see the teacher’s real interest and desire to teach me the language, and not just work out his time. And it's very nice!

I've been learning English at school since 2nd grade and nothing is good. But thanks to 12 lessons with teacher Elena Karyakina, I learned to communicate at a basic level. I really like my individual program. All rules are clear and understandable. It is very difficult for me to perceive English speech by ear, but now this is gradually going away. The teacher encourages communication, I began to overcome the language barrier, which I am very happy about :)

Many thanks to the administration of iEnglish school for their patient attitude and help in solving emerging difficulties. I am very pleased with my teacher, Victoria S., classes with her motivate me to learn English. IEnglish school is a great way to learn a foreign language without leaving home, especially for young mothers on maternity leave.

I appreciated the advantage that you don’t have to go anywhere, but just go online, from the first lesson! This mobility saves a huge amount of time! Plus, I no longer have missed classes to burn through! I study individually: all 60 minutes of live communication are exclusively mine, so I felt progress quickly. I am sincerely glad that I found such a high-quality resource for learning English.

Many thanks to all the school staff and personally to my teacher Natalya for her competence, incredible patience, and interesting lessons. I have been studying at school for more than 8 months and I don’t plan to stop there! Successfully completed the Pre-Intermediate course and passed the final test.

I want to say a huge thank you to the site!!! I've been working with you for 3 years now. I took the Elementary and Pre-intermediate courses, and am now studying the Intermediate course. I really like the collections of tasks, they are informative and varied. After a hard day at work, it’s nice to take a break from your problems and talk with the teacher, discussing the topic of the lesson. I am very grateful to my teachers - Anastasia and Yulia. They are true professionals and put their soul into every lesson!

The Skype training format saves a lot of time. The teachers on the site are very qualified, and the price is a little nicer than in other Skype schools that I have considered. The best way to learn a language is to speak more, listen more, regularly repeat all the material you have covered, and constantly learn new phrases. I am doing a special program. The training program is well thought out, there are a lot of materials: both videos and audio materials... We all really like the classes.

I didn’t think that I would ever have the desire to learn a foreign language. My profession does not require this. A trip to Cyprus made me face the truth - to modern man You must speak at least one foreign language! And, of course, best of all - English! And so, at the age of 55, I started learning English from scratch. I've been doing this for over a year now with great pleasure. Learning English has become not just a goal for me, but also a passion. I’m still only at the very beginning of an interesting path, but my enthusiasm continues. Many thanks to the English Language School for high level teaching!

I took an English language course at Ienglish school. I will say that this is a wonderful school. My teacher Yulia P. is an excellent teacher and a great professional. Thanks to you, my knowledge and proficiency in English, which was always so difficult for me at school, has significantly improved. Thank you very much to your school!

I started learning language in Online IEnglish School 3 years ago. Although my level was Pre-intermediate I managed to improve my English and moved up to next levels thanks to my teacher. Now I’m finishing the “Upper Intermediate”. I like how our lessons are conducted, particularly we read and discuss a lot, do interesting exercises, study grammar and listen to video in English with native speakers. Studying online is very convenient, you don’t need to go somewhere, and it helps to save the time. Join IEnglish!

I started going to school in February 2016. And the school chose a teacher for me, which I’m glad about, because mutual understanding and working spirit appeared from the very first lesson with teacher Maria M. You can feel it individual approach. If the teacher sees gaps in any topic, he will reinforce this with an exercise or clarify it by discussing incomprehensible or difficult points. I really like that we work with different materials, it doesn’t get boring and the lesson doesn’t seem routine. Thanks to the school and Maria for organizing an interesting and productive educational process.

I have been studying at the IEnglish school for just over two years. And I can definitely say that this time was not wasted. One of my main goals that I set before starting training was to improve my speaking skills. And I am sincerely glad that I was able to achieve significant progress in this, including thanks to the school’s teachers. I especially want to thank teachers Anastasia E. and Maria M. In you, I found not only professionals in their field, but also wonderful good people! Thank you very much for everything! Friends, it is very important to find your school and your teacher! Good luck to everyone in this difficult task of studying foreign languages!

IEnglish School is an excellent opportunity to learn a foreign language for both children and adults. All teachers are professionals. This school differs from competitors in many ways: high quality of education, interesting learning process. I really enjoy studying at IEnglish School. I am glad that Tatyana I was recommended to me. She is very patient, friendly, and ready to help her student in every possible way. Lessons with her are very pleasant. I recommend it to anyone who wants to have fun learning English!

I have been at the English school for more than 2 years. This is my first experience of learning via Skype. Previously, there was a tutor whom I went to in the evenings after work, which caused inconvenience. Saving time and money is the fundamental factor that made me find an alternative to homeschooling! Now I have a schedule that suits me completely, and I can also change the time or cancel classes depending on the circumstances. I cannot help but praise my permanent teacher Yulia Shch. She is a very tactful, talented, flexible, and most importantly, patient person. In my case, she was able to turn the concept of “study,” so hated by many from school, into the mainstream of friendly business communication in English, which helps maintain a conversational level, not forget the material covered, and learn new things without routine.

I am very glad that I chose yours language school. Convenient, interesting and effective learning system. All information is presented in simple and understandable language. I was especially pleased with the individual approach. The teacher notices weaknesses and pays more attention to topics that cause difficulties. The intuitive interface of the site allows you to easily navigate the studied material. The training program is structured very competently. At each lesson you will learn a lot of new things, and when training new topics you will always encounter tasks from the material that you have already covered. This approach does not allow you to forget previously acquired knowledge. Interesting homework assignments that you just want to do more and more. I would especially like to say thank you to teacher Elena S. for the high level of organization of the educational process and a very pleasant atmosphere in the classroom.

Those prone to self-criticism like to repeat that they don’t know anything (although in fact they can speak the language at a level closer to average and continue to regularly enroll in English courses), and those prone to vanity assure during an interview that they speak English perfectly (when in fact, again, they may be “average”).

For the most impatient, who check their level after each cup of coffee, the buttons are located at the top. This is done for your convenience: no tedious text searches, click on health and get your certificates - we don’t mind.

And for the most assiduous, who are not used to guessing from the coffee grounds, we offer you to plunge into multi-level English. With feeling, sense, and arrangement, we will talk about how Elementary differs from Intermediate and whether Advanced is as scary as it is portrayed to be.

Basically it will evaluate the fundamental basis - i.e. grammar. However, the degree of proficiency depends on it foreign speech. Because you can chat incessantly in English, but at the same time sprinkle in so many mistakes that the interlocutor will hardly be able to guess what the conversation is all about. Or you can compose sentences slowly in oral speech, weighing each word, without making gross mistakes - and thus create the impression of a person who speaks English well.

Level 0 - Full beginner(or Full...beginner)

Just don’t say now that this is you. If you know the name of the letter “i” or even remember something from school like “teacher”, “book” - feel free to move on. Level zero is only for those who studied another language at school. Or maybe I didn’t study any at all.

Level 1 - Elementary(Elementary)

Holmes would have rejoiced at such a name. And most of those who graduated from regular high school- Same. Because this level, unfortunately, is the most common among those who learned English through the cracks and happily received a “C” on the final exam.
What characterizes Elementary: you can read many words quite well (especially without any gh, th, ough), your vocabulary includes mother, father, I am from Russia and other popular phrases, and you can sometimes catch something from a song - something familiar.

Level 2 - Upper-Elementary(Higher Elementary)

A good student at a regular school who studies English can boast of this level. And quite often, for some reason, those who studied the language on their own decide to stop at Upper-Elementary. Why? Because the illusion of knowing English arises: the vocabulary is already decent enough to support some basic topics of conversation (in any case, in a hotel abroad it will already be possible to express oneself without indecent gestures), reading usually goes quite well, and even American films in the original they become more or less understandable (by 25 percent).
However, such conclusions are misleading. Especially if you look at other levels of English.
You can jump from regular Elementary to Upper in about 80 hours if you work hard.

Level 3 - Pre-Intermediate(Lower Intermediate Level)

If you took the English language level test and got this result, congratulations. Because this is a very decent command of English. It occurs among excellent students of a regular school, good students of a specialized school, and the majority of those who combine English language courses with trips abroad.
What characterizes this level: in pronunciation there are no “f” or “t” instead of [θ] and in general the speech of such a student does not have a strong Russian accent, written speech is quite literate and completely understandable, you can communicate even on unfamiliar topics using simple sentences. In general, among the levels of the English language, Pre-Intermediate is most often found among serious learners.

Level 4 - Intermediate(Average level)

A very worthy result. Practically unattainable for schoolchildren in a regular school and quite realistic for those who did not slack in English lessons in a specialized school. Among self-learners of English, not everyone reaches this level. They usually take the previous one, because you can achieve Intermediate in about six months of foreign courses with accommodation, a year good courses or a year of tutoring.
What characterizes this level of English: clear pronunciation, good vocabulary, the ability to communicate on various topics, the ability to compose complex written requests (even official documents), films in English with subtitles go with a bang.
With this level you can already take the international tests TOEFL and IELTS.

Level 5 - Upper-Intermediate(Upper middle level)

If you have passed the English language level test and received this result, then you can almost without cheating write in your resume for a position: “English - fluent.” College graduates in the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​usually reach this level.
What is characterized by: skillful manipulation of different styles in one’s speech (business, conversational, etc.), almost flawless pronunciation, the ability to act as a simultaneous interpreter in an informal setting, fluent reading, understanding of the most complex style - the language of newspapers and magazines in English, deft composition of even particularly complex sentence structures.

Level 6 - Advanced(Advanced)

This is probably the pinnacle that English language learners can achieve in a country where it is not an official language. Those who manage to speak at the Advanced level are usually perceived by their interlocutors as people who have lived in the USA or another English-speaking country for several years.
In fact, you can achieve Advanced even at the foreign language department in college, not to mention at universities. And this proves that 5 years, during which 1-2 hours a day will be spread out to study English, is enough. And if you choose intensive courses, the result will be achieved even earlier.
What characterizes the Advanced level of English: by right, this is fluency in English. Pronunciation with almost no accent, conducting formal and informal conversations, working as a simultaneous interpreter, full understanding of films/books/songs in the original, lack grammatical errors V writing and minimal presence of errors in spoken language, understanding of idioms and colloquial expressions. You can confidently plan a career abroad, as well as study at foreign universities.

Level 7 - Super-Advanced(Super advanced)

Are there any here? If so, then the computer most likely malfunctioned on the English language level test.) Because language proficiency at this level is the lot of aborigines living in a country where English is the official language.
What characterizes the Super-Advanced level? Imagine... yourself speaking Russian. You will understand any speech, even if it is a conversation between two emo teenagers discussing topics unknown to you. You will even understand slang. But with all this, you yourself also master the art of words, deftly using terms and putting them into beautiful sentences, without errors (including stylistic ones). And now - the same thing in English. So how?

Dia friend! Do you already feel itchy fingers? Are your seat belts fastened? And are you still here?
Press the button and go! Don't forget to insert the paper into the printer to print out the certificate and proudly display it to everyone interested.

especially for

Pre-intermediate (pre-threshold level) is a level of English proficiency at which you are able to understand the meaning of familiar expressions, can ask simple questions and know the basic rules of grammar. But it is still difficult for you to speak spontaneously, and your vocabulary is still very small for free speech. The rules of grammar are remembered, but it is not yet possible to apply them accurately in practice. You can check your level on our website by completing.
Let's look specifically at what knowledge and skills a person with a pre-intermediate level of English has.

Grammar at the pre-intermediate level

This is, of course, very summary completed grammar. These are the basics of what a student knows at the pre-intermediate level. In fact, there are many more topics related to prepositions, articles, adjectives, compound nouns, etc.

Pre-intermediate level vocabulary

Your vocabulary is approx. 2000 words and expressions. The lessons you have studied contain vocabulary on the following topics: the world aroud us, people, daily life, work, leisure and entertainment, communication and technology, social concerns, tourism …

You can roughly estimate the amount English words that you know using the site: www.testyourvocab.com

Speaking at the pre-intermediate level

You are able to talk in English about the weather, about your family, about school or class, about yourself, about what you like to do, a little about your profession, about your favorite animal, about the country, about celebrities and some other similar things. In addition, you are able to express your attitude to the subject of conversation, tell what you like and what you don’t like in connection with the topic raised. You can even carry on a telephone conversation with a native speaker, if, of course, he speaks slowly enough and separately.

Reading

Letter (Writing)

We can write a short pre-intermediate essay on any of the topics listed earlier in the paragraph on conversation. We can also write or send electronic message, and also congratulate someone on the holiday.

These were the main points characterizing the so-called pre-threshold level of knowledge of the English language.