"As the world becomes increasingly globalized, the ability to communicate effectively in English is more important than ever. For many students, this means taking high-stakes English language exams, such as the B2 and C2 ESL exams. These exams are considered high-stakes because they can have a significant impact on students' futures. For example, a good...
No matter which language, listening has been demonstrated to be a crucial component of successful human communication (Rost, 2011; Rost & Candlin, 2014; Chang, 2018), hence a skill not to be neglected in the classroom. Listening is also closely linked to a set of necessary sub-skills for learners to become effective communicators: learners not only need...
A paradigm of excellence
It requires approximately 700 – 800 learning hours to reach C1 and 1,000-1,200 learning hours to reach C2 level. Since the discussion is on humanities, language, in particular, issues of quality that are hard to quantify are taken into account.
CEFR provisions [the grid: Assessment grid - English (coe.int)] that a proficient...
Practice tests can be an effective tool for exam preparation, and they are commonly used by students and educators to help assess and improve learning. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of practice tests for exam preparation, as well as some strategies for using them effectively.
One of the primary benefits of practice tests is that they can...
Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint
The term ‘fluency’ in the world of EFL refers to the measurement of the ability one has to speak smoothly and freely without the need to pause and think about the grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation one needs to communicate.
The concept of ‘fluency’ is often used in conjunction with ‘accuracy’. One could...
When someone listens to the word ‘exams’ instantly the mind shifts into long hours of studying, mock tests, demanding preparation, and pressure, both for teachers and students. It is true though that the accomplishment of a B2 level in every language, let alone English which is considered a universal one, gives students their first stepping-stone to a...
Exam Craze
For many decades, Greece had had the largest number of candidates sitting for C2 exams. Other countries with much larger populations were nowhere near the Greek candidature for this level.
Why?
Greece was one of the very few countries on the globe, where a C2 certification, along with a senior high school diploma, offered the holder a teaching...
“Hey Ms. Katherine! Now that I’ve passed my proficiency exam, I’m officially a teacher like you! I’m capable of doing your job, right? Besides, how difficult can it be?”
Woah there! Just hold your horses for a minute. Why in the world would you believe that as a holder of a C2 level certificate in English, you’re ready to teach the language to others...
This may seem like an unusual introduction to an ELT article, but bear with me- I have a point and I promise I will be making it soon. You see, my two sons are huge fans of LEGO. They spend hours on end building amazing structures, disassembling the ones they are not absolutely happy with, and starting over. This occupation of theirs has been a wonderful...
It takes at least 12 years in general for a native speaker to reach C1 level in his own language, so you can hardly expect that a teenage or adult foreigner can take any less than a decade to approach that level.
The CEFR framework is a quantitative indication of a qualitative set of complex social skills, each of which may be acquired, practiced...
