English language levels according to the European Framework of Reference (CEFR)​

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Basic user

• A1 - Breakthrough

• A2 - Waystage 

 

Independent user 

• B1 - Threshold 

• B2 - Vantage 

 

Proficient user

• C1 - Effective Operational Proficiency

• C2 - Mastery  

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What will I be able to do in the real world by the end of each level? 

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A1 - Breakthrough 

Welcome to the first step of this fascinating and rewarding path to the learning of a new language. This course is designed to those who will be exposed to English for the first time. By the end of this course, you will be able to comprehend the basics of the language and you will gain confidence in making simple sentences.

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​Course Objectives

By the end of this level, you will be able to:

• understand and use everyday expressions that are familiar to you so that you can fulfil needs of a concrete type;

• introduce yourself and others and you will be provided with the tools to ask and answer questions about personal details, such as where you live, the people you know and the things you possess;

• interact in a simple way provided that the other person talks in a slow and clear way and is prepared to help.

 

​A2 – Waystage

If you’re about to begin an A2 level with us, that means you have already done some academic learning, or you have been exposed to the basics of the language and can produce simple sentences. At this stage, we will consolidate and deepen everything you already know so as to broaden the scope of your grammar and vocabulary knowledge.    

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​Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment);

• communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters;

• describe in simple terms aspects of your background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

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B1 - Threshold 

Ready to move a step forward? Having a B1 level means that you have achieved an overall English language proficiency and you have become a beginner Independent User of the language. So, in this course, we will make sure that you are equipped with the skills needed in order to express ideas, deal with problems and situations when unpredictable language crops up in your daily conversation.​

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Course Objectives

Our course attempts to accomplish its goals by developing your language skills. We will be guiding you during the learning process so you can:

• read and understand the main basic ideas of a variety of texts;

• participate effectively in a short conversation by using appropriate language and understand the main ideas in short oral communications;

• produce a range of text types by using coherent and cohesive paragraphs in an adequately developed response;  

• demonstrate control of a range of grammatical structures with minor inconsistencies.

 

B2 – Vantage 

At this stage, you can handle the main structures of the language with some confidence.  By the end of this course you will be able to demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of vocabulary and use appropriate communicative strategies in a variety of social situations.

In your lessons we will encourage you to try to improve both your fluency and your accuracy in English. It is also very important that you read a lot in English and study outside the class. 

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Course Objectives

By the end of this level, you will be able to:

• handle the main structures of the language with some confidence;

• demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of vocabulary and use appropriate communicative strategies in a variety of social situations;

• use a certain degree of independence in a variety of contexts;

• show flexibility to deal with the unexpected and rely less on fixed patterns of language or short utterances. 

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C1 - Effective Operational Proficiency 

This is the final countdown to master the language. Getting ready to become a Proficient User of the language means that you have a very good command of English as a whole: grammar structures, the use of vocabulary, register. So, the focus of the course will be that of reinforcing any aspect of the target language that must be reconsidered. We will also work on vocabulary as well as the different styles of Writing (narrative and argumentative essays).

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Course Objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning; 

• express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions;

• use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes;

• produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing a controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

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C2 - Mastery

Welcome to the last step to become a Proficient User of the language. This is the highest level on the Common European Framework of Reference. The aim of this course is that you become a highly competent speaker of the target language. We will help you in this process by giving you the effective tools so you can develop the English skills needed in order to succeed in any academic or professional environment.

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Course Objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• understand with ease virtually everything heard or read;

• summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation;

• express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

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How long will it take to complete an English level?

It takes approximately 200 hundred guided learning hours for a language student to complete an English level according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). However, there are a great number of factors that interfere for a learner to move from one level to the next one:​

• The student's age

• The student's native language

• The student's motivation 

• Exposure to the target language

• The student's language learning background

• The intensity of the student's study

• The amount of study outside of lesson times

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