On conditions of level-ups in English (06/03/2024)

Summary

The speaker discusses the stages of learning English, emphasizing that it's a continuous process with distinct stages rather than steps. They explain that starting from casual involvement (A1), one progresses to active involvement (A2-B2), and eventually to full-time involvement (C1-C2). The speaker suggests that with expert feedback and practice, learners can overcome the B2 plateau and reach a level where they can understand and enjoy movies in English. They also recommend The Simpsons as a suitable show for English learners due to its repetitive vocabulary. The importance of regular testing to gauge progress is highlighted, and the speaker encourages learners to invest more time and effort to advance their English skills.

Takeaways

• 📚 Learning English is a continuous process, not a series of discrete steps.
• 🎓 There are three distinct stages of learning English: casual involvement (A1), active involvement (A2-B2), and full-time involvement (C1-C2).
• 👵 Casual involvement is the beginner stage where one understands and uses basic isolated words.
• 📈 Active involvement is where practice, expert feedback, and growth occur, leading to intermediate proficiency levels.
• 🏆 The B2 plateau is a critical point where learners need to change their approach to continue improving.
• 🎬 To reach C1 level, where one can fully understand movies, requires more effort, determination, and practice.
• 🗣️ Expert feedback is crucial for identifying and correcting errors in pronunciation and grammar.
• 📉 Feelings of not improving are unreliable; third-party tests can provide an objective assessment of progress.
• 🚫 There are no situations where a person should not be taught English, as long as they are willing to learn.
• 📺 The Simpsons is recommended as an easier English movie option for learners to practice comprehension.
• 💪 Continuous effort and additional activities like book clubs or teaching others can help break through the B2 plateau.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean when they mention 'casual involvement' in learning English?

Casual involvement refers to the initial stage of learning English, where a person might know a few isolated words and can understand basic phrases, similar to how a young child or someone with no formal training might understand language.

What is the significance of the 'active involvement' stage in language learning?

Active involvement is the stage where a learner starts practicing the language more seriously, seeking expert feedback, and making noticeable progress. This is the phase where a learner moves from basic understanding to more complex language use.

What is the 'B2 Plateau' in language learning, and why is it important?

The B2 Plateau is a point where learners often find their progress slowing down. It's a critical stage where they need to change their approach and possibly invest more time and effort to continue improving.

How does the speaker suggest overcoming the B2 Plateau?

The speaker suggests that to overcome the B2 Plateau, learners need to change their approach, seek more expert feedback, and possibly engage in full-time involvement with the language, such as joining book clubs, speaking clubs, or even teaching others.

What is the difference between C1 and C2 levels in language proficiency?

C1 is the level where a learner can understand and watch movies in English, while C2 is the level where a learner's language skills are comparable to a native speaker's.

Why does the speaker recommend watching The Simpsons for English learners?

The speaker recommends The Simpsons because it uses a limited vocabulary with repeated words, making it easier for learners at a lower proficiency level to understand and follow the content.

What should a learner do if they feel they are not improving in their English learning?

The speaker advises learners to get tested independently, using low-cost tests like Duolingo, to objectively assess their progress and identify areas for improvement.

Is there a situation where a person should not be taught English, according to the speaker?

The speaker does not believe there is a situation where someone should not be taught English, implying that anyone can benefit from learning the language.

What is the role of expert feedback in the language learning process?

Expert feedback is crucial for providing learners with an objective assessment of their language skills, helping them identify mistakes and areas for improvement that they might not be able to recognize on their own.

How does the speaker describe the progression from A1 to B2 in language learning?

The speaker describes the progression as a continuous process with distinct stages, not just steps. It starts with casual involvement (A1), moves to active involvement (A2 to B2), and then reaches a plateau (B2) where a change in approach is needed to continue improving.

What is the importance of practice and input in language learning?

Practice and input are essential for language learning as they allow learners to apply their knowledge, receive feedback, and continue to grow in their understanding and use of the language.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Struggle of English Mastery

The speaker discusses the challenges of learning English, particularly the difficulty of expressing complex thoughts in English compared to Russian. They mention their struggle with a documentary film homework assignment and the feeling of not being able to confidently articulate their thoughts in English. The speaker introduces the concept of learning English in stages, not as a series of steps, and describes the first stage as 'casual involvement,' akin to their grandmother's basic English knowledge.

05:01

🚀 Progressing from Casual to Active Learning

The speaker explains the second stage of English learning, 'active involvement,' where learners start practicing and receiving expert feedback. They mention the progression from A2 to B1 and eventually to the B2 Plateau, emphasizing the importance of expert feedback and the slowing pace of improvement. The speaker also discusses the need for a change in approach to move beyond the B2 Plateau and reach C1, where one can fully understand movies in English.

10:04

🎬 Watching Movies in English: A C1 Milestone

The speaker addresses the original question about watching movies in English, suggesting that it's a milestone for reaching C1 level. They recommend The Simpsons as a suitable show for those below C1 level due to its repetitive vocabulary. The speaker also touches on the importance of self-assessment through testing and encourages learners to seek third-party evaluations of their progress, rather than relying solely on feelings of improvement.

Keywords

💡Casual Involvement

Casual Involvement refers to the initial stage of learning English, where a person has basic knowledge of isolated words and can understand simple phrases. In the video, the speaker uses the example of their grandmother who knows a few words like 'hello' and can say simple things, but does not have a deep understanding of the language. This stage is compared to the A1 level in language learning, where one can perform very basic communication tasks.

💡Active Involvement

Active Involvement is the second stage of language learning, where a learner starts practicing the language more seriously. This stage involves moving from basic to more complex language skills, typically corresponding to A2 and B1 levels. The speaker emphasizes the importance of practice, expert feedback, and growth during this phase.

💡B2 Plateau

The B2 Plateau is a stage in language learning where progress slows down, and learners often feel stuck. It's a point where they have a solid grasp of the language but are not yet fluent. The speaker suggests that to overcome this plateau, learners need to change their approach and possibly seek more immersive experiences.

💡C1 Level

C1 Level represents a high proficiency in English, where learners can understand complex content, such as movies, and express their thoughts fluently. It's a stage beyond the B2 Plateau and is characterized by the ability to use English in a way that is almost comparable to a native speaker.

💡C2 Level

C2 Level is the highest level of language proficiency, where a learner's English skills are comparable to those of a native speaker. This level indicates a mastery of the language, allowing for effortless and accurate use in most situations.

💡Expert Feedback

Expert Feedback refers to the guidance and correction provided by a knowledgeable teacher or language expert. This feedback is crucial for learners to identify and correct their mistakes, which they may not be able to do on their own, especially in areas like pronunciation and grammar.

💡Full-Time Involvement

Full-Time Involvement signifies a commitment to the language learning process beyond regular lessons and feedback. It involves dedicating a significant amount of time and effort to practice the language in various contexts, such as book clubs, speaking clubs, or teaching others.

💡The Simpsons

The Simpsons is a long-running animated television show known for its humor and cultural references. In the context of the video, it is recommended as a suitable English learning resource for learners at a lower proficiency level because of its repetitive vocabulary and familiar themes.

💡Language Proficiency Levels

Language Proficiency Levels are standardized measures used to describe a learner's ability to understand and use a language. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) defines these levels, ranging from A1 (beginner) to C2 (mastery). The video discusses the progression through these levels in the context of English language learning.

💡Language Learning Strategies

Language Learning Strategies refer to the methods and techniques used by learners to acquire and improve their language skills. The video discusses various strategies, such as practicing with feedback, seeking expert advice, and engaging in full-time involvement.

Highlights

The speaker discusses the challenges of learning English and the ability to watch movies or express thoughts in the language.

The speaker explains that learning English is not a step-by-step process but a continuous one.

Three distinct stages of English learning are identified: casual involvement, active involvement, and full-time involvement.

At the casual involvement stage (A1), learners understand basic phrases and isolated words.

Active involvement (A2 to B2) requires practice, expert feedback, and growth.

The B2 plateau is a stage where learners need to change their approach to continue improving.

To move from B2 to C1, learners need full-time involvement and more practice beyond lessons.

C1 is the level where learners can watch movies and understand them completely.

C2 is the level where learners are comparable to native speakers.

The speaker recommends The Simpsons as a movie suitable for learners at a lower level than C1.

Learners should get tested to objectively measure their progress and improvement.

The feeling of not improving is usually not reliable, and third-party tests are encouraged.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of expert feedback in the B1 to B2 stages.

The speaker suggests that there is no situation where a person should not be taught English.

The speaker shares personal experience of teaching English and how it helped them improve to a higher level.

The speaker encourages learners to seek out more ways to practice and get involved with the language.

The speaker emphasizes the need for more effort, determination, and self-study with expert feedback to reach C1 level.

The speaker concludes by inviting questions and offering further discussion on the topic.

Transcripts

so uh the question was I am what you've

been learning English for a long time

you don't feel like you can do things

that um uh you want to do like watch

movies

right uh yeah so what does it mean right

what does it mean for you is that a

question

C yes not only film for example our

homework I

um um I wrote the text about documentary

film uh but it was very hard especially

the second part uh what do you think

about it uh and for example I can

explain in Russian

in many words what I think about it

because it was very hard documentary

film uh it's a philosophical something

from this area uh and uh I understood

that in English I can't explain all my

thoughts for example and uh during two

days after uh my home task I um

still uh try to uh to write anything

else about

it but I'm not so confident yet in this

so yeah um here is how in general

learning in a domain works let me just

tag this and probably I will I will use

this for um an educational video later

on so uh how do we gain Mastery how do

we uh learn English to the point that

you understand

movies that you can quick

verbalize your

thoughts

right so this doesn't happen in steps

right it's nice to think of it as steps

right so this is the first level then

step then another level then step

another level and so on but it doesn't

work like this in English

obviously um English is is more

continuous just like any other

domain

and so there are three very

distinctive uh very distinct I would say

uh

stages three stages they are not steps

they are not A1

A2 they are more like uh this so here

comes the first stage I'll use red I

hope it will be fine this is when you

are a casual

casual so my

grandmother she doesn't speak English

but she knows how do you do she knows um

like she knows te right and other

isolated words so she can say some

things okay so she's a casual she hears

what word they say and she understands

has the meaning uh she is here that's my

grandmother that's you at the beginning

of grade one at school okay if you

didn't study

before casual involvement and um It's

relatively quick right it's not great

compared to like higher levels but it's

amazing if you compare this level with

this level right

this and this it's incredible right it's

a million times better than before so

this is casual

involvement we can genuinely say that

this is uh what we call

A1 A1 you can get this just by looking

at uh price tags in

shops just by listen listening to people

and you know you can do this just basic

very basic

stuff after this if you don't uh study

English if you don't practice it you

stay forever

here until the end of your life my

grandmother

is around 80 something she will not jump

okay she didn't study she didn't invest

her time and

energy so then if you do invest your

time and energy you proceed to the

second second um level of this game uh

let's call it active

involvement active involvement so this

is the year when you start your

practice

and it goes you can see it's like a

hyper bow you go higher you

get uh

practice you get expert feedback and you

grow okay so you you get to

A2 and then it gets to B1

right and then eventually you get to

this Plateau called

B2 right this is where where you are uh

we are now studying here so this is

where you mik and Nikita are so this is

our course

here uh what you do right uh to make it

successful you need to get input you

need to get practice but also

importantly uh you need to get expert

feedback all right expert feedback there

is uh the teacher or expert that's

me

who already knows the domain who already

knows the the stuff can tell you what

you are doing right and

wrong okay and be able to give you

scores in a way that you cannot do

yourself all right so you cannot

give uh yourself a score on let's say

pronunciation or you cannot find out

what your grammar mistakes were

immediately right you need somebody to

do that that's me so this is B1 to

B2 and as you can see it slows down

right so initially it's very fast it's

slower slower slower until you reach the

plateau this is the famous B2

Plateau this is where things need to

change again okay so so this is where

just a teacher just

um expert feedback is not enough and

what you want k um coming back to your

original

question is uh probably this level

C1 this is where you watch movies

okay um I'll type it type it here you

start watching movies but you completely

understand

movies um at the next level which is C2

C2 is where you are comparable to a

native

speaker but what happens like how do you

go from let's say B2 at the end of this

course to a C1 this is where you get

full-time involvement this is where you

really start spending a lot of time on

top of just

lessons with feedback you do give it a

lot of attention so uh let's say you are

doing book clubs and speaking clubs and

maybe you teach your nephew or niece or

somebody right or maybe so you do get

more and more practice with the

language and there are a lot of ways

that you can get this practice in Moscow

it's especially

easy uh but typic typically you add a

lot

more uh commitment a lot more time and

practice practice or maybe you even

start to teach it to friends explain it

to children so you actually get more and

more involved for example I was uh

around this level when I started

teaching and then as I taught people I

grew

higher to a higher

level from casual to the B levels you

add expert

feedback now coming back to

your to your original question you

probably will not be able to watch

movies until you are a C1 but

C1 it's the level after what we finished

this course with so it's pretty soon

however you would need to add more

effort more determination and obviously

a lot of work should be done yourself

with expert feedback before

then there are ways to make your task

easier for example what if there is a

movie that you can

watch um already at a lower level let's

say not at C1 but here

and it turns out yes there is a movie

like this um I highly recommend The

Simpsons statistically judging by the

number of words they

repeat like the the range in The

Simpsons this is something that is

easier than ordinary movies so my

recommendation K is try the

Simpson maybe it will make sense and it

will be just the right difficulty right

now um so yeah that's my explanation in

terms of uh English levels when you get

what and how to make sure that U at some

point you will watch

movies sure sure yeah please ask me

questions since we are talking about

this I think you might might have

questions I have no question just

all right so

um is there a situation in which a

person should not be taught English

right it's not a good idea for them um

probably there is I just don't think

this is the case with any of you

obviously because otherwise uh we would

not be having this class um I here I

need to Second what Nikita said uh if

you're feeling like you are not

improving get

tested get tested take various tests

usually um it can be low cost tests like

dual lingo and they will show you how

you are improving or not improving so

you need to have third party test to be

sure about this just the

feeling is usually not

reliable

so yeah I encourage everybody to get

tested independently this is very

cool right uh Niki do you have

questions no I don't

okay

okay so I'll

probably what I'm going to

do is uh stop the recording