Advanced English: How to Take Your Skills to the Next Level

Have you been learning English for a while, but feel like you've stopped making progress? Maybe you know grammar really well but still find it difficult to express yourself, or hard to understand native speakers. Don't worry: learning English is a long process!

Like any skill, a language takes a long time to master. Many learners reach a point where progress slows down and it takes more effort to improve. This is known as a learning "plateau", the same word we use for a high, flat area of land. It is very normal and affects most of us at some point. It can be discouraging, but it's worth pushing through. Here is some advice for improving your English at an advanced level.

Focus on vocabulary in phrases

Grammar forms the basis of many English courses, but it will only take you so far. To widen your understanding, especially of spoken English, you need more vocabulary. A lot of native-speaker English comes in chunks and fixed phrases rather than individual words. Learning these can really help you reach a more advanced level. For self-study, try books such as English Vocabulary in Use or English Collocations in Use.

Practice, practice, practice!

Keep practising all your skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) as much as possible, and make sure you get regular correction. A teacher, or a conversation partner who doesn't mind correcting you, is the best way to do this. It will help your English become more automatic. If you're bored with your usual routine, try something new: English-language series or films, podcasts, a pen pal, or chatting with people around the world.

Immerse yourself!

Surrounding yourself with a language and using it all the time will help you reach the next level. That's why immersive courses like those at ILC International Language Centres help so much: you use English every step of the way, in the classroom, with your hosts and out and about in the local area. If you can't visit an English-speaking country, use English as much as possible: set your phone and computer to English, read English books and use English on social media.

At some point, you need to stop relying on your other languages to understand English. In an English course taught only in English, you have to explain yourself in English. It's tough, but effective: it makes you think in English and stops you translating all the time.

Focus on one variety

English is not one single language. There are many varieties around the world, even within one country, each with its own vocabulary and pronunciation. If you want to understand people from a particular place, focus on what makes their English special. A local teacher or local friends are invaluable.

The main advice is: don't give up. Improving at an advanced level is hard, but you can do it. Explore ILC's English courses in the UK and online English lessons to find the right next step for you.