I turned 40 on April 28, 2025. Many individuals that flip 40 could be overcome with nostalgia or crippled with remorse. Luckily, my forward-thinking mindset seems to be trumping this factor I typically have about wanting again. Certainly, I’ve determined to cease advertising and marketing myself as a flexible jack-of-all-trades (try the ghastly variety of programs I educate). I’ve just lately been specializing in turning into an English proficiency trainer with an emphasis on making ready college students for the C2 Proficiency examination.
My expertise instructing college students who had been proficient in English
Having taught English to a number of thousand college students since 2006, there are solely three college students who stand out in my reminiscence for his or her spoken proficiency within the language. All feminine, two of these college students had been Polish and one was Russian. I taught one of many women, Maja, in a language college in Płock, Poland, whereas I tutored the opposite two college students on-line.
To begin with, I agree with Elspeth Pollock in her submit Educating C2: dealing with the problem and mastering the magic! that “instructing C2 is means out of most of our consolation zones”. Frankly, Maja didn’t choose my mind in regards to the ins and outs of complicated grammatical constructions or the that means of some obscure lexical gadgets. Nevertheless, the opposite two women preferred to quiz me. There have been moments once I felt out of my depth as a result of a few of their questions had me stumped. Sadly, I wasn’t at all times the font of all data they hoped I’d be. I’ve at all times set excessive requirements for myself. Due to this fact, I’d be overcome by crushing self-doubt within the days after I needed to inform certainly one of these college students that I didn’t know the reply to a query or that I’d must double verify a hunch I’ll have had in a grammar reference e-book or on-line.
In recent times, that self-doubt has quite remodeled itself into self-belief. Not precisely unwavering self-belief, however a suitable type of self-assuredness and composure. All in all, I imagine I’m good sufficient and skilled sufficient to make it as an English Proficiency Instructor with a view to making ready college students for the C2 Proficiency examination.
Transferring away from the grammatical syllabus in favour of drawing college students’ consideration to collocations and lexical chunks
Wanting again on my time instructing these three women, and extra superior college students typically, I’ve positioned an growing emphasis because the years cross on the educational of collocations and lexical chunks. In contrast, I’ve moved additional away from the grammatical syllabus. Those that select to show based on a grammatical syllabus maintain the flawed perception that the mastery of the English grammatical system happens in an ideal linear order, starting with the verb ‘be’ after which shifting on to so-called simple tenses equivalent to the current steady and current easy. Anyway, permit me to outline the that means of a collocation and a lexical chunk with the assistance of Timmis (2015):
1. Collocation – a mixture of two lexical phrases usually discovered collectively or in shut proximity, e.g. make sense; dire straits.
If a pair of phrases is separated by an article, as in have a celebration, that is nonetheless a collocation within the eyes of Timmis (2015, p.24). Furthermore, I’m inclined to aspect with Timmis (ibid.) who believes that phrasal verbs equivalent to perform ought to be handled as one phrase. Due to this fact, perform an experiment counts as a collocation.
2. Lexical chunk – Timmis (2015, p.26) defines a lexical chunk as a “frequent significant sequence of phrases which will embrace each lexical and grammatical phrases”. To present an instance, ‘to a sure extent’ consists of an article and a preposition. These are operate phrases, i.e. phrases which have little lexical that means whose operate is to specific a grammatical and structural relationship with different phrases in a sentence.
Phrasal verbs, idioms and compounds, which English language specialists have historically recognised as multi-word items, might also fall below the class of lexical chunks (Schmitt, 2000, in Timmis, 2015, p. 26).
Because the examples under present, the time period ‘lexical chunk’ might cowl many different sequences of phrases which generally co-occur, equivalent to:
- final however not least
- rely upon
- play a job
- to a sure extent
- by the best way
General, a ‘chunk of language’ is “a sequence of phrases which native audio system really feel is the pure and most well-liked means of expressing a specific concept or function” (Lindstromberg and Boers, 2008, p.7).
Exploiting the numerous collocations and lexical chunks you come throughout
It’s a degree that I’ve pushed residence time and time once more on this weblog. Being always uncovered to lexical chunks and collocations, and consequently recording them someplace equivalent to in a pocket book, is barely step one within the means of reaching proficiency in spoken English.
Should you’re looking for to realize high marks within the talking a part of the C2 Proficiency examination or attain proficiency in spoken English typically, you might want to have a technique up your sleeve to each file and recall within the warmth of dialog all these great collocations and lexical chunks.
What’s personally helped me grasp two international languages – Serbian and Polish – is a technique I check with because the Phrase-Phrase Desk. I received’t go into an excessive amount of element in regards to the technique right here as you’ll be able to test it out within the hyperlink. Nevertheless, I’d similar to to show it for the needs of making ready your self for the C2 examination, specifically the talking half:
1. Let’s say you’ve come throughout the next phrasal verbs in an article:
- put up with (tolerate; proceed to just accept an disagreeable scenario)
- look as much as (admire; respect; idolise)
It’s no good merely writing these phrasal verbs down in a pocket book or creating flashcards by way of an app equivalent to Anki. It is advisable get to know multi-word items of their entirety.
I like to recommend my college students to create two columns on a Google Doc, the left-hand column for mom tongue translations (L1), and the right-hand column for all data in English:
2. After all, yow will discover instance sentences containing goal lexical chunks (on this case, phrasal verbs) in good on-line dictionaries, equivalent to Cambridge Dictionary, after which add them to your Phrase-Phrase Desk. Nevertheless, I believe that language acquisition goes a lot deeper than the recording of random sentences which have completely no relevance to the language learner’s life. Due to this fact, I advocate that these sentences are PERSONALISED. Because of this the sentences ought to describe your actual life experiences, present life scenario and real opinions and so forth. I’ll now add some sentences under the phrasal verbs which replicate my life experiences and present life scenario:
3. I’m a agency believer within the connection between the visualisation of the written phrase and the retrieval of chunks and even complete sentences when talking English. Due to this fact, don’t be afraid to italicise, capitalise, underline, color, daring, change the font of or enhance the font measurement of those lexical chunks to help the method of reminiscence retrieval when talking English:
4. As you add new lexical chunks, or certainly single vocabulary gadgets to your Phrase-Phrase Desk, you might want to immerse your self in spaced repetition to make sure the goal language gadgets and even complete sentences are ultimately dedicated to long-term reminiscence. I’m not one for Spaced Repetition Flashcard Apps as a result of I believe skilled language learners will ultimately get a sense for when the time is true to go over materials. It might be on daily basis to start with, then each two days, then each 5 days, then each seven days, and so forth.
What’s the foundation for personalising lexical chunks?
One ought to personalise lexical chunks, equivalent to phrasal verbs, not just for the acquisition and potential spoken manufacturing of the stated multi-word items, however the entire surrounding grammatical data as nicely. Any respectable English proficiency trainer would verify their college students’ personalised sentences.
Let’s say that you’ve got added the chunk ‘get used to’ to your Phrase-Phrase Desk. It’s one factor having the ability to recall this multi-word unit. Nevertheless, the essence of fluency is recalling the grammatical patterns surrounding the goal chunk as nicely. Within the case of ‘get used to’, an -ing gerund ought to instantly observe in terms of actions equivalent to:
I merely can’t get used to working night time shifts
Connecting the significance of studying collocations and multi-word items to the C2 Proficiency examination
If we’re to just accept the view that having the ability to verbally string collectively lexical chunks one after the opposite is the essence of fluency, there’s an abundance of data within the C2 Proficiency Handbook for Academics for exams from 2023 which hints on the significance of turning into acquainted with such multi-word items.
Use of English duties within the Studying and Use of English Paper
I’ve completed numerous C2 Proficiency Use of English duties to search out out what my future C2 Proficiency college students shall be letting themselves in for. Frankly, anybody critical about turning into an English proficiency trainer ought to do these duties to remind themselves that they don’t seem to be infallible. Even essentially the most skilled and extremely certified English language trainer will make the odd mistake, significantly in terms of reworking (paraphrasing) sentences partially 4 of the Studying and Use of English paper. Each mistake a trainer makes could flip into a useful piece of recommendation for future C2 Proficiency examination candidates. Anyway, do try this intensive information to acing the Use of English part of the Studying and Use of English paper.
As you’ll be able to see within the data desk above, the principle focus of Half 1 of the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English paper is on vocabulary. Specifically, there’s an overriding emphasis on having the ability to recognise multi-word items (phrasal verbs, idioms and stuck phrases) in addition to collocations. Right here’s an instance A number of-Alternative Cloze job from a Pattern Take a look at compiled by Cambridge English Language Evaluation:
The options to the duty illuminate the prominence of collocations and lexical chunks, for instance:
2. engrossed in
3. unique nook (of the globe)
4. overwhelmed monitor
5. take off (into)
6. various planet
As for half 3 of the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English paper – the Phrase Formation job – we see additional proof of the necessity for candidates to learn voraciously and take note of collocations and chunks of language:
Collocations which floor on this job on account of reworking the phrases offered embrace:
- enhance alertness (17)
- enterprise executives (18)
- designated time (22)
General C2 Proficiency Talking Scales
Wanting on the talking scales for the C2 stage on the Frequent European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), it’s simple to deduce that having lots of lexical chunks swimming in your mind can solely assist in terms of satisfying the factors pertaining to Lexical Useful resource and Discourse Administration.
With regards to the world of Lexical Useful resource, you actually require lexical chunks to provide and change views on unfamiliar and summary subjects. As for Discourse Administration, you have to be capable of retrieve lexical chunks as a complete out of your reminiscence so as to produce prolonged stretches of language with flexibility and ease and little or no hesitation. With regard to discourse markers, that’s phrases and phrases which we use to attach and organise our concepts when talking, they exist within the type of lexical chunks. Examples of multi-word discourse markers embrace:
- as a matter of truth
- by the best way
- then again
- in any occasion
- initially
- ultimately
C2 Proficiency examination preparation – 4 months with an English Proficiency Instructor
Should you’re looking for to group up with an English proficiency trainer to organize for the C2 proficiency examination, I invite all candidates to enroll in common lessons (i.e. each 4 days) over a interval of roughly 4 months.
Frankly, there isn’t a want for these lessons to final 60 or 90 minutes. 25-Half-hour per assembly is sufficient to get by means of the fabric I have a tendency to make use of with extra superior college students. Due to this fact, I get my college students to prepay for 120 or 180 minutes. I hold a file of the exact period of time every class lasts for. I’m not one for instructing to mounted lesson occasions. If a category lasts for 29 minutes, I file 29 minutes. For my part, the supreme size of a personal on-line language lesson is between 25 and Half-hour. The regularity of conferences is way more essential than the size of periods.
I’m not an enormous believer within the advance planning of programs and curricula as a result of issues can change shortly relying on how shortly a pupil makes progress or will get to grips with difficult genuine supplies.
Earlier than starting to deal with the assorted elements of the C2 Proficiency Listening, Talking, Studying and Use of English and Writing papers in months three and 4, I’d commit months one and two to the real-world use of English present in genuine supplies. Examples of genuine supplies I take advantage of with my college students embrace TED Talks, on-line information articles (particularly from the BBC, The Guardian, The Impartial) and weblog posts. Analysing the chunks of language in these supplies, and discussing the details the authors increase, serves as helpful preparation for the studying, listening and talking elements of the C2 Proficiency examination earlier than we even start to try duties from genuine examination papers.
Anyway, right here’s a tough define of what a four-month C2 Proficiency examination preparation course would seem like with me:
Why am I nicely positioned that can assist you cross the C2 Proficiency Examination with flying colors?
Having taught English since 2006 and gained a grasp’s diploma in English Language Educating, I’ve all of the credentials to succeed as an English proficiency trainer and make it easier to cross the C2 Proficiency examination with flying colors. Listed here are the principle explanation why I’m able to convey out the very best in C2 Proficiency candidates:
- I’ve written intensive guides to acing the Studying and Use of English elements of the C2 Proficiency examination. I’ve additionally accomplished many genuine Studying and Use of English examination papers. General, I’m assured I may also help you within the areas of time administration and lexico-grammar – a key part of the Studying and Use of English paper. Lexico-grammar refers back to the interdependence of syntax (grammar – the association of phrases in a sentence) and lexis (i.e. vocabulary) so as to create that means. Lexico-grammar is the main focus of a number of duties within the Studying and Use of English paper.
- I’m absolutely conscious of what spoken fluency in English entails. Fluent speech revolves across the means to string collectively successive lexical chunks, using linked speech patterns and using the schwa sound in unstressed syllables and vowel sounds in operate phrases, equivalent to to, for, and an. Weakening operate phrases can drastically pace up your speech.
- I’ve an intensive vary of supplies for C2 Proficiency candidates, together with genuine examination papers and apply checks in official books ready by Cambridge English Language Evaluation printed by Cambridge College Press, C2 coursebooks and C2 grammar and vocabulary books.
- I’ve written a complete information to acing the three elements of the C2 Proficiency Talking take a look at. I’m conscious of the sort of grammatical constructions, discourse markers and lexical chunks candidates ought to study for this a part of the examination.
Ultimate Ideas
To start this abstract, permit me to cite Elspeth Pollock as soon as once more: “the concern of instructing Proficiency is a concern we should always face, as a result of instructing Proficiency is definitely an pleasurable, motivating problem”. Certainly, how can language instructing be a vocation if there’s no problem? What’s the aim of being perpetually caught in a consolation zone? Being an English proficiency with a view to making ready college students for the C2 Proficiency examination is actually no stroll within the park. Nevertheless, I’d prefer to imagine I’m smart sufficient and skilled sufficient to information C2 Proficiency examination candidates to success.
I’m conscious that I want to assist C2 proficiency candidates with turning into impartial language learners whereby they will have interaction in actions equivalent to voice recording to observe their progress. Furthermore, I do know that I always must drive residence the message that profitable learners must have a number of language studying methods at their disposal to file and repeat newly realized lexical chunks.
References:
Lindstromberg, S., and Boers, F. (2008). Educating Chunks of Language: From noticing to remembering, Helbling Languages
Timmis, I. (2015). Corpus Linguistics for ELT: Analysis and Observe, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
Contact me to enrol on my four-month C2 Proficiency examination preparation course