How do you go from intermediate to advanced in a language?

What should you do after you pass your level B2 language exam?

First of all, congratulations! It takes a lot of effort to get this far in learning a language.

To go from intermediate to advanced level, you have to fine-tune grammar skills, learn more abstract rather than practical vocabulary, adjust input resources to match your level level, and possibly work on your pronunciation.

• Do not stop perfecting your grammar. There are always some things you can brush up on when it comes to grammar. Don’t assume there isn’t more to learn just because you passed that test. Always strive to improve. Advanced learners don’t necessarily learn grammar rules anymore. They only get corrected if they make a grammar mistake. It might be a good idea to look through grammar rules again. This helps with the few mistakes you might still make and makes you aware of the generally accepted bad grammar “habits” of native speakers.
• Do not stop learning new words. There are always new words to learn! ALWAYS! So don’t stop expanding your vocabulary even when you are further in your language studies. At this stage, you could learn words that you might not use frequently but are related to your hobbies and interest or makes you sound more eloquent. Which brings me to my next point:
• Aim to speak more eloquently. The way to sound more eloquent is to use proper grammar and avoid constant word repetition by using synonyms. The exercise you can use to improve this skill is to take an old essay or to write one and take a look at words you use often or repeat a lot. Look up synonyms you could replace the word with and write down the text again. You should also consider doing the same with words that are very commonly used in everyday speech: For example: happy. Depending on the situation and context you could also use: overjoyed, ecstatic, satisfied, fortunate, blessed, delighted, and so on. You can also use expressions such as “on top of the world”. See how many options there are? Of course, these frequently used words vary from language to language, but you get a general idea. If you have no clue where to start, just look up the 100 most important words in your target language on the internet to get started.
• Adjust sources and practice according to your level. A lot of people stick to resources they found when they first started the language. Watching vlogs or story times on YouTube, or listening to funny podcasts are great to get started, but when it comes to taking your language skills up a notch after an advanced exam it might not be enough. When you are above a certain level, to keep improving you need to adjust your practice resources. At this stage, you should start reading fine literature instead of gossip magazines, watching lectures on interesting subjects on YouTube instead of vlogs, and world news podcasts instead of comedy. There is nothing wrong with vlogs or comedy, but you should listen to and read more “academic language”  along with the “everyday speech” you would normally listen to. You should do the same with active practice. Instead of acting out a phone call to a friend, try debating about a topic.
• Work on your pronunciation using simple techniques: How can I improve my pronunciation?  As a beginner, your main focus was on being understandable and have a decent pronunciation. Now is the time to focus on perfecting and fine-tuning it.

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