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The vast majority of language learners never escape the advanced beginner and lower intermediate levels in their target language (CEFR A2 and B1 levels). This plateau represents the first real hurdle to fluency and most students simply give up after floundering for a few months. Others continue studying but never make any real progress and seem eternally stuck at somewhere between a high B1 and a low B2, never really becoming conversationally fluent. My suggestion for breaking past this plateau is based on my studies for CILS, an Italian CEFR examination, and talking with other language learners. Like any good technique for breaking past a plateau, no matter if it's language learning or weight lifting, it requires a highly-focused, concerted effort on the hardest aspect of the skill you wish to improve. In the case of a foreign language that is almost always writing. If you think your writing skills are at a decent level but you're not yet conversationally fluent, I'm going to challenge you on the objective evaluation of your own abilities. Unless you've been working as a professional translator for years, it is highly unlikely that you write as well as you think you do.

Answer these questions honestly:

When you're writing a text in your target language do you use a dictionary or spell checking program?
Do you look up conjugations that you are not certain of?
Do you use the Internet or any other resource to help you with idiomatic expressions or to translate a difficult phrase?
If you answered yes to any of those, then you are not as good as you think you are. The program I've developed will wean you off of those crutches and help you develop a productive base of grammar and vocabulary that will get you to the next level. You'll be putting strategies like pre-study, task-based retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and generative learning to work for you.

This is a lot of work and is going to require a serious commitment to stick with it for at least two months if you're trying to break through to a high B2 level. I'd double that for making the jump from B2 to C1 (4 months) and double it again (8 months) if you want to go from C1 to a strong C2. You can also assume that this work is going to be mostly in addition to any study and conversation lessons you are already doing. It's not a replacement for your current studies, it's a supplement.

In this article I'll map out the process using B1 as a guide but if you look at the requirements for the written exams at the other levels, the modifications you need to make should be obvious. At the B1 level you will be expected to write a short but coherent text on a range of familiar topics within your field of interest or on fundamental topics such

Family and friends; which may include an informal letter to a family member regarding family matters or any of the topics

Travel and vacations; which may include aspects of Italian history and culture, visiting museums, methods of transportation, and other related topics

Hobbies and interests including sports, literature, music, and movies/theater including descriptions or instructions of how a game or sport is played or the description of an imaginary match you attended

Work and careers including how to write a CV, writing a formal letter inquiring about a job posting, a professional email to your boss, and other work-related writing tasks

The written portion of the exam may include multiple different tasks that could range from proof reading a text for common errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation to a free writing assignment of the sort mentioned above. We are going to focus on free writing.

For free writing it needs to be stressed that you will only have pencil and paper for the examination so you must practice writing texts in this way without the help of any digital devices. You must also ensure that you have stayed reasonably within the 100 to 120-word limit. Obviously, fewer than 120 words might mean automatic failure of the section but writing far more than 120 words can lead to losing a precious point or two as well.

To pass the written exam with full marks you must meet the following criteria.

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How to break through plateaus in language learning

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The vast majority of language learners never escape the advanced beginner and lower intermediate levels in their target language (CEFR A2 and B1 levels). This plateau represents the first real hurdle to fluency and most students simply give up after floundering for a few months. Others continue stud

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http://www.jeanettewinterson.com/

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The Four Tendencies quiz is designed to help you gain the self knowledge to build a happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative life.

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https://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/

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Miłe współpracy początki - Questionnaire

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Miłe współpracy początki - Questionnaire

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http://www.englishprofile.org/english-grammar-profile/grammar-spotlight

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https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/high-order-question-generator-starter-plenary-6414732

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https://www.mindmeister.com/993030713/death#

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An inquiry into how to live and what it means to lead a good life.

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An inquiry into how to live and what it means to lead a good life.

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https://www.brainpickings.org/

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http://www.words-to-use.com/

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Recommended reading + an online test
https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3706759/Gretchen-Rubin-s-Quiz-The-Four-Tendencies

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http://www.ryszardkaja.pl/seria-plakat-polska-2/