Cross-course outcomes (A1→A2 progression)
Fluency & accuracy: move from isolated words/phrases to short connected sentences; fewer basic errors in verb tenses and articles.
Range: wider everyday vocabulary and functional phrases to manage common tasks independently.
Autonomy: improved self-correction, dictionary skills, and simple planning/checking routines in writing and speaking.
Cultural/pragmatic awareness: polite forms, turn-taking, simple email/register differences.
Listening
Follow short talks/announcements on everyday topics (work, study, leisure).
Recognise key points, opinions, and specific information in radio/podcasts at moderate speed.
Speaking
Keep going in routine conversations; ask for clarification and reformulate.
Describe past events, compare options, make suggestions, agree/disagree politely.
Give short prepared presentations (2–3 mins) with basic signposting.
Reading
Get the gist and detail from articles, blogs, reviews; understand argumentative structure at a basic level.
Infer meaning of unknown words from context; follow instructions/procedures.
Writing
Write connected paragraphs (120–160 words): narratives, descriptions, simple opinions, emails (requests/complaints/apologies).
Use basic cohesion (first/then/after that/because/however).
Vocabulary
Wider range for daily life: travel problems, customer service, work/study, relationships, media, environment basics, health, technology habits; common phrasal verbs (turn on, look after).
Grammar
Present Simple/Continuous; Past Simple vs. Past Continuous; Present Perfect (ever/never/just/yet/already + life experience).
Future: going to / will / Present Continuous (plans/decisions/arrangements).
Quantifiers; comparatives/superlatives; modals for obligation/permission/requests (must, have to, can, could); first conditional; zero conditional basics; relative clauses (who/which/that); linkers (although/so/because/however).
Pronunciation
Thought groups and sentence stress for contrast; weak forms; -ed endings; common consonant clusters.
Functional language
Polite requests/complaints; giving directions/advice; negotiating simple arrangements; summarising key points; checking understanding.
Learning strategies
Recording collocations/chunks; using monolingual dictionaries; planning–drafting–checking cycle; note-taking from audio.
A2 → B1 Progression Focus
Move from sentence-level to short, connected discourse.
Add range in past & future narration (linkers, time phrases).
Build repair strategies (clarify, rephrase) and paragraph organisation
Listening
Follow fast, idiomatic speech (podcasts/debates) with minimal loss; track subtle stance shifts and irony.
Take efficient notes from lectures and synthesize.
Speaking
Lead and moderate discussions; build nuanced arguments; hedge, qualify, and counter-argue naturally.
Deliver 7–10 min talks with coherent signposting, rhetorical devices, and audience handling.
Reading
Critically evaluate complex texts (op-eds, research summaries, policy briefs); detect assumptions, rhetorical strategies, and bias.
Integrate ideas across multiple sources to form a position.
Writing
Produce sophisticated essays/reports/proposals (300+ words): clear macro-structure, precise stance/hedging, nominalisation for concision, effective paragraphing, and source synthesis (quoting/paraphrasing/referencing).
Adapt tone/register to context (academic, professional, persuasive).
Vocabulary
High-level lexical range: abstract concepts, discipline-adjacent terminology, metaphor/idiom, precise evaluative language (marginal, pivotal, negligible, robust).
Colligations and fixed/semi-fixed frames (It could be argued that…, By no means…, Not only… but also…).
Grammar
Near-native control of complex sentences: participle clauses, inversions (Never have I…), clefting for emphasis, ellipsis/substitution; advanced modality and aspect; article nuance; dense nominal style.
Pronunciation
Flexible prosody for persuasion and nuance; near-native rhythm in fast speech; clear chunking in complex ideas.
Functional language
High-stakes communication: negotiating outcomes, conceding strategically, reframing arguments, precise recommendations, and summarising for decision-makers.
Learning strategies
Deliberate practice for lexical precision; error typology tracking; synthesis writing routines; targeted fluency drills (3–2–1, shadowing).
B2 → C1 Progression Focus
Shift from “accurate and clear” to “precise, nuanced, and audience-aware.”
Increase lexical density and control of advanced discourse moves (hedging, contrast, concession, evaluation).
Strengthen source integration and critical stance (reading/listening → speaking/writing).
