Moving past a mid-intermediate level of Spanish
Hola a todos:
This week, we’re taking a look at moving past a mid-intermediate level of Spanish.
Advancing out of a mid-intermediate level of Spanish and into a high-intermediate level is a pretty big deal, as B3 is a pretty advanced level! Be aware that it is not easy to move up to B3. A lot of people stay in B2 for a long time, most, forever. The reason why is mainly one: you have to incorporate Spanish into your daily life to move past a mid intermediate level of Spanish. Otherwise it’s going to be very hard to reach B3. Your mentality needs to change from that of Spanish student, to Spanish speaker.
Now, if you know that you want to be one of those students that doesn’t get stuck in B2 forever, here are a few tips to make that happen:
1 – Focus on improving your grammar and all the verb tenses.
How do you achieve this?
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Put yourself out there, and use more complex sentences. Just try, even if it’s wrong. Your teacher will help you. Don’t shy away from it.
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Read all kinds of books and magazines in Spanish. Watch all kinds of TV shows and movies in Spanish, all the while, being aware (not analyzing everything, just paying attention) of the grammatical structure of the sentences, the choice of vocabulary, etc.
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Don’t study the language, live in the language. Practice all the verb tenses by living in the language instead of studying them out of a book.
2 – Start speaking about more complex subjects, more often.
How do you achieve this?
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When at PBO, pick subjects that are more complicated. Talk about current issues, politics, controversial topics, the news, etc. It’s great to talk about your day to day, but if you’re pretty comfortable talking about that stuff, it’s time to dedicate more time to complex subjects.
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Read newspapers in Spanish and watch the news in Spanish. You can also watch documentaries and debates.
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Be curious about the world around you. If you don’t like the news, you can read science related articles, for example.
3 – Talk, talk, talk, and talk some more.
How do you achieve this?
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Talk to as many native speakers as you can. Try to have deeper and more meaningful conversations with them. It will not only help you with moving out of a mid-intermediate level of Spanish, but will also allow you connect with other human beings on a deeper level :)
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Participate actively in class. That doesn’t just mean talking. Ask questions to other students too. Just think of it as a conversation with your friends, not like a class.
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Meet Spanish speaking friends regularly, participate in PBO events. Don’t miss a chance to speak in Spanish.
In conclusion, you need to turn Spanish into a big part of your life, if moving out of a mid-intermediate level of Spanish is important to you. This is the point where you start to study less, and live in it more. Stop practicing with books all the time, and start using Spanish resources for learners. Start to use the media that native speakers would use.
Let us know what you think about this blog in the comment section of Facebook.
Have an amazing week!
Octavi
PS A note from Caro:
I feel that it’s important to say that for most language learners, moving past a mid-intermediate level is not necessary. Once you reach B2, you can pretty much talk to anyone, about anything. It may not be perfect, but you are able to communicate VERY well by level B2. So please remember that if level B2 suits your needs, you absolutely do not need to make advancing into a higher level a priority. Maintaining your Spanish might be just what you need!
