7 Ways to Take a Bite Out of the Intermediate Language Level

7 Ways to Take a Bite Out of the Intermediate Language Level 7 Ways to Take a Bite Out of the Intermediate Language Level The sweet center of language progress isnt always all its cracked up to be.Thats not to say theres anything wrong with the middle.Some might even say its the best part of a smore or a sandwich cookie.But if youre stuck at the center level of language proficiency, chances are youre eager to get out of that messy middle once and for all.Regardless of what language youre studying, as an intermediate learner, there are certain challenges youll face.Whether youre an intermediate Spanish learner  or an intermediate German learner, the road ahead probably looks quite similarand sometimes quite daunting.But this means that once youve wised up to what intermediate language proficiency is like, what setbacks youll face and what youll need to do to get out of it, you can wiggle your way out of the middle and on towards advanced study.But before we look at ways to do that, lets see how you can identify whether youre an intermediate learner in the first place. What Is Intermediate Level Languag e Proficiency?If youre unsure of what proficiency level youre at, the  ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines  can help you determine it.You can also get a good general idea of whether youre at an intermediate level by considering some basic questions.Can you speak and write on familiar topics? For instance, if you were asked to write a paragraph on your favorite hobby in your target language, could you do it? If not, you might not be at an intermediate level yet. On the other hand, if you can speak on the spot about much more complex topics, you may already be advanced.Can you put together previous learning to create new meaning?  If you rely on specific words and phrases youve memorized, youre probably still a beginning learner. However, if you can put together words to create new meaning, youve probably reached the intermediate level.Can you put together sentences? If so (and if applicable to the language youre learning), what verb tense do you use? Intermediate learners can put together b asic sentences but usually use present tense verbs.What Challenges Do Intermediate Language Learners Encounter?If youre at an intermediate level, youve probably already faced some of the challenges below. Dont feel discouraged, however, as identifying these problems now will help you start to work on fixing them!Insufficient vocabulary.  While intermediate language learners have a good amount of basic, generic vocabulary, they still lack more specialized terms, and this can make clear communication difficult.Inability to use language in native-level contexts. Intermediate language learners often struggle to apply book learning to real-life situations, so they struggle when they try to watch authentic media or interact with native speakers.Lingering grammar issues.  Whether a grammar rule was learned incorrectly or simply not learned thoroughly enough, grammar questions or misinterpretations often crop up and hinder intermediate learners overall fluency.Difficulty expressing complex ideas.  While intermediate learners can cover basic ideas, they struggle to express complex ideas. This is due in part to limited vocabulary and lingering grammar issues.Lack of confidence. Unlike beginners,  many intermediate learners are advanced enough to be acutely aware of their own limitations, and this hampers their confidence. Intermediate learners have acquired some valuable skills, but they also know that theres a lot they dont know. Sadly, this can slow down the learning process by making learners more hesitant to use the skills they do have!Now were going to look at how you can take the awesome intermediate skills youve already acquired and apply them to moving up to the advanced level.7 Ways to Take a Bite Out of the Intermediate Language Level1. Take lessons that target your specific weaknessesPursuing  intermediate language lessons  will address many of the main setbacks intermediate learners face.There are a wide variety of courses available online or in personâ€"the important thing is to make sure you find one that caters specifically to the intermediate level and specifically to your needs. Some may require you to complete an assessment first to ensure theyre an appropriate level for you. If a course doesnt require this, you might want to ask to see the lesson plan or syllabus to ensure the topics that will be covered are right for you.Otherwise, you might consider taking private lessons. Private lessons may be especially helpful at an intermediate level, as they allow you the flexibility to target material and topics youre struggling with. There may be tutors available in your area, or you can find one though online services.coLanguage is a great resource for finding a qualified, pre-screened private tutor to teach you online at the intermediate level. They use material and testing based on the CEFR levels, and youll get regular feedback pertaining to your progress. They currently offer lessons for 28 different languages.If youre interested in finding a tutor near you, Wyzant can help you locate the perfect qualified teacher close to home. You can browse all sorts of info on teacher profiles like hourly rates, how far theyre willing to drive to meet with you and even feedback left by students.Personalized, targeted lessons can help build your vocabulary and fix lingering grammar issues. In turn, they can help improve your confidence. After all, knowing more vocabulary and perfecting your grammar are huge confidence boosters.2. Use authentic mediaUsing authentic media is an ideal way to address an inability to understand language in native-level contexts. After all, you can work on understanding native speech without the intimidation factor of speaking to a native speaker.The problem with using authentic media at the intermediate level is that additional support is often needed. If youre already working with a language teacher, you may want to ask them to integrate more authentic material into your lessons.If you prefer an interactive online course to a live teacher, or if you just want a streamlined resource for real-life language practice,  FluentU is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. It provides a flexible course for intermediate learners and is based around authentic content.FluentU uses authentic, real-world videos like movie trailers, music videos, news and more. However, you wont be in over your head, since supportive learning materials are included. Each video is captioned and the captions are annotated, giving you easy access to a words definition, example sentences and an associated image. You can even click any word to see how its used in other videos.FluentU offers two different levels of learning for intermediates, but its also highly flexible and customizable. You select your videos and your pace, and FluentU keeps track of all the words you know for a 100% personalized learning experience.Use  FluentU online  or  download the FluentU app for iOS or Android devices.3. Spe ak oftenOne of the main reasons that intermediate students often lack confidence is that they simply dont have enough practice. The more you speak, the more confident youll get. Not only that, youll also find holes in your vocabulary (which youll then be able to fill) and become increasingly comfortable communicating complex ideas.To get your speaking time in, try speaking with friends who are also studying your target language. Better yet, interact with a native speaker you know, or find one through language exchange sites like Languing or HelloTalk.Interacting with a native speaker will also improve your ability to understand authentic language, so its a win on all counts.4. Teach others what you knowTeaching can help reinforce what youve learned, which will likely improve lingering grammar issues and help build your confidence. If you struggle with a particular conjugation or grammar rule, go over it, then try to explain it to someone else.To do this, it might help to find someon e whos a little behind you in learning the language. This way, you wont be in the position of having to explain something thats too advanced for you. You could even offer your services as a tutor for beginning students.LingQ is a language learning system and app that gives access to community forums where users can ask questions, giving you the opportunity to chime in with advice or insight on topics youre already familiar with. Since LingQ also focuses on learning with authentic content found on the web, its also another great resource for expanding your understanding of a language as its used by natives.5. Read a novelOnce youre an intermediate student, you know enough words and grammar that you can likely understand a novel, even if you struggle at times. Persevering through any struggles to complete your novel of choice will help you build your vocabulary and your confidence.You can find current books in almost any language on  Amazon. The Harry Potter series is a particularly g ood choice since its available in many languages and wont be too advanced for most intermediate students. Better still, you may already know the plot, so you dont have to worry too much about getting lost.Another good option is  Project Gutenberg, which offers free online books that are in the public domain in a variety of different languages. Childrens books are a good choice for intermediate students because they arent too complicated. You might also try reading classic works in your target language to increase your understanding of both language and culture.6. Jot down common and critical wordsWhether youre reading or listening to authentic media, youll probably encounter several words you dont already know. Thats okayâ€"it happens to most people even in their native language!Most words you can guess the meaning of or deduce based on context. Others, however, require a little more focus. There are some words that youll want to jot down, look up and study.Do you frequently encount er the same word that youve not yet learned? If so, thats a good cue to jot down the word and look it up. Does the meaning of one particular word seem critical to the overall meaning of a sentence? Thats another good word to jot down. If you focus on the most frequently used and/or critical words, youll be learning some particularly valuable vocabulary, and that will tend to be the vocabulary that helps you move forward the fastest.7. Think in your target languageWhenever you have a couple minutes to spare, try thinking about whatever you were already thinking about in your target language. When you realize you dont have the words you need to think about what you want, learn those words. Doing this will improve your confidence, your vocabulary and your ability to communicate complex ideas. Plus, it takes virtually no time out of your schedule.Its time to get out of the middle.With these tips and tricks, you can begin the climb towards advanced proficiency!