Rating of top sites for English level A (Intermediate, Upper Intermediate) by Irina Vasilyeva

What are the A-Levels?

In the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) these are the initial levels. A0 - learning from scratch, A1 - the ability to formulate simple thoughts about yourself and the world around you and have predictable dialogues, A2 - adding the ability to talk about the past, make plans for the future and communicate in spontaneous, unpredictable situations.

What skills are key at A levels?

  • Constructive thinking: this is the skeleton on which a student will string new words, expressions, and grammatical constructions throughout the years. Without the ability to construct English sentences, and not "tracing" Russian, to reach the C level, the advanced and professional knowledge of the language, is impossible.
  • Ability to hear, analyze speech and pronounce your thoughts correctly. It is not enough to memorize words, train your perky speech and witty answers, you should be able to hear what question you were asked. That's why we develop hearing from A0 level. Sometimes a student says, "I have bad hearing, I can't hear. I always answer: "And what have you done to develop your hearing? English, pronunciation and listening is like a sport. The more you practice, the better and more enjoyable you get.
  • 1
    8.7/10
    • 8/10
      Качество контента - 8/10
    • 9/10
      Удобство - 9/10
    • 9/10
      Эффективность - 9/10
    A great opportunity to practice listening comprehension using current news stories. The resource provides material at three levels, approximately A1, A2, and B1. The video/audio is accompanied by text that highlights difficult-to-understand words and indicates their definitions.


    Преимущества


    • Different levels
    • New words highlighted
    • Combining reading and listening skills
    • Current, up-to-date news




    Недостатки


    • It's hard to search for something on a particular topic


    2
    8.5/10
    • 8.5/10
      Качество контента - 8.5/10
    • 8/10
      Удобство - 8/10
    • 9/10
      Эффективность - 9/10
    A useful resource for both teachers and students to use on their own. The site features an impressive alphabetical list of 60-second audio discussion notes on a variety of topics. The resource is unique because it allows you to practice listening comprehension skills in A-level students without sacrificing pronunciation quality or speech tempo.


    Преимущества


    • Easy to download materials
    • Variety of topics
    • Quality speech on audio




    Недостатки


    • One-size-fits-all exercises that do not always test comprehension


    3
    7.5/10
    • 7/10
      Качество контента - 7/10
    • 8/10
      Удобство - 8/10
    • 6/10
      Эффективность - 6/10
    • 9/10
      Цена/качество - 9/10
    A useful resource, primarily for teachers of English, it will also be a good addition for students studying with specialists. The theoretical material is well laid out and easy to methodically process and present. A large number of diagrams, formulas, and point exercises are available.


    Преимущества


    • Well-developed and presented theoretical material
    • Free access without excessive advertising




    Недостатки


    • All exercises of the same type (choosing one correct one out of 2-3 suggested ones or opening brackets)
    • Learning the rules, not the language
    • Explanations in English, no parallels to the student's native language
    • No levels indicated at which it is recommended that topics be mastered, no outline of teaching


    4
    7.0/10
    • 7/10
      Качество контента - 7/10
    • 8/10
      Удобство - 8/10
    • 5/10
      Эффективность - 5/10
    • 8/10
      Цена/качество - 8/10
    A great resource for students who already have a certain knowledge base about the structure of the language: memories (albeit not always pleasant) of previous learning, for example, at school or university. The simulator helps to arrange the basic concepts in the shelves and contributes to the formation of intuition in the construction of sentences in English. More suitable for independent work or to accompany the lecture classes with practice and consolidation.


    Преимущества


    • There is both presentation of skills and practicing them
    • Works on natural language material
    • Allows you to monitor the acquisition of skills
    • User-friendly interface




    Недостатки


    • For students with an experimental method of cognition - too theoretical and monotonous a resource
    • For students with an analytical method of cognition - too much emphasis on repetition


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