English Upper-Intermediate (B1 → B2)
Locations: Virtual Classroom, Utrecht
Level: Upper-Intermediate (B1/B2)
Ready to go to the next level with your English? Are you already able to use English for practical daily life activities but now want to go beyond this into expressing more developed or abstract ideas in speaking and writing? Are you looking to expand or refresh your vocabulary and grammar knowledge in a fast-paced course? In this course you will work towards level B2.
About the course
This course is for students who are at level B1. This means that you can already talk with people in English about yourself and your opinions and ideas, and you probably sometimes read English news and watch TV in English (with subtitles), but you don’t always know exactly how to say what you want to say. Maybe in your writing you know you make some grammar mistakes, but you’re not quite sure how to fix them.
In this course, our teachers will help you to take your English to B2 level. They will work on fluency and accuracy in both writing and speaking, adding to your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. You will look at how to give more detailed, abstract and nuanced information. You will have lots of chances to speak and receive feedback on your spoken production.
You can start with this course if you have completed our English Intermediate course or if you have attained B1 level via another route. Would you like to know your current language level? Try our free language level test!
Learning goals
This course will take you towards level B2.
By the end of this course:
- you will feel considerably more confident using English and will know many more words and phrases that help you to express yourself in speaking and writing. You will be able to present and discuss abstract ideas and information more easily. You will have practising speaking on a range of topics.
- you will probably understand a lot more of the English you read and hear around you too. Maybe you’ll risk turning the subtitles off in an English language film every now and then!
- have the language you need to succeed in the Cambridge English First Exam (B2), if your goal is to get a certificate proving you are at level B2. You may need this for immigration purposes in some countries.
Method
All Babel’s courses are taught by highly-qualified, professional teachers and are interactive, fun, and focused on students’ needs. This means we:
- are flexible to what a group needs.
- ask for your feedback on how the lessons are going, and respond to what you tell us.
- use high-quality materials.
- do a lot of speaking activities, in small groups and as a whole group.
- teach grammar and vocabulary in a way that connects them to real life use.
- encourage students to learn outside the classroom too.
Time investment
- This course consists of 18 classes of 1hr45 minutes. Alongside this, you will need to do some homework and preparation for your lessons. You should expect to spend at least 3 hours a week on this.
- However, the more time you give to learning, the more you will benefit. There are lots of exercises to practise at home available to you. There are also many websites where you can read more English texts, and many ways to listen to more English. Your teacher will show you some of these, and you can decide for yourself how much you want to do. We recommend jumping in!
Practical
- The language of instruction is English.
- You will be working with a book. You can order this book on our special book page. Please ensure you have your book ready for the first session.
- If you are learning online, you can order the e-book version of the student book. You can do this here.
- You will receive a certificate of participation if you follow at least 80% of the classes.
- If you work or study at Utrecht University you will receive a 15% discount. Please register with your UU email address. Your registration will then be processed automatically.
Schedule
Please note: There are two course options; intensive (2x/week lessons) and regular (1x/week lessons).
-
Starting date: 6 January 2025 (Virtual Classroom)
Day Date Start End Monday 17 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 24 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 31 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 7 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 14 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 28 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 12 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 19 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 26 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 6 January 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 13 January 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 20 January 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 27 January 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 3 February 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 10 February 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 17 February 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 24 February 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 3 March 2025 18:00 19:45 -
Starting date: 3 February 2025 (Utrecht)
Day Date Start End Monday 3 February 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 10 February 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 17 February 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 24 February 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 3 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 10 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 17 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 24 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 31 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 14 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 16 June 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 28 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 23 June 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 12 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 19 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 26 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 2 June 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 7 April 2025 18:00 19:45 -
Starting date: 4 February 2025 (Virtual Classroom)
Day Date Start End Tuesday 4 February 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 11 February 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 18 February 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 4 March 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 11 March 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 18 March 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 25 March 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 15 April 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 22 April 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 29 April 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 6 May 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 13 May 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 20 May 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 27 May 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 3 June 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 10 June 2025 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 17 June 2025 19:00 20:45 -
Starting date: 11 March 2025 (Virtual Classroom)
Day Date Start End Tuesday 11 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 13 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Tuesday 18 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 20 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Tuesday 25 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 27 March 2025 18:00 19:45 Tuesday 1 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 3 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Tuesday 8 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 10 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Tuesday 15 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 17 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Tuesday 22 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 24 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Tuesday 29 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 1 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Tuesday 6 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Thursday 8 May 2025 18:00 19:45 -
Starting date: 14 April 2025 (Utrecht)
Day Date Start End Monday 14 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 28 April 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 12 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 19 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 26 May 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 2 June 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 16 June 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 23 June 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 30 June 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 7 July 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 14 July 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 21 July 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 28 July 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 4 August 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 11 August 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 18 August 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 25 August 2025 18:00 19:45 Monday 1 September 2025 18:00 19:45 -
Starting date: 15 April 2025 (Virtual Classroom)
Day Date Start End Tuesday 15 April 2025 20:00 21:45 Thursday 17 April 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 22 April 2025 20:00 21:45 Thursday 24 April 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 29 April 2025 20:00 21:45 Thursday 1 May 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 6 May 2025 20:00 21:45 Thursday 8 May 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 13 May 2025 20:00 21:45 Thursday 15 May 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 20 May 2025 20:00 21:45 Thursday 22 May 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 27 May 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 3 June 2025 20:00 21:45 Thursday 5 June 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 10 June 2025 20:00 21:45 Thursday 12 June 2025 20:00 21:45 Tuesday 17 June 2025 20:00 21:45 -
Starting date: 21 May 2025 (Virtual Classroom)
Day Date Start End Wednesday 21 May 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 28 May 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 4 June 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 11 June 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 18 June 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 25 June 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 2 July 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 9 July 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 16 July 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 30 July 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 6 August 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 13 August 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 20 August 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 27 August 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 3 September 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 10 September 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 17 September 2025 19:00 20:45 Wednesday 24 September 2025 19:00 20:45
Take our placement test
If you want to take a course at Babel, it is important to take our free placement test.
