English Proficiency (C1 → C2)
Locations: Utrecht, Virtual Classroom
Level:
Do you want your English to be at native speaker level? Are you looking to learn and use a rich and complex range of English in your working or academic life? This fast-paced course will bring you to the very highest level of English proficiency (C2).
About the course
This course is for students who are at level C1. This means that you can already work effectively in English, and perhaps have even studied for a degree taught in English. You aren’t afraid of speaking or writing in English for general purposes. What you sometimes miss is how to use English more persuasively and creatively, or to write and speak in more formal settings. Perhaps you also simply love the language and want to enhance your vocabulary for your own pleasure!
In this course, our teachers will help you to take your English to level C2. You will look at areas like inversion, British and American English idioms, less common and formal vocabulary items, emphasis, and complex sentences, as well as some grammar.
You can start with this course if you have completed our English Advanced course or if you have attained C1 level via another route. Would you like to know your current language level? Try our free language level test!
Learning goals
This course takes you towards level C2.
- By the end of this course, you will have developed high level language skills equivalent to those of a native speaker. You will be able to dazzle others with your English knowledge, and will be able to use the language playfully and creatively to communicate persuasively and humorously, if that is your goal.
- This course will also give you the language you need to succeed in the Cambridge English C2 Proficiency exam, if your goal is to get a certificate proving you are at level C2. You may need this for immigration purposes in some countries, or to prove you have the native-speaker level English required for certain jobs.
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, and more if you submit all the optional writing assignments for this course.
- 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 C2 level English texts, and many ways to listen to more English online.
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).
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Starting date: 10 November 2025 (Utrecht)
Day Date Start End Monday 10 November 2025 20:00 21:45 Monday 17 November 2025 20:00 21:45 Monday 24 November 2025 20:00 21:45 Monday 1 December 2025 20:00 21:45 Monday 8 December 2025 20:00 21:45 Monday 15 December 2025 20:00 21:45 Monday 22 December 2025 20:00 21:45 Monday 12 January 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 19 January 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 2 February 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 9 February 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 16 February 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 23 February 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 2 March 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 9 March 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 16 March 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 23 March 2026 20:00 21:45 Monday 30 March 2026 20:00 21:45 -
Starting date: 3 February 2026 (Virtual Classroom)
Day Date Start End Tuesday 3 February 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 10 February 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 17 February 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 24 February 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 3 March 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 10 March 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 17 March 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 24 March 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 14 April 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 21 April 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 28 April 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 5 May 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 12 May 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 19 May 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 26 May 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 2 June 2026 19:00 20:45 Tuesday 9 June 2026 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.
