Level: Upper-intermediate (B2) General English
B2 Upper-intermediate English
Book 4 of 6 · English Self-Learning Series · 12 weeks
A free 12-week course for learners who have finished B1 and want to use English confidently at work and in daily life. Following Book 4 of the English Self-Learning Series week by week, you study the passive, reported speech, relative clauses, conditionals and other B2 grammar with Sinhala help, learn collocations for news, business, technology, the environment and careers, and practise meetings, debates, presentations, job interviews, formal emails, reports and essays. Every week has a review quiz, and the course ends with a B2 exit test.
- Units
- 13
- Lessons
- 73
- Effort
- 72 hours
- Learning
- Self-paced
What you will learn
- I can understand the main ideas and most details of news reports, podcasts and talks, even on unfamiliar topics.
- I can take an active part in meetings and discussions, giving, explaining and defending my opinions.
- I can present both sides of an argument clearly, using linking words for contrast and cause.
- I can give a well-structured 5-minute presentation and answer questions from the audience.
- I can write 250-word essays (opinion, advantages/disadvantages, problem-solution), short reports and formal emails.
- I can handle a job interview in English and talk about my experience, strengths and goals.
- I can tell a story or describe past experiences using a range of tenses accurately.
- I can watch films and series in English without Sinhala subtitles and follow most of the story.
About this course
About this level
B2 (upper-intermediate) is the level at which you can use English independently and confidently at work and in everyday life. This part of the series is for learners who have finished B1 but still find meetings, presentations, interviews and formal writing difficult. Over 12 weeks you learn more complex grammar, collocations and the language of argument. By the end you can understand the news and films, write 250-word essays and reports, and give a 5-minute presentation.
B2 (ඉහළ මධ්යම) මට්ටම කියන්නේ රැකියාවේදී සහ එදිනෙදා ජීවිතයේදී ඉංග්රීසි ස්වාධීනව සහ විශ්වාසයෙන් භාවිතා කළ හැකි මට්ටමයි. B1 මට්ටම අවසන් කළ, නමුත් රැස්වීම්, ඉදිරිපත් කිරීම්, සම්මුඛ පරීක්ෂණ සහ විධිමත් ලිවීමේදී තවමත් අපහසුතා තියෙන අයට මේ කොටස සුදුසුයි. සති 12ක් තුළ ඔබ වඩා සංකීර්ණ ව්යාකරණ, collocations සහ තර්ක කිරීමේ භාෂාව ඉගෙන ගන්නවා. අවසානයේ ඔබට පුවත් සහ චිත්රපට තේරුම් ගැනීමටත්, වචන 250ක රචනා සහ වාර්තා ලිවීමටත්, මිනිත්තු 5ක ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමක් කිරීමටත් හැකි වේවි.
Your daily 60-minute routine
The book recommends one hour a day, six study days a week, and a review day on Sunday:
- 10 min – flashcard review of collocations and phrases (Anki)
- 10 min – grammar study and exercises for the week's topic
- 15 min – listening (news, podcasts or series), plus 5 minutes of shadowing
- 10 min – reading: one article or 5–10 pages of a book
- 15 min – the speaking or writing task of the day (alternate days)
On Sunday, review the week and record yourself speaking for two minutes.
How the course follows the book
The course follows the book's weekly plan (Book 4, overall weeks 25–36) in the same order and with the same themes: news and current affairs, business meetings, debating both sides, environment and society, technology and the future, formal emails and reports, 5-minute presentations, job interviews, storytelling, education and careers, films and series without Sinhala subtitles, and consolidation.
Each week is one unit with six lessons:
- Grammar – the rule in clear English with the book's Sinhala explanation, forms, examples and common mistakes, then practice.
- Vocabulary – the week's collocations and phrases with Sinhala meanings, then practice.
- Useful phrases and speaking – phrases from the book and a checklist of the week's speaking tasks.
- Reading and writing – a reading text with questions, then the week's writing task with a model answer and a self-check list.
- Listening and pronunciation – the pronunciation focus, listening tasks with free resources, and the Sunday review.
- Week review – a 10-question quiz. The pass mark is 70%, and you can try again as many times as you need.
Sinhala help is shown to learners who choose Sinhala as their explanation language.
Exit test
The course ends with the B2 exit test: 30 questions on the grammar, vocabulary and reading of all 12 weeks. You need 70% to pass. If you don't pass, you can try again after one hour. In Week 12 you also go through the book's exit checklist for speaking, writing and listening. If you can do at least 6 of the 8 things on the checklist, you are ready for C1.
Certificate
Complete all the required lessons and pass the exit test with 70% or more to receive a myedu.lk certificate of completion. The certificate shows that you finished this course. It is not an official English language qualification.
Please note
The speaking, listening and writing tasks are self-assessed: you record yourself, compare your work with models and use the self-check lists. The quizzes and the exit test measure grammar, vocabulary and reading.
Who this course is for
Adults and young adults in Sri Lanka who have finished B1 but still find meetings, presentations, job interviews and formal writing difficult, and who want to use English independently and confidently at work, in their studies and in everyday life.
Before you start
B1 (intermediate) English: you can talk about familiar topics, describe experiences and plans, and write simple connected texts. This course follows Book 3 of the English Self-Learning Series (B1 Intermediate). Not sure about your level? Take the free placement check.
Course structure
13 units · 73 lessons · about 39 hours of lessons
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Week 1: News and current affairs
Grammar: the passive voice in all main tenses. Vocabulary: news collocations and society phrases such as the cost of living, raise awareness and a growing concern. By the end of the week you can summarise a news story using the passive and give your opinion on it for two minutes.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 1: News and current affairs · about 3 hours
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Grammar: Passive voice (all main tenses)
Form the passive in eight tenses and use it to report news, adding by + agent only when it matters.
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Vocabulary: News collocations and society phrases
Use news collocations such as make the headlines, raise concerns and according to, and the phrases the cost of living, raise awareness and a growing concern.
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Useful phrases and speaking
Summarise a news story in two minutes using the passive, and give your opinion with phrases such as As far as I know and It's worth bearing in mind that.
30 min -
Reading and writing
Understand the main points and details of a news report, and write a 150-word news summary with at least five passive sentences.
45 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Say passive sentences with natural weak forms (was /wəz/, has /əz/, been) and listen to a news report for gist, details and key facts.
40 min -
Week 1 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 1 (News and current affairs) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 2: Business meetings
Grammar: reported speech – statements, questions, commands and reporting verbs. Vocabulary: business and meetings collocations such as set the agenda, reach an agreement and meet a deadline. By the end of the week you can give your ideas in a meeting and report what was said afterwards.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 2: Business meetings · about 3 hours
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Grammar: Reported speech
Report statements, questions and commands with the correct tense changes, and use ten reporting verbs such as suggest, remind, promise, warn and deny.
35 min -
Vocabulary: Business and meetings collocations
Use 12 business collocations such as set the agenda, reach an agreement, meet a deadline and follow up on something in meetings and emails.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Open, interrupt, move on and recap in a meeting using phrases such as Could I just come in here? and Just to recap, we've agreed to ...
30 min -
Reading and writing
Follow the discussion and decisions in a set of meeting minutes, and write 180-word minutes using reported speech and business collocations.
45 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Use polite intonation for interrupting, asking and summarising in meetings, and pick out useful phrases from business videos and podcasts.
40 min -
Week 2 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 2 (Business meetings) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 3: Debating both sides
Grammar: linking words for contrast and cause (despite, although, whereas, due to, therefore). Vocabulary: opinion and argument language such as It could be argued that, to some extent and weigh up the pros and cons. By the end of the week you can argue both sides of a topic and write an advantages/disadvantages essay.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 3: Debating both sides · about 3 hours
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Grammar: Linking words for contrast and cause
Join ideas with although, despite, whereas, due to, therefore and other linking words, using the right structure and punctuation after each one.
30 min -
Vocabulary: Opinions and argument language
Give, support and balance opinions with phrases such as In my view, It could be argued that, to some extent and All things considered.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Agree, disagree politely, check understanding and argue both sides of a topic for two minutes each using phrases from the book.
30 min -
Reading and writing
Follow the arguments for and against in an opinion article, and write a 250-word advantages/disadvantages essay with a clear four-paragraph structure.
50 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Stress argument words correctly (conTROversial, ecoNOMic, alTERnative) and note the main arguments and linking words in a talk or debate.
40 min -
Week 3 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 3 (Debating both sides) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 4: Environment and society
Grammar: defining and non-defining relative clauses with who, which, that, whose and where. Vocabulary: environment and society collocations such as carbon footprint, renewable energy and waste management. By the end of the week you can describe environmental and social problems and write a problem–solution essay.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 4: Environment and society · about 3 hours
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Grammar: Relative clauses (defining, non-defining, whose, where)
Add information with defining and non-defining relative clauses using who, which, that, whose and where, with the correct commas.
30 min -
Vocabulary: Environment and society collocations
Talk and write about environmental and social issues using collocations such as renewable energy, waste management and income inequality.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Describe an environmental or social problem for three minutes – causes, effects and solutions – and ask for and give clarification.
30 min -
Reading and writing
Understand the causes, effects and solutions in an article about the human–elephant conflict, and write a 250-word problem–solution essay.
50 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Pause naturally around non-defining clauses when you speak, and note new expressions from documentaries and podcasts about the environment.
40 min -
Week 4 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 4 (Environment and society) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 5: Technology and the future
Grammar: the future continuous (will be + -ing) and the future perfect (will have + V3). Vocabulary: technology collocations such as artificial intelligence, a data breach and automate a process. By the end of the week you can make predictions about technology and the future and write an opinion essay.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 5: Technology and the future · about 3 hours
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Grammar: Future continuous and future perfect
Talk about actions in progress at a future time (will be + -ing) and actions completed by a future time (will have + V3), and ask politely about plans.
30 min -
Vocabulary: Technology collocations
Talk about technology using collocations such as artificial intelligence, a data breach, go viral and automate a process.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Make predictions about technology with phrases such as There's a good chance that, and explain how an app works in simple words for three minutes.
30 min -
Reading and writing
Understand predictions about the future of work in an article, and write a 250-word opinion essay about technology with a clear opinion and examples.
50 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Use natural contractions (I'll be, we'll have, it'll, they'll) and follow the main ideas of talks about technology with and without subtitles.
40 min -
Week 5 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 5 (Technology and the future) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 6: Formal emails and reports
Grammar: quantifiers and articles in depth (a few/few, a little/little, each/every, a/an/the and no article). Vocabulary: formal email and report phrases such as I am writing to..., Please find attached... and It was found that.... By the end of the week you can write formal emails and short reports with headings.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 6: Formal emails and reports · about 3 hours
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Grammar: Quantifiers and articles in depth
Use a few/few, a little/little, each/every, both/neither/none of and a/an/the/zero article correctly in formal emails and reports.
35 min -
Vocabulary: Formal email and report phrases
Open, request, apologise and close in formal emails, and introduce findings and recommendations in reports, using fixed formal phrases.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Make formal phone calls (booking, complaint, follow-up, rescheduling, enquiry) and present survey findings orally for three minutes.
30 min -
Reading and writing
Understand the structure and findings of a short formal report, and write formal emails and a 250-word report with headings.
55 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Say 'the' as /ði/ or /ðə/ correctly, pronounce th sounds clearly, and notice the difference between formal and informal spoken English.
35 min -
Week 6 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 6 (Formal emails and reports) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 7: Presentations (5 minutes)
Grammar: a review of the passive voice and relative clauses, used in presentations, and signposting language. Vocabulary: presentation signposting such as Let me start by..., Moving on to..., As you can see from this chart... and To sum up.... By the end of the week you can give a well-structured 5-minute presentation using only a few keyword cards.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 7: Presentations (5 minutes) · about 3 hours
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Grammar: Passive voice and relative clauses in presentations (review)
Make presentation sentences more formal with the passive, and add details with defining and non-defining relative clauses.
25 min -
Vocabulary: Presentation signposting
Guide an audience through a presentation with signposts such as Let me start by, Moving on to, As you can see from this chart and To sum up.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Walk an audience through figures, handle questions politely and rehearse a 5-minute presentation with keyword cards and a checklist.
35 min -
Reading and writing
Follow the structure and key figures of a business presentation, and write your own 5-minute presentation script of about 600 words.
55 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Stress key words and numbers and pause naturally in a presentation, and learn how skilled speakers open, close and describe figures.
40 min -
Week 7 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 7 (Presentations (5 minutes)) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 8: Job interviews
Grammar: used to, would, be used to and get used to. Vocabulary: job interview language for strengths, weaknesses and achievements, and personal qualities such as reliable, proactive and adaptable. By the end of the week you can answer 10 common interview questions confidently using the STAR method.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 8: Job interviews · about 3 hours
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Grammar: used to / would / be used to / get used to
Talk about past habits with used to and would, and about being or becoming accustomed to things with be used to and get used to + -ing.
30 min -
Vocabulary: Job interview language and personal qualities
Describe your strengths, weaknesses and achievements in an interview with words such as reliable, proactive, adaptable and take the initiative.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Answer common interview questions for 1–2 minutes using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and useful interview phrases.
35 min -
Reading and writing
Follow a job interview and identify how a candidate shows her strengths, and write a 250-word cover letter and a 60-word CV profile.
50 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Pronounce -ed endings correctly (/t/, /d/, /ɪd/) in CV verbs, and pick out useful phrases from mock interviews and career advice.
40 min -
Week 8 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 8 (Job interviews) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 9: Storytelling
Grammar: the past perfect and narrative tenses (past simple, past continuous, past perfect). Vocabulary: everyday idioms such as break the ice, once in a blue moon and the last straw. By the end of the week you can tell an interesting story for 3–4 minutes using narrative tenses and idioms.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 9: Storytelling · about 3 hours
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Grammar: Past perfect and narrative tenses
Tell stories with the past simple, past continuous and past perfect, making the order of events clear with when, by the time, before and after.
30 min -
Vocabulary: Idioms in everyday use
Understand and use 12 everyday idioms such as break the ice, once in a blue moon and the last straw in stories and conversations.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Tell a 3–4 minute personal story or folk tale that holds the listener's attention, using storytelling phrases and narrative tenses.
35 min -
Reading and writing
Follow the order of events in a short story told with narrative tenses, and write your own 250-word story with at least five past perfect verbs.
50 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Use contracted and weak forms of had ('I'd left', /həd/) and notice how storytellers build suspense in podcasts and sitcoms.
40 min -
Week 9 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 9 (Storytelling) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 10: Education and careers
Grammar: third and mixed conditionals. Vocabulary: education and careers collocations such as earn a degree, career path, lifelong learning and work-life balance. By the end of the week you can talk and write in depth about your education and career decisions using conditionals.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 10: Education and careers · about 3.5 hours
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Grammar: Third and mixed conditionals
Talk about imaginary past situations and regrets with the third conditional, and link past and present with mixed conditionals.
30 min -
Vocabulary: Education and careers collocations
Talk about studies and careers with collocations such as earn a degree, gain experience, climb the career ladder and work-life balance.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Talk for four minutes about the best and worst decisions in your education, using conditionals and phrases such as Looking back and On reflection.
35 min -
Reading and writing
Understand a personal career story told with conditionals, and write a 250-word opinion essay and a 200-word formal enquiry email.
55 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Say conditional sentences naturally with would've and 'd, and summarise the main points of a talk about education in 100 words.
40 min -
Week 10 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 10 (Education and careers) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 11: Films and series without Sinhala subtitles
Grammar: wish and regrets (wish + past simple, wish + past perfect, wish + would, If only). Vocabulary: informal expressions, phrasal verbs and idioms from films and series. By the end of the week you can understand the main story and most of the conversations in an English series episode without Sinhala subtitles.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 11: Films and series without Sinhala subtitles · about 3.5 hours
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Grammar: Wish and regrets
Express wishes about the present, regrets about the past and annoyance at other people's behaviour with wish, If only and should have.
30 min -
Vocabulary: Informal expressions and phrasal verbs from films and series
Understand and use informal expressions and phrasal verbs from films and series, such as figure out, show up, get over and No way!
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Review a film or series for three minutes – plot, characters, what you liked and what you wish had been different – and ask for repetition politely.
35 min -
Reading and writing
Understand the opinions and wishes in a blog review of a TV series, and write a 250-word film review with at least three wish or regret sentences.
50 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Recognise connected speech in films (gonna, wanna, lemme, didja) and follow an episode of a series with English subtitles or none.
45 min -
Week 11 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 11 (Films and series without Sinhala subtitles) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Week 12: Consolidation and exit test
Grammar: a review of all ten B2 grammar topics. Vocabulary: a review of the six vocabulary sets (72 collocations and phrases) and the 23 key phrases. By the end of the week you will know from the book's exit checklist and the exit test whether you have completed B2 and are ready for C1.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 12: Consolidation and exit test · about 3.5 hours
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Grammar: Review of the ten B2 grammar topics
Use all ten B2 grammar topics accurately – from the passive to wish and regrets – and avoid the ten most common mistakes.
35 min -
Vocabulary: Review of the six vocabulary sets
Recall and use collocations and phrases from all six vocabulary sets of the book: business, technology, environment, argument, idioms and careers.
25 min -
Useful phrases and speaking
Use all 23 key phrases of the book in meetings, discussions and presentations, and take a 15-minute mock speaking test with a partner.
40 min -
Reading and writing
Answer exam-style questions on a B2 article in 15 minutes, and write a 250-word essay in 45 minutes under exam conditions.
60 min -
Listening and pronunciation
Review the eleven pronunciation points of the course, practise with a B2 listening paper, and check yourself against the book's exit checklist.
45 min -
Week 12 review
Show that you can use the grammar, vocabulary and reading skills of Week 12 (Consolidation and exit test) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
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Exit test
The B2 exit test: 30 questions on the grammar, vocabulary and reading of the whole course. You need 70% to pass, and you can try again after one hour. Before you take it, go through the book's exit checklist in Week 12.
ShowHide 1 lesson of Exit test · about 35 minutes
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B2 exit test
Pass the B2 exit test – 30 questions on the grammar, vocabulary and reading of Weeks 1–12 – with a score of 70% or more.
Test 35 min
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Estimated effort
Plan for 72 hours in total, including practice and reviews. At about an hour a day, six days a week, that is about 12 weeks.
How you will learn
- Grammar explanations with Sinhala help
- Vocabulary and useful phrases
- Interactive exercises
- Weekly review quizzes
- Speaking, listening, reading and writing tasks
- Exit test
Try it free
2 lessons of this course are free to try, without an account. Your progress is saved once you enrol.
Completion and certificate
You complete the course when you have:
- finished every required lesson (73 lessons), and
- passed the required course test.
When you complete the course, you receive a myedu.lk certificate of completion with a code that anyone can check online.
A certificate of completion shows that you finished this course on myedu.lk. It is not an independent certification of your English proficiency.
Ready to start B2 Upper-intermediate English?
This course is free. Enrol and start your first lesson today.