Level: Advanced (C1) General English
C1 Advanced English
Book 5 of 6 · English Self-Learning Series · 16 weeks
A 16-week self-study course for learners who have completed B2 and want to use English flexibly at work and university. Following Book 5 of the English Self-Learning Series week by week, you learn to lead meetings, negotiate, persuade, write proposals, academic essays and LinkedIn posts, handle difficult conversations, read long-form journalism critically and understand fast native speech – with ten advanced grammar structures, collocations and idioms, Sinhala help from the book, weekly quizzes and a C1 exit test.
- Units
- 17
- Lessons
- 81
- Effort
- 96 hours
- Learning
- Self-paced
What you will learn
- I can lead meetings, keep discussions on track and summarise decisions clearly.
- I can negotiate terms, make concessions and persuade others with well-structured arguments.
- I can understand fast native speech in films, podcasts and meetings, even with unfamiliar accents.
- I can read long, complex articles critically and identify the writer's purpose, tone and bias.
- I can write clear, well-organised formal texts such as reports, proposals and academic essays.
- I can adjust my register and move easily between formal and informal English.
- I can express subtle shades of meaning using hedging, emphasis and advanced grammar.
- I can handle difficult conversations diplomatically, giving feedback and dealing with complaints.
About this course
About this level
C1 (Advanced) is the level at which you can use English flexibly and effectively in professional, academic and social situations. This book is for learners who have completed B2 and need English to lead meetings, take part in discussions and write formal documents at work. Over 16 weeks you will practise noticing subtle differences in meaning, understanding fast native speech and choosing the right register for each situation. By the end, you will be able to face an exam such as IELTS (7.0+) or Cambridge C1 Advanced with confidence.
C1 (උසස්) මට්ටම යනු ඉංග්රීසි භාෂාව වෘත්තීය, අධ්යාපනික සහ සමාජ අවස්ථාවලදී නම්යශීලීව හා ඵලදායීව භාවිතා කළ හැකි මට්ටමයි. B2 මට්ටම සම්පූර්ණ කළ, රැකියාවේදී රැස්වීම් මෙහෙයවීමට, සාකච්ඡා කිරීමට සහ විධිමත් ලේඛන ලිවීමට අවශ්ය අයට මෙම පොත සුදුසුයි. සති 16ක් තුළ ඔබ සියුම් අර්ථ වෙනස්කම් හඳුනා ගැනීමට, වේගවත් ස්වදේශීය කථනය තේරුම් ගැනීමට සහ අවස්ථාවට ගැළපෙන register එක තෝරා ගැනීමට පුරුදු වෙනවා. අවසානයේදී IELTS 7.0+ හෝ Cambridge C1 Advanced වැනි විභාගයකට විශ්වාසයෙන් මුහුණ දීමට ඔබට හැකි වේවි.
Your daily 60-minute routine
The book asks you to study for about 60 minutes a day, six days a week, with one review day:
- 10 min – flashcard review of collocations, idioms and phrases (Anki)
- 10 min – grammar focus: study one structure and write 5–10 sentences
- 15 min – listening and shadowing (podcasts, TED talks, films)
- 10 min – reading long-form articles and noting useful language
- 10 min – writing practice (emails, essays, posts) with self-editing
- 5 min – speaking: record a 2–3 minute monologue on the day's topic
Use Sunday for review and a 2-minute recording of yourself speaking.
How the course follows the book
This course is Book 5 of the six-book English Self-Learning Series. It follows the book's 16-week plan (overall weeks 37–52) week by week, in the same order and with the same themes – from leading meetings and negotiation to critical reading, films without subtitles and exam preparation. Each week is one unit with five lessons:
- Grammar – the week's grammar topic, explained in clear English with Sinhala help from the book, a table of forms, examples, the common mistake to avoid and an auto-marked exercise.
- Vocabulary and phrases – the week's collocations, idioms or phrases with Sinhala meanings from the book, and an exercise.
- Reading and writing – a C1 reading text on the week's theme with comprehension questions, and the week's writing task with a model answer and a self-check list.
- Speaking, listening and pronunciation – the book's speaking and listening tasks as a checklist, links to free resources, the week's pronunciation focus and the Sunday review.
- Weekly review – a 10-question quiz. You need 70% to pass, and you can try again as many times as you need.
Lessons open in order, one after another.
The exit test
The course ends with the C1 exit test: 25 questions on all ten C1 grammar structures, the vocabulary sets, the useful phrases and reading. You need 70% to pass; if you don't pass, you can try again after one hour. The book's own exit checklist (leading a meeting, giving a presentation, negotiating, writing a report and more) is in Week 16 – use it to check your speaking and writing before you move on to C2.
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
This course is text-based: there is no audio or video yet. The auto-marked exercises and quizzes practise grammar, vocabulary and reading. Speaking, listening and writing tasks are self-assessed: record yourself, use the model answers and self-check lists, and ask a teacher or colleague for feedback if you can.
Who this course is for
Learners in Sri Lanka who have completed B2 and need English to lead meetings, negotiate, give presentations and write formal documents at work or university – including anyone preparing for IELTS (7.0+) or Cambridge C1 Advanced.
Before you start
Upper-intermediate (B2) English: you have completed Book 4 of the series (B2 Upper-intermediate) or you can already follow most talks and TV programmes, take part in discussions and write clear essays and emails. You will need about 60 minutes a day and a way to record yourself speaking.
Course structure
17 units · 81 lessons · about 32 hours of lessons
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Week 1: Leading meetings
Open, lead and summarise a meeting in polite, clear English. Grammar: nuance in tense and aspect (I was wondering if..., We were thinking of...). Vocabulary: meeting language for opening, inviting input, interrupting and summarising.
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 1: Leading meetings · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Nuance in tense and aspect
Soften requests and suggestions with I was wondering if..., I was hoping... and We were thinking of..., and use tense to show attitude.
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Vocabulary and phrases: Meeting language
Open a meeting, invite input, handle interruptions and summarise decisions with natural, polite phrases.
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Reading and writing
Understand an article about running effective meetings and write an agenda and a follow-up email with clear action points.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Open and chair a short meeting aloud, handle interruptions politely and use pauses to chunk your speech.
20 min -
Week 1 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (leading meetings) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 2: Negotiation
Hold a simple business negotiation: set conditions, ask for concessions and make counter-offers. Grammar: advanced conditionals (unless, provided that, were to, Should you...). Vocabulary: business and negotiation collocations.
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 2: Negotiation · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Advanced conditionals
State conditions precisely and formally with unless, provided that, were to, Should you... and Had I known....
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Business and negotiation collocations
Use 12 business and negotiation collocations and the book's negotiation phrases accurately.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Understand an article about BATNA and write a formal email proposing terms with conditions.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Negotiate aloud using conditions, concessions and counter-offers, stressing the key words in each offer.
20 min -
Week 2 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (negotiation) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 3: Persuasion
Give a persuasive talk and write a persuasive article. Grammar: inversion for emphasis (Never have I..., Not only..., Rarely...). Vocabulary: nuanced synonyms (huge, substantial, significant, considerable) and persuasive language.
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 3: Persuasion · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Inversion for emphasis
Use inversion after Never, Rarely, Not only, Hardly, No sooner and Under no circumstances to add emphasis.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Nuanced synonyms and persuasive language
Choose precise synonyms for size, problems and statements, and use persuasive techniques such as the rule of three.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Identify persuasive techniques in an opinion column and write a persuasive article with inversion, the rule of three and a rhetorical question.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Give a short persuasive talk with inverted sentences, the rule of three and rhetorical questions, using emphatic and contrastive stress.
20 min -
Week 3 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (persuasion) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 4: Professional proposals
Write a formal business proposal with a problem, a solution, a budget and a timeline. Grammar: nominalisation for formal writing. Vocabulary: formal and informal pairs (get → obtain, need → require, start → commence).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 4: Professional proposals · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Nominalisation for formal writing
Turn verb-based sentences into formal noun-based sentences for proposals and reports.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Formal and informal pairs
Choose between informal words and their formal equivalents (get → obtain, need → require, start → commence) to suit the reader.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Understand how a persuasive proposal is structured and write an executive summary and a 400-word proposal.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Pitch a proposal in two minutes, answer tough questions about it and stress word families correctly.
20 min -
Week 4 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (professional proposals) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 5: Academic and formal writing
Write a 300-word argumentative essay with appropriate caution. Grammar: hedging and cautious language. Vocabulary: Academic Word List collocations (conduct research, draw a conclusion, play a crucial role).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 5: Academic and formal writing · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Hedging and cautious language
Express claims with appropriate caution using seem, appear, tend to, may, arguably and to some extent.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Academic collocations
Use 12 Academic Word List collocations (conduct research, draw a conclusion, play a crucial role) accurately in essays.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Follow a cautious academic argument and write a 300-word discursive essay with hedging and academic collocations.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Take notes on a lecture, summarise it aloud with hedging and pronounce academic words with the correct stress.
20 min -
Week 5 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (academic and formal writing) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 6: Storytelling with humour
Tell and write an engaging personal story with humour. Grammar: participle clauses (Walking home..., Having missed the bus...). Vocabulary: storytelling phrases (As luck would have it, To make matters worse, Needless to say).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 6: Storytelling with humour · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Participle clauses
Combine sentences with -ing, Having + past participle and past participle clauses, keeping the same subject in both clauses.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Storytelling phrases
Use 12 storytelling phrases and humour devices such as exaggeration, understatement and irony.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Recognise exaggeration, understatement and irony in a humorous story and write a 350-word anecdote with participle clauses.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Tell a funny true story aloud in three minutes and in 90 seconds, pausing before the punchline.
20 min -
Week 6 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (storytelling with humour) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 7: Understanding fast native speech and accents
Understand fast speech in British, American and Australian accents. Grammar: modals of deduction in the past (must have, might have, can't have). Vocabulary: connected speech chunks and informal spoken expressions (gonna, kind of, I reckon).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 7: Understanding fast native speech and accents · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Modals of deduction in the past
Make deductions about the past with must have, might have and can't have + past participle.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Connected speech and informal expressions
Recognise connected-speech chunks (gonna, wanna, kind of) and informal spoken expressions (I reckon, fair enough) in fast speech.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Understand why fast native speech is hard to follow and write a 200-word reflection using past modals.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Follow podcasts in three accents, take dictation from fast speech and speculate aloud using weak forms of past modals.
25 min -
Week 7 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (fast native speech) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 8: Idioms and phrasal verbs in context
Use idioms and phrasal verbs naturally in speech and informal writing. Grammar: wish, if only, it's time and would rather. Vocabulary: idioms for work and life and 20 high-frequency phrasal verbs (come up with, put off, run into, figure out).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 8: Idioms and phrasal verbs in context · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Wish, if only, it's time, would rather
Talk about wishes, regrets, overdue actions and preferences with wish, if only, it's time and would rather.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Idioms and phrasal verbs
Use 12 idioms for work and life and 20 high-frequency phrasal verbs naturally in context.
30 min -
Reading and writing
Understand idioms and phrasal verbs in a magazine-style article and use them in an informal email to a friend.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Talk about regrets with wish and if only, use idioms in conversation and stress phrasal verbs correctly.
20 min -
Week 8 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (idioms and phrasal verbs) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 9: Public speaking
Give a structured 5-minute presentation with confidence. Grammar: cleft sentences (What I want to stress is..., It was... that...). Vocabulary: signposting language (Let me turn to..., This brings me to..., To sum up...).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 9: Public speaking · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Cleft sentences
Highlight key information, correct misunderstandings and build suspense with It-clefts and What-clefts.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Signposting language
Guide an audience through a talk with signposts for opening, moving on, giving examples and concluding.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Analyse what makes a talk memorable and write hooks and a script with signposts and cleft sentences.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Rehearse and record a structured 5-minute talk and give 1-minute impromptu talks using the PREP method.
25 min -
Week 9 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (public speaking) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 10: Handling difficult conversations
Give feedback, handle complaints and disagree diplomatically. Grammar: review of hedging and tense nuance for softening (I was hoping..., It seems that...). Vocabulary: diplomatic language – softeners, feedback and formal apology phrases.
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 10: Handling difficult conversations · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Review – hedging and tense nuance for softening
Soften criticism, requests and disagreement with tense nuance and hedging, while keeping the message clear.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Diplomatic language
Give feedback, disagree, decline and apologise diplomatically with softeners and fixed phrases.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Understand how the SBI model makes feedback clear and kind, and write a formal apology and a polite refusal.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Give feedback and handle a complaint aloud with diplomatic language and a warm tone of voice.
20 min -
Week 10 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (difficult conversations) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 11: LinkedIn and professional online writing
Write an attractive LinkedIn 'About' section and professional posts. Grammar: emphasis and fronting (What really matters is..., I do believe..., by far the...). Vocabulary: strong action verbs (led, launched, streamlined, negotiated) and achievement phrases.
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 11: LinkedIn and professional online writing · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Emphasis and fronting
Add emphasis with emphatic do, fronting, the very, whatsoever and by far.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Strong action verbs
Describe your achievements with strong action verbs and measurable results.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Understand what makes a LinkedIn profile effective and write an 'About' section, posts and comments.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Introduce yourself professionally in a 60-second elevator pitch, stressing job titles correctly.
20 min -
Week 11 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (linkedin and professional writing) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 12: Register: formal vs informal
Express the same idea to a friend, a colleague and an official organisation. Grammar: review of nominalisation and participle clauses for formal register. Vocabulary: formal and informal pairs; phrasal verbs vs formal single-word verbs (put off → postpone).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 12: Register: formal vs informal · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Review – nominalisation and participle clauses for formal register
Move a text from an informal to a formal register using nominalisation and participle clauses.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Phrasal verbs and formal verbs
Choose between phrasal verbs and their formal single-word equivalents (put off → postpone) to suit the register.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Recognise features of formal and informal register in the news and write one message in three registers.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Explain the same idea to different listeners in different registers and use contracted and full forms to control tone.
20 min -
Week 12 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (formal and informal register) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 13: Critical reading of long-form journalism
Read long-form journalism critically and write a review of its claim, evidence and bias. Grammar: review of inversion and participle clauses in journalistic writing. Vocabulary: discourse markers (having said that, admittedly, nevertheless) and evaluation adjectives (compelling, one-sided, flawed).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 13: Critical reading of long-form journalism · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Review – inversion and participle clauses in journalism
Recognise and explain the effect of inversion and participle clauses in long-form journalism.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Discourse markers and evaluation adjectives
Follow and evaluate an argument using 12 discourse markers and 10 evaluation adjectives.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Identify the main claim, evidence and bias in a piece of long-form journalism and write a 300-word critical review.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Discuss and challenge an article aloud with discourse markers, and read a paragraph with natural stress and linking.
20 min -
Week 13 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (critical reading) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 14: Films without subtitles
Understand the plot of an English film and the characters' attitudes without subtitles. Grammar: review of modals of deduction and wish / if only in film dialogue. Vocabulary: informal expressions and slang from films; idioms heard in dialogue.
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 14: Films without subtitles · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Review – modals of deduction and wish / if only in film dialogue
Understand and use past modals of deduction and wish / if only as characters do in film and TV dialogue.
25 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Film English
Recognise informal expressions, slang and idioms from films and series, and judge their register.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Follow a learner's personal essay about watching without subtitles and write a 300-word film review.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Follow films and series without subtitles, retell a plot and shadow actors' intonation and emotion.
25 min -
Week 14 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (films without subtitles) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 15: IELTS / C1 Advanced exam overview
Get to know the structure of IELTS and C1 Advanced and practise each part within the time limits. Grammar: mixed review of all ten C1 grammar topics (key word transformations). Vocabulary: collocations and word formation for exams (decide, decision, decisive, decisively).
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 15: IELTS / C1 Advanced exam overview · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Mixed review – key word transformations
Rewrite sentences using a key word to test all ten C1 grammar structures, as in C1 Advanced Part 4.
30 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Word formation and exam collocations
Form words from the same family and use common exam collocations accurately.
25 min -
Reading and writing
Understand the structure of IELTS and C1 Advanced and write IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 answers within the time limits.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Take a timed IELTS Speaking and Listening practice test and assess your pronunciation against the IELTS criteria.
25 min -
Week 15 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (exam preparation) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Week 16: Consolidation and exit test
Consolidate all your C1 skills and get ready for the exit test. Grammar: review of all ten C1 grammar topics. Vocabulary: review of the six vocabulary sets (72 items) and the 24 useful phrases.
ShowHide 5 lessons of Week 16: Consolidation and exit test · about 2 hours
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Grammar: Review of all 10 C1 grammar topics
Use all ten C1 grammar structures accurately and avoid the common mistakes for each.
30 min -
Vocabulary and phrases: Review of the 6 sets and 24 phrases
Recall and use the 72 items from the six vocabulary sets and the 24 useful phrases accurately.
30 min -
Reading and writing
Read about progressing beyond C1 and write a formal report and a personal learning plan for C2.
30 min -
Speaking, listening and pronunciation
Lead a mock meeting, give a 5-minute presentation without notes and check yourself against the book's exit checklist.
25 min -
Week 16 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar, vocabulary and reading skills (consolidation) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 15 min
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Exit test
The C1 exit test: 25 questions on the whole level. Pass it with 70% or more to complete the course and receive your certificate.
ShowHide 1 lesson of Exit test · about 30 minutes
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C1 exit test
Pass the C1 exit test – 25 questions on all ten grammar structures, the vocabulary sets, useful phrases and reading – with 70% or more.
Test 30 min
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Estimated effort
Plan for 96 hours in total, including practice and reviews. At about an hour a day, six days a week, that is about 16 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 (81 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 C1 Advanced English?
This course is free. Enrol and start your first lesson today.