My English is certainly C1 (mid C1 or, let’s assume the worst and say lower C1).
I will take English proficiency exams between September 2027 and December 2027. I want to be super prepared and to start the C1–>real C2 transition from now.
On top of that, I am converting my spoken English from a predominantly American/Globalized accent to a uniform SSBE/Modern RP accent and to practice my speaking as well.
Mind you I plan to learn Spanish (Latin American) in 2026 and maybe start French in 2027.
How to use LingQ to do this? For now, I plan to use Chatbots (LLMs) search function to curate a long, extensive list of YouTube British English podcasts of different genres (casual, professional, entertainment, politics, etc.) and import the podcasts/videos into LingQ and parse them sentence by sentence and create LingQs and also use Anki to cement really unique expressions or something along those lines.
Is that enough? Or should I buy downloadable books from sites that allow you to download/export the books without DRM protection and upload it to LingQ?
My plan was once I reach official CEFR B1/2 in my target language. I won’t have to use LingQ anymore. I could just use language and consume content like a native and improve that way.
As for english (native), I have ielts C1 english. I think learning the exam format, strategy, tip and trick is very useful. There are courses on udemy that teaches that, how to deal with each section of exam efficiently to save time. Time is your enemy.
I mainly lost points in writing and speaking. I can get 8-9 points in listening/reading but for writing/speaking i get 7-8 points. I was actually too slow in writing to complete it.
For my case, C1 is good enough but If i want to get C2 i think i would get a tutor and work a lot on speaking, writing and maybe listening. A tutor who specilises in the exam can setup up a mock exam to figure out which of the 4 areas i need to improve. I think figuring out your weak area would help you focus and save time.
I’m not sure how lingQ would help, I think it would just slow me down. Since at C1 i can already consume anything without any aid (creating lingQ).
It would be interesting to know if someone has used lingQ as a main tool to get to C2 from C1.
For books and DRM just get Epubor
For audiobooks from audible you can use Audible Converter by Eupubor or Libation which is free.
RP British does sound pretty. Although I always find it strange that they don’t realise there are ‘r’s’ at the end of some words. “sweatah”? LOL
IMO, once you’re at C1 or higher, LingQ isn’t much help. When you get to that point, it’s a matter of massive input and dealing with LingQ is time consuming.
Focus on finding your desired input and consume it directly.
While the LLMs can’t help with checking your accent, (yet), they are great for checking your writing.
One idea: Find a photo, upload it to an LLM and describe it in your L2 and ask the LLM to check your description against the photo and give tips for correction. Then write a short story about the picture and again have the LLM proof it.