Course Review: English Upper Intermediate B2.1 by Università di Napoli Federico II (Coursera)

Build clear English for work and daily life. Learn useful grammar, words, and speaking skills for real global situations.

Instructor: Ruth Kerr

Course Overview

This B2.1 English course helps learners speak and write with more ease at work and in daily life. It suits students who already know basic English and want to grow their skills. Lessons build strong grammar, richer word use, and clear speech. You practice through short videos, readings, and many guided tasks. Topics include work life, study, health, stories, and global issues like climate change. You learn to share opinions, give advice, and tell stories with the right tense. The course also builds listening, reading, and writing step by step. By the end, you can handle real conversations with more confidence and control.

Duration: 2 weeks, about 10 hours per week.

Modules: 6 modules.

Tutor: Ruth Kerr.


Pros & Cons

👍Pros

  • ✅ Builds real English for work, study, and daily life. Lessons use clear examples and useful topics.
  • ✅ Covers all key skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Practice feels varied and active.
  • ✅ Strong focus on grammar and vocabulary with guided exercises. This helps learners gain control and confidence.

👎Cons

  • ❌ Not ideal for beginners with weak basics. Some tasks may feel hard without prior study.
  • ❌ Limited live speaking practice with real teachers. Most speaking work is self-guided.
  • ❌ Short course length means less deep practice on each topic. Fast pace may not suit slow learners.

🧑‍🎓 Who is This Course Best For?

This course is ideal for learners who want to improve their English for work, study, and everyday life. It helps you gain confidence in speaking, writing, listening, and reading in real-world situations. The course is structured to make learning clear, practical, and engaging for intermediate English speakers.

  • Students preparing to study abroad: Learn the language skills needed for lectures, assignments, and daily campus life. Gain confidence in expressing ideas clearly in English.
  • Professionals in international workplaces: Improve communication at work. Practice writing emails, reports, and giving opinions in English with correct grammar and vocabulary.
  • Employees in global companies: Build skills for meetings, presentations, and collaboration across cultures. Develop clear speech and professional language for workplace interactions.
  • English language learners at intermediate level: Strengthen grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Step up from basic English to more advanced, practical usage.
  • People preparing for professional exams or certifications: Enhance reading comprehension, writing, and speaking. The course helps practice English in real-life contexts relevant to exams.
  • Remote workers and freelancers: Improve online communication skills. Learn to write clear messages, reports, and give advice in English for digital work environments.
  • Anyone interested in intercultural competence: Gain understanding of cultural nuances. Learn how to communicate effectively in English across different social and professional settings.


📘 What You’ll Learn

This course helps learners improve English for work, study, and everyday life. You will gain confidence in speaking, writing, listening, and reading. Lessons focus on practical language use, grammar, and vocabulary. You will practice real-life situations, like introducing yourself, describing experiences, giving advice, and discussing global topics. The course also builds skills for professional settings, storytelling, and online communication. By the end, you can express ideas clearly, interact effectively in English, and understand cultural nuances in different contexts.

  • Use grammar correctly, including tenses, conditionals, modals, and narrative forms.
  • Expand workplace and daily-life vocabulary for clear communication.
  • Develop speaking skills for introductions, presentations, and conversations.
  • Practice writing emails, profiles, reports, and short essays.
  • Improve listening and comprehension in real-world and online contexts.
  • Understand and use English for health, technology, and workplace topics.
  • Tell stories and describe experiences using correct narrative tenses.
  • Discuss global issues like climate change, activism, and inclusion.
  • Build intercultural competence for professional and social interactions.
  • Practice reading, analyzing, and summarizing texts from various sources.

❓FAQs

It suits learners who already know basic English and want to improve for work or study. A lower-intermediate level is helpful before starting.

The course runs for about 2 weeks. Most learners spend around 10 hours per week on lessons and tasks.

You build grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. You also practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in real-life contexts.

Yes, you can earn a shareable certificate. You must complete the course and graded work to receive it.

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