I may be wrong, but I don't believe that the word "mistake" is used a single time in the CEFR descriptions or rubric. People make mistakes, it's a core feature of being a person. The CEFR descriptions are about what you can do in a language, not about what you can do without making any mistakes.
[CEFR companion volume](https://rm.coe.int/cefr-companion-volume-with-new-descriptors-2018/1680787989), page 133, *grammatical accuracy*
>C2: Maintains consistent grammatical control of complex language, even while attention is otherwise engaged (e.g. in forward planning, in monitoring others’ reactions).
>
>C1: Consistently maintains a high degree of grammatical accuracy; errors are rare and difficult to spot.
>
>B2.2: Good grammatical control. Occasional ‘slips’ or non-systematic errors and minor flaws in sentence structure may still occur, but they are rare and can often be corrected in retrospect.
>
>B2.1: Shows a relatively high degree of grammatical control. Does not make mistakes which lead to misunderstanding. Has a good command of simple language structures and some complex grammatical forms, although he/she tends to use complex structures rigidly with some inaccuracy.
Someone at C2 maintains consistent grammatical control, which is not the same thing as making no mistakes.
CEFR companion volume, page 134, *vocabulary control*
>C2: Consistently correct and appropriate use of vocabulary
>
>C1: Uses less common vocabulary idiomatically and appropriately. Occasional minor slips, but no significant vocabulary errors.
>
>B2 Lexical accuracy is generally high, though some confusion and incorrect word choice does occur without hindering communication.
Someone at C2 consistently choses correct vocabulary, though that is not the same thing as never making mistakes.
Thing is, even native mess up words, when you are speaking you change what you wanted to say midway through the sentence, when you are not thinking you may conjugate a verb incorrectly, say a regular form for an irregular past for example etc. Being C2 means you are very close to that, but you will be always making mistakes, that's just unavoidable when speaking a language
Agreed. Try reading the transcript of a politician’s press conference. These folks are expert at talking (if nothing else), and they all make blatant grammar mistakes, use the wrong word, or simply don’t make any sense.
While I can't speak to the particulars of the CEFR, I certainly know people I would class as C2 that still make very basic mistakes.
For instance, a friend of mine was born in Southeast Asia and moved to the US in her early teens. She was a star student and works as an engineer for a subsidiary of Microsoft. She will still say things like "there are 3 lime here," or mess up subject/verb agreement, but she is undoubtedly every bit as "fluent" as any native English speaker.
Likewise, the head of my university department was a Persian who was easily one of the most brilliant people I'd ever met. He had three masters degrees and a PhD, all from American universities, but he would still misuse definite articles and plurals pretty frequently, at least when speaking. Lots of people just have ingrained mistakes, and if they're not of a type that actually confuses native speakers, they may never get corrected and eventually fossilize.
C2 isn't a lie, but many people don't really know what the CEFR is or what the levels mean. [From the official documentation on page 36:](https://rm.coe.int/1680459f97)
>Level C2, whilst it has been termed ‘Mastery’, **is not intended to imply native-speaker or near native-speaker competence**. What is intended is to characterise the degree of precision, appropriateness and ease with the language which **typifies the speech of those who have been highly successful learners**
So if you have passed an officially recognized CEFR exam, that's confirmation that your proficiency is quite high in comparison to other non-native speakers, and you should be proud. (As an aside, if you took a fly-by-night online test or something provided informally by, say, a tutoring center, I wouldn't quite say that you were C2 officially. However, your writing here certainly seems C2!)
In any case, [here's an exchange that I think sums up what you're feeling](https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/comments/vi5i7d/comment/idc76r2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3):
Commenter 1:
>I disagree somewhat. Skill tests are also rarely accurate. My German is pretty bad, but I passed the C2 test. Wouldn't say that I speak German at a C2 level, though.
Commenter 2 in response:
>No, your German is great and you just have a healthy respect for the immense task that is learning a language to an advanced level.
>
>Every tested C2 I've ever seen comment on their abilities says the same thing. I have a C2 and a Master's in the language. I still feel like an idiot sometimes.
The issue, of course, is that as we grow, our goalposts move. You can be proficient and still make mistakes--that's called being human.
And don't let the fact that your point of comparison is now probably a well-spoken native speaker obscure the reality that compared to other non-native learners, you are excellent. That's what C2 indicates.
Completely agreed, and I'd also say CEFR gatekeeping is common, which can sometimes lead proficient speakers to believe their level is lower than it actually is.
Healthy self-criticism and a desire to always improve are great characteristics, but they shouldn't take away from one's self-esteem, either.
Everyone knows the Dunning-Krueger effect for the ignorant people that are convinced they know a lot. What almost nobody appreciates is the flip side of that theory--that those who know a lot, are convinced that they don't know that much.
> is not intended to imply native-speaker or near native-speaker competence
Do you one better, often it seems to me that (at least in written language) non-natives have a better grasp of grammatical rules and spelling. And definitely are better at differentiating between your and you're.
At any rate, we are humans. We mess up. Heck, we mess up talking our own native languages (especially when learning others, so it's like 2-3 languages contending for attention in our brains!), so I wouldn't sweat over actually being at C2 level or not. One day you might be asked by a native speaker to help him develop an article for an in-company newsletter in his native but your learned language. On others, you'll forget what the word for "mug" is and keep saying "she have", despite your best efforts.
> Do you one better, often it seems to me that (at least in written language) non-natives have a better grasp of grammatical rules and spelling. And definitely are better at differentiating between your and you're.
That's because standard grammatical rules often aren't the grammatical rules of any given speaker. They don't speak the standard.
And spelling is completely arbitrary anyway; it'd make sense for non-natives to have better spelling as they have to learn it and the rules for it, whereas natives connect it with inherent words in them.
Basically, non-natives learn the language *differently* than natives, so of course they'll have a better grasp of the standard and spelling, both of which are completely arbitrary choices that got codified for various reasons.
>Do you one better, often it seems to me that (at least in written language) non-natives have a better grasp of grammatical rules and spelling.
Hm, I'm not sure that this is true haha.
I sincerely doubt that the average non-native Hungarian speaker has a better grasp of Hungarian's grammar rules, for example--that just doesn't make sense. (*Maybe* explicit knowledge. But not execution.)
English is interesting because the most competent non-natives tend to self-select into English-only/primarily English spaces. So you end up with the top quartile to decile of non-natives being compared against all natives, which probably skews perceptions.
But I appreciate that your goal is to encourage the OP.
I’m not gonna lie, I needed to see this. Some days my English can be incredibly on point and others just take a nose-dive, making the most basic of mistakes and searching indefinitely for words when speaking. The brain works in funky ways when speaking an L2.
You can always improve even if you have a C2. I got my C2 in English in high school, around 6 years ago but I see I've improved a lot since then. Congrats on your C2, you're definitely fluent but there's always room for improvement as well! Plus, sometimes we even make mistakes in our native language, even really "stupid" ones.
Depends on the surroundings, like if I'm with my Latvian homies and I'm mad, ofc I'll be mad in Latvian. And if I'm with my russian speaking/Ukrainian homies then both russian and Ukrainian get mixed up in the heat of the moment.
I’ve read that 3 is the maximum possible for most children, because you need to spend around 33% of your critical period exposed to a language to acquire it.
should have clarified:
in job Interviews, applications or for example LinkedIn.
it's helpful to let them know your level.
i agree, i don't care about what others think my level is.
Tru, I was thinking more of those situations when some nerdy character comes up to you and asks your level. Job interviews, uni applications are different ofc ofc
hahaha, yes, to those i just say i only talk a little because I'm not interested in competing.
and you know... Dunning-Kruger-Effect. It's exactly these people who turn out to speak it less than me. because they just focus on these statuses instead of really communicating with natives.
i actually don't even tell anyone outside of the professional world that i speak other languages unless they specifically ask for a needed reason.
This isn't the CEFR, but for the American equivalent, the ACTFL, even in the highest score possible - Distinguished - which is above C2, it says the following:
"A non-native accent, a lack of a native-like economy of expression, a limited control of deeply embedded cultural references, and/or
an occasional isolated language error may still be present at this level."
>Distinguished - which is above C2
Is it? The chart is slightly ambiguous on the right side but it seems it is equivalent, no?
https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/reports/Assigning\_CEFR\_Ratings\_To\_ACTFL\_Assessments.pdf
Apparently "clear to me" means "clear to everyone", thanks, got it.
(The absence of "distinguished" on the right side could simply be interpreted as - this facet of learning tops out at "superior", though I certainly understand the other POV (yours) as well.)
Well, it doesn't top out at that side because people do get Distinguished awarded to them in Speaking and Writing tests, though it's rare. I've read up a lot on the ACTFL/watched their example videos on YouTube.
This post is excellent and I could have mistaken it for the work of a native speaker if it were not for the subject.
Example of an actual awkward and unnatural sentence:
https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/comments/yl88rc/what_is_the_meaning_of_the_word_upon_in_this/
(There are lots of these godawful things in material for learners, by non-native teachers whose English is evidently far worse than yours.)
To be fair, this is someone I find that many just say of anyone they disagree with. Often both sides of each other in an argument accusing each other of “not being willing to listen” while neither really has an argument of why theirs is the side of veracity.
I'm talking about people who say they're fluent in a language but they're not. They have glaringly huge errors but they are too arrogant to see that they're not perfect and refuse help from others or get offended when people try to help. I see it online all the time with people who speak English as a 2nd language.
On the English-learning subreddit, I see so many example of poorly written--indeed, as you put it, godawful-- test questions and sentences that students have to navigate. What's worse is that the teachers will often not accept there could very well be two possible answers, depending on context. And frankly, the context given on the test is often godawful.
Yep, if I didn't have any other reason to suspect a non-native poster, I would have assumed the poster was native.
However, because of the topic, I feel that I was able to pick up on a little off-ness. Like OP said, it's just how things are structured/worded.
For example: "After all the excitement, I started questioning this. I still make many mistakes in English, sometimes even a beginner wouldn’t make them. "
This wording felt just ever so slighlty "off" once I was clued-in to it being a non-native speaker, but I honestly could not tell you how I would "fix" it or re-word it.
It's only a little awkward, and maybe slightly grammatically incorrect. Like you said, it would be hard to notice in most cases.
As a native speaker (US) I might say something like: "But after the initial excitement had passed, I started wondering if this really meant what I thought it meant. I still make many mistakes in English that even a beginner wouldn't make."
For fun I thought really hard about why I would rewrite things the way I did, so I'll comment on it but WARNING: I'm no linguist or scholar of English lol.
"After all the excitement" -> I feel this is usually used to refer to finishing a big party or social event, so in this context I would expect maybe another sentence before it like "My fiancé and I immediately went out for dinner to celebrate!" to contextualize. My choice of phrasing emphasizes more that the excitement was mental or internal to the OP's thoughts.
"I started questioning this" -> Just felt a little imprecise because in the previous sentence it's not clear what there is to be questioned, i.e., the facts of whether or not you took a test and whether or not you received a score seem unquestionable. I would have expected "questioning myself," which specifies better that there's self-doubt as opposed to questioning some set of facts.
Second sentence is also just a little imprecise, mostly the "them". I would have preferred "I still make many mistakes in English; even a beginner wouldn’t make these kinds of mistakes."
Anyways, congrats nonetheless to OP. Your level of English mastery is something that many only wish they could have (and something I wish I could have for the foreign languages I claim to know...). The nitpicks I made are not serious at all. They're the sort of revisions you might discuss with someone in an English or writing class in the US, which of course are classes mostly populated by native/near-native speakers.
maybe:
"i still make many mistakes in English even a beginner wouldn't make."?
(non native here, i took this as a challenge to see how I could make it sound more natural. open for criticism.)
> I would have assumed the poster was native.
Surely it is so common with English for second language speakers in writing to have near-native to native level grammar that such an assumption is hardly warranted.
There are apparently about three times as many competent non-native speakers of English as there are native ones.
Now, hearing a man speak with a native-level accent is quite another matter of course.
I have been browbeaten in other threads to acknowledge that C2s can make really basic mistakes, and the grading system is designed for non native speakers.
So according to many here, you’re fine (and congrats btw).
For me personally… really tightening up the verb conjugations and remembering articles etc. should be focused on until the mistakes stop. It’s not the end of the world, but that’s how I see it.
PS: your post was extremely well written. I didn’t scrutinize it, but no errors jumped out at me.
Some people claim C2 here and make such basic errors that it’s hard to believe. Not the case with you!
No offense, but you’ve indicated that you’ve learned one language to a roughly intermediate level. Why would you be qualified to say what is and isn’t authentically C2?
You raise a valid point. However, I've got to point out they are also claiming to be a native English speaker. That means they are used to non-natives speaking their language. As such, they may indeed have some experience regarding this matter under their belt.
The CEFR scale explicitly cannot evaluate native speakers, so a native speaker evaluating a CEFR standard based on their own L1 experience is not going to work out well.
No, what I mean is that they've likely had a lot of encounters with non-natives speaking their language, so they have been able to witness and understand that C2 learners still make mistakes and are largely imperfect.
I’m still coming to terms with the fact people can pass the C2 with such broken English, is basically what has informed my opinion.
But yes you are right, I’m not that knowledgeable about the intricacies of the the test.
C2 does not and never has meant that you can speak 100% perfect English absolutely all the time without ever making a mistake. It just means you can use English fluently in a wide range of situations and even distinguish between nuances. A lot of people don't seem to understand that, unfortunately.
I myself got a C2 certificate in English all the way back in 2013, but my English has continued improving since then. My English has become more idiomatic and I've learned even some fairly rare words and expressions in the meantime.
I work as an editor. I have seen professional, native English-speaker writers make absolutely elementary mistakes, such as "They could of gone to the store" instead of "could've" or "take the reigns" instead of "reins."
I've also had writers push back on a correction and looked it up to find I myself made an elementary mistake, or I've had instances where I've had to look something up because I just didn't know what the correct answer was. And my spoken English is kind of trash. I make mistakes all. The. Time. When I'm speaking, because you have to be a lot faster thinking.
And that's people who do English for a living! I know many native speakers who would not score a C2.
Don't sell yourself short. If you scored C2, you've earned it. Congratulations on your hard work and achievement.
It got really bad when I was working as an editor for a magazine while constantly surrounded by (and sometimes editing for) a variety of ESL speakers. Sometimes I would completely lose track of what correct grammar even was. I still pull out a little ESL grammar (mostly Romantic, with some Asian-language undertones) especially when talking with ESL speakers. Not perhaps helpful to them, but nonetheless.
I dunno, I hear people say stuff like, "I seen him" on the daily. Of course, I live in an ex-farm town and grew up in the boonies. But it seems to be fairly common.
ETA: And when I lived on Long Island stuff like "supposively" and "lieberry" were very common.
Im a native English speaker, with a university degree, I’m also dyslexic, so I struggle with spelling and mix up words a lot. What my skill with my native language does mean is that my ability with English never impedes an interaction with another English speaker. However I do genuinely still look for ways to improve my English. For example I’ve gotten better at simplifying my word choice and sentence structure when speaking to people who are still learning. I’ve improved my spelling. I still learn new words from time to time.
If there are things about your English you want to improve, focus on doing that rather than weather or not you’re a true c2. Just build your relationship with the language.
"Well, I took an english test and the result was ✨C2✨"
What test was this? To me it sounds like you took some kind of placement test rather than an officially recognised CEFR exam. Maybe it's just an exam I've never heard of, but all the CEFR exams I've taken were specific to a given level, meaning you sign up for, say, the C2 exam, and then either you pass or you fail.
There's plenty of exams that do exactly what the op is describing. For example, IELTS and TOEFL (two of the most widely recognized English exams) aren't pass-fail.
Right, but neither yield a CEFR level. They have some rough, indicative estimates of how their own scoring system relates to the CEFR (like IELTS 9 being roughly equivalent to CEFR C2), but that's it.
There may be CEFR exams that aren't pass-fail. I'm just not aware of them.
To be fair, they exist. The [Spanish DELE](https://www.dele.org/) is pass-fail and you have to choose a level to test for, but the [SIELE](https://siele.org/en/examen) is a newer test that scores you (out of 1000 points in the four language areas) and the score ranges map to a CEFR level. It's an officially-recognized, proctored CEFR test and the certificate is on par with the DELE. I officially hold a B2 certificate (missed C1).
That said, it's true that some tests aren't official or worth it, and some don't test all areas. If OP doesn't have a diploma or a certificate that is internationally recognized, then yeah, probably not valid.
It's relevant because the OP said
>I took an english test and the result was ✨C2✨"
and I doubt someone who passes IELTS or TOEFL would say that. They'd just say their IELTS or TOEFL score. But I could be wrong. OP is more than welcome to correct me. And no, I'm not at all implying that IELTS or TOEFL are less valid.
But if it was a placement test, then yeah, those tend to be a lot shorter and a lot easier than the certification exams. So if that's what the OP took, then the point is to say that the requirements for C2 certification might be a bit harder than what the OP thinks. That's all. There's no judgment at all on my part.
C2 isn't a lie.
The CEFR levels never imply you'd speak or write mistake-free. They're just assessments of what you can do with the language, and how you can complete those tasks.
A slip of the tongue (she have) isn't the end of the world while talking casually or fast, as long as you're not saying it all the time.
Natives make mistakes too. Plenty of natives with below average education probably aren't as technically proficient as a C1/C2 foreign speaker but they have a better flow due to decades of "experience".
Comparing natives and learners is futile and the CEFR hasn't been devised for that.
It's a way to assess with a bit of consistency, if not perfect accuracy, what to expect from a foreigner in some contexts.
Something needed to navigate through subjective terms like "good English" or "basic French". Which can mean almost anything depending on the honesty of the speaker (or on how strong their Dunning-Kruger effect is)
It’s likely you’re just overthinking this. Whoever taught you that the higher your level, the lower the chances of you making mistakes were just lied.
I haven’t gotten a certification yet, I’d say I’m currently in between of being a B2 and a C1 (that’s just a speculation so take it with a grain of salt), but I still make many mistakes. You could probably find some as you’re reading this comment! But it’s normal, we learn more everyday, and if you’re so fluent then you shouldn’t be worrying lots.
I’m sure that most people wouldn’t have known you’re not a native if they didn’t know what the post was about.
I will say this:
I'm an A2. When I got myself into a chatroom with a bunch of people speaking my target language, it didn't take me but a few minutes to realize these native speakers had HORRIBLE grammar and spelling.
There's a difference between proficiency and fluidity. You now know more about the rules of the English language than 80% of native English speakers. You, however, don't have the decades of practice. Even as such, I still hear atrocities among people that I went to the same grade school as in my 30s.
C2 isn't a lie, and from this post you're clearly at that level.
As a native English speaker and a teacher of English for many years, I can say with confidence that what you've described is the verbatim "English speaking experience". Most native speakers constantly have grammatical errors, misspellings, etc. It's also fairly common for them to not be able to come up with a specific word for what they're thinking, or to have a hard time coming up with a sentence. If anything, being able to notice you have these issues makes you a step above most native English speakers.
You wrote this is in perfect English and saying she have instead of she has isn't a big deal since every native English speaker makes mistakes from time to time. If the test says you're C2 then you're probably C2
I make as many mistakes in my native language as I do in English, and not only do I have the Proficiency certificate, I prepare people for it as well.
Mistakes are normal and natural. In my native language, I just correct myself and move on, and I've taught myself to do it in English as well - it's normal and natural.
Just so you know, even native English speakers make some of the mistakes you talk about. You have no idea how many times I mess up tenses when I’m taking in plurals—especially with like group nouns like “team” and stuff. Your written English is great. I feel like you shouldn’t pay as much attention to tests and numbers as you should see if people understand what you’re saying/writing. In any case, you’re doing great!
\>I find myself struggling to form some sentences, to find an appropriate word, wondering how to pronounce some words that aren’t that uncommon and so on.
I think at a certain point you have to realize that even native speakers have to go to school to learn their own language. At a certain level of language proficiency, you start facing problems that native English speakers also face when speaking or writing about complex subjects. That in itself is a sign of a very high level of language mastery.
Finally, it may ultimately not be useful or even scientifically legitimate to compare oneself with native speakers all the time. Language is so complicated, for all we know it may be that after the critical periods in early childhood, one cannot really pick up a foreign language to near-native proficiency. I read somewhere online (maybe in this sub?) that to become fluent in a foreign language means reliving your entire life in that language, because that's how you learned your native language after all. It's all about those hours of language immersion. For someone like you chances are if you lived in like the US you would be able to become even better and sound even more native-like after full immersion for some number of years. But what is the need for this level of language mastery? If you're not aiming to be a writer (and it's really astounding that people can be amazing writers in a language when it's not their native language, like Vladimir Nabokov), it's nothing to stress yourself over :)
Maybe but you're assuming native English speakers don't make mistakes. I can't believe how many even well educated people don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" or say words like "irregardless." Don't be so hard on yourself. You're obviously capable of expressing philosophical thought fluently.
C2 is a starting point for being a fully functioning member in a society where that language is spoken IMO. I can relate to all your observations. I passed my exam months ago and I still study daily…
Everyone including native speakers make mistakes when using a language. If you think about conversations you have in both english and your native language, you will probably have had moments where someone says something wrong and corrects it. As a native english speaker I get english words wrong now and again but I notice it and fix it on the fly. A lot of banter that tends to happen with friends is someone saying something wrong and us laughing about it.
Proficiency isn't about not making mistakes at all, it's about being able to recognise them and correct them
I got my C2 about 6 years ago and I consider my English now way better than it was back then. Getting that certificate means that your level is above a certain point, but there will always be more things to learn. Heck, there are always gonna be things to learn in our native tongue as well. I still see greek words that I do not know what they mean and I was born and bred in Greece.
A lot of native English speakers say things like, "There's a lot of ducks in the pond" when they mean there *are*. Lorde has a hit song on the radio where she uses the word "ain't" incorrectly. Even native English speakers make mistakes.
An official paid C2 test is incredibly difficult. My friend passed it and she never ever makes grammatical errors . I really doubt it was an official test.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard a person who I know to be an intelligent native English speaker talking and catch them making a basic subject-verb agreement mistake. Searching for the right word happens to my native English speaking partner all of the time, too. He has ADHD.
I think you're being too hard on yourself! Congrats on achieving your goal! We all say funny sentences awkwardly sometimes (😜) but either ignore it or laugh it off, it's really not a big deal!
It's just a label. Nobody is going to ask what level you are when you're looking for a job. At least not in the US. You write well, so I'm sure you speak well. Just keep improving and don't stress about the label. I'm fluent in other languages but that doesn't mean I'm perfect or know every word or can talk about tax law. Just keep going and don't stress yourself. You make more errors when you overthink.
I’m native and when I switch between my two languages I get stumped sometimes lol. Languages are hard and they get easier with exposure I’m sure you are fine!
My friend, I am a native speaker and I still make mistakes - and not the “on purpose” slang kind either. It just happens and I definitely happens to everyone (especially in English).
Congrats on the test score!
Let's put it like this: just based on your post, I would have guessed you were a native English speaker. The grammar and style are perfectly natural, and all the vocabulary is appropriate and has exactly the right nuances. It's only if I'm looking for it that I can find a few things that aren't *quite* what a native speaker would say, even if they're still absolutely 100% "correct.
C2 doesn't mean you never make mistakes. I speak English natively, and in fact quite well, thank you very much, and I make mistakes every day -- not "mistakes" that aren't really mistakes, like ending a sentence with a preposition, but real errors where I tried to say two things at once and instead said a mishmash of both that it's even close to grammatical.
*Edit:* If you're wondering for an example of one of the few things I think aren't *quite* right, I might pick out "after all the excitement." To me that implies a big party, where all your family and friends got together to celebrate your achievement; and it's only later, when you were alone, that you had second thoughts. And that might be what you mean! But what I *think* you meant was something like "after getting all excited," implying that your private emotions went from initial excitement quickly to disappointment.
I'm a native English speaker and I make plenty of mistakes! Haha. I was even working with some South Korean students (not teaching English, just taking them on outdoor adventures) and sometimes they'd hear mistakes I made and question me about them.
English is my first language. I’m slowly learning another. I make mistakes speaking/writing it all the time - because we’re human! I think you’re doing fantastic.
I think almost anyone who, like you or me, when writing displays competence in complex, idiomatic sounding grammar would be C2 in practice.
The post you wrote here alone, as well as almost any other one in his thread is indicative of a C2 level proficiency in English.
I may be wrong, but I don't believe that the word "mistake" is used a single time in the CEFR descriptions or rubric. People make mistakes, it's a core feature of being a person. The CEFR descriptions are about what you can do in a language, not about what you can do without making any mistakes.
[CEFR companion volume](https://rm.coe.int/cefr-companion-volume-with-new-descriptors-2018/1680787989), page 133, *grammatical accuracy* >C2: Maintains consistent grammatical control of complex language, even while attention is otherwise engaged (e.g. in forward planning, in monitoring others’ reactions). > >C1: Consistently maintains a high degree of grammatical accuracy; errors are rare and difficult to spot. > >B2.2: Good grammatical control. Occasional ‘slips’ or non-systematic errors and minor flaws in sentence structure may still occur, but they are rare and can often be corrected in retrospect. > >B2.1: Shows a relatively high degree of grammatical control. Does not make mistakes which lead to misunderstanding. Has a good command of simple language structures and some complex grammatical forms, although he/she tends to use complex structures rigidly with some inaccuracy. Someone at C2 maintains consistent grammatical control, which is not the same thing as making no mistakes. CEFR companion volume, page 134, *vocabulary control* >C2: Consistently correct and appropriate use of vocabulary > >C1: Uses less common vocabulary idiomatically and appropriately. Occasional minor slips, but no significant vocabulary errors. > >B2 Lexical accuracy is generally high, though some confusion and incorrect word choice does occur without hindering communication. Someone at C2 consistently choses correct vocabulary, though that is not the same thing as never making mistakes.
Thing is, even native mess up words, when you are speaking you change what you wanted to say midway through the sentence, when you are not thinking you may conjugate a verb incorrectly, say a regular form for an irregular past for example etc. Being C2 means you are very close to that, but you will be always making mistakes, that's just unavoidable when speaking a language
Agreed. Try reading the transcript of a politician’s press conference. These folks are expert at talking (if nothing else), and they all make blatant grammar mistakes, use the wrong word, or simply don’t make any sense.
Yep. I don't know much about CEFR, but I'm a native English speaker and even I make mistakes a beginner wouldn't make fairly regularly.
> consistently **choses** correct vocabulary A great example of natives still making mistakes ;)
Isn't it just a typo though?
While I can't speak to the particulars of the CEFR, I certainly know people I would class as C2 that still make very basic mistakes. For instance, a friend of mine was born in Southeast Asia and moved to the US in her early teens. She was a star student and works as an engineer for a subsidiary of Microsoft. She will still say things like "there are 3 lime here," or mess up subject/verb agreement, but she is undoubtedly every bit as "fluent" as any native English speaker. Likewise, the head of my university department was a Persian who was easily one of the most brilliant people I'd ever met. He had three masters degrees and a PhD, all from American universities, but he would still misuse definite articles and plurals pretty frequently, at least when speaking. Lots of people just have ingrained mistakes, and if they're not of a type that actually confuses native speakers, they may never get corrected and eventually fossilize.
well-put
C2 isn't a lie, but many people don't really know what the CEFR is or what the levels mean. [From the official documentation on page 36:](https://rm.coe.int/1680459f97) >Level C2, whilst it has been termed ‘Mastery’, **is not intended to imply native-speaker or near native-speaker competence**. What is intended is to characterise the degree of precision, appropriateness and ease with the language which **typifies the speech of those who have been highly successful learners** So if you have passed an officially recognized CEFR exam, that's confirmation that your proficiency is quite high in comparison to other non-native speakers, and you should be proud. (As an aside, if you took a fly-by-night online test or something provided informally by, say, a tutoring center, I wouldn't quite say that you were C2 officially. However, your writing here certainly seems C2!) In any case, [here's an exchange that I think sums up what you're feeling](https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/comments/vi5i7d/comment/idc76r2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3): Commenter 1: >I disagree somewhat. Skill tests are also rarely accurate. My German is pretty bad, but I passed the C2 test. Wouldn't say that I speak German at a C2 level, though. Commenter 2 in response: >No, your German is great and you just have a healthy respect for the immense task that is learning a language to an advanced level. > >Every tested C2 I've ever seen comment on their abilities says the same thing. I have a C2 and a Master's in the language. I still feel like an idiot sometimes. The issue, of course, is that as we grow, our goalposts move. You can be proficient and still make mistakes--that's called being human. And don't let the fact that your point of comparison is now probably a well-spoken native speaker obscure the reality that compared to other non-native learners, you are excellent. That's what C2 indicates.
Completely agreed, and I'd also say CEFR gatekeeping is common, which can sometimes lead proficient speakers to believe their level is lower than it actually is. Healthy self-criticism and a desire to always improve are great characteristics, but they shouldn't take away from one's self-esteem, either.
Everyone knows the Dunning-Krueger effect for the ignorant people that are convinced they know a lot. What almost nobody appreciates is the flip side of that theory--that those who know a lot, are convinced that they don't know that much.
> is not intended to imply native-speaker or near native-speaker competence Do you one better, often it seems to me that (at least in written language) non-natives have a better grasp of grammatical rules and spelling. And definitely are better at differentiating between your and you're. At any rate, we are humans. We mess up. Heck, we mess up talking our own native languages (especially when learning others, so it's like 2-3 languages contending for attention in our brains!), so I wouldn't sweat over actually being at C2 level or not. One day you might be asked by a native speaker to help him develop an article for an in-company newsletter in his native but your learned language. On others, you'll forget what the word for "mug" is and keep saying "she have", despite your best efforts.
> Do you one better, often it seems to me that (at least in written language) non-natives have a better grasp of grammatical rules and spelling. And definitely are better at differentiating between your and you're. That's because standard grammatical rules often aren't the grammatical rules of any given speaker. They don't speak the standard. And spelling is completely arbitrary anyway; it'd make sense for non-natives to have better spelling as they have to learn it and the rules for it, whereas natives connect it with inherent words in them. Basically, non-natives learn the language *differently* than natives, so of course they'll have a better grasp of the standard and spelling, both of which are completely arbitrary choices that got codified for various reasons.
>Do you one better, often it seems to me that (at least in written language) non-natives have a better grasp of grammatical rules and spelling. Hm, I'm not sure that this is true haha. I sincerely doubt that the average non-native Hungarian speaker has a better grasp of Hungarian's grammar rules, for example--that just doesn't make sense. (*Maybe* explicit knowledge. But not execution.) English is interesting because the most competent non-natives tend to self-select into English-only/primarily English spaces. So you end up with the top quartile to decile of non-natives being compared against all natives, which probably skews perceptions. But I appreciate that your goal is to encourage the OP.
I’m not gonna lie, I needed to see this. Some days my English can be incredibly on point and others just take a nose-dive, making the most basic of mistakes and searching indefinitely for words when speaking. The brain works in funky ways when speaking an L2.
You can always improve even if you have a C2. I got my C2 in English in high school, around 6 years ago but I see I've improved a lot since then. Congrats on your C2, you're definitely fluent but there's always room for improvement as well! Plus, sometimes we even make mistakes in our native language, even really "stupid" ones.
Idk I stopped caring when I realized that 80% of media I consume daily is in English.
3 native languages?! 😨 I have only ever seen 2! Very cool combo as well. What language do you think in when you are very emotional??
Depends on the surroundings, like if I'm with my Latvian homies and I'm mad, ofc I'll be mad in Latvian. And if I'm with my russian speaking/Ukrainian homies then both russian and Ukrainian get mixed up in the heat of the moment.
I’ve read that 3 is the maximum possible for most children, because you need to spend around 33% of your critical period exposed to a language to acquire it.
true. but sometimes i feel bad when I'm being asked what my level is and i can't answer it...
Just say you don't know, if you really know the language then you won't care what others think
should have clarified: in job Interviews, applications or for example LinkedIn. it's helpful to let them know your level. i agree, i don't care about what others think my level is.
Tru, I was thinking more of those situations when some nerdy character comes up to you and asks your level. Job interviews, uni applications are different ofc ofc
hahaha, yes, to those i just say i only talk a little because I'm not interested in competing. and you know... Dunning-Kruger-Effect. It's exactly these people who turn out to speak it less than me. because they just focus on these statuses instead of really communicating with natives. i actually don't even tell anyone outside of the professional world that i speak other languages unless they specifically ask for a needed reason.
This isn't the CEFR, but for the American equivalent, the ACTFL, even in the highest score possible - Distinguished - which is above C2, it says the following: "A non-native accent, a lack of a native-like economy of expression, a limited control of deeply embedded cultural references, and/or an occasional isolated language error may still be present at this level."
>Distinguished - which is above C2 Is it? The chart is slightly ambiguous on the right side but it seems it is equivalent, no? https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/reports/Assigning\_CEFR\_Ratings\_To\_ACTFL\_Assessments.pdf
It is above C2 in the speaking and writing. Superior is equivalent to C2 there. It's very clear.
Apparently "clear to me" means "clear to everyone", thanks, got it. (The absence of "distinguished" on the right side could simply be interpreted as - this facet of learning tops out at "superior", though I certainly understand the other POV (yours) as well.)
Well, it doesn't top out at that side because people do get Distinguished awarded to them in Speaking and Writing tests, though it's rare. I've read up a lot on the ACTFL/watched their example videos on YouTube.
you are your own worst critic.
This post is excellent and I could have mistaken it for the work of a native speaker if it were not for the subject. Example of an actual awkward and unnatural sentence: https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/comments/yl88rc/what_is_the_meaning_of_the_word_upon_in_this/ (There are lots of these godawful things in material for learners, by non-native teachers whose English is evidently far worse than yours.)
The worst thing is someone who thinks they're never wrong and isn't open to correction.
To be fair, this is someone I find that many just say of anyone they disagree with. Often both sides of each other in an argument accusing each other of “not being willing to listen” while neither really has an argument of why theirs is the side of veracity.
I'm talking about people who say they're fluent in a language but they're not. They have glaringly huge errors but they are too arrogant to see that they're not perfect and refuse help from others or get offended when people try to help. I see it online all the time with people who speak English as a 2nd language.
On the English-learning subreddit, I see so many example of poorly written--indeed, as you put it, godawful-- test questions and sentences that students have to navigate. What's worse is that the teachers will often not accept there could very well be two possible answers, depending on context. And frankly, the context given on the test is often godawful.
Yep, if I didn't have any other reason to suspect a non-native poster, I would have assumed the poster was native. However, because of the topic, I feel that I was able to pick up on a little off-ness. Like OP said, it's just how things are structured/worded. For example: "After all the excitement, I started questioning this. I still make many mistakes in English, sometimes even a beginner wouldn’t make them. " This wording felt just ever so slighlty "off" once I was clued-in to it being a non-native speaker, but I honestly could not tell you how I would "fix" it or re-word it.
It's only a little awkward, and maybe slightly grammatically incorrect. Like you said, it would be hard to notice in most cases. As a native speaker (US) I might say something like: "But after the initial excitement had passed, I started wondering if this really meant what I thought it meant. I still make many mistakes in English that even a beginner wouldn't make." For fun I thought really hard about why I would rewrite things the way I did, so I'll comment on it but WARNING: I'm no linguist or scholar of English lol. "After all the excitement" -> I feel this is usually used to refer to finishing a big party or social event, so in this context I would expect maybe another sentence before it like "My fiancé and I immediately went out for dinner to celebrate!" to contextualize. My choice of phrasing emphasizes more that the excitement was mental or internal to the OP's thoughts. "I started questioning this" -> Just felt a little imprecise because in the previous sentence it's not clear what there is to be questioned, i.e., the facts of whether or not you took a test and whether or not you received a score seem unquestionable. I would have expected "questioning myself," which specifies better that there's self-doubt as opposed to questioning some set of facts. Second sentence is also just a little imprecise, mostly the "them". I would have preferred "I still make many mistakes in English; even a beginner wouldn’t make these kinds of mistakes." Anyways, congrats nonetheless to OP. Your level of English mastery is something that many only wish they could have (and something I wish I could have for the foreign languages I claim to know...). The nitpicks I made are not serious at all. They're the sort of revisions you might discuss with someone in an English or writing class in the US, which of course are classes mostly populated by native/near-native speakers.
maybe: "i still make many mistakes in English even a beginner wouldn't make."? (non native here, i took this as a challenge to see how I could make it sound more natural. open for criticism.)
That’s about how I would say it, as a native English speaker.
thanks for the feedback 💕
> I would have assumed the poster was native. Surely it is so common with English for second language speakers in writing to have near-native to native level grammar that such an assumption is hardly warranted. There are apparently about three times as many competent non-native speakers of English as there are native ones. Now, hearing a man speak with a native-level accent is quite another matter of course.
I have been browbeaten in other threads to acknowledge that C2s can make really basic mistakes, and the grading system is designed for non native speakers. So according to many here, you’re fine (and congrats btw). For me personally… really tightening up the verb conjugations and remembering articles etc. should be focused on until the mistakes stop. It’s not the end of the world, but that’s how I see it. PS: your post was extremely well written. I didn’t scrutinize it, but no errors jumped out at me. Some people claim C2 here and make such basic errors that it’s hard to believe. Not the case with you!
No offense, but you’ve indicated that you’ve learned one language to a roughly intermediate level. Why would you be qualified to say what is and isn’t authentically C2?
You raise a valid point. However, I've got to point out they are also claiming to be a native English speaker. That means they are used to non-natives speaking their language. As such, they may indeed have some experience regarding this matter under their belt.
The CEFR scale explicitly cannot evaluate native speakers, so a native speaker evaluating a CEFR standard based on their own L1 experience is not going to work out well.
No, what I mean is that they've likely had a lot of encounters with non-natives speaking their language, so they have been able to witness and understand that C2 learners still make mistakes and are largely imperfect.
I’m still coming to terms with the fact people can pass the C2 with such broken English, is basically what has informed my opinion. But yes you are right, I’m not that knowledgeable about the intricacies of the the test.
C2 does not and never has meant that you can speak 100% perfect English absolutely all the time without ever making a mistake. It just means you can use English fluently in a wide range of situations and even distinguish between nuances. A lot of people don't seem to understand that, unfortunately. I myself got a C2 certificate in English all the way back in 2013, but my English has continued improving since then. My English has become more idiomatic and I've learned even some fairly rare words and expressions in the meantime.
I work as an editor. I have seen professional, native English-speaker writers make absolutely elementary mistakes, such as "They could of gone to the store" instead of "could've" or "take the reigns" instead of "reins." I've also had writers push back on a correction and looked it up to find I myself made an elementary mistake, or I've had instances where I've had to look something up because I just didn't know what the correct answer was. And my spoken English is kind of trash. I make mistakes all. The. Time. When I'm speaking, because you have to be a lot faster thinking. And that's people who do English for a living! I know many native speakers who would not score a C2. Don't sell yourself short. If you scored C2, you've earned it. Congratulations on your hard work and achievement.
Was going to say that! I have my master’s in ed and am a professional writer and have worked as an editor. Even I make mistakes sometimes!
It got really bad when I was working as an editor for a magazine while constantly surrounded by (and sometimes editing for) a variety of ESL speakers. Sometimes I would completely lose track of what correct grammar even was. I still pull out a little ESL grammar (mostly Romantic, with some Asian-language undertones) especially when talking with ESL speakers. Not perhaps helpful to them, but nonetheless.
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I dunno, I hear people say stuff like, "I seen him" on the daily. Of course, I live in an ex-farm town and grew up in the boonies. But it seems to be fairly common. ETA: And when I lived on Long Island stuff like "supposively" and "lieberry" were very common.
Im a native English speaker, with a university degree, I’m also dyslexic, so I struggle with spelling and mix up words a lot. What my skill with my native language does mean is that my ability with English never impedes an interaction with another English speaker. However I do genuinely still look for ways to improve my English. For example I’ve gotten better at simplifying my word choice and sentence structure when speaking to people who are still learning. I’ve improved my spelling. I still learn new words from time to time. If there are things about your English you want to improve, focus on doing that rather than weather or not you’re a true c2. Just build your relationship with the language.
The secret is to stop comparing yourself to native speakers :)
"Well, I took an english test and the result was ✨C2✨" What test was this? To me it sounds like you took some kind of placement test rather than an officially recognised CEFR exam. Maybe it's just an exam I've never heard of, but all the CEFR exams I've taken were specific to a given level, meaning you sign up for, say, the C2 exam, and then either you pass or you fail.
There's plenty of exams that do exactly what the op is describing. For example, IELTS and TOEFL (two of the most widely recognized English exams) aren't pass-fail.
Right, but neither yield a CEFR level. They have some rough, indicative estimates of how their own scoring system relates to the CEFR (like IELTS 9 being roughly equivalent to CEFR C2), but that's it. There may be CEFR exams that aren't pass-fail. I'm just not aware of them.
To be fair, they exist. The [Spanish DELE](https://www.dele.org/) is pass-fail and you have to choose a level to test for, but the [SIELE](https://siele.org/en/examen) is a newer test that scores you (out of 1000 points in the four language areas) and the score ranges map to a CEFR level. It's an officially-recognized, proctored CEFR test and the certificate is on par with the DELE. I officially hold a B2 certificate (missed C1). That said, it's true that some tests aren't official or worth it, and some don't test all areas. If OP doesn't have a diploma or a certificate that is internationally recognized, then yeah, probably not valid.
Thanks! That's exactly the kind of thing I was wondering about. The more you know... :-)
I fail to see how that's relevant, and why you think it makes op's exam any less valid.
It's relevant because the OP said >I took an english test and the result was ✨C2✨" and I doubt someone who passes IELTS or TOEFL would say that. They'd just say their IELTS or TOEFL score. But I could be wrong. OP is more than welcome to correct me. And no, I'm not at all implying that IELTS or TOEFL are less valid. But if it was a placement test, then yeah, those tend to be a lot shorter and a lot easier than the certification exams. So if that's what the OP took, then the point is to say that the requirements for C2 certification might be a bit harder than what the OP thinks. That's all. There's no judgment at all on my part.
TOEIC, but it doesn't go up to C2.
C2 isn't a lie. The CEFR levels never imply you'd speak or write mistake-free. They're just assessments of what you can do with the language, and how you can complete those tasks. A slip of the tongue (she have) isn't the end of the world while talking casually or fast, as long as you're not saying it all the time. Natives make mistakes too. Plenty of natives with below average education probably aren't as technically proficient as a C1/C2 foreign speaker but they have a better flow due to decades of "experience". Comparing natives and learners is futile and the CEFR hasn't been devised for that. It's a way to assess with a bit of consistency, if not perfect accuracy, what to expect from a foreigner in some contexts. Something needed to navigate through subjective terms like "good English" or "basic French". Which can mean almost anything depending on the honesty of the speaker (or on how strong their Dunning-Kruger effect is)
It’s likely you’re just overthinking this. Whoever taught you that the higher your level, the lower the chances of you making mistakes were just lied. I haven’t gotten a certification yet, I’d say I’m currently in between of being a B2 and a C1 (that’s just a speculation so take it with a grain of salt), but I still make many mistakes. You could probably find some as you’re reading this comment! But it’s normal, we learn more everyday, and if you’re so fluent then you shouldn’t be worrying lots. I’m sure that most people wouldn’t have known you’re not a native if they didn’t know what the post was about.
I will say this: I'm an A2. When I got myself into a chatroom with a bunch of people speaking my target language, it didn't take me but a few minutes to realize these native speakers had HORRIBLE grammar and spelling. There's a difference between proficiency and fluidity. You now know more about the rules of the English language than 80% of native English speakers. You, however, don't have the decades of practice. Even as such, I still hear atrocities among people that I went to the same grade school as in my 30s.
C2 isn't a lie, and from this post you're clearly at that level. As a native English speaker and a teacher of English for many years, I can say with confidence that what you've described is the verbatim "English speaking experience". Most native speakers constantly have grammatical errors, misspellings, etc. It's also fairly common for them to not be able to come up with a specific word for what they're thinking, or to have a hard time coming up with a sentence. If anything, being able to notice you have these issues makes you a step above most native English speakers.
You wrote this is in perfect English and saying she have instead of she has isn't a big deal since every native English speaker makes mistakes from time to time. If the test says you're C2 then you're probably C2
I make as many mistakes in my native language as I do in English, and not only do I have the Proficiency certificate, I prepare people for it as well. Mistakes are normal and natural. In my native language, I just correct myself and move on, and I've taught myself to do it in English as well - it's normal and natural.
Just so you know, even native English speakers make some of the mistakes you talk about. You have no idea how many times I mess up tenses when I’m taking in plurals—especially with like group nouns like “team” and stuff. Your written English is great. I feel like you shouldn’t pay as much attention to tests and numbers as you should see if people understand what you’re saying/writing. In any case, you’re doing great!
\>I find myself struggling to form some sentences, to find an appropriate word, wondering how to pronounce some words that aren’t that uncommon and so on. I think at a certain point you have to realize that even native speakers have to go to school to learn their own language. At a certain level of language proficiency, you start facing problems that native English speakers also face when speaking or writing about complex subjects. That in itself is a sign of a very high level of language mastery. Finally, it may ultimately not be useful or even scientifically legitimate to compare oneself with native speakers all the time. Language is so complicated, for all we know it may be that after the critical periods in early childhood, one cannot really pick up a foreign language to near-native proficiency. I read somewhere online (maybe in this sub?) that to become fluent in a foreign language means reliving your entire life in that language, because that's how you learned your native language after all. It's all about those hours of language immersion. For someone like you chances are if you lived in like the US you would be able to become even better and sound even more native-like after full immersion for some number of years. But what is the need for this level of language mastery? If you're not aiming to be a writer (and it's really astounding that people can be amazing writers in a language when it's not their native language, like Vladimir Nabokov), it's nothing to stress yourself over :)
Maybe but you're assuming native English speakers don't make mistakes. I can't believe how many even well educated people don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" or say words like "irregardless." Don't be so hard on yourself. You're obviously capable of expressing philosophical thought fluently.
C2 is a starting point for being a fully functioning member in a society where that language is spoken IMO. I can relate to all your observations. I passed my exam months ago and I still study daily…
Everyone including native speakers make mistakes when using a language. If you think about conversations you have in both english and your native language, you will probably have had moments where someone says something wrong and corrects it. As a native english speaker I get english words wrong now and again but I notice it and fix it on the fly. A lot of banter that tends to happen with friends is someone saying something wrong and us laughing about it. Proficiency isn't about not making mistakes at all, it's about being able to recognise them and correct them
I got my C2 about 6 years ago and I consider my English now way better than it was back then. Getting that certificate means that your level is above a certain point, but there will always be more things to learn. Heck, there are always gonna be things to learn in our native tongue as well. I still see greek words that I do not know what they mean and I was born and bred in Greece.
We’re not sure yet if C2 is real or not. The large hardon collider was built specifically to look for it.
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Typo?
“I’m fluent tho”, dude, you’re fluent. (Btw before someone asks, where I’m from dude is not a gendered word necessarily)
A lot of native English speakers say things like, "There's a lot of ducks in the pond" when they mean there *are*. Lorde has a hit song on the radio where she uses the word "ain't" incorrectly. Even native English speakers make mistakes.
I am a native english speaker and I caught myself saying “seened it” yesterday. Calm down.
An official paid C2 test is incredibly difficult. My friend passed it and she never ever makes grammatical errors . I really doubt it was an official test.
Why did you pay for the test when you know you are not C2?
I have been speaking English for 42 years and I make plenty of mistakes.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard a person who I know to be an intelligent native English speaker talking and catch them making a basic subject-verb agreement mistake. Searching for the right word happens to my native English speaking partner all of the time, too. He has ADHD. I think you're being too hard on yourself! Congrats on achieving your goal! We all say funny sentences awkwardly sometimes (😜) but either ignore it or laugh it off, it's really not a big deal!
It's just a label. Nobody is going to ask what level you are when you're looking for a job. At least not in the US. You write well, so I'm sure you speak well. Just keep improving and don't stress about the label. I'm fluent in other languages but that doesn't mean I'm perfect or know every word or can talk about tax law. Just keep going and don't stress yourself. You make more errors when you overthink.
I’m native and when I switch between my two languages I get stumped sometimes lol. Languages are hard and they get easier with exposure I’m sure you are fine!
dw it gets better.
I'm a native english speaker and I still make mistakes like "She have" lol. It happens. Keep it up!
My friend, I am a native speaker and I still make mistakes - and not the “on purpose” slang kind either. It just happens and I definitely happens to everyone (especially in English). Congrats on the test score!
Native speakers say “she have” all the time. It’s not standard grammar but not uncommon either especially in urban circles in the American south.
Let's put it like this: just based on your post, I would have guessed you were a native English speaker. The grammar and style are perfectly natural, and all the vocabulary is appropriate and has exactly the right nuances. It's only if I'm looking for it that I can find a few things that aren't *quite* what a native speaker would say, even if they're still absolutely 100% "correct. C2 doesn't mean you never make mistakes. I speak English natively, and in fact quite well, thank you very much, and I make mistakes every day -- not "mistakes" that aren't really mistakes, like ending a sentence with a preposition, but real errors where I tried to say two things at once and instead said a mishmash of both that it's even close to grammatical. *Edit:* If you're wondering for an example of one of the few things I think aren't *quite* right, I might pick out "after all the excitement." To me that implies a big party, where all your family and friends got together to celebrate your achievement; and it's only later, when you were alone, that you had second thoughts. And that might be what you mean! But what I *think* you meant was something like "after getting all excited," implying that your private emotions went from initial excitement quickly to disappointment.
I'm a native English speaker and I make plenty of mistakes! Haha. I was even working with some South Korean students (not teaching English, just taking them on outdoor adventures) and sometimes they'd hear mistakes I made and question me about them.
Honey you’re experiencing imposter syndrome. You’re amazing and should be proud! Even native speakers make mistakes.
English is my first language. I’m slowly learning another. I make mistakes speaking/writing it all the time - because we’re human! I think you’re doing fantastic.
There are tons of native monolingual English speakers who can barely form a sentence in English. Don't worry about a few mistakes.
Honestly, you write English better than so many American monolinguals. Feel proud!
I think almost anyone who, like you or me, when writing displays competence in complex, idiomatic sounding grammar would be C2 in practice. The post you wrote here alone, as well as almost any other one in his thread is indicative of a C2 level proficiency in English.
Looking at your post I can tell that you are pretty fluent in English. You write better than lots of native english speakers I know.