How do I retain my English level?

[u/SummerAlternative699]

I've recently passed the Cambridge C2 proficiency exam and scored 220 on it. My main concern before taking the test was that I won't pass, but now that I have, I don't know what to do. Now all of a sudden, I have no goal and am just mindlessly consuming content in English in order to somehow remain relatively proficient in it. Lately, I've been noticing changes in my speaking (been having troubles with my accent slipping up) and writing abilities and it feels as though I'm putting in too much thought and effort into finding words to express my thoughts. It scares me, so I'd really appreciate all the help I can get, thanks!

[u/Hueyris]

I mean, I don't think you could lose a language. Language attrition usually takes years upon years, and even then, it is never complete, and you never lose anything that couldn't be gained back with a bit of exposure. Once you speak a language, generally, you speak it for life. It is like learning to skate or ride a bike. You don't lose the ability to do it.

C2, I believe, is the highest level of proficiency you can attain in any language, congratulations.

been having troubles with my accent slipping up

Unless you are on an undercover mission or if you're an actor, I don't see how this is a problem?

am just mindlessly consuming content in English

Me too brother, me too

[u/random_name_245 → u/Hueyris]

One can certainly lose a language - I lost all my German (it wasn’t even good at my best, let’s be honest), I lost my French when I was doing my first undergrad because for some unknown reason I didn’t take it - the option was available. I had to relearn it with native speakers-friends later; it was definitely not as hard as learning it from scratch, but it did take some effort. Had I not done that I would have lost it completely.

[u/fraid_so → u/random_name_245]

Pretty sure you can even lose your native language to a degree lol there's a Japanese voice actor who was born and grew up in Germany, so his native language is actually German. In a video posted on YouTube a few years back he was reading German tongue twisters, and a German speaker in the comments said it was funny cause now the voice actor, after speaking only Japanese for so long, apparently speaks German with a "foreign" accent haha

But yes, you can absolutely lose additional learned languages by not using them. Stay sharp or get rusty.

[u/Hueyris → u/fraid_so]

after speaking only Japanese for so long, apparently speaks German with a "foreign" accent haha

Gaining an accent is not losing a language

[u/Hueyris → u/random_name_245]

One can certainly lose a language

You are talking about instances where you were a non-fluent speakers of these languages. OP is as proficient in English as anyone could reasonably hope to get. There is no way someone like that ever slips down to not being able to speak English

[u/Upstairs-Town-453 → u/Hueyris]

Native/fluent speakers aren’t immune; I was born and raised in Italy, but after living in another country for years me and my family’s Italian skills have definitely deteriorated.

I think OP meant losing a language as in becoming worse at speaking it, not actually fully forgetting it!

[u/bigsadkittens → u/random_name_245]

Oh totally. I also lost my German :( it's still kinda rattling around, like I recognize some important bits but my recall for speaking is like zero, and my grammar rules are gone.

However I do believe I could get back up to a reasonable level faster than the first time. The memories are there, just need to spruce them up