LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS AND PLACEMENT
Work-Life Spanish uses the guidelines outlined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to differentiate the levels of our classes. Our experience is that students learn more quickly and more efficiently if placed in a class with other students of a similar Spanish level so that no one is left behind and no one is held back. Most students can adequately self-identify their level by reading the level descriptions below, while others prefer the added guidance of an online test. Please note that the test will take between 5 and 20 minutes to complete.
BEGINNER SPANISH (A1)
This level is for absolute beginners or for individuals who would like to review the basics of the Spanish language.
What you should know before you enroll:
What you should know before you enroll:
- No prior experience with the language is required.
- How to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases
- How to introduce yourself and others
- How to ask and answer questions about personal details such as where you live
- How to identify people you know and things you have
- How to interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help
- How to speak, read and write in the present indicative tense
ELEMENTARY SPANISH (A2)
This level is for individuals who have studied Spanish before and are able to conjugate regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs into the present tense and have basic conversations with others.
What you should know before you enroll:
What you should know before you enroll:
- All bullets identified under A1
- How to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment)
- How to communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters
- How to describe in simple terms aspects your background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need
- How to speak, read and write in the present tense, present continuous, basic imperative and near future
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH (B1)
This level is for individuals who are comfortable with the present tenses and would like to focus on other indicative tenses.
What you should know before you enroll:
What you should know before you enroll:
- All bullets identified under A2
- How to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
- How to deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken
- How to produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest
- How to describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes, ambitions & probability and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plan
- How to speak, read and write in the imperfect, preterit, present perfect, past perfect, future and conditional
UPPER INTERMEDIATE SPANISH (B2)
This level is for individuals who are fairly proficient in the indicative tenses (non-subjunctive) and would like to focus on the subjunctive.
What you should know before you enroll:
What you should know before you enroll:
- All bullets identified under B1
- How to understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your field of specialization
- How to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party
- How to produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options
- How to speak, read and write in the present subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive present perfect subjunctive and past perfect subjunctive
ADVANCED SPANISH (C1)
This level is for students who have covered both indicative and subjunctive tenses in the past and would like to practice what they have learned in a more culturally focused class setting through the use of Iberoamerican literature, movies and history.
What you should know before you enroll:
What you should know before you enroll:
- All bullets identified under B2
- How to understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning
- How to express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions
- How to use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
- How to produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices
- How to speak, read and write in all Spanish tenses