Levels of our Spanish courses in Spain
The Spanish courses we offer at Top School are divided into the 6 levels proposed by the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFL) and Instituto Cervantes – A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. We have, however, taken the conscious decision to divide each one of these levels into two further sub-levels. This leads to a greater communicative competence in each student, as they are placed in the appropriate level and group according to their ability.
| NIVEL | COMPREHENSION | SPEAKING | WRITING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension | Reading comprehension | Oral interaction | Oral expression | Written expression | |
| A1 | I am able to recognise simple words and expressions | I can understand simple words and sentences | I am able to participate in a simple conversation, asking simple questions and responding to them | I can use basic sentences and expressions to describe the place where I live and the people I know | I am able to write short, simple texts, such as postcards, greetings cards and forms |
| A2 | I can understand common vocabulary and expressions related to personal interests and hobbies. I am able to get the gist of brief messages | I can read and understand short, simple texts | I am able to communicate in typical situations and can interact well in brief, social exchanges | I use a variety of expressions and phrases to describe the people I know (family, colleagues, etc) in simple terms, as well as my current and previous job | I can write notes, messages and personal letters |
| B1 | I have the ability to understand the main ideas of a standard conversation | I understand texts and descriptions related to daily life | I can make myself understood in most common situations. I am able to provide spontaneous answers in conversations about daily life | I can speak using simple sentences and give reasons and explanations | I am able to write simple, well-structured texts, as well as writing personal letters and describing different experiences |
| B2 | I can understand longer conversations, readings, and the majority of films and television news | I am able to read articles, reports and also comprehend contemporary literature | I can interact with spontaneity, in a fluent way, playing an active role in discussions | I can offer clear, detailed descriptions and explain my point of view, giving advantages and disadvantages to support my opinions | I can write clear, well-written, detailed texts, essays or reports which provide information or explore the advantages and disadvantages of something |
| C1 | I have the ability to understand extended speech, even when the structure of this is poor. I can also understand television programmes and films with little or no effort | I am able to understand long, complex texts of a literary nature or those based on real-life events, as well as articles or technical instructions | I express myself fluently, using flexible, effective language in both social and professional contexts | I can offer clear, detailed descriptions of complex topics, developing specific ideas and ending with a suitable conclusion | I can write about various, complex topics in a letter, essay or report, highlighting the important issues |
| C2 | I have no difficulty in understanding any type of conversation | I am able to read and understand almost all types of written documents easily | I can easily take part in any type of conversation or discussion, and I am familiar with idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms | I can provide descriptions or arguments in a clear, structured, fluent way in an appropriate style | I can write texts, letters, reports or complex articles in a well-structured manner and in an appropriate style |
The chart below shows an outline on how the Spanish levels are structured by the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFL) and how Top School organises its courses according to the European standards.
The table below provides an outline of how to structure the Common European Framework levels as Spanish and raises Top School in accordance with the dictates of the European standards. Each of the sublevels consist of 60 teaching hours and the estimated time for each of them is 3 weeks.
| TOP SCHOOL Spanish course | Common European Framework for Languages |
|---|---|
| Beginner | A1 |
| Beginner Plus | A1+ |
| Elementary | A2 |
| Elementary Plus | A2+ |
| Lower-Intermediate | B1 |
| Lower-Intermediate Plus | B1+ |
| Upper-Intermediate | B2 |
| Intermediate Plus | B2+ |
| Advanced | C1 |
| Advanced Plus | C1+ |
| Proficiency | C2 |
| Proficiency Plus | C2+ |
