You may have heard of the Common European Reference Framework for Languages. It is quite a mouthful but useful for measuring language levels. Have you ever wondered which level your German language is or what the various levels mean?
The basic levels are A1 and A2. If you have achieved level A1, you should understand and use familiar everyday expressions and essential phrases. You can introduce yourself and others and ask questions about personal details such as where you live and work, people you know and things you have. You should be able to interact in a simple way, provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. At level A2 you will be able to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of relevance (e.g. basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). You can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. You can describe in simple terms aspects of your background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. Not bad for starters!
The intermediate levels are B1 and B2, at which you can understand the main ideas of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your field of specialisation. You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. You can 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.
Proficiency levels are C1 and C2. These levels take several years of studying, and at level C1, you can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and recognise implicit meaning. You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; you can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. You can quickly produce clear, well-structured, detailed texts on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. At level C2, you can easily understand virtually everything heard or read, summarise information from different spoken and written sources, and reconstruct arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. You can express yourself spontaneously, fluently and precisely, differentiating more subtle shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
No matter at which level you currently speak German, get in touch because our German lessons help you get to the next level.
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