School of Education

Beginners’

(previous title 1^st Year)

• No prior knowledge required.

• Introduce themselves

• Ask and answer others about their jobs, family and interests

• Understand simple questions and instructions

• Understand and use basic grammar structures

• Get by in a native speaking environment

Lower Intermediate

(previous title 2^nd Year)

• Students have completed Year 1/Beginners or equivalent course at another institution.

• Students can use and understand simple phrases and sentences on familiar topics

• Improve spoken and written skills i.e. expressing simple opinions/requirements in a familiar context e.g. shopping, ordering a meal, booking a room

• Understand and use relevant grammatical rules

• Improve understanding of the language

• Communicate and interact at relevant level i.e. survival language skills for everyday needs

• Express opinions about current topics (TV, weather)

• Students will have reached approx GCSE/NVQ Level 1

Intermediate

(previous title 3^rd Year)

• Students have completed Year 2/Lower Intermediate or equivalent course at another institution or have reached approximately GCSE/NVQ Level 1 standard. 

• Students can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling and can describe experiences, events, plans and hopes. 

• Students have survival skills for everyday needs.

• Use more complex oral structures e.g. start, and maintain, a simple face-to-face conversation on topics of personal interest.

• Understand the language on a higher level eg understand main points in short articles about familiar topics

• Read different types of text and appreciate different styles

• Engage in discussions both orally and in written form.

Upper Intermediate

(previous title 4^th Year)

• Students who have completed Year 3/Intermediate

• Students who have a very good knowledge of the language at an intermediate level

• Show a good command of all verb tenses with a focus on the subjunctive

• Use confidently some work place and business related vocabulary

Language Club, Intermediate

• Students who have completed Year 4/Upper Intermediate or equivalent course at another institution. 

• Students who have A level + language skills

• Students have lived in the country

• Students can follow/give a talk on a familiar topic or keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics.

• Use more complex oral structures e.g. start, and maintain, a simple face-to-face conversation on topics of personal interest.

• Understand the language on a higher level e.g. understand main points in short articles about familiar topics

• Read different types of text and appreciate different styles

• Engage in discussions both orally and in written form.

Language Club Advanced

• Students who have a diploma or degree level in Spanish or who have lived in a Spanish-speaking country

• Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning.

• Express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.

• Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.

• Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

• Understand and have the ability to discuss Spanish speaking films, radio and TV news and programmes, both orally and in writing.