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Language Levels

Level Suggested entry requirement What should I have learnt by the end of the year?
Beginners' 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 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 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 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 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.

  • Understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics.
  • Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
  • 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.
Language Club Advanced Students who have a diploma or degree level in in the language or who have lived in the 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 films, radio and TV news and programmes, both orally and in writing.
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