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Level Descriptions for ESL & World Languages
COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK OF REFERENCE (CEFR) LANGUAGE LEVELS
CCAE LEVEL
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Beginner Level 1
Beginner Level 2
Beginner Level 3
Beginner Level 4
Beginner Conversation
Low Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate Conversation
High Intermediate
Advanced
Advanced
CEFR LEVEL
A1
I have no or little previous knowledge of the language. I would like to...
A2
B1
B2
C1
LISTENING
Identify familiar words & very basic phrases concerning myself, friends, family, & surroundings when people speak slowly & clearly. Understand phrases & the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance. Catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages & announcements. Understand the main points of clear speech, & the main point in radio or TV programs on current events, or topics of personal or professional interest. Understand extended speech & lectures & follow even complex lines of argument. Understand most TV news & current affairs programs. Understand extended speech even when it is not clearly structured & when relationships are only implied & not signaled explicitly. Follow television programs & films without too much effort.
READING
Point out familiar names, words & simple sentences, such as on posters, notes or in
catalogues. Read very short, simple texts & find specific information in everyday material such as menus, advertisements, & short personal letters.
Understand texts with high frequency, everyday, or jobrelated language. Understand the description of events, feelings & wishes in personal
letters. Read articles & reports about contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints. Understand contemporary literary prose.
Understand long & complex factual & literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style. Understand specialized articles & longer technical instructions.
SPEAKING
Ask & answer simple questions. Interact in a simple way with repetition & slow speech. Use simple phrases & sentences to describe familiar people.
Communicate in routine tasks & social interactions. Use a series of phrases & sentences to describe family, educational background & present work. Handle travel situations, enter unprepared into conversation on familiar topics, & connect phrases, give reasons & opinions, & describe plots of books or films. Interact with fluency & spontaneity & explain a viewpoint & advantages & disadvantages of various options. Take an active part in discussions. Use language flexibly & effectively for social & professional purposes. Present clear, detailed descriptions of complex subjects, integrating subthemes.
WRITING
Write a short, simple postcard & fill in forms with personal details.
Write short notes, messages & personal letters relating to
immediate needs. Write simple texts on familiar or personal topics, such as letters describing personal experiences and impressions.
Write on a wide range of subjects, essay of support or against a topic, as well as personal letters highlighting the personal significance of
events. Write about complex subjects in a letter, an essay or a report, underlining what I consider to be the salient issues. Select style appropriate to the reader in mind.
