Common European Framework of Reference for languages

All adult courses at Helvetic Language Institute course adhere to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages

Level A1

  • Can understand and use basic everyday phrases; can introduce themselves and ask and answer questions about personal details;
  • can interact with a co-operative partner; has a very basic repertoire of words and phrases;
  • can demonstrate only very limited grammatical control;
  • can mange only very short utterances, but is dependent on repetition and rephrasing from partner.

Elementary A2  

  • Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to immediately relevant areas;
  • can communicate in simple and routine tasks, requiring a simple exchange of information on familiar and routine matters;
  • can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters of personal interest;
  • can use basic sentence patterns with memorised phrases;
  • can use simple structures correctly, but makes systematic basic errors;
  • can make themselves understood in short turns, despite long breaks or pauses;
  • can respond to questions but is rarely able to keep conversation going by themselves;
  • can link ideas together in a simple way

Intermediate B1  

  • Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters encountered at school, work, leisure, etc;
  • can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling;
  • can produce simple connected texts on familiar topics;
  • can describe experiences and events, plans, hopes and ambitions;
  • can briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans;
  • has enough language to get by in everyday situations;
  • can express themselves reasonably accurately;
  • can initiate and deal with familiar everyday interactions;
  • can link ideas into connected linear sequences.

Upper Intermediate B2  

  • Can understand the main ideas of a complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their own field of specialisation;
  • can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes interaction with native speakers possible without strain for either party;
  • can produce a clear detailed text on a wide range of subjects;
  • can explain a viewpoint giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options;
  • can give clear descriptions;
  • can express viewpoints without conspicuous hesitation, sometimes using complex forms;
  • does not make errors which cause misunderstanding and can correct most of their own errors;
  • can speak reasonably fluently, with few noticeably long pauses;
  • can initiate discourse, take turns;
  • can help discussion, confirming comprehension, inviting contributions, etc;
  • can use a limited number of cohesive devices to give their spoken and written contributions coherence.

Advanced  C1  

  • Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning;
  • can express themselves fluently and spontaneously with much obvious searching for expressions;
  • can use language flexibly, for social, academic and professional purposes;
  • can produce clear, well-structured, detailed texts, on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns and cohesive devices;
  • has a good command of a broad range of language allowing themselves to express themselves clearly and appropriately;
  • can consistently maintain a high level of grammatical accuracy;
  • can interact skilfully by selecting a suitable phrase from a range of discourse in order to contribute appropriately.

Proficiency C2 

  • Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read;
  • can summarise information from different spoken or written sources; reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation;
  • can express themselves spontaneously, fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning, even in more complex situations;
  • can show great flexibility in differing linguistic forms;
  • has a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms;
  • can maintain constant grammatical control;
  • can interact with ease and skill, with natural referencing, turn-taking, etc
  • can use a full variety of organisational patterns and cohesive devices.

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