Beginners

• Language production is limited to isolated words or memorized utterances

• Familiar topics: family, work, self, hobbies, food, house

• Short simple descriptions and narrations of place, object or person

• Short conversations about familiar topics

• Understand basic ideas and facts when expressed slowly and clearly

Intermediate

• Able to speak in paragraphs in the past, present, and future tenses

• Can express and support an opinion and make hypotheses

• Can provide explanations on unfamiliar topics

• Topics: social issues, economy, science and technology

• Understand facts, some inferences and emotional overtones

Advanced

• Able to express and support an opinion, hypothesize, persuade and tailor speech

• Can represent a point of view and set the tone

• Uses cultural references and colloquialisms

• A wide range of topics using professional and technical vocabulary conveying nuances

• Understand professional discourse, native culture references and colloquialisms