Spanish Fluency Levels

(Approximate)

(You may self-select the level where you feel most comfortable.)

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER:  You probably have not had any Spanish classes or if you have, it was so long ago you have forgotten everything..  You have done little or no self-study with books, tapes, CDs, etc.   We do not offer classes for absolute beginners.   We recommend that you take the beginning classes at your local Adult Education Community School.   In the Anoka-Blaine-Coon Rapids (School District #11) area you can check out the current schedule at www.discovercommunityed.com.  In other areas you can check with your local school district community schools office.

MIDDLE BEGINNER:  You have taken a class at Adult Education Community School and maybe have done some self-study.  You know the basics of pronunciation and you know some vocabulary.  You can count to twenty in Spanish and you can order a beer at the cantina in Cancun.  Or maybe you took Spanish back in high school or middle school some years ago and now are ready for a good refresher course or review.

HIGH BEGINNER:  All of the above, plus:  You have taken several classes at Adult Education Community Schools or have had some Spanish classes back in high school or college some years ago.  Or you have done a lot of self-study but now need some help on how to progress.  You probably have traveled in a Spanish-speaking area and you want to go back and communicate better with the people.  Or you want to communicate with Spanish-speaking friends, clients, co-workers, patients, etc.  You are somewhat familiar with the present tense in Spanish including irregular verbs. You may have attended a beginning class in a language school in Mexico, such as the Colegio de Idiomas in Ensenada, Baja California.

LOW INTERMEDIATE:  All of the above, plus:  You have taken all the Adult Education classes you can find in your area or you have done extensive self-study but need help with pronunciation and grammar.  You want a smaller class with more personal attention.  Maybe you like to travel in Spanish-speaking areas and want to improve your conversational ability.  You may have taken several years of Spanish back in high school or college but now need a refresher course.  You have a basic knowledge of the present tense in Spanish and your vocabulary is growing.  You may have been introduced to past tenses or other tenses.  You are familiar with key phrases, greeting and farewells; you know how to ask a question – but what about when they start to ANSWER!?  You have tried to listen to Spanish-language radio but it is difficult to understand but you like the music anyway.  You may have taken some small group or private lessons from Ricardito or other private instructors.

MIDDLE INTERMEDIATE:  All of the above, plus: You have started to study the past, conditional and future tenses more thoroughly.  You can read basic Spanish comfortably (simple children's books for example).  You continue to self-study with CDs, DVDs, books, TV, etc.   You watch Univision and listen to Spanish-language radio not with full understanding but with some recognition of words and phrases.  You try to communicate with Spanish-speaking friends, co-workers, customers, etc.   You probably like to travel in Spanish-speaking areas.  You know the basic differences between POR and PARA, between SER and ESTAR, and between masculine and feminine words.

HIGH INTERMEDIATE:  All of the above, plus: You have studied compound tenses and may have been introduced to PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE mood and you have continued to increase your vocabulary through self-study and/or more classes.  You are starting to recognize more words and phrases and ideas on Spanish-language radio and TV.  You know the basic differences between IMPERFECT and PRETERITE tenses.  You can carry on basic conversations with your Spanish-speaking friends or co-workers.  Yes, it is still difficult to understand them when they speak so fast, but it is getting better.  You may have attended a Spanish "camp" or immersion school.  You probably know who Luis Miguel is and you may have watched the Latin Grammy Awards on Univision.

LOW ADVANCED:  All of the above, plus: You are now feeling comfortable with the PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE.  You continue to self-study and attend classes when possible.  You regularly watch Univision or other Spanish-language TV.  You understand some of it; not all, but enough to get the gist.  On your last trip to Spanish-speaking area, you found that you could communicate and understand better.  You feel fairly comfortable with the first seven tenses in the 501 Spanish Verbs book and some familiarity with PRESENT PROGRESSIVE, PRESENT PERFECT, and PAST PERFECT.  You may have been introduced to PAST SUBJUNCTIVE.   You may have gone to another Spanish "camp" or taken some courses at a college or university or at a private school like "Ricardito's Adult Spanish Academy".  You are conversing more with your Spanish-speaking relatives, co-workers, friends, etc., and you enjoy the Latino culture.

MIDDLE ADVANCED:  All of the above or equivalent, plus:    You may have taken more Spanish in high school or college and in adult education classes, Spanish camps, immersion schools or self-study.  You can converse comfortably in Spanish.  It is still a bit difficult at times to understand a native speaker when he/she speaks quite fast, but your comprehension continues to get better along with your own response, pronunciation, and vocabulary.  You have familiarity with most of the tenses in "501".  You are comfortable using and understanding PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE and somewhat comfortable with PAST SUBJUNCTIVE (aka Imperfect Subjunctive).  You can converse using object pronouns, reflexive verbs, idiomatic sayings and slang.   You are aware of some of the differences in pronunciation and syntax in Spanish-speakers from different countries or regions.  You feel comfortable traveling in a Spanish-speaking area and feel comfortable in the Latino culture.

 HIGH ADVANCED:  All of the above, plus:  You have traveled extensively in a Spanish-speaking area or you use your Spanish at work, home, or school on a regular basis.  You can converse comfortably and you understand almost all of a native Spanish speaker's conversation.  You easily use all tenses.  You have extensive knowledge of Hispanic culture, music, food, and religion.  You listen to/watch Spanish-language radio and TV and understand most of the conversation, announcements, etc.  We do not offer classes for high advanced students.  You are welcome to join us in a lower-level course as a refresher or comprehensive review.

 Adult Spanish Academy

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