Taking your Spanish to the next level – The 5 Levels of Language Proficiency
So you’ve been studying for a while now and you want to be able to express to people your level of knowledge. Maybe you’ve gotten quite good and you are wanting to update your resume, perhaps you want to brag at the company holiday party, maybe you just want to know where you’re at compared to where you started?
Good thing there are many scales that are used to determine someone’s degree of knowledge of a language one of which is the Inter-agency Language Round-table (IRL). This is a six-point scale going for zero to five measuring from no knowledge to native proficiency.
Zero – No Proficiency
You are the beginner of beginners. You can maybe say hello, or know a few words or even a phrase of two. However you fail to be able to carry out any form of a conversation. Don’t worry we all have to start somewhere!
Once – Elementary Proficiency
At this stage you can carry out very basic conversation. You can ask and even answer some basic questions. You have only just started your studies but your hard work is starting to pay off.
Two – Limited Working Proficiency
You are starting to be able to carry out full conversations and handle basic commands and even social phrases. At this level you will find that you can handle basic conversations independently of aids or translators.
Three – Professional Working Proficiency
This is the level where you can feel comfortable putting your new language on your resume. You can really hold your own in both business and personal conversations. Your speaking at a normal speed and your vocabulary is getting more extensive. You should be proud of how far you have come.
Four – Full Professional Proficiency
You can carry out advanced discussions on most topics ranging from current events, business, finances, and your personal life. This is the level that is desired by most employers so if you were still hesitant to put your new language on your resume at level three then fear not your are definitely ready at stage four.
Five – Native/ Bilingual Proficiency
You were either raised with this language as you mother tongue or you have spoken this language for long enough and have studied hard enough to be completely fluent. Congratulations you have made it!
Understanding where you stand on the IRL scale – or others like it – will help you when explaining to others your level of understanding of your new language.
As well knowing where you sit on the IRL scale can help push you to reach the next stage. If you have been sitting at Stage Two knowing that can help push you to fully get to Stage Three and ultimately Stage Five.
If reaching that next step in your journey to learning Spanish is important to you make sure to have a look at our Oaxaca Immersion Program. During this 8-day adventure you will not only be fully surrounded by the Spanish language and beautiful Oaxaca culture but also be given the opportunity to practice your skills in real life scenarios.
Sources
Language proficiency levels. Corporate Finance Institute. (2019, December 14). Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/careers/resume/language-proficiency-levels/.
Writer: Taylor Habuda
