Beginner vs. Intermediate. How do you classify?

Question

Hi everyone I was just curious How would you classify when a beginning Spanish student becomes an intermediate Spanish student? Where do you draw the line? Or really, can you? I would appreciate all thoughts. Thanks

Answer 1

This is the best classification system I've seen for language fluency. On this scale I'd say an intermediate has some basic vocabulary, understands conjugations, and can start to string sentences together that more or less make sense, even if they're not 100% grammatically correct.

interesting article. - cheeseisyummy, Feb 7, 2011

Good link! - pacofinkler, Feb 7, 2011

Awesome Kevin. Thanks amigo - 0043ad50, Feb 7, 2011

I like that scale =) Great link! - NikkiLR, Jan 16, 2012

Good article. Thanks. - gringojrf, Jan 17, 2012

Haha, according to this link, I can actually be classified as an intermediate (yeeah). Though, I think I'll keep myself in the beginner level somewhat longer, just in case ;) - inridk, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 2

Marshi:

I've labelled myself as a beginner until four or five months ago. This Beginner level covers from the days I couldn't say "yes, it is" up to recently, when I wasn't able to keep a proper conversation without making tons of mistakes, my pronunciation was nearly incomprehensible and it took me about 30 minutes to write a post, which would require a lot of corrections.

In summary, I didn't feel comfortable with the language, even when I could read simple novels, understand songs and conversations reasonably well, and to compose easy awkward sentences.

I've been attending English classes over 15 years. Privately with a native when I was 7 who taught us the numbers, the colours and the verb "to be". Then at school (about 6 years), then at high school (other 4 years), all sort of intensive Summer courses, nowadays at the official language school.

I didn't learn a thing until I started to need to learn English (for work reasons) and met people who I really enjoyed talking to. In this sense, this Forum has been the Cornerstone. Currently, I can see all sorts of films in English, read original novels, keep a conversation forgetting for a while that I am not speaking my language, type this post in 6 or 7 minutes... I feel more comfortable with English, but obviously, I still make lots of mistakes, my English doesn't sound natural, I still feel that my vocabulary and skills are very limited.

I'm not planning to change my level to advanced in the next 30 years. For doing.In order to do so, I would need to move to another country.

Well Geeez Cogu, at least give yourself and advanced intermediate I found only one tiny error here. Sort should be plural (at least in my book). - Yeser007, Jan 17, 2012

I wish I was half as good with Spanish as you are with English. Maybe you shouldn't change your level to "fluent", but you are most definitely "advanced". - Tosh, Jan 17, 2012

Thank you, Gary! - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Tosh, it shows you never listened to me... :) No, I'm definetely not advanced. - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Funny - I could repeat this post exactly, for me, exchanging the words "English" and "Spanish" ! :) - pesta, Jan 17, 2012

can you please correct her text? thanks:) - 00494d19, Jan 17, 2012

lo siento, sueno como una bruja, cogu, pero te ven y nadie lo hace, yo no sé si se creen que te va a sentar mal o alguna tontería de esas, pero chica....no hago más que hablar y na', yo solo veo dos o tres...pero vamos, los podrían decir, digo yo - 00494d19, Jan 17, 2012

Sorry Cogu, but this is one of the few times that I actually disagree with you. You actually sound very natural now. Ok you have a slight Spanish accent but your fluidity and fluency is excellent. When I speak to you I have to remind myself at - billygoat, Jan 17, 2012

times that you are Spanish and stop myself from breaking out into Northern English slang! You set yourself very high standards my friend. The thing is, you are reaching them!! :) - billygoat, Jan 17, 2012

ok, I'm not 100% sure I am grammatically correct here but "I've labelled myself" doesn't sound right. I would say "I labelled myself". In your last sentence rather than "For doing so..." I would say "In order to do so..." muy bien amiga :) - billygoat, Jan 17, 2012

Thanks a lot, Billy! :) - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012