Tell me why
When we created our SpanishDict profiles, we were asked to put what level of English/Spanish we were.
So, tell me...why did you put that you were at a certain level? To you, what does it take to be at level "intermediate", or being "fluent", etc.?
I put that I was fluent in English because it is my native language, and I can hold a conversation with no problem at all.
I put that I'm intermediate in Spanish because I've been studying for 4 years and I can read it well and write it decently. In school, I have learned present tense, preterite, imperfect, tú commands, and future tense. I still have a lot to learn. I'm considering changing my level on my profile to beginner.
How about you all? Why did you put that you were at a certain level? To you, what does it take to be at level "intermediate", or being "fluent"?
15 Answers
According this article I would rank myself as a conversationalist in Spanish. They consider that advanced, but I don't feel advanced. I can hold conversations, read books and newspapers, and watch T V and movies. I usually don't translate in my head, but sometimes I have to rearrange sentences because I don't know the words. I'm still not completely comfortable with subjunctive. In fact, the more I learn the less comfortable I am. I'm certainly not fluent.
l put my English level in my profile as ''Intermediate'' because l've been learning English for two years now, and l'm still not advanced because l make so many mistakes!!
And as for the Spanish, l put it as ''Beginner'' because l didn't find a level lower than that!! 
When I first joined this site I put my level as 'Intermediate'... after all I had completed a full set of cds LOL!
After a few days I quickly realised I actually was very much a beginner. If there had been a lower category, I would have put that 
Beginner: people who have known less than 25%
Intermediate: from 25% to 50%
Advanced: from 50% to 75%
Fluent: from 75% to 100%
I use online level tests to assess my level usually.
Also the european language reference frame( I think that's what it's called anyway, cant remember exactly) on Wikipedia tells you how much you should know to be classed as a1/2 - beginner, b1/2 intermediate, and c1/2 advanced.
The Cervantes website has a more detailed explanation of each level also to give you a rough idea.
I am fluent in English because it is my native langage and I have been speaking itfor a long time and can communicate effectively on most subjects.
I am a beginner in Spanish because small children tell me so.
Hi 
My English level is intermediate because my vocabulary is not good enough to express myself without making mistakes.
I can't understand English songs (I like reading the lyrics at You Tube), sometimes I don't understand every single word when I am watching a movie or the other person talks to fast for me, but I can keep a conversation, give or ask for information and try to talk without asking for a translator.
Buena pregunta!
Beginner: Still learning grammar rules/conjugations etc., probably would have a rough time talking with a native speaker for anything other than cut and dry questions. Where is the bathroom? How do I get to so and so place? etc.
Intermediate: All basic grammar rules learned, able to read books/novels without too many doubts grammar wise, fairly good writing skills, being able to hold an actual conversation about something with a native speaker, even if the native speaker has to slow down for you to be able to understand or if you have to ask for them to repeat what they said a bunch, probably would have difficulty participating in conversations with multiple native speakers (it's much harder when you have to compete with other natives to get a word in and understand people talking over each other)
Advanced: Grammar should mostly be a non-issue apart from really uncommon, formal, or slangish ways of talking, able to read at a level close to a native speaker, write well enough so that a native speaker may at least have trouble telling that you aren't a native, able to talk to a single person who has no regard for you being a non-native even if you make some mistakes here and there when talking, and able to participate in group conversations even if you struggle a bit more than you would with a single person
Fluent: Being able to express yourself easily, few mistakes, reading/writing like a native, very little to no trouble understanding speech, from whatever the source.
This is how I view progression anyway :p I base mostly everything on being able to speak with actual people, which really is impossible to do with any sort of fluency before you are comfortable with all basic grammar/conjugations
Hmmm....interesting question. Well, I grade myself as being fluent in English because not only is it my native language but I also possess distinctions in this course at O' Levels and A' Levels.
As for Spanish, it is our second language in Trinidad. I studied it for 5 years in secondary school and also did it for O' Levels. I am currently taking a course at my university to advance my Spanish. I asked my lecturer what level I was at and she told me Intermediate. Hence, the reason why I class myself as Intermediate on this forum. I hope to be advance soon :D
I think I'm an intermediate Spanish learner. I've been studying Spanish for 4 years, and I've had Spanish friends since I was born. I have no problem understanding spoken or written Spanish, and I can speak it with a native tounge, however... there is still a lot to learn. I would have chosen advanced if I were not prone to making super silly mistakes.
I think I'm a fluent English speaker because it's my native language, and I feel completely comfortable speaking it.
I'm also intermediate. Intermediate-advanced knowledge of the grammar but vocabulary is lacking and I need more practice actually using the language with a native.
I had been studying English for 9 years. Through these years I got a very good understanding of the principles of the language and I'm very comfortable in participating in any kind of conversation and writing on any subject. I'm trying to keep my English fresh by being a member in fora, reading e-newspapers, watching TV. Being "advanced" in a certain language does not require studying it only, but practicing it also. I'm done with the first one and I'm trying to do the second one as much as possible. That's why I think I still have an advanced level, and not a fluent one, in spoken and written English.
On the contrary, I'm in my first year of studying Spanish. It's the first time I'm trying to learn a foreign language on my own. So, I'd describe myself as a beginner hoping to become advanced in some years!
Yes I too placed myself at intermediate, But I am a polyglot of knowledge in Spanish. Living in México I speak the language daily, oftentimes with many errors. I have a decent vocabulary that could put me higher but my grammar sets me back to beginner. So then, what sort of creature am I, I have the concepts of an intermediate,the vocabulary of an advanced and the grammar of a beginner.
I will be satisfied with Beginner as I have soo much to learn along this path.
I've been learning Spanish for 2-1/2 years, self-taught for the most part. I still consider myself a beginner because, although I have a wide vocabulary and read pretty well, I struggle to compose intelligent sentences in Spanish (in writing or speaking). In addition, my knowledge of grammar is inconsistent.
To advance to the intermediate level, I would have to be able to hold a conversation or write a paragraph without constantly resorting the dictionary, and to use grammar properly. I think that I will have to either buckle down and take formal classes or have a Spanish immersion experience to achieve this, neither of which is in the immediate future.
English is my second language, but as I'm not a native speaker I still rate myself as an advanced and not as a fluent speaker. On the other hand, I've been studying English quite intensively for years now and there still is a lot to learn.
For Spanish it's very simple: I'm a beginner who started taking Spanish classes only this year, but I'm rather impatient and eager to learn as much as possible in a short time. So discovering SpanishDict.com on the net really made my day! And Paralee is a wonderful teacher too.
