level descriptions for our courses

Discovery at beginners' level:
At the end of this course you will be able to greet people and say goodbye formally and informally; introduce yourself; say where you come from, what your job is; talk briefly about your family and your interests; count at least up to 100 (possibly up to 1,000); order a meal; book a table at a restaurant; buy bus/theatre/opera/cinema tickets; get around in a city; say what you like or dislike; and have a basic idea of the grammar. You will be able to record your progress on the European language passport if you wish.
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Intermediate
At the end of this course in addition to the skills at the beginner level you will be able to deal with larger numbers (eg 2007; 150,000); shop for clothing, other goods and souvenirs, or at a market; use past and future tenses, recognise (and possibly use) conditional sentences; express/defend your opinion, contradict someone if necessary; talk for a few minutes about your hobbies, interests and favourite sports as well as answer questions about them; talk about a holiday you have had; use the telephone for simple tasks, take a message; and have a wider knowledge of grammar. You will be able to record your progress on the European language passport if you wish.
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Advanced
All of the above in more detail or at a higher level of complexity, plus this course will cover the trickier areas of grammar such as the subjunctive and different verb aspects and moods as appropriate. You will be able to conduct a conversation with a native speaker at a fairly high level, including topics of current political relevance in the country of interest; understand much (most?) of what is being said in news in the media (print, TV, radio and internet); read newspaper and magazine articles without using a dictionary too often; write a high-level letter either using formal or informal language; and not be too out of your depth if you were in the country on your own (eg for a short-term work contract). The advanced course should not be considered a one-off session of learning which is completed at the end of the year, but as an activity to deepen and broaden your knowledge of the language and culture of your chosen country on an ongoing basis. As a result, you could take this course three years in a row, and learn lots of new things every time without feeling you were simply going over facts you already know. You will be able to record your progress on the European language passport if you wish.
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In addition to the above courses, we will also be offering conversation classes or sessions, where the emphasis will be on honing your speaking and comprehension skills without worrying too much about the written aspects of the language. Full-day, intensive (immersion) days are also planned, with activities designed to give students practice in their chosen language at a high level, with as much interaction with native speakers as possible.

Go! classes are five-week intensive classes, with two sessions of 90 minutes each per week, culminating in a weekend trip to a major city in the country of your chosen language. The emphasis will be on general verbal skills needed to spend a couple of days soaking yourself in the language while enjoying the culture and excitement of a major city.
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