level descriptions for our courses

We offer the following levels:

Discovery level: you have never studied the language and are a complete beginner.
At the end of this course (10 weeks) 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; 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.

Summer short courses will focus more on holiday language.
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Explorer level: (for beginners)for those who know a bit of the language, perhaps have studied it at school a long time ago, or just want to refresh their knowledge.
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 working towards reaching level A1 of the European Language Passport.

Navigator level: (pre-intermediate)
You are a basic or very limited user of the language.

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 and work towards achieving level A2.
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Endeavour level (Intermediate)
You may have a Higher or A level, even from a while ago, or you have spent time studying or staying in the country. You are able to communicate in short conversations on familiar topics and understand short simple text. You could you go shopping for clothes and ask for and describe what you want (colour, size, bigger, smaller, etc.) You will be able to record your progress on the European language passport if you wish and work towards levels A2 or even B1.
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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 and work towards achieving B2 or even C1.
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Challenger level: Are you almost fluent in the language and would like to practise in order to maintain your fluency?
You have no difficulty in understanding any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, even when delivered at fast native speed. You can write smoothly-flowing text in an appropriate style and properly organised. You wish to attain or maintain level C2 of the European Language framework level.


In addition to the above courses, we will also be offering conversation classes or sessions at intermediate or advanced level 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 semi-intensive classes for beginners, with two sessions of 90 minutes each per week, or roughly 15 hours of tuition, culminating in an optional weekend trip to a major city in the country of your chosen language. The trip is organised by each individual in concertation with the class. Your tutor will prepare you and help you build your confidence to try the language on your own abroad. 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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