Page Title

Language Levels
explained

German Language
& Culture Institute

This European Framework divides learners into three categories, which can be sub-
divided into six levels:

A Basic User

A1 Breakthrough
A2 Waystage

B Independent User

B1 Threshold
B2 Vantage

C Proficient User

C1 Effective Operational Proficiency
C2 Mastery

You can do the following on each level:

A: Basic User

A1 / Textbook: Berliner Platz 1

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases

aimed at the

satisfaction of needs

of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself

and others and can ask and

answer questions about personal

details such as

where he/she lives, people he/she knows and

things he/she has.Can interact in a

simple way

provided the other person talks slowly and clearly

and is prepared to

help.

A2 / Textbook: Berliner Platz 2

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of

most immediate

relevance (e.g.

very basic personal and family information,

shopping, local geography,

employment). Can communicate in simple

and routine

tasks requiring a simple and direct

exchange of information on familiar and routine

matters. Can

describe in simple terms aspects

of his/her background, immediate

environment and matters in areas of

immediate need.

B: Independent User

Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly

encountered in work, school,

leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to

arise whilst

travelling in an area where the language is spoken.

Can produce simple

connected text on topics

which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe

experiences

and events, dreams, hopes

& ambitions and briefly give reasons and

explanations for opinions and plans.

Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract

topics, including

technical

discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact

with a degree of fluency and

spontaneity that makes

regular interaction with native

speakers quite possible without strain for

either party. Can produce clear, detailed

text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint

on a topical issue giving

the advantages and

disadvantages of various options.

C: Proficient User

C1

Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit

meaning. Can

express

him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious

searching for

expressions. Can use language

flexibly and effectively for social,

academic and professional

purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured,

detailed

text on complex subjects, showing

controlled use of organisational patterns,

connectors and cohesive

devices.

Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise

information from

different spoken

and written sources, reconstructing arguments

and accounts in a coherent

presentation. Can express him/herself

spontaneously,

very fluently and precisely, differentiating

finer shades of meaning even in more

complex

situations.

Note:
To be recognized with credits at a particular level, the learner needs to take an
assessment test, which this course does not administer. However, the completion of one
book can serve the learners as a learning gauge at what level of proficiency they could
be, depending on the applied amount of dedication and seriousness.

What do these levels mean?

	A1 Breakthrough
A Basic User
	A2 Waystage

Intermediate Level

	B1 Threshold
B Independent User
	B2 Vantage

Advanced to native-speaker
like Level

	C1 Effective Operational Proficiency
C Proficient User
	C2 Mastery

The textbook Berliner Platz used in our German courses, is based on the European
Framework for Standards (see below).

Had some German before?
If you have had German before and are not sure which course to take, you may: