Courses/Levels
Courses and Levels of Spanish
Before starting a course, students are required to undergo a short, private Test of Competency at the school. This is to determine the appropriate course for each student. The results are confidential to you and the teachers. To enroll, you are not required to know any Spanish at all! We will tailor our instruction to suit your level, and since teaching is 1-on-1, you wont have to feel embarrassed in front of other, possibly more fluent, students. You will be amazed at how quickly you start improving, especially if you have a homestay immersion.
Below are brief descriptions of each level, to give some idea of what to expect:
Beginner:
The student understands a few words and simple phrases such as salutations and descriptions (hola, adios, etc). In the beginning, he/she may understand conversations in the present tense, using simple vocabulary. When done, he/she should be able to both understand and hold simple conversations in the present tense.
Pre-Intermediate:
The student understands and responds to questions in the present and past tenses, and is able to describe in simple words his/her daily activities. He/she is able to hold conversations while both listening and speaking at normal velocity.
Intermediate:
The student is able to initiate, sustain and terminate simple daily conversations concerning his/her daily activities, while using relevant vocabulary .
Advanced:
The student is able, by means of appropriate vocabulary, to initiate, sustain and terminate varied and complex conversations, deliver public presentations, and to discuss the pros and cons of different concepts. He/she is also able to write intelligible reports on a variety of subjects.
Progress Timeline
Students who follow the Intensive Program (Mon-Fri, 4 hrs daily), and who apply themselves diligently to their homework when not in school, can expect to progress roughly as follows:
4 weeks | 4 weeks | 5 weeks | 6 weeks |
Beginner | Pre Intermediate | Intermediate | Advanced |