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My Languages

My Rating of my own Language Skills

• German: native speaker, level 12, expert translator and interpreter
• English: native competence, level 11
• French: intermediate high, level 06
• Danish: intermediate mid, level 05
• Spanish: intermediate mid, level 05
• Latin: intermediate mid, level 05, Latinum
• Russian: novice high, level 03

The Language Learners Proficiency Scale

From "The Whole World Guide to Language Learning" by Terry Marshall Intercultural press, inc1989; ISBN 0-933662-75-0

12. Native Speaker

Native speaker. Highest level achievable

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11. Native Competence

Functions as would an educated native speaker.

• I am equally as fluent in my second language as in English.
• I have command of idioms, colloquialisms, and historical and literary allusions.
• I am well versed on the history, beliefs, customs, politics, and geography of the host country.
• I am completely at ease culturally in any social or professional setting.

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10. Distinguished

Can use the language fluently and accurately on all levels of professional need. Can tailor language to fit the audience: counsel, persuade, negotiate, represent a point of view, and interpret for dignitaries.

Speaks with only rare pronunciation or grammar errors.

Picks up on most nonverbal cues; understands humor and most allusions. Behaves in a culturally appropriate manner in a range of social and professional settings.

• I can carry out any job responsibility in my second language
• I can speak appropriately to a professional group, my staff a government official, a friend, the elderly and children.
• I can act as an interpreter at a professional meeting or function.
• I rarely make pronunciation or grammar errors.
• I always understand native speakers, even when they are talking to each other.
• I can participate in joking, including puns and word play.
• I can read cultural gestures, body language and facial expressions accurately.

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9. Superior

Can converse most practical social, and professional topics, provide explanations, resolve problems, describe in detail, offer supported opinions, and hypothesize. Beginning to talk about abstract ideas.

Rarely has to grope for a word. Control of grammar is good and errors almost never bother the native speaker. Can participate appropriately in most social and work situations. Understands most nonverbal responses; beginning to understand culture-related humor.

• I can carry out most work assignments in the target language.
• I can handle routine social situations with ease.
• I can participate effectively in most general discussions involving native speakers.
• I can handle normal telephone conversations.
• I can listen to a radio program, oral report, or speech and take accurate notes.
• I can deal with an unexpected problem or a social blunder.
• I can support my opinions in a discussion or argument.
• I am beginning to understand jokes and word play.
• I seldom have to ask speakers to repeat or explain.
• I can speak at a normal rate of speed, without groping for words or trying to avoid complex grammatical structures.

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8. Advanced Plus

Can handle most work requirements and conversations on topics of particular interest. Can express facts, give instructions, describe, report, and talk about current, past, and future activities.

Often speaks fluently and easily, though occasionally pauses to think of a word. Continues to make some grammatical errors.

In dealing with native speakers, understands common rules of etiquette, taboos and sensitivities, and handles routine social situations when dealing with people accustomed to foreigners.

• I can hire an employee, discuss qualifications, duties, hours, and pay in my new language.
• I can instruct a coworker on how to perform a common task.
• I can give opinions, facts, and explain points of view.
• I can talk with ease about my past, my current activities, and what I hope to do in the future.
• I generally speak easily and fluently with only monor pauses.
• I can make culturally acceptable requests, accept or refuse invitations, apologize, and offer and receive gifts.
• I can perform at least two of the tasks at the superior level.

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7. Advanced

Can participate in most casual and some work conversations. Can give simple directions or explanations at work. Can talk about past and future events. With a minimum of repetition and rewording, can get the gist of normal conversation by native speakers.

Vocabulary is good enough to speak simply with only a few circumlocutions and can speak extemporaneously on many topics. Accent clearly that of a learner, but can generally be understood.

• I can describe my work in some detail and discuss with my coworkers most work-related tasks.
• I can talk comfortably about topics of general interest, such as the weather and current events.
• I can deal with and explain unexpected problems, such losing my traveler's checks.
• I can take and give messages over the telephone.
• I can be understood by most native speakers, and I can follow normal conversations involving native speakers.
• I can perform at least on task at the advanced plus level.

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6. Intermediate-High

Can participate in short conversations about most survival needs, limited social conventions, and other topics. Gets the gist of conversations on familiar topics, though finds it hard to tune in on long conversations or in unfamiliar situations.

Speaks mostly in short, discrete sentences, but shows occasional bursts of spontaneity, Can use most question forms, basic tenses, pronouns, and verb inflections, though still speaks with many errors.

Can be understood by native speakers used to speaking with foreigners. By repeating things, can frequently be understood by the general public.

In dealing with host country citizens, can get along in familiar survival situations and with native speakers accustomed to foreigners.

• I can buy my basic foodstuffs, rent a hotel room, and bargain when appropriate.
• I can talk about my favorite pastimes or sports.
• I can describe how to get from here to places like the post office, a restaurant, or a local tourist attraction.
• I can talk about things that happened in the past or might happen in the future.
• I can carry on simple conversations with native speakers who are used to dealing with foreigners.
• I can perform at least two of the tasks at the advanced level.

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5. Intermediate-Mid

Can participate in simple conversations about some survival needs and social traditions. Can discuss topics beyond basic survival, such as personal history and leisure time activities.

Beginning to use correct basic grammar constructions such as subject-verb and noun-adjective agreement.

• I can handle questions about my marital status, nationality, occupation, age, and place of birth.
• I can order a simple meal from a restaurant menu.
• I can ask for or tell the time, date, and day of the week.
• I can handle simple business at the post office, a bank, and drugstore.
• I am beginning to speak more correctly; my subjects and verbs generally agree.
• I can perform at least on task on the intermediate-high level.

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4. Intermediate-Low

Can speak on familiar topics, ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements, and carry on face-to-face discussions. Can pick out the main idea in a friendly informal conversation. Often speaks incorrectly but by repeating, generally can be understood by native speakers who regularly deal with foreigners.

Frequently can understand native speaker if he/she repeats or speaks more slowly.

• I can initiate and close conversations appropriately.
• I can introduce myself or someone else.
• I can buy a ticket, catch a bus or train, and get off at the right place.
• I can respond to simple directions from customs officials, policemen, or other officials.
• I can discuss simple topics with friends.

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3. Novice-High

Can ask questions and make simple statements based on memorized sentences. Understands conversation fragments and simple commands. Can deal with simple topics of daily need. Speaks mostly in short, direct sentences, but can say some longer phrases and sentences if given time to think about them first.

Still makes frequent errors in pronunciation and word use. Frequently asks speaker to slow down or repeat. Communicates with coworkers but has difficulty with others.

Behaves considerately in dealing with host country nationals. Understands some nonverbal cues.

• I understand and can make simple statements about family, age, address, weather, time, and daily activities.
• I understand some words when the context helps explain them, e.g. in a cafe, the marketplace.
• My vocabulary includes names of basic concepts: days, months, numbers 1-100, articles of clothing, body parts, family relationships.
• I can use at least on hundred nouns and verbs in appropriate contexts.
• I am beginning to know what is expected of me in simple social situations.
• I can perform at least two tasks at the intermediate-low level.

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2. Novice-Mid

Can express very simple needs in polite language. Uses mostly memorized words and phrases. Can say short phrases if given time to think about what she/he wants to say.

Speaks in a heavy accent with many errors and confuses sounds that are similar.

Speech is difficult to understand, even to teachers used to working with language students.

• I can respond to simple commands such as "stand up" and "come here."
• I can greet people and take my leave correctly.
• I can ask basic questions, using who, what, when and where.
• I can make simple statements and commands such as "it's hot" and "turn on the light."
• I can thank people and make simple requests.
• I can use at least fifty words in appropriate contexts.
• I can sing on verse of a folk song or popular sing-along tune.
• I can perform at least on task at the novice-high level

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1. Novice-Low

Able to respond to or speak a few isolated words-those borrowed from English, or commonly used, e.g. gracias, ciao, etc.

Has identified him/herself as a language learner

• I can say "hello" and "good-bye."
• I can count to ten.
• I can use courtesy words such as "thank you" and "excuse me."
• I know a handful of words.
• I am eager to begin learning my target language.
• I have set some goals for my language learning.

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