Proficiency
TLC offers beginner, intermediate and advanced group world language classes. Our group classes follow guidelines recommended by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Languages that are somewhat similar to English, such as French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and German, have the following recommended target proficiency goals.
Languages that are not similar to English, such as Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Japanese and Russian, have slightly different proficiency targets.
Beginner consists of two levels: Beginner and Explorer. Each level has six sub-levels.
Beginner
Upon completing each level, learners can:
- Progress from no ability in the language to understanding and using familiar, everyday expressions and very basic phrases to satisfy concrete needs.
- Introduce themselves and others and ask and answer questions about personal details (e.g., where they live, people they know and things they have).
- Have simple interactions, provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
- CEFR Level: A1
- ACTFL Level: Novice High
- Approximately 108 contact/class hours
Explorer
Upon completing each level, students can:
- Better understand sentences and daily expressions (e.g., basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography and employment).
- Communicate about simple and routine tasks.
- Give simple, direct information on familiar and routine topics.
- Describe aspects of their background, immediate environment and needs in simple terms.
- CEFR Level: A2
- ACTFL Level: Intermediate Low
- Approximately 108 contact/class hours
Intermediate consists of three levels: Independent-Low, Independent-Mid and Independent-High. Each level has four sub-levels.
Independent
Upon completing each level, learners can:
- Better understand main points of conversations regularly encountered in work, school and leisure.
- Deal with typical situations that arise while traveling in areas where the language is spoken.
- Produce simple, continuous language on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
- Describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes and ambitions.
- Give brief reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
- CEFR Level: B1
- ACTFL Level: Intermediate High
- Approximately 216 contact/class hours
Advanced consists of three levels: Proficient-Low, Proficient-Mid and Proficient-High. Each level has four sub-levels.
Advanced
Upon completing each level, learners:
- Gain greater ability to understand the main ideas of complex text on concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization
- Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers possible without strain for either party.
- Can produce clear, detailed, continuous language on a variety of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
- CEFR Level: B2
- ACTFL Level: Advanced Low to Advanced Mid
- Approximately 216 contact/class hours
How Long Does it Take to Become Proficient?
There’s no easy answer to this question. The length of time necessary to learn another language varies greatly depending on the language studied and how much time and effort you can devote to the process, skills and competencies you wish to develop.
Language Testing International provides the following guidelines. Their estimates are based on individuals who completed full-time, intensive/immersion, proficiency-based language training with an instructor, either individually or in small groups of one to four students. They use a speaking test, an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), to rate learners and assess their performance.
Source: Judith E. Liskin-Gasparro. ETS Oral Proficiency Training Manual. Princeton, N.J.: Educational Testing Service, 1982. ILR ratings have been converted to reflect equivalent ACTFL ratings.
Including Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, French, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish
| Length of Training | Minimal Aptitude | Average Aptitude | Superior Aptitude |
| 8 weeks (240 hours) | Intermediate Low | Intermediate Mid | Intermediate Mid |
| 16 weeks (480 hours) | Intermediate High | Advanced Low | Advanced Mid |
| 24 weeks (720 hours) | Advanced Mid | Advanced High | Superior |
Including Bulgarian, Dari, Farsi, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Urdu
| Length of Training | Minimal Aptitude | Average Aptitude | Superior Aptitude |
| 16 weeks (480 hours) | Intermediate Low | Intermediate Mid/High | Intermediate High |
| 24 weeks (720 hours) | Intermediate High | Advanced Low/Mid | Advanced Mid/High |
| 44 weeks (1320 hours) | Advanced Mid/High | Advanced High/Superior | Superior |
Including Amharic, Bengali, Burmese, Czech, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Khmer, Lao, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Sinhala, Thai, Tamil, Turkish, Vietnamese
| Length of Training | Minimal Aptitude | Average Aptitude | Superior Aptitude |
| 16 weeks (480 hours) | Novice High | Intermediate Low/Mid | Intermediate Mid/High |
| 24 weeks (720 hours) | Intermediate High | Advanced Low | Advanced Mid/High |
| 44 weeks (1320 hours) | Advanced Mid | Advanced High | Superior |
Including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
| Length of Training | Minimal Aptitude | Average Aptitude | Superior Aptitude |
| 16 weeks (480 hours) | Novice High | Intermediate Low | Intermediate Low/Mid |
| 24 weeks (720 hours) | Intermediate Low/Mid | Intermediate Mid/High | Intermediate High |
| 44 weeks (1,320 hours) | Advanced High | Advanced Low | Advanced Mid/High |
| 80-92 weeks (2,400-2,760 hours) | Advanced High | Superior | Superior |
Frameworks
There are two main frameworks/guidelines for language proficiency. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is used in Europe and other continents. The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines/ILR Skill Level Descriptions was created by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Both describe what individuals can do with language based on skills and competencies.
TLC group classes focus on listening and conversation skills. Each level corresponds to 18 contact/classroom hours. Instructors also provide study materials and resources for out-of-class study, but the amount of time individuals spend with the materials varies according to their needs and goals.
To reach the level of intermediate low, TLC students should expect the following contact/classroom hours:
- Group 1 Languages (French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish): 240 hours
- Group 2 Languages (German, Hindi): 480 hours
- Group 3 Languages (Russian): 480–720 hours
- Group 4 Languages (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean): 720 hours
