CEF Fluency Levels

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF) is the internationally used European guideline for describing the level of fluency achieved by a foreign language learner. The Alliance offers multiple courses within each CEF level, as detailed below.

Beginner A1

  • 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 with others at a beginner level. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Advanced Beginner A2

  • Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of everyday life (e.g. very basic personal & family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
  • Can communicate simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
  • Can describe in simple terms his/her background, immediate environment, and basic needs.

Intermediate B1

  • Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, and leisure.
  • 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 and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Advanced B2

  • Understand the main ideas of both concrete and abstract topics in complex texts, including technical discussions in a field of specialization.
  • Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers comfortable without strain for either party.
  • 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.

Expert C1/C2

  • 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.

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