Languages Self-Assessment

Stage 1A

You should enrol at Stage 1A if:

• you're a complete beginner
• you have only a few words of the language

By the end of Stage 1A, you'll be able to:

• introduce yourself
• ask & answer others about their jobs, family & interests
• understand questions & instructions addressed carefully & slowly
• understand directions
• understand prices, numbers & times
• understand simple messages (eg postcards)
• say what you like & dislike

By the end of Stage 1A, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• gender & number of nouns
• definite & in-definite articles 
• possessive adjectives 
• personal pronouns
• verbs in the present tense
• the verb 'to like' 
• prepositions

 

Stage 1B

You should enrol on Stage 1B if:

• you have already completed a Stage 1A class, or equivalent course at another institution
• you have studied the language to no higher than Standard Grade (but more than four years ago)

 Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 1B.

• ¿Cómo te llamas? Y otra información personal, p.ej.: dirección, número de teléfono, correo electrónico, etc.
• ¿Cuántos miembros hay en tu familia? Información personal de familiares y amigos. Descripción física y psíquica básica. ¿Cómo es?
• ¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre? ¿Te gustan las tapas? ¿Te gusta nadar? Hablar de gustos y preferencias.
• ¿Qué hay en tu ciudad? ¿Está cerca/lejos? ¿Cómo es tu ciudad? ¿Qué se puede hacer en tu ciudad? ¿A qué hora abre/cierra el museo?
• ¿Qué va a tomar? ¿Qué le debo? Pedir comida y bebida en el contexto de un bar o una cafetería.

By the end of Stage 1B, you'll be able to:

• understand when someone speaks carefully & at normal speed
• indicate time by phrases such as 'this week', 'last week'
• ask & answer questions about yourself & others
• organise when & where to meet somebody
• follow detailed directions
• make simple purchases, order food, handle quantities & cost
• write a short letter about yourself
• describe simple past activities (eg your last holiday)

By the end of Stage 1B, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• present tense and main irregular verbs
• personal pronouns
• gender and number
• possesive adjectives
• demonstrative adjectives and pronouns
• question words and numbers 

 

Stage 2

You should enrol on Stage 2 if:

• You have already completed a Stage 1B class
• You have a Standard Grade from no less than 3 years ago or a higher from more than 6 years ago

 Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 2.  

• Habla de tu rutina semanal: ¿Qué haces normalmente? ¿A qué hora?
• ¿Cómo es tu casa? ¿Cómo es tu ciudad? ¿Qué hay en tu ciudad?
• Dar y pedir direcciones: ¿Dónde está...?
• Transporte público: horarios y compra de billetes.
• ¿Cómo ha sido tu día? ¿Qué has hecho?
• ¿Dónde fuiste de vacaciones? ¿Qué hiciste?
• ¿Qué va a tomar? Pedir comida y bebida en el contexto de un restaurant.
• ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana? Hablar de eventos y planes.

 By the end of Stage 2, you'll be able to:

• understand the main points in short articles about familiar topics
• start, & maintain, a simple face-to-face conversation on topics of personal interest
• make travel arrangements
• write simple texts about your experiences
• convey simple factual information to friends or colleagues
• understand recipes & dishes
• describe briefly an event that happened in the past

By the end of Stage 2, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• irregular verbs in the present tense
• reflexive verbs in the present tense
• perfect tense
• the near future (ir a + infinitive)
• past tense
• imperative (tú/usted)

 

 Stage 3

 You should enrol at Stage 3 if: 

• You have already completed a stage 2 class
• You have a Higher Grade from less than 6 years ago

 Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 3.  

• ¿Qué le pasa? Hablar de enfermedades, síntomas y estilo de vida.
• ¿En qué puedo ayudarle? Comprar ropa y regalos. Descripción de objetos.
• ¿Qué hiciste en Navidad? Descripción de fiestas y celebraciones.
• ¿Qué desea? Comprar alimentos y seguir una receta de cocina.
• ¿Qué hacías cuando eras niño/a? ¿Cómo eras?

 By the end of Stage 3, you'll be able to:

• understand TV documentaries & interviews
• seek personal views & opinions from others
• read & understand articles on current problems, in which points of view are expressed
• read film reviews & short newspaper articles
• engage in extended conversation on most general topics
• account for, & sustain, opinions in discussion
• write summaries of articles on topics of general interest
• talk about car breakdowns, & obtain help
• write a short review of a film or book

By the end of Stage 3, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• verbs which follow 'Gustar' conjugation pattern
• direct & indirect object pronouns
• contrast between the perfect and past tense
• the imperfect tense of regular and irregular verbs
• the imperative
• contrast between 'Ser' and and 'Estar' 

 

Stage 4

 You should enrol at Stage 4 if: 

• You have already completed a Stage 3 class

 Are you able to understand these structures? If so, you should enrol on Stage 4. 

• Hablar de experiencias pasadas e incidentes.
• Hablar de situaciones cotidianas, p.ej.: trabajo, en el banco, etc.
• Planificar unas vacaciones y reservar alojamiento. Tipos de vacaciones y alojamiento.
• Hablar de eventos futuros y probabilidades. ¿Cómo será el mundo del futuro? ¿Qué harías?

By the end of Stage 4, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• Contrast betwwn direct and indirect object
• contrast between the past and imperfect tense
• the pluperfect tense
• the future tense of regular and irregular verbs
• the conditional tense of regular and irregular verbs
• contrast between 'Por' and 'Para'

 

Stage 1A

You should enrol at Stage 1A if:

• you're a complete beginner
• you have only a few words of the language

By the end of Stage 1A, you'll be able to:

• introduce yourself
• ask & answer others about their jobs, family & interests
• understand questions & instructions addressed carefully & slowly
• understand directions
• understand prices, numbers & times
• understand simple messages (eg postcards)
• say what you like & dislike

By the end of Stage 1A, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• gender & number of nouns
• definite & in-definite articles 
• possessive adjectives 
• personal pronouns
• verbs in the present tense
• the verb 'to like' 
• prepositions

 

Stage 1B

 You should enrol on Stage 1B if: 

• You have already completed a Stage 1A class
• You have studied the language no higher than Standard Grade (but more than 4 years ago) 

Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 1B. 

• COME TI CHIAMI? COME SI CHIAMA?
• DOVE ABITI? DOVE ABITA?
• QUANTI SIETE IN FAMIGLIA?
• HAI/HA FRATELLI, SORELLE?
• DA QUANTO TEMPO LAVORI? LAVORA?
• TI / LE PIACE IL TUO/SUO LAVORO?
• CHE ORE SONO?
• A CHE ORA PARTE IL TRENO PER…?
• È LONTANA LA PIAZZA DA QUI?

By the end of Stage 1B, you'll be able to:

• understand when someone speaks carefully & at normal speed
• indicate time by phrases such as 'this week', 'last week'
• ask & answer questions about yourself & others
• organise when & where to meet somebody
• follow detailed directions
• make simple purchases, order food, handle quantities & cost
• write a short letter about yourself
• describe simple past activities (eg your last holiday)

By the end of Stage 1B, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• direct object pronouns
• Passato prossimo with avere and essere
• reflexive verbs in the present tense and in the pasatoprossimo
• Negation using mai and niente
• Quanto/a/i/e
• Partitaive and other expressions of quantity (e.g. un po’ di, qualche, alcuni/e)
• ci and ne
• Disjunctive pronouns
• Adverbs
• Common irregular verb venire

 

 Stage 2

You should enrol on Stage 2 if:  

• You have already completed a Stage 1B class
• You have a Standard Grade from no less than 3 years ago or a higher from more than 6 years ago

 Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 2.  

• CHE COSA HAI FATTO IERI?
• COME TRASCORREVI LE TUE VACANZE QUANDO AVEVI 6 ANNI?
• CHE COSA TI PIACEVA MANGIARE DURANTE LE VACANZE?
• TRA DUE GIORNI PARTI: DOVE VAI? E` LA PRIMA VOLTA?
• VORREI COMPRARE DEI POMODORI: CHE TIPO DESIDERA?
• TI PIACEVA ANDARE A SCUOLA?

 By the end of Stage 2, you'll be able to:

• understand the main points in short articles about familiar topics
• start, & maintain, a simple face-to-face conversation on topics of personal interest
• make travel arrangements
• write simple texts about your experiences
• convey simple factual information to friends or colleagues
• understand recipes & dishes
• describe briefly an event that happened in the past

By the end of Stage 2, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• direct object pronouns/ direct object pronouns with Passato prossimo
• Imperfect
• Passato prossimo/imperfect
• Indirect object pronouns
• the verb 'piacere'
• the verbs 'sapere' and 'conosere'
• Adjectives 'bello/buono' before nouns
• Informal imperatives (tu, noi, voi)
• Simple future
• Conditional mood/present
• Post-basic uses of verbs - dovere/potere/volere

 

 Stage 3

 You should enrol at Stage 3 if:  

• You have already completed a stage 2 class
• You have a Higher Grade from less than 6 years ago

 Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 3.  

• SAI NUOTARE? SA NUOTARE?
• CONOSCI ELISABETTA? ERA LA MIA VICINA DI CASA
• CONOSCI LA SICILIA? TI PIACEREBBE VISITARLA?
• DOVREI MANDARE DEI FIORI A MIA ZIA: POTREBBE CONSEGNARLI DOMANI MATTINA?
• MENTRE GUARDAVO LA PARTITA DI CALCIO, IL TELEFONO È SQUILLATO: INDOVINA CHI ERA, NON CI CREDERAI!
• MI PIACEREBBE FARE UN GIRO IN ITALIA: DOVE SEI STATO/A?

 By the end of Stage 3, you'll be able to:

• understand TV documentaries & interviews
• seek personal views & opinions from others
• read & understand articles on current problems, in which points of view are expressed
• read film reviews & short newspaper articles
• engage in extended conversation on most general topics
• account for, & sustain, opinions in discussion
• write summaries of articles on topics of general interest
• talk about car breakdowns, & obtain help
• write a short review of a film or book

By the end of Stage 3, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• comparatives
• irregular comparatives
• relative and absolute superlatives
• combined pronouns
• past conditional
• Molto, tanto, troppo, poco etc. (as adjectives and as adverbs)
• impersonal verbs
• present subjunctive 
• past subjunctive
• formal imperatives

 

 Stage 4

 You should enrol at Stage 4 if: 

• You have already completed a Stage 3 class

Are you able to understand these structures? If so, you should enrol on Stage 4. 

• MARIO È MENO ALTO DI SARA
• MIO ZIO MANGIA MOLTI GELATI
• MIA NONNA LEGGE MOLTO
• CI SONO TROPPE MACCHINE
• MANCANO LE UOVA PER LA TORTA
• MI SERVE UN PÒ DI BURRO DA AGGIUNGERE AGLI ALTRI INGREDIENTI
• MANCA UN’ORA ALL’ARRIVO DEL TRENO
• PENSIAMO CHE SIA UN’OTTIMA OPPORTUNITÀ LAVORARE ALL’ESTERO
• CREDO CHE TU ABBIA BEVUTO TROPPO

 By the end of Stage 4, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• trapassato 
• relative pronouns 'che' and 'cui'
• imperfect subjunctive
• pluperfect subjunctive
• se clauses and the subjunctive

 



Stage 1A

You should enrol at Stage 1A if:

• you're a complete beginner
• you have only a few words of the language

By the end of Stage 1A, you'll be able to:

• introduce yourself
• ask & answer others about their jobs, family & interests
• understand questions & instructions addressed carefully & slowly
• understand directions
• understand prices, numbers & times
• understand simple messages (eg postcards)
• say what you like & dislike

By the end of Stage 1A, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• gender & number of nouns
• definite & indefinite articles 
• possessive adjectives 
• personal pronouns
• verbs in the present tense
• the verb 'to like' 
• prepositions

 

Stage 1B

 You should enrol on Stage 1B if:

• you have already completed a Stage 1A class, or equivalent course at another institution
• you have studied the language to no higher than Standard Grade (but more than four years ago)

Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 1B. 

• Wie heißen Sie? / Wie heißt du?
• Wo wohnen Sie?
• Haben Sie Geschwister?
• Was machen Sie beruflich?
• Lernen Sie gern Deutsch?
• Wie schmeckt das Essen?

By the end of Stage 1B, you'll be able to:

• understand when someone speaks carefully & at normal speed
• indicate time by phrases such as 'this week', 'last week'
• ask & answer questions about yourself & others
• organise when & where to meet somebody
• follow detailed directions
• make simple purchases, order food, handle quantities & cost
• write a short letter about yourself
• describe simple past activities (eg your last holiday)

By the end of Stage 1B, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• past tense
• expressing future actions without future tense
• imperative
• negatives 
• direct & indirect object pronouns
• cases with prepositions 
• comparatives

 

 Stage 2

You should enrol on Stage 2 if:  

• You have already completed a Stage 1B class
• You have a Standard Grade from no less than 3 years ago or a higher from more than 6 years ago

 Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 2.  

• Was haben Sie gestern gemacht?
• Was müssen Sie nächste Woche machen?
• Wann haben Sie Geburtstag?
• Wie hat Ihnen Ihr letzter Urlaub gefallen?
• Wie komme ich am besten zum Bahnhof?
• Was haben Sie denn für Beschwerden?

By the end of Stage 2, you'll be able to:

• understand the main points in short articles about familiar topics
• start, & maintain, a simple face-to-face conversation on topics of personal interest
• make travel arrangements
• write simple texts about your experiences
• convey simple factual information to friends or colleagues
• understand recipes & dishes
• describe briefly an event that happened in the past
• understand and maintain dialogues in a shop or office
• understand simple text about cultural events and leisure activities

By the end of Stage 2, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• imperfect tense
• differences between past tenses
• regular & irregular verbs in the conditional tense
• subordinate clauses using 'weil' and'wenn'
• verbs with prepositions 

 

  Stage 3 

You should enrol at Stage 3 if: 

• You have already completed a stage 2 class
• You have a Higher Grade from less than 6 years ago 

Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 3. 

• Kennen Sie deutsche Filme und Serien? Wenn ja, welche gefallen Ihnen besonders gut, und warum?
• Wie und mit wem haben Sie letztes Jahr Weihnachten gefeiert?
• Was würden Sie machen, wenn Sie eine Million Euro im Lotto gewinnen würden?
• Wann haben Sie Ihr Studium abgeschlossen / Ihre Arbeit begonnen?
• Welche Schulfächer haben Sie als Kind geliebt?
• Sie haben eine Jacke gekauft, aber leider hat sie ein Loch. Wie können Sie die Jacke im Bekleidungsgeschäft reklamieren?

  By the end of Stage 3, you'll be able to:

• understand TV documentaries & interviews
• seek personal views & opinions from others
• read & understand articles on current problems, in which points of view are expressed
• read film reviews & short newspaper articles
• engage in extended conversation on most general topics
• account for, & sustain, opinions in discussion
• write summaries of articles on topics of general interest
• talk about car breakdowns, & obtain help
• write a short review of a film or book

By the end of Stage 3, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• combined direct & indirect object pronouns
• adjectival endings 
• reflexive verbs 
• preterite tense, & the subjunctive tense in 'wenn' clauses 
• past tenses

 

Stage 4

You should enrol at Stage 4 if:  

• You have already completed a Stage 3 class

Are you able to answer the following questions or react to the following situations in German? If so, you should enrol at Stage 4.  

• Wo und wie haben Sie als Kind gelebt?
• Worüber haben Sie sich zuletzt so richtig gefreut?
• Beschreiben Sie den Charakter und das Aussehen eines Familienmitglieds!
• Was kann man machen, wenn man sehr gestresst ist? Geben Sie Empfehlungen!
• Sie haben für vier Personen gekocht, aber lhre Freunde rufen an und sagen, dass sich ihre Pläne geändert haben und sie nicht mehr kommen können. Sie möchten Ihre Enttäuschung ausdrücken.
• Berichten Sie von einem Artikel, den Sie kürzlich in der Zeitung gelesen haben!

 By the end of Stage 4, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures: 

• Subordinate clauses with um zu / damit
• Plu-perfect
• Passive voice (werden/wurden) in present, preterite and perfect tense
• Passive with modal verbs
• Relative pronouns in the Genitive
• Prepositions with Genitive
• The verb “lassen” (have sthg. done)
• Double-conjunctions
• Subordinate clauses with various conjunctions
• n-declension
• The verbs “wissen” and “kennen”
• Gender of nouns
• Temporal prepositions and adverbs
• Subjunctive
• The use of "werden"
• Participles as adjectives
• Adjective declension
• Demonstrative pronouns (e.g. derselbe)
• Adjectives with prepositions





 

 

Stage 1A

You should enrol at Stage 1A if:

• you're a complete beginner
• you have only a few words of the language

By the end of Stage 1A, you'll be able to:

• introduce yourself
• ask & answer others about their jobs, family & interests
• understand questions & instructions addressed carefully & slowly
• understand directions
• understand prices, numbers & times
• understand simple messages (eg postcards)
• say what you like & dislike

By the end of Stage 1A, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• gender & number of nouns
• definite & in-definite articles 
• negatives 
• possessive adjectives 
• personal pronouns
• verbs in the present tense
• introduction to past & future tenses 
• the verb 'to like' 
• prepositions

 

Stage 1B

 You should enrol on Stage 1B if: 

• You have already completed a Stage 1A class
• You have studied the language no higher than Standard Grade (but more than 4 years ago) 

Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 1B. 

• Comment vous appelez-vous ? / Comment t’appelles-tu ? + autres informations personnelles [adresse (électronique), numéro de téléphone, nationalité, profession, etc.]
• Etes-vous marié(e) ? Avez-vous des enfants ? Avez-vous des frères et sœurs ? + description physique et morale
• Que faites-vous pendant votre temps libre ? Aimez-vous aller au restaurant ? Préférez-vous la cuisine italienne ou française ? - Parler de ses goûts et préférences
• Où êtes-vous en vacances ? Comment est votre hôtel ? Y a-t-il une piscine / l’air conditionné ? À quelle heure ouvre/ferme la réception ?
• Vous désirez ? - Commander dans un restaurant / café + faire ses courses 

 

By the end of Stage 1B, you'll be able to use the following grammar structures:

• reflexive verbs 
• prepositions to locate in space, prepositions + places/means of transport
• passé composé 
• comparison
• imperative mood 
• Y pronoun
• expressing the future 
• asking questions when purchasing/booking tickets
• quantities and numbers

 

 Stage 2

 You should enrol on Stage 2 if: 

• You have already completed a Stage 1B class
• You have a Standard Grade from no less than 3 years ago or a higher from more than 6 years ago

 Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 2. 

• Votre routine : Que faites-vous ? Quel jour ? À quelle heure ?
• Comment est votre logement ?
• Qu’avez-vous fait hier ? Le week-end dernier ?
• Comment est votre ville / village ? Où se trouve la poste ?
• Qu’est-ce que vous allez faire demain ? Ce week-end ? Dans un an ?
• Que pensez-vous de cette entrecôte ou de ce filet mignon ? Connaissez-vous la recette de la quiche lorraine ?

 

By the end of Stage 2, you'll be able to use the following grammar structures:

• passé composé
• asking questions
• tonic pronouns
• adverbs of intensity frequency
• near future
• direct object pronouns
• adjectives
• imperfect
• conditional mood
• comparison/superlative
• possesive pronouns
• où / dont

 

Stage 3

 You should enrol at Stage 3 if: 

• You have already completed a stage 2 class
• You have a Higher Grade from less than 6 years ago

 Are you able to answer these questions?  If so, you should enrol on Stage 3. 

• Qu’avez-vous fait pendant vos dernières vacances ?
• Aimez-vous faire du shopping ? Qu’est-ce que vous venez d’acheter ? Quels types de cadeaux faites-vous ? Que portez-vous au travail / le week-end ?
• Quelles fêtes françaises connaissez-vous ? Que ferez-vous pour Noël ?
• Comment étaient célébrées les fêtes dans le passé dans votre pays ? Quelles sont vos résolutions pour cette année ?
• Pourriez-vous comparer deux villes / deux personnes / deux objets ?

 

By the end of Stage 3, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures:

• asking questions (3 types)
• qui / que / dont / où
• Présent + imparfait + futur
• Give advice (imperative + ‘devoir’ + ‘pouvoir’ + conditional)
• Making hypothesis (if + imperfect)
• Present Subjunctive (advice + obligation)
• y + en
• Negative forms (e.g. ne … plus, ne … jamais, etc.)
• Expressing ‘cause’
• Passé composé VS Imparfait
• Expressing duration (e.g. depuis, il y a, pendant) and chronology (e.g. ensuite, puis, à…)
• Indirect object pronouns (lui, leur)
• Agreements (Passé composé)

 

Stage 4

You should enrol at Stage 4 if:

•  You have already completed a Stage 3 class

 Are you able to answer these questions? If so, you should enrol on Stage 4. 

• Où avez-vous mal ? Quels sont vos symptômes ? Que recommandez-vous pour rester en forme ?
• Pourriez-vous faire le portrait d’une personne que vous admirez ?
• Racontez le dernier film / livre que vous avez vu / lu
• Quel a été votre parcours professionnel ?

By the end of Stage 4, you'll also be able to use the following grammar structures: 

• Expressing 'consequence'
• Present subjunctive
• Past subjunctive
• Introduction to the past historic
• Complex relative pronouns
• Passive voice







You should enrol at Keep Talking 1 if:

• You have already completed Taking Your Language Further 1

 

You should enrol at Keep Talking 2 if:

• You have already completed Taking Your Language Further 2

 

You should enrol at Keep Talking 3 if:

• You have already completed Taking Your Language Further 3

You should enrol on Live the Language if:

• You have already completed all the language levels and wish to practice conversational skills