ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
Sommaire
Generic
Descriptions-Speaking
Novice
The Novice level is characterized by the ability to communicate minimally
with learned material.
Novice-Low
Oral production consists of isolated words and perhaps a few high-frequency
phrases. Essentially no functional communicative ability.
Novice-Mid
Oral production continues to consist of isolated words and learned phrases
within very predictable areas of need, although quality is increased. Vocabulary
is sufficient only for handling simple, elementary needs and expressing
basic courtesies. Utterances rarely consist of more than two or three words
and show frequent long pauses and repetition of interlocutor's words. Speaker
may have some difficulty producing even the simplest utterances. Some Novice-Mid
speakers will be understood only with great difficulty.
Novice-High
Able to satisfy partially the requirements of basic communicative exchanges
by relying heavily on learned utterances but occasionally expanding these
through simple recombinations of their elements. Can ask questions or make
statements involving learned material. Shows signs of spontaneity although
this falls short of real autonomy of expression. Speech continues to consist
of learned utterances rather than of personalized, situationally adapted
ones. Vocabulary centers on areas such as basic objects, places, and most
common kinship terms. Pronunciation may still be strongly influenced by
first language. Errors are frequent and, in spite of repetition, some Novice-High
speakers will have difficulty being understood even by sympathetic interlocutors.
Intermediate
The Intermediate level is characterized by the speaker's ability to:
-create with the language by combining and recombining learned elements,
though primarily in a reactive mode;
-initiate, minimally sustain, and close in a simple way basic communicative
tasks; and
-ask and answer questions.
Intermediate-Low
Able to handle successfully a limited number of interactive, task-oriented
and social situations. Can ask and answer questions, initiate and respond
to simple statements and maintain face-to-face conversation, although in
a highly restricted manner and with much linguistic inaccuracy. Within these
limitations, can perform such tasks as introducing self, ordering a meal,
asking directions, and making purchases. Vocabulary is adequate to express
only the most elementary needs. Strong interference from native language
may occur. Misunderstandings frequently arise, but with repetition, the
Intermediate-Low speaker can generally be understood by sympathetic interlocutors.
Intermediate-Mid
Able to handle successfully a variety of uncomplicated, basic and communicative
tasks and social situations. Can talk simply about self and family members.
Can ask and answer questions and participate in simple conversations on
topics beyond the most immediate needs; e.g., personal history and leisure
time activities. Utterance length increases slightly, but speech may continue
to be characterized by frequent long pauses, since the smooth incorporation
of even basic conversational strategies is often hindered as the speaker
struggles to create appropriate language forms. Pronunciation may continue
to be strongly influenced by first language and fluency may still be strained.
Although misunderstandings still arise, the Intermediate-Mid speaker can
generally be understood by sympathetic interlocutors.
Intermediate-High
Able to handle successfully most uncomplicated communicative tasks and social
situations. Can initiate, sustain, and close a general conversation with
a number of strategies appropriate to a range of circumstances and topics,
but errors are evident. Limited vocabulary still necessitates hesitation
and may bring about slightly unexpected circumlocution. There is emerging
evidence of connected discourse, particularly for simple narration and/or
description. The Intermediate-High speaker can generally by understood even
by interlocutors not accustomed to dealing with speakers at this level,
but repetition may still be required.
Advanced
The Advanced level is characterized by the speaker's ability to:
-converse in a clearly participatory fashion;
-initiate, sustain, and bring to closure a wide variety of communicative
tasks, including those that require an increased ability to convey meaning
with diverse language strategies due to a complication or an unforeseen
turn of events;
-satisfy the requirements of school and work situations; and
-narrate and describe with paragraph-length connected discourse.
Advanced
Able to satisfy the requirements of everyday situations and routine school
and work requirements. Can handle with confidence but not with facility
complicated tasks and social situations, such as elaborating, complaining,
and apologizing. Can narrate and describe with some details, linking sentences
together smoothly. Can communicate facts and talk casually about topics
of current public and personal interest, using general vocabulary. Shortcomings
can often be smoothed over by communicative strategies, such as pause fillers,
stalling devices, and different rates of speech. Circumlocution which arises
from vocabulary or syntactic limitations very often is quite successful,
though some groping for words may still be evident. The Advanced-level speaker
can be understood without difficulty by native interlocutors.
Advanced-Plus
Able to satisfy the requirements of a broad variety of everyday, school,
and work situations. Can discuss concrete topics relating to particular
interests and special fields of competence. There is emerging evidence of
ability to support opinions, explain in detail, and hypothesize. The Advanced-Plus
speaker often shows a well developed ability to compensate for an imperfect
grasp of some forms with confident use of communicative strategies, such
as paraphrasing and circumlocution. Differentiated vocabulary and intonation
are effectively used to communicate fine shades of meaning. The Advanced-Plus
speaker often shows remarkable fluency and ease of speech but under the
demands of Superior-level, complex tasks, language may break down or prove
inadequate.
Superior
The Superior level is characterized by the speaker's ability to:
-participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical,
social, professional, and abstract topics; and
-support opinions and hypothesize using native-like discourse strategies.
Superior
Able to speak the language with sufficient accuracy to participate effectively
in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, professional,
and abstract topics. Can discuss special fields of competence and interest
with ease. Can support opinions and hypothesize, but may not be able to
tailor language to audience or discuss in depth highly abstract or unfamiliar
topics. Usually the Superior level speaker is only partially familiar with
regional or other dialectical variants. The Superior level speaker commands
a wide variety of interactive strategies and shows good awareness of discourse
strategies. The latter involves the ability to distinguish main ideas from
supporting information through syntactic, lexical and suprasegmental features
(pitch, stress, intonation). Sporadic errors may occur, particularly in
low-frequency structures and some complex high-frequency structures more
common to formal writing, but no patterns of error are evident. Errors do
not disturb the native speaker or interfere with communication.
Generic Descriptions-Reading
Generic Descriptions-Listening
Generic Descriptions-Writing