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Certificates with Lingoda

Here at Lingoda, our students have the opportunity to earn internationally-recognised official language certificates. These certificates are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which divides students into six different ability levels. The third level on the framework is called Level B1.

Also known as ‘Intermediate’ or ‘Threshold’, Level B1 marks the point at which a person’s language skills move beyond basic usage. A Spanish speaker at Level B1 should find themselves able to cope with the most common situations they are likely to encounter when travelling around a Spanish-speaking country or region.

By this stage, students should have the capacity to understand the key points from authentic speech, which has not been modified to assist with comprehension. Moreover, it is the stage at which a learner should be able to convey personal opinions, produce more fluid texts on topics of interest and discuss things like work, family and hobbies.

Skills Breakdown

Lingoda’s Spanish language courses aim to provide students with a well-rounded education, focusing on each of the key language components. Here, we have compiled a skills breakdown, highlighting where a student at Level B1 should be in terms of their listening, speaking, reading and writing ability:

Listening
When it comes to listening, by Level B1 a Spanish student should be able to understand the key points of information from authentic conversation, especially when that conversation covers familiar topics. In addition, a learner at this point should be able to understand the main points from a Spanish television or radio programme, and should be able to understand the basic gist of oral presentations.
Speaking
A Spanish language student at Level B1 should find it possible to have simple conversations, covering familiar topics, and to cope with all of the common situations likely to arise from travelling in a Spanish region. For instance, a student should have the ability to make travel arrangements, express an opinion and describe events that have taken place. It should also be possible to describe things in reasonable detail, with the right clauses.
Reading
In terms of reading, a student who has reached Level B1 should be able to read and understand short Spanish texts on both familiar and unfamiliar topics. They should be able to read basic historical facts, understand written descriptions of events and comprehend personal viewpoints and feelings expressed in letters, etc.
Writing
Finally, to reach Level B1, a Spanish language student should find it possible to construct simple, connected texts on topics of interest. It should, for instance, be possible to write a personal letter to a friend, describing surroundings and experiences, or to write simple instructions. Students at this stage of the learning process should also be able to convey an opinion, perhaps through writing a short film or book review.

Checklist

Listening:

Able to understand a short presentation covering a familiar topic.
Able to comprehend the key points of information from authentic Spanish speech.

Reading:

Able to understand the main points in an article covering a familiar topic.
Able to read short texts about living conditions.
Able to read and understand simple historical facts and accounts.
Able to understand short texts about unusual or unfamiliar topics.
Able to understand simple texts about culture and traditions.
Able to read and understand basic instructions.

Speaking:

Able to hold a basic conversation, speaking about familiar topic.
Able to make travel arrangements and cope with most travel-based situations.
Able to express an opinion and respond to somebody else’s point of view in a simple way.
Able to give a short presentation on a subject of personal interest.
Able to use the relevant clauses when describing people, events and situations.

Writing:

Able to write personal feelings on simple topics like entertainment and leisure.
Able to produce written descriptions of locations and surroundings.
Able to write instructions, explaining how and why actions are done.
Able to produce simple, connected texts on topics of personal interest and express personal opinions.
Able to describe temporal relations.

Tips to help at this level:

You should be able to repeat back a section of someone else’s speech, in order to confirm you understand.
You should be comfortable asking somebody to clarify what they have just said.
You should find it possible to substitute in a similar replacement word when you cannot think of the word you want.
You should have developed a sufficient vocabulary base to express yourself when discussing everyday topics.

Lingoda Certificates

Lingoda’s online language courses are based on the CEFR and language students are able to earn official language certificates, which serve as proof of their ability. Best of all, these certificates enjoy recognition around the world and are accepted by a whole range of different institutions.

Certificates are earned by completing a course at the corresponding level, so a B1 Spanish certificate can be obtained by completing a Level B1 Spanish course. Employers, universities and immigration services can then refer to the framework and understand where a student is in terms of their speaking, reading, writing and listening skills.

A sample language certificate from Lingoda can be viewed by clicking here.