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		Introduction Choosing a language     Suggested activities How to... Memory aids Suggestopedia Choosing a dictionary     Certificates and diplomas				If you need to certificate your command of a foreign language, consider taking internationally recognized examinations.  Contents   The ALTE framework             Basque Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Czech Danish Dutch English Esperanto Estonian Finnish Flemish French   Gaelic Galician German Greek Hebrew Hungarian Irish Gaelic Italian Japanese Latvian Lithuanian Luxembourgish   Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Slovak Slovene Spanish Swedish Turkish Valencian Welsh
		The ALTE framework				In order to make it easier for you to compare certificates for different languages, we have tried to match them with the proficiency levels defined by ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) and by the Council of Europe in its "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages" (CEFR). Warning: This information may be inaccurate. Refer to the institution issuing each certificate for precise information.   ALTE CEFR Description Example context   LEVEL 1 Waystage User A1/A2 Basic lingo, "traveller's guide" style. Holidays.   LEVEL 2 Threshold User B1 Knowledge of basic rules, smalltalk. Working as a waiter or as a taxi driver.   LEVEL 3 Independent User B2 Recognition of context and style. Working at a tourism office.   LEVEL 4 Competent User (B2) Use of different styles. First university studies in the foreign language.   LEVEL 5 Good User C1 Recognition of culture-specific points. High-level academic work.   LEVEL 6* Excellent User* C2 Use of culture-specific points. High-level academic work in arts. *Level 6 was introduced by us and is not an official ALTE level. To know which precise skills are required for each level, refer to the ALTE website or to the CEFR website, or to the explanation of CEFR levels in German provided by the Goethe-Institut. The ALTE was founded in 1990. Among its members are prestigious institutions such as Cambridge University (UK) and the Goethe-Institut (Germany). Currently, it covers 24 languages. Anyway, on this page we will try to apply these standards to certificates for other languages. Alternative certification systems: A similar framework was developed by the ACTFL (American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages). There are 4 skill-oriented levels. Standard tests are also available for specific purposes, e.g. for business, professional, or academic use. UNIcert® is an interuniversity language certificate developed in aegis of the AKS (Arbeitskreis der Sprachenzentren, Sprachlehrinstitute und Fremdspracheninstitute) of the University of Bochum, Germany. The AKS is an association of some 100 language centers of various German-speaking universities. Association for Educational Assessment (AEA), Europe International Association for Educational Assessment
		Basque				Certificates are conferred by Eusko Jaurlaritza / Basque Regional Government (Basque Country, Spain).
		Bulgarian				The following certifications are conferred by the Department of Language Learning (DLL) of the University of Sofia "St Kliment Ohridski".   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Standard Test of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language (STBFL) Basic   LEVEL 2 Threshold User       LEVEL 3 Independent User   Standard Test of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language (STBFL) Intermediate   LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User   Standard Test of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language (STBFL) Advanced   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Catalan				The following certifications are conferred by the Direcció General de Política Lingüística of the Generalitat de Catalunya / Catalan Regional Government (Catalonia, Spain) and the Institut Ramon Llull.   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Certificat de nivell bàsic de català (A bàsic)   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Certificat de nivell elemental de català (A elemental)   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Certificat de nivell intermedi de català (B)   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Certificat de nivell de suficiència de català (C)    LEVEL 5 Good User   Certificat de nivell superior de català (D)    LEVEL 6* Excellent User     Note: These diplomas supersede the old Certificat Internacional de Català (Bàsic, Llindar, Avançat) conferred by the same institution and the Certificat de Coneixements (A, B, C, and D) conferred by the Junta Permanent de Català. In addition to these diplomas, there are others related to specific fields: public administration (labeled G), law (J), business (M) and proofreading (K). For more information, see the website of the Catalan Regional Government. Remember that Catalan and Valencian are usually regarded to be the same language. Apart from existing political status and controversy, diplomas for both "languages" are usually recognized as interchangeable. The following certifications are conferred by the Junta Qualificadora de Coneixements del Valencià, a department of the Valencian Regional Government (Spain).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Certificat grau elemental   LEVEL 2 Threshold User       LEVEL 3 Independent User   Certificat grau mitjà   LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User   Certificat grau superior   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Chinese				The following certifications are conferred by the State Commission of the Chinese Proficiency Test. (Information also from Beijing Language and Culture University.) These are included in the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) / Chinese Proficiency Test.   LEVEL 1 Waystage User       LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Basic   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Elementary-Intermediate   LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User   Advanced   LEVEL 6* Excellent User     Hong Kong University (Hong Kong, P.R.China) also offers the Certificate in Chinese Language (CertChinLang) and the Diploma [...] (DiplChinLang).
		Czech				The Akademie J.A. Komenského (Czech Republic) is affiliated to The European Language Certificates promoted by the German adult education centers (Volkshochschulen).
		Danish				The following certifications are conferred by the Danish Language Testing Consortium (Denmark).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Test 1   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Test 2   LEVEL 3 Independent User       LEVEL 4 Competent User   Danskprøve 2   LEVEL 5 Good User       LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Dutch				The following certifications are conferred by the Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal (CNaVT) of the Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) and the Instituut voor Toetsontwikkeling (CITOgroep) (Netherlands). These levels are included in the Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal (CNaVT).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User       LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Examen Elementaire Kennis (CNaVT)   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Staatsexamen Nederlands als Tweede Taal, Examen I (NT2-I) Examen Basiskennis (CNaVT)   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Staatsexamen Nederlands als Tweede Taal, Examen II (NT2-II) Examen Uitgebreide Kennis (CNaVT)   LEVEL 5 Good User       LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		English				The following certifications are conferred by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) (United Kingdom):   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Key English Test (KET)   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Preliminary English Test (KET)   LEVEL 3 Independent User       LEVEL 4 Competent User   First Certificate in English (FCE)   LEVEL 5 Good User   Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)   LEVEL 6* Excellent User   Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) The University of Cambridge and British Council also offer the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The IELTS test is required prior to enroling in a British, Australian, or New Zealand university. It is also recognized by a number of North American universities, by European universities for so-called international studies, and by professional bodies and immigration services in other countries. Unlike the certifications mentioned above, the IELTS test is an all-in-one test with no levels. Passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required prior to enroling in a North American (USA / Canada) college or university. The TOEFL is an all-in-one test with no levels: the score you get is what counts. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is meant for college graduates and tests proficiency in the jargon of 16 different subjects. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) tests overall verbal, mathematical, and analytical skills of people pursuing postgraduate studies in management. There are various other diplomas on the market. For example, the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), supervised by a for-profit company and focusing on English "for the workplace". Moreover, the University of Cambridge offers the International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) and the International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE).
		Esperanto				Say what? xD
		Estonian				Certificates are conferred by the Ministry of Education (Estonia).
		Finnish				The following certifications are conferred by the Jyväskylän yliopisto / University of Jyväskylä (Finland).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Suomen kieli, perustaso 1   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Suomen kieli, perustaso 2-3 / keskitaso 3   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Suomen kieli, keskitaso 4-5 / ylin taso 5   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Suomen kieli, ylin taso 6   LEVEL 5 Good User   Suomen kieli, ylin taso 7-8   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Flemish				See Dutch.
		French				The following certifications are conferred by the Alliance Française (France).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Certificat d'Études de Français Pratique 1 (CEFP1)   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Certificat d'Études de Français Pratique 2 (CEFP2)   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Diplôme de Langue Française (DL) [DELF / DALF]   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Diplôme Supérieur d'Études Françaises Modernes (DS)   LEVEL 5 Good User   Diplôme de Hautes Études Françaises (DHEF)   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Gaelic				See Irish Gaelic.
		Galician				Certificates are conferred by the Xunta de Galicia (Galicia, Spain).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Certificado de Lingua Galega (CELGA) 1   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Certificado de Lingua Galega (CELGA) 2   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Certificado de Lingua Galega (CELGA) 3   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Certificado de Lingua Galega (CELGA) 4   LEVEL 5 Good User   Certificado de Lingua Galega (CELGA) 5   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		German				The following certifications are conferred by the Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband or the Goethe Institut (Germany).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Start Deutsch 2 Grundbaustein Deutsch als Fremdsprache (GBS DaF)   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD) [formerly known as Z. D. als Fremdsprache (ZDaF)]   LEVEL 3 Independent User       LEVEL 4 Competent User   Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung (ZMP)   LEVEL 5 Good User   Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP) Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS)   LEVEL 6* Excellent User   Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) Similar certifications are provided by the Austrian ÖSD consortium. For more information on university access and business-oriented diplomas, see Deutsche Kultur International.
		Greek				The following certifications are conferred by the Eqniko kai kahodistriako Panehisthmio Aqhnwn / University of Athens (Greece).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User       LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Veveosi Elinomathias   LEVEL 3 Independent User       LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User       LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Hebrew				The Hebrew Proficiency Test is conferred by National Institute for Testing and Evaluation (Israel).
		Hungarian				Certificates are conferred by the Idegennyelvi Továbbképzö Központ (ITK) (Hungary) and the European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages (ECL) at Pécs University (Hungary).
		Irish Gaelic				The following certifications are conferred by the Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann (ITÉ) (Ireland).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Réamhtheastas Gaeilge (RTG)   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Bunteastas Gaeilge (BTG)   LEVEL 3 Independent User       LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User       LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Italian				The following certifications are conferred by the Università per Stranieri, Perugia (Italy).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana, Livello 1 (CELI 1)   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana, Livello 2 (CELI 2)   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana, Livello 3 (CELI 3)   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana, Livello 4 (CELI 4)   LEVEL 5 Good User   Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana, Livello 5 (CELI 5)   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Japanese				The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is a yearly test for non-native students, administered by the Japan Foundation. JLPT certification is required by all major Japanese universities. Note: The following classification into ALTE levels is tentative.   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   JLPT 4   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   JLPT 3   LEVEL 3 Independent User   JLPT 2   LEVEL 4 Competent User   JLPT 1   LEVEL 5 Good User       LEVEL 6* Excellent User     Other certificates are conferred by the Japan Language Testing Association (JLTA)
		Latvian				Certificates are conferred by the Naturalisation Board of Latvia.
		Lithuanian				Certificates are conferred by Vilnius University (Lithuania).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Test of Lithuanian as a State Language, Category I   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Test of Lithuanian as a State Language, Category II   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Test of Lithuanian as a State Language, Category III   LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User       LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Luxembourgish				The following certifications are conferred by the Centre de Langues Luxembourg (CLL).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Zertifikat Lètzebuergesch als Friemsprooch (ZLaF)   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Éischten Diplom Lètzebuergesch als Friemsprooch (1DLaF)   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Zweten Diplom Lètzebuergesch als Friemsprooch (2DLaF)   LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User   Ieweschten Diplom Lètzebuergesch (IDL)   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Norwegian				The following certifications are conferred by the Universitetet i Bergen and the Folkeuniversitetet (Norway).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Norskprøve 2 for  voksne innvandrere   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Norskprøve 3 for  voksne innvandrere   LEVEL 3 Independent User       LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User   Test i norsk - høyere nivå   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Polish				Certificates are conferred by Jagiellonian University - Instytut Polonijny (Poland).
		Portuguese				The following certifications are conferred by the CAPLE, Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Certificado Inicial de Língua Portuguesa (CIPLE)   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Diploma Elementar de Língua Portuguesa (DEPLE)   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Diploma Intermédio de Português Língua Estrangeira (DIPLE)   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Diploma Avançado de Português Língua Estrangeira (DAPLE)   LEVEL 5 Good User   Diploma Universitário de Português Língua Estrangeira (DUPLE)     LEVEL 6* Excellent User     The Brazilian Ministry of Education confers the CELPE-Bras (Certificado de Proficiência em Língua Portuguesa para Estrangeiros).
		Romanian				The certification "Atestat de Competenta Lingvistica a Cunostintelor de Limba Romana" (ACLro) is conferred by the Ministry of Education, Research, and Youth of Romania. This institution is not affiliated to ALTE.
		Russian				The following certifications are conferred by the Head Russian Language Testing Consortium of the Ministry for Compulsory and Professional Education of the Russian Federation. (For more information, see the Regional Russian Language Testing Center for Foreigners of the St. Petersburg State University.) These levels are included in the Test of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL), and the following is an attempt at mapping the certificates to ALTE categories:   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Elementary test   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Preliminary test   LEVEL 3 Independent User   First level certificate   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Second level certificate   LEVEL 5 Good User   Third level certificate   LEVEL 6* Excellent User   Fourth level certificate
		Slovak				The Akadémia Vzdelávania - Anglická jasyková škola (Slovakia) is affiliated to The European Language Certificates promoted by the German adult education centers (Volkshochschulen). This institution is not affiliated to ALTE.
		Slovene				Certificates are conferred by the Univerza v Ljubljani / University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).   This institution is not affiliated to ALTE.
		Spanish				The following certifications are conferred by the Instituto Cervantes and the Universidad de Salamanca (Spain).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User       LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Certificado Inicial de Español (CIE)   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Diploma Básico de Español (DBE) [Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera, DELE]   LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User   Diploma Superior de Español (DSE)   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Swedish				The following certifications are conferred by the Stockholms Universitet, Centrum för Tvåspråkighetsforskning and the Institutionen för Nordiska Språk (Sweden) respectively.   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   National Test of Swedish for Adult Immigrants (Sfi-provet), Course B   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   National Test of Swedish for Adult Immigrants (Sfi-provet), Course C    LEVEL 3 Independent User   National Test of Swedish for Adult Immigrants (Sfi-provet), Course D   LEVEL 4 Competent User       LEVEL 5 Good User   Test in Swedish for University Studies (Tisus)   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
		Turkish				The TÖMER, the foreign-language teaching department of the University of Ankara, provides students with a European Language Passport recognized by the Council of Europe. This institution is not affiliated to ALTE.
		Welsh				The following certifications are conferred by the Cyd-Bwyllgor Addysg Cymru (CBAC) / Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) and the Bwrdd Yr Iaith Gymraeg (BYIG) / Welsh Language Board (WLB).   LEVEL 1 Waystage User   Defnyddio'r Gymraeg: Mynediad   LEVEL 2 Threshold User   Defnyddio'r Gymraeg: Sylfaen   LEVEL 3 Independent User   Defnyddio'r Gymraeg: Canoradd   LEVEL 4 Competent User   Defnyddio'r Gymraeg: Uwch   LEVEL 5 Good User   (in development)   LEVEL 6* Excellent User
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