Language Levels In Language Scholar Connect?

Hi Alice,

You will initially be placed into the level you specify during the sign-up process, or in the beginner group if no level is specified.

During your first language group meeting, the tutor will assess your language level based on our guidelines, training, and their experience. They may request to move you to a different level if necessary.

Below is a chart highlighting some differences between our intermediate and beginner levels, which our tutors use to determine your language level. We encourage you to review this before signing up to better specify your level. For Spanish, we currently offer beginner Spanish in the Castilian dialect and intermediate Spanish in the Latin American dialect.

Beginner

Students with little to no experience with the language they intend to learn, should be taught at a fairly slow rate (to start). Remember that you should keep track of everyone in your class; everyone should advance together. If all students seem to master the basics quickly, the pace of the teaching can be accelerated (or, contrarily, slowed down to accommodate all students). The main focus of this class is to build a strong foundation and develop basic language skills. 

Competencies and knowledge expected at this level include: None or:

1. Understanding and using common greetings, introductions, and simple expressions.

1. Learning basic vocabulary related to everyday topics such as numbers, colors, family, and food.

2. Grasping fundamental grammar structures, including verb conjugations, noun-adjective agreement, and basic sentence formation.

Small (optional) assignments can be given to students such as key vocab worksheets, 1-3 sentence essays…etc. Remember to acknowledge the abilities of your students and to only assign appropriate leveled work.

Intermediate

Students with some knowledge or understanding in the language should be taught at a faster rate. As their tutor, you can encourage a faster pace, or have them establish their own, depending on their capabilities.

Students at the intermediate level have a basic understanding of the language and can engage in small conversations. They are ready to expand their language skills and work towards more complex linguistic tasks. 

Competencies and knowledge expected at this level include:

1. Expanding vocabulary to cover a wider range of topics and situations.

1. Enhancing grammatical knowledge by learning more complex sentence structures, verb tenses, and idiomatic expressions.

1. Developing reading and writing skills, including comprehension of short texts, writing simple paragraphs, and expressing opinions.

2. Improving listening and speaking skills by engaging in conversations on various subjects, expressing thoughts, and understanding more nuanced language.

Again, small (and optional) assignments can be given to students to help their learning.  Remember that your students have commitments outside of their Language Scholar Connect schedule, and assign completable projects.

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Regards,

Alienor Lacalmontie, Lead Tutor & Vice President

Let me know if you have any other questions! :)