Progression Ladder
For example:
If your starting level is the self-sufficient stage (L6) and you wish to reach the operational professional stage (L9), you require 3 levels of the Intensive Course. Each level represents a minimum of 40 hours of classes during a recommended two-month period; i.e. 16 telephone lessons of 30 minutes each and a minimum of 32 hours of Internet lessons with our exclusive interactive method CyberTeachers Online®. We use 'minimum' because you are completely free to work with Cyberteachers as long as you want: You do not pay per hour but per level.
L0 - (Unfamiliar with the language)
L2 - Survival Level (Complete Beginner)
L4 - Communication Level (Beginner)
L6 - Self-sufficient (Pre-Intermediate)
L9 - Operational level (Intermediate 1)
L12 Professional Advanced (Intermediate 2)
L15 Professional expert (Advanced)
L0 - (Unfamiliar with the language)
No knowledge of the language.
L2 - Survival Level (Complete Beginner)
COMMUNICATION Comprehension and spoken expressions are basic due to limited vocabulary.
STRUCTURES Does not possess any verbal structures.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES Has knowledge of the fundamental elements: words, numbers, telephone numbers, dates, etc.
Knows basic terminology related to his/her professional activity.
L4 - Communication Level (Beginner)
COMMUNICATION Can handle basic conversations when the rhythm is slow.
Has great difficulty constructing correct sentences.
STRUCTURES Understands words better when written than spoken.
Prefers the present tense.
Has difficulty constructing the negative and interrogative forms.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES Can introduce himself/herself, ask for information, describe his/her profession.
Can decipher simple, professional texts.
Understands the general direction of a simple phone conversation and can transfer the call.
L6 - Self-sufficient (Pre-Intermediate)
COMMUNICATION Can introduce himself/herself, request and provide concrete information concerning the date, time, place, etc.
Is slowed down by the need to translate words and sentences. Understands others when speaking slowly and articulately.
STRUCTURES Knows the main grammatical structures (past, present and future) and the common auxiliaries, but does not always apply them correctly. Knows the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms.
Can use the most common time, place and movement prepositions.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES Can talk about his/her company and work.
Can present using visual aids and graphics. Is able to handle a phone call.
Understands the essential meanings of documents, with the help of a dictionary.
L9 - Operational level (Intermediate 1)
COMMUNICATION Can hold a light conversation on a well-known subject but experiences difficulties in understanding a group conversation.
Is able to express ideas on more complex subjects using a limited vocabulary.
Handles common vocabulary correctly and understands the essentials of a document on a well-known subject.
STRUCTURES Good knowledge of the three basic grammatical structures (past, present and future): few errors in form construction.
Basic knowledge of more complex structures: conditional, etc.
Poor knowledge of the passive and active grammatical forms.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES Can participate in meetings if the subject content is known but does not understand the entirety of the discussion.
Can perform presentations when prepared in advance, but finds improvisation difficult.
Can communicate well with his/her foreign colleagues on areas related to their profession.
Can handle the language for everyday situations in a foreign country.
Can write simple documents (fax or letter) but has difficulty constructing more complex sentences with a variety of ideas and forms, etc.
L12 Professional Advanced (Intermediate 2)
COMMUNICATION Can express himself with ease using correct grammar.
Can hold a conversation in familiar areas, express preferences, maintain an idea and defend his/her point of view.
Can manage most daily situations without difficulty and take the necessary action.
STRUCTURES Can use and apply the basic grammatical terms. Begins to use more complex grammatical structures.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES Understands documents and texts concerning his/her professional domain.
Is confident in making references to his/her professional activity, knows terminology related to the office, the company and the concerned product or service.
Can adapt to unexpected professional situations. Has difficulty in understanding complex business meetings, strong accents and telephone conversations if the flow is too fast.
L15 Professional expert (Advanced)
COMMUNICATION Can communicate without hesitation using common idiomatic expressions. Is capable of persuading and convincing others in spite of interruptions. Is able to understand unclear communication, distinguish different accents and follow television broadcasts.
STRUCTURES Can use the most complex structures: the conditional, time compounds, modal verbs, passive voice, etc. Has mastered the language syntax. Writes with competence, using precise and appropriate vocabulary.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES Is capable of giving professional presentations, holding negotiations. Establishes professional contacts over the telephone with ease. May hesitate on uncommon terms or expressions but is able to translate texts using common sentences. Can write and improvise reports. Actively participates in meetings, seminars and conferences: posing questions and following debates. Good comprehension of the news and specialised documents.
