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Assessing your actual proficiency in Dutch
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If you already know some Dutch, you may ask a critical colleague, friend or other native Dutch speaker to assess your pronunciation, sentence structures and knowledge of grammar using the scale below.
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You may also contact Richard van Egdom for a professional assessment, feedback and how to progress the fastest and most lasting way richard@learning-dutch.com
European proficiency scale
6 levels of proficiency
Why level A2 is the hinge point
How to learn Dutch or improve your fluency in just 5, 7 or 9 days
The European Proficiency Scale
The basic idea of this European framework is to compare your proficiency in your mother tongue with your foreign language fluency.
Along with growing knowledge of vocabulary and
mastery of syntax and
grammar, generally develops from communication about
observable things, wants, needs
and goals.
Language skills an conscience grow through
the integration of words you need for collaboration towards
common
goals, sharing about free
time, hobbies, experience and feelings, ... ideals, ideas, study,
interests, job, career, community and society, ... .
Proficiency and conscience
progress and maturate through common life experiences as commitments, founding a
family, raising children, ... illness,
suffering, getting older and death. Language skills develop together with our
more general development of social skills.
Six levels of proficiency. Evaluate yourself, set your goals
A0. Complete beginner level :
You don't speak Dutch at all . Your goal may be to
get up to A2 level of fluency in 5, 7 or 9 days.
A1. Elementary level : Your
understand and speak some Dutch but your language skills in Dutch
are elementary.
You learned to understand simple
standard pronunciation and speak Dutch using simple Dutch expressions and sentences about concrete things
and needs.
You're able to introduce yourself and
others in Dutch. Able to put and answer questions about
personal matters and topics as where you live, people you know and
things you have.
You're able to correctly use the present tense and use the right
word order in simple 'one idea, one sentence' affirmative sentences
and questions. You master
Dutch
grammar and
sentence structure at A1 level.
However you need your conversation
partner to speak slowly and clearly and he or she should be willing to
help you learning.
A2. Basic level : You're already
speaking Dutch. You know al one needs to know about
Dutch grammar and syntax.
You understand sentences and common
Dutch expressions about daily life matters.
You're able to put and answer questions
about self and family, grocery, shopping, work, hobbies etc. In daily life you're able to share about
familiar and every-day subjects, ... to tell about your background, daily
routines and needs in simple but correct Dutch.
You're able to correctly use present and both
past tenses. Your sentences are well build and you correctly use
subordinate clause.
You master
Dutch
grammar and
sentence structure at A2 level.
B1. Independent level :
You are an
independent Dutch-speaker.
You learned to understand most common
every-day Dutch and you are able to share in Dutch about familiar
subjects as work, school and leisure activities.
You learned to cope with most situations
occurring on a trip trough Flanders and the Netherlands speaking Dutch.
Writing simple Dutch text about familiar
subjects and topics you're interested in, is no problem.
You still learning but already able
to talk in Dutch about events, share your experience, dreams,
expectations and desires, briefly explain your reasons, opinions
and plans.
You understand and use
longer more ideas sentences with complex coordinate and/or
subordinate clause as used in newspapers, TV-news and professional
texts and discussion.
Once you're an independent Dutch speaker the
most efficient way to progress is intensive daily interaction with
native Dutch speakers along with reading Dutch newspapers and
magazines, watching TV and surfing the web on topics you're
interested in.
B2. More independent level : You are a more
independent Dutch-speaker.
You understand basic ideas of complex Dutch texts
about as well concrete as abstract subjects and technical
discussions about your job. You're speaking Dutch quite
spontaneously: although you're still learning, your daily interaction
with native Dutch-speakers is already easy for both.
You're able to write clear and detailed
Dutch texts about various subjects.
You're able to explain your views and
indicate advantages, disadvantages and alternatives.
C1. proficiency level :
You're
speaking Dutch easily and rather proficient.
You don't have problems anymore to
understand long articles from newspapers or magazines, you are aware of
implicit meanings, humor and wit.
Although still learning your Dutch
is fluent and spontaneous: you don't need much looking for words
anymore.
You're speaking Dutch well, flexibly and
efficiently in your private, social, academic or professional life.
Your Dutch writings are clear, well
structured and detailed even about complex subjects.
C2. Bilingual level : You are
speaking Dutch fluently.
You learned Dutch as well as our ways of
being. You have no problem understanding anything you hear or read.
You're able summarize verbal or written
information in Dutch.
Your speaking is very fluent: you're
able to argue coherently and to reconstruct explanations and
argumentations.
You're expressing yourself spontaneously
and very fluently, precisely and subtly in Dutch even in more complex
situations.
Why level A2 is the hinge point
This level is called basic because at A2 level you master everything you need to be able to progress on your own:You understand standard pronunciation. Your pronunciation is standard. You're using correct syntax including subordinate clause.
You can talk in present, past and future tense about everyday situations.
In a Dutch speaking environment you're thinking in Dutch.
If necessary your goal may be to be able to discuss at the more intellectual B1 level. If you don't master correct pronunciation, sentence structure and grammar essentials at A2 level you will get stuck. You might be able, due to your knowledge of the subject, to guess what people are saying or understand what you are reading. But most probably people who didn't adapt to your approximation of Dutch won't properly understand you. And you wouldn't be aware why.
You may also contact
Richard
van Egdom for a professional assessment, feedback and
how to progress the fastest and most lasting way
richard@learning-dutch.com
