EL CAFE LOCO

Writers at the Novice Mid sublevel can reproduce from memory a modest number of words and phrases in context. They can supply basic biographical information, such as names, numbers, and nationality, and other limited information on simple forms and documents. Writers at the Novice Mid sublevel exhibit a high degree of accuracy when writing on well-rehearsed, familiar topics using limited formulaic language. With less familiar topics, there is a marked decrease in accuracy. Errors in spelling or in the representation of symbols may be frequent.

Speakers at the Intermediate Low sublevel are able to handle successfully a limited number of uncomplicated communication tasks by using the language creatively in straightforward social situations. Their conversation is restricted to concrete exchanges and predictable topics necessary for survival. Topics relate to basic personal information such as self and family, some daily activities and personal preferences, and some immediate needs, such as ordering food and making simple purchases. At the Intermediate Low sublevel, individuals are able to ask a few appropriate questions, but they are primarily reactive and may have difficulty answering direct questions or requests for information.

At the Intermediate Low sublevel, speakers express personal meaning by combining and recombining what they know and what they hear from their communication partner(s) into short sentences. They may hesitate, repeat, or self-correct often as they search for the appropriate linguistic forms and vocabulary to convey the message. Their pronunciation, vocabulary, and syntax may be strongly influenced by the other languages that they know, but they can generally be understood.

Speakers at the Intermediate Mid sublevel are able to handle successfully a variety of uncomplicated communication tasks in straightforward social and transactional situations. They can engage effectively in predictable and concrete exchanges that involve personal information related to self, family, home, daily activities, interests, and personal preferences, as well as physical and social needs, such as food, shopping, travel, and lodging. They are capable of asking a variety of questions to obtain information to meet basic needs, such as instructions, prices, and services.

At the Intermediate Mid sublevel, speakers are able to express personal meaning by creating with the language, in part by combining and recombining known elements and conversational input. Their speech largely consists of strings of sentences; it may contain pauses, reformulations, and self-corrections as they search for adequate vocabulary and appropriate language forms to express themselves, and their pronunciation, vocabulary, and syntax may reflect some influence from the other languages that they know. However, they are generally able to be understood and can sometimes recognize and correct miscommunication when it occurs.

Speakers at the Intermediate High sublevel are able to converse with ease and confidence when dealing with routine tasks and social situations that require an exchange of basic information related to their work, school, recreation, particular interests, and areas of competence. The breadth of their vocabulary and language control reduces the need for pauses and reformulations when they speak on such topics. The influence of other languages that they know may be evident in their articulation, stress, and intonation patterns, but rarely interferes with successful communication.

At the Intermediate High sublevel, speakers can handle a substantial number of tasks associated with the Advanced level, but they are unable to sustain performance of all of these tasks all of the time. They often can narrate and describe in all major time frames using connected discourse of paragraph length. When they do so, their speech exhibits one or more features of breakdown, such as inability to fully carry out narration or description in the appropriate major time frame, difficulty maintaining paragraph-length discourse, or a reduction in breadth and appropriateness of vocabulary.

Speakers at the Advanced Low sublevel are able to handle a variety of communication tasks. They are able to participate in most informal and some formal conversations on topics related to school, home, and leisure activities. They can also speak about some topics related to employment, current events, and matters of public and community interest.

At the Advanced Low sublevel, speakers demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe in the major time frames of past, present, and future with some control of aspect, although their narrations and descriptions tend to be handled separately rather than interwoven. Speakers at the Advanced Low sublevel combine and link sentences into connected discourse of paragraph length. They can appropriately handle the essential linguistic challenges presented by a complication or an unexpected turn of events. 

Speakers at the Advanced Low sublevel communicate with sufficient accuracy, clarity, and precision to convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion. Their dominant language may be evident in the use of false cognates, literal translations, or the oral paragraph structure of that language, and their discourse may contain hesitations and selfcorrection. However, they are able to use strategies such as rephrasing and circumlocution to maintain communication and repair misunderstanding.

Speakers at the Advanced Mid sublevel are able to handle with ease and confidence a large number of communication tasks. They participate actively in most informal and some formal exchanges on a variety of concrete topics relating to work, school, home, and leisure activities, as well as topics relating to events of current, public, and personal interest or individual relevance. Speakers at this sublevel contribute to conversations on a variety of familiar topics, using concrete language with much accuracy, clarity, and precision. Their discourse may reflect the oral paragraph structure of another language, but they are able to employ communication strategies such as circumlocution or rephrasing to convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion.

At the Advanced Mid sublevel, speakers demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe in the major time frames of past, present, and future by providing a full account, with good control of aspect. Narration and description tend to be combined and interwoven to relate relevant and supporting facts in connected, paragraph-length discourse. Speakers at this sublevel can handle successfully and with relative ease the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or unexpected turn of events that occurs within the context of a routine situation or familiar communication task. Their speech is marked by substantial flow, and their vocabulary is fairly extensive although primarily generic in nature, except in the case of a particular area of specialization or interest.

Speakers at the Advanced High sublevel perform all Advanced-level tasks with linguistic ease, confidence, and competence. They are consistently able to explain in detail and narrate fully and accurately in all time frames. These speakers may demonstrate a well-developed ability to compensate for an imperfect grasp of some language structures or for limitations in vocabulary by the confident use of communication strategies such as paraphrasing, circumlocution, and
illustration. They use precise vocabulary and intonation to express meaning and often show great fluency and ease of speech.

At the Advanced High sublevel, speakers may demonstrate Superior-level ability when discussing topics abstractly, especially those relating to their particular interests and special fields of expertise. They may also construct hypotheses and provide structured arguments to support their opinions. In general, however, they are more comfortable discussing topics concretely, and they may resort to simplification through the use of description or narration in place of argument or hypothesis.

At the Superior level, speakers communicate with accuracy and fluency as they participate fully and effectively in conversations on a variety of concrete and abstract topics in formal and informal settings. They can discuss their interests and fields of competence, explain complex matters in detail, and provide lengthy and coherent narrations, all with ease, fluency, and accuracy. They can state and defend their opinions on issues of interest to them, develop hypotheses, resolve unexpected situations, and discuss the implications of societal issues.

Speakers at the Superior level use extended discourse without lengthy hesitation to make their point, even when engaged in abstract discussion. They produce cohesive discourse with clear relationships of ideas and may employ some rhetorical devices, such as simile or metaphor. They use a variety of interactive and discourse strategies, such as turn-taking and separating main ideas from supporting information through the use of syntactic, lexical, and phonetic devices.

Speakers at the Superior level demonstrate no patterns of error in the use of basic structures, although they may make sporadic errors in low-frequency structures and in complex high-frequency structures. Such errors, if they do occur, do not distract from or interfere with communication.

Speakers at the Distinguished level are able to use language skillfully and with accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness. They are articulate users of the language who can discuss a wide range of global issues and highly abstract concepts in culturally appropriate ways. At the Distinguished level, individuals can advise, persuade, and negotiate, and they can use persuasive and hypothetical discourse to advocate a point of view that is not necessarily their own. They can tailor language to a variety of audiences by adapting their speech and register in ways that are culturally authentic, and they can participate in or give a formal speech at a conference or debate.

Speakers at the Distinguished level produce highly sophisticated and tightly organized extended discourse. They can speak succinctly, often using cultural and historical references to express meaning without extended description or explanation. At this level, oral discourse typically resembles written discourse. Speakers at the Distinguished level use discourse strategies such as rhetorical devices to organize and present their thoughts. They speak effortlessly and smoothly; while the influence of articulation or intonation patterns from other known languages may be present, it does not interfere with communication.