Receptive activities and strategies

Aural reception

OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION

C 2

Has no difficulty in understanding any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, delivered at fast native speed.

C1

Can understand enough to follow extended speech on abstract and complex topics beyond his/her own field, though he/she may need to confirm occasional details, especially if the accent is unfamiliar. Can recognise a wide range of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms, appreciating register shifts. Can follow extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly.

B2

Can understand standard spoken language, live or broadcast, on both familiar and unfamiliar topics normally encountered in personal, social, academic or vocational life. Only extreme background noise, inadequate discourse structure and/or idiomatic usage influences the ability to understand.
Can understand the main ideas of propositionally and linguistically complex speech on both concrete and abstract topics delivered in a standard dialect, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can follow extended speech and complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar, and the direction of the talk is sign-posted by explicit markers.

B1

Can understand straightforward factual information about common everyday or job related topics, identifying both general messages and specific details, provided speech is clearly articulated in a generally familiar accent.
Can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure etc., including short narratives.

A2

Can understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
Can understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.

A1

Can follow speech which is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for him/her to assimilate meaning.
UNDERSTANDING CONVERSATION BETWEEN NATIVE SPEAKERS

C2

Can easily follow complex interactions between third parties in group discussion and debate, even on abstract, complex unfamiliar topics.

C1

Can easily follow complex interactions between third parties in group discussion and debate, even on abstract, complex unfamiliar topics.

B2

Can keep up with an animated conversation between native speakers.
Can with some effort catch much of what is said around him/her, but may find it difficult to participate effectively in discussion with several native speakers who do not modify their language in any way.

B1

Can generally follow the main points of extended discussion around him/her, provided speech is clearly articulated in standard dialect.

A2

Can generally identify the topic of discussion around him/her, when it is conducted slowly and clearly.

A1

No descriptor available

LISTENING AS A MEMBER OF A LIVE AUDIENCE

C2

Can follow specialised lectures and presentations employing a high degree of colloquialism, regional usage or unfamiliar terminology.

C1

Can follow most lectures, discussions and debates with relative ease.

B2

Can follow the essentials of lectures, talks and reports and other forms of academic/professional presentation which are propositionally and linguistically complex.

B1

Can follow a lecture or talk within his/her own field, provided the subject matter is familiar and the presentation straightforward and clearly structured.
Can follow in outline straightforward short talks on familiar topics provided these are delivered in clearly articulated standard speech.

A2

No descriptor available

A1

No descriptor available

LISTENING TO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS

C2

Can extract specific information from poor quality, audibly distorted public announcements, e.g. in a station, sports stadium etc. Can understand complex technical information, such as operating instructions, specifications for familiar products and services.

C1

Can extract specific information from poor quality, audibly distorted public announcements, e.g. in a station, sports stadium etc. Can understand complex technical information, such as operating instructions, specifications for familiar products and services.

B2

Can understand announcements and messages on concrete and abstract topics spoken in standard dialect at normal speed.

B1

Can understand simple technical information, such as operating instructions for everyday equipment. Can follow detailed directions.

A2

Can catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements. Can understand simple directions relating to how to get from X to Y, by foot or public transport.

A1

Can understand instructions addressed carefully and slowly to him/her and follow short, simple directions.
LISTENING TO AUDIO MEDIA AND RECORDINGS

C2

Can understand a wide range of recorded and broadcast audio material, including some non-standard usage, and identify finer points of detail including implicit attitudes and relationships between speakers.

C1

Can understand a wide range of recorded and broadcast audio material, including some non-standard usage, and identify finer points of detail including implicit attitudes and relationships between speakers.

B2

Can understand recordings in standard dialect likely to be encountered in social, professional or academic life and identify speaker viewpoints and attitudes as well as the information content.
Can understand most radio documentaries and most other recorded or broadcast audio material delivered in standard dialect and can identify the speaker’s mood, tone etc.

B1

Can understand the information content of the majority of recorded or broadcast audio material on topics of personal interest delivered in clear standard speech.
Can understand the main points of radio news bulletins and simpler recorded material about familiar subjects delivered relatively slowly and clearly.

A2

Can understand and extract the essential information from short, recorded passages dealing with predictable everyday matters which are delivered slowly and clearly.

A1

No descriptor available

Visual reception

OVERALL READING COMPREHENSION

C2

Can understand and interpret critically virtually all forms of the written language including abstract, structurally complex, or highly colloquial literary and non-literary writings. Can understand a wide range of long and complex texts, appreciating subtle distinctions of style and implicit as well as explicit meaning.

C1

Can understand in detail lengthy, complex texts, whether or not they relate to his/her own area of speciality, provided he/she can reread difficult sections.

B2

Can read with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively. Has a broad active reading vocabulary, but may experience some difficulty with low frequency idioms.

B1

Can read straightforward factual texts on subjects related to his/her field and interest with a satisfactory level of comprehension.

A2

Can understand short, simple texts on familiar matters of a concrete type which consist of high frequency everyday or job-related language.
Can understand short, simple texts containing the highest frequency vocabulary, including a proportion of shared international vocabulary items.

A1

Can understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
READING CORRESPONDENCE

C2

Can understand any correspondence given the occasional use of a dictionary.

C1

Can understand any correspondence given the occasional use of a dictionary.

B2

Can read correspondence relating to his/her field of interest and readily grasp the essential meaning.

B1

Can understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters well enough to correspond regularly with a pen friend.

A2

Can understand basic types of standard routine letters and faxes (enquiries, orders, letters of confirmation etc.) on familiar topics.
Can understand short simple personal letters.

A1

Can understand short, simple messages on postcards.
READING FOR ORIENTATION

C2

Can scan quickly through long and complex texts, locating relevant details. Can quickly identify the content and relevance of news items, articles and reports on a wide range of professional topics, deciding whether closer study is worthwhile.

C1

Can scan quickly through long and complex texts, locating relevant details. Can quickly identify the content and relevance of news items, articles and reports on a wide range of professional topics, deciding whether closer study is worthwhile.

B2

Can scan quickly through long and complex texts, locating relevant details. Can quickly identify the content and relevance of news items, articles and reports on a wide range of professional topics, deciding whether closer study is worthwhile.

B1

Can scan longer texts in order to locate desired information, and gather information from different parts of a text, or from different texts in order to fulfil a specific task.
Can find and understand relevant information in everyday material, such as letters, brochures and short official documents.

A2

Can find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus, reference lists and timetables. Can locate specific information in lists and isolate the information required (e.g. use the ‘Yellow Pages’ to find a service or tradesman). Can understand everyday signs and notices: in public places, such as streets, restaurants, railway stations; in workplaces, such as directions, instructions, hazard warnings.

A1

Can recognise familiar names, words and very basic phrases on simple notices in the most common everyday situations.
READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT

C2

Can understand in detail a wide range of lengthy, complex texts likely to be encountered in social, professional or academic life, identifying finer points of detail including attitudes and implied as well as stated opinions.

C1

Can understand in detail a wide range of lengthy, complex texts likely to be encountered in social, professional or academic life, identifying finer points of detail including attitudes and implied as well as stated opinions.

B2

Can obtain information, ideas and opinions from highly specialised sources within his/her field. Can understand specialised articles outside his/her field, provided he/she can use a dictionary occasionally to confirm his/her interpretation of terminology.
Can understand articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular stances or viewpoints.

B1

Can identify the main conclusions in clearly signalled argumentative texts. Can recognise the line of argument in the treatment of the issue presented, though not necessarily in detail.
Can recognise significant points in straightforward newspaper articles on familiar subjects.

A2

Can identify specific information in simpler written material he/she encounters such as letters, brochures and short newspaper articles describing events.

A1

Can get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short simple descriptions, especially if there is visual support.
READING INSTRUCTIONS

C2

Can understand in detail lengthy, complex instructions on a new machine or procedure, whether or not the instructions relate to his/her own area of speciality, provided he/she can reread difficult sections.

C1

Can understand in detail lengthy, complex instructions on a new machine or procedure, whether or not the instructions relate to his/her own area of speciality, provided he/she can reread difficult sections.

B2

Can understand lengthy, complex instructions in his field, including details on conditions and warnings, provided he/she can reread difficult sections.

B1

Can understand clearly written, straightforward instructions for a piece of equipment.

A2

Can understand regulations, for example safety, when expressed in simple language.
Can understand simple instructions on equipment encountered in everyday life – such as a public telephone.

A1

Can follow short, simple written directions (e.g. to go from X to Y).

Audiovisual reception

WATCHING TV AND FILM

C2

Can follow films employing a considerable degree of slang and idiomatic usage.

C1

Can follow films employing a considerable degree of slang and idiomatic usage.

B2

Can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes. Can understand documentaries, live interviews, talk shows, plays and the majority of films in standard dialect.

B1

Can understand a large part of many TV programmes on topics of personal interest such as interviews, short lectures, and news reports when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.
Can follow many films in which visuals and action carry much of the storyline, and which are delivered clearly in straightforward language. Can catch the main points in TV programmes on familiar topics when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.

A2

Can identify the main point of TV news items reporting events, accidents etc. where the visual supports the commentary.
Can follow changes of topic of factual TV news items, and form an idea of the main content.

A1

No descriptor available

Reception strategies

IDENTIFYING CUES AND INFERRING (Spoken & Written)

C2

Is skilled at using contextual, grammatical and lexical cues to infer attitude, mood and intentions and anticipate what will come next.

C1

Is skilled at using contextual, grammatical and lexical cues to infer attitude, mood and intentions and anticipate what will come next.

B2

Can use a variety of strategies to achieve comprehension, including listening for main points; checking comprehension by using contextual clues.

B1

Can identify unfamiliar words from the context on topics related to his/her field and interests. Can extrapolate the meaning of occasional unknown words from the context and deduce sentence meaning provided the topic discussed is familiar.

A2

Can use an idea of the overall meaning of short texts and utterances on everyday topics of a concrete type to derive the probable meaning of unknown words from the context.

A1

No descriptor available

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