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Assessing Your Level

Assessing Your Level: Several Options

Targeting a specific class but not sure if it's a good fit? We have several options for determining your level. You can check the recommended pre-requisites (on the class listings on the Classes at a Glance page), scan the class descriptions (see the Class Descriptions page), or call us for an interview (over the phone, in-person, or at a scheduled Open House event).

Interactive Test: You can take the online interactive test which is then evaluated by our local placement specialist, Lucie Bonvalet. After she receives your written test electronically, she will connect with you by phone to complete the oral assessment and will make recommendations for appropriate classes.

Understanding the CECR Designations

When you see the designations A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2, those are CECR designations (CADRE EUROPEEN COMMUN DE REFERENCE). Also know as the Common European Framework, it is a worldwide reference for measuring one's fluency in a language; the same system is used for the DELF and DALF exams (see below). For information on the development of this standard, click here, and click here to display a handy graphical representation from the Council of Europe.

Latitudes and Edito, within the Cadre

Latitudes Level 1 corresponds to A1/A2 (utilisateur élémentaire), Latitudes Level 2 is A2/B1 (B1 being utilisateur indépendant) and Latitudes Level 3 takes students through level B1. These equivalences are for reference purposes. Depending on the level of the students in any given theme-based conversation class at the Alliance, those classes fall in the range of B1 (indépendant) to C1 (expérimenté). The text, le Nouvel Edito, is intended to take B1 students to B2, and is also appropriate for B2 students wishing to maintain that level.

 

French Proficiency Exams: DELF and DALF

DELF stands for Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française and DALF stands for Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française. These are the official French proficiency exams offered by the CIEP education agency of the French Ministry of Education. Testing is offered on a limited basis by approved testing centers and certified examiners (two of our Alliance de Portland teachers are certified). Testing in the Portland area is coordinated by Emmanuelle Burk, head of the GIMS Middle School at the French American International School. Participation is open to the public; register in advance; fees range from $50 to $100 (for the higher levels). Testing is in January and June -- schedules will be posted shortly for 2011. Email eburk@faispdx.org or 503.292.9111, x602 for additional info, or visit the official French site.