Modern Foreign Languages

Assess your current language skills

If you would like to join a French, Italian or Spanish course, take a ten minute test which will help you to choose the correct level, depending on your previous experience.

French - beginners       French - elementary       French - intermediate

Italian - beginners       Italian - elementary       Italian - intermediate

Spanish - beginners       Spanish - elementary       Spanish - intermediate

To join any other language course, use the table below to help you determine which course you should join.

Choosing your course & Progression routes:

Beginners stage 1 Choose this stage if you have no knowledge of the language
Beginners stage 2 Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately three months (20 hours) or if you can:
  • understand by listening or reading a few familiar words and phrases
  • say and write short simple phrases such as stating your name and nationality
  • understand letters/symbols of the alphabet/sound system
Beginners stage 3 Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately six months (40 hours) or if you can:
  • understand by listening or reading a range of familiar spoken phrases (greetings, personal introduction etc.)
  • answer simple questions and/or give basic information orally or in writing (eg, personal details, nationality, job etc.)
Pre-intermediate stages 1, 2 and 3 Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately one year or if you can:
  • hold a simple conversation and ask and answer simple questions on a variety of everyday topics (eg, personal introduction, shopping, directions, time and numbers etc.)
  • read and write sentences or a short passage on a variety of everyday topics (eg, personal introduction, shopping, directions, time and numbers etc.)
  • use present, basic past tenses and future
Intermediate stages 1, 2 and 3 Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately two years or if you can:
  • take part in a simple conversation on a variety of everyday topics
  • express your likes, dislikes and simple opinions
  • write and/or understand a piece of formal or informal writing (eg, a short letter, note or summary)
  • accurately use a range of present, future and past tenses
Upper intermediate stages 1, 2 and 3 Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately three years or if you can:
  • understand the gist of a range of authentic conversations and produce a detailed oral or written summary of a given text
  • take part in a discussion, giving and justifying opinions and ideas
  • understand a wide range of authentic texts (eg, press articles) and produce a summary or translation of a given text
  • use a wide range of grammar structures including conditional and subjunctive tenses, pronouns etc.
Advanced intermediate stages 1, 2 and 3 Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately four years or if you can:
  • understand authentic passages of moderate length and complexity involving one or more speakers (eg, interviews, adverts, news broadcast etc.)
  • give a presentation on a theme and argue viewpoints with some degree of confidence
  • understand articles from the press or other authentic sources and produce a written summary covering the majority of points
  • confidently use a wide range of grammar structures including conditional and subjunctive tenses, pronouns etc