Levels of Spanish explained with the verb “Gustar”

Have you ever wondered what the different levels of the Spanish language are?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), divides learners of European languages into three broad divisions, A, B and C, which can be sub-divided into six levels:

For each level, students should be able to accomplish specific criteria in each skill area: reading, listening, speaking and writing.

At Learn More Than Spanish, we are proud to offer our programs aligned to the European Framework of Reference for Languages, making them one of the most comprehensive Spanish language learning programs for students.

You might think,

“Ok, but how do I know what is my current level of Spanish?”

or

“If I want to be able to understand and interact with native Spanish speakers easily, what level of Spanish should I reach?

Let us explain!

1. Levels of Spanish Explained with the verb “Gustar”

To better explain your main achievements on each level we have prepared this quick guide.

Each level is accompanied by an example using the verb “gustar.” You will see how the level of Spanish is progressing as the level increases.

LEVEL A1 – Beginner

For those students who do not have any prior knowledge of the language.

At Level A1, you will be able to:

• Engage in simple interactions.
• Ask and answer questions about yourself and your daily life.
• Construct simple statements about your immediate needs or daily issues.
• Introduce yourself and others.
• Ask for and give basic personal information on your residence, belongings, and people you know.

An example with the verb “gustar”

Me gusta el café
I like coffee

Students understand the primary form of the verb “gustar” at this level. However, they still make mistakes with the verb’s conjugation.

LEVEL A2 – Elementary

At Level A2, you will be able to:

• Interact in simple and everyday situations (in shops, banks, etc.)
• Carry out simple and direct communicative exchanges on known or habitual aspects.
• Describe in simple terms aspects related to your immediate needs.
• Understand frequently used sentences and expressions related to areas that are relevant to you (basic information on yourself and your family, shopping, exciting places, hobbies, etc.).

An example with the verb “gustar”

Me gusta el café en la mañana
I like coffee in the mornings

LEVEL B1 – Intermediate

At Level B1, you will be able to:

• Understand the main points of oral and written texts in standardized language varieties about topics you are familiar with.
• Interact and be understood in various situations: exposing a problem, expressing your opinion, asking for explanations, setting out a complaint, talking about the past, and explaining future events and projects.
• Produce simple and coherent texts on familiar topics or personal interests, such as the description of experiences, events, wishes, plans, and aspirations or the expression of opinions.

An example with the verb “gustar”

No me gusta que llueva en Bogota
I don’t like it to rain in Bogota

LEVEL B2 – Upper Intermediate

At Level B2, you will be able to:

• Understand complex oral and written texts, regardless of whether they cover abstract topics, are presented in a variety of Spanish dialects, or have technical nature, especially if they deal with specialized areas of knowledge to which they have had access.
• Demonstrate your understanding of an issue, expose the advantages and disadvantages of an issue, speculate on possible scenarios, and converse naturally, fluently, and effectively.
  Provide clear and detailed explanations of various topics, including dialectical analysis, debate, or defense of a point of view.
• Fluently and spontaneously communicate with native speakers.

An example with the verb “gustar”

Me gustaría que fueramos a cine
I would like us to go to the movies

Me hubiera gustado que fueramos a cine
I would have liked us to go to the movies

LEVEL C1 – Advance

At Level C1, you will be able to:

• Function with ease when processing a wide variety of oral and written texts of a certain length in any language variant, even recognizing implicit meanings, attitudes or intentions in them.
  Express yourself fluently, spontaneously and without apparent effort.
• Always find the appropriate expression for the situation and the context, whether it is framed in the social, work or academic sphere.
• Use the language flexibly and effectively, demonstrating correct use in the elaboration of complex texts, organization and cohesion mechanisms that allow them to be articulated.

An example with the verb “gustar”

Aunque me gustaran mucho los camarones, no me los comería.
Even if I liked shrimps, I wouldn’t eat them.

Aunque me gustaran mucho los camarones de los que me hablaste, le hicieron mucho daño a mi hermano. Creo que yo tampoco podria comérmelos.
Although I like the shrimps you told me about, they made my brother feel sick. I don’t think I could eat them either.

LEVEL C2 – Proficiency

At this level, you will be able to:

• Function in any situation in which it is necessary to understand practically everything that is heard or read, regardless of the length of the texts, their complexity or degree of abstraction, the degree of familiarity with the topics they deal with, the variety of the language they use or the need to make inferences or other operations to know its content.
• Reconstruct the information and arguments from different spoken and written sources and present those coherently and concisely.
• Express yourself spontaneously with great fluency and enormous semantic and grammatical precision, which allows differentiating nuances of meaning even in academic and work environments with a high degree of specialization and complexity.

An example with the verb “gustar”

Entre gusto y gusto no hay disgusto.
There’s no accounting for taste.

Hoy me a dar un gustico…
Today, I will give myself a little treat

We hope you have enjoyed this article.

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