Beginner Language Levels

The Beginning level is intended for students with little or no prior exposure to a language. Participants will learn to read and write and acquire the skills needed to conduct simple conversations concerning daily needs. Students begin building a vocabulary base and are introduced to basic grammar and syntax structures. By the end of level one, students should be able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements. The two stages of the Beginning level are:

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can make basic introductions and can ask and answer questions about personal details, home country, familiar people and personal possessions. Can interact in a simple way - provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

The A1 course teaches students alphabets (for example: Arabic or Russian), familiarity with elementary grammatical structures, and vocabulary pertinent to the objective skills listed above.

Specific target skills include: ability to take public and private transportation, make small purchases in a grocery or market, order meals in a restaurant, send and receive mail, tell time, know the days of the week and the months, read street signs and to introduce oneself and greet others appropriately.