Level 4 - Advanced Professional Proficiency - C2 - Distinguised
General
Speaking, +
Writing, +
Listening, +
Reading, +
ALTE: At this level, the learner is approaching the linguistic competence of an educated native speaker, and is able to use the language in a range of culturally appropriate ways. Users at this level are able to improve their use of the language by extending their vocabulary and refining their usage and command of style and register rather than by learning about new areas of grammar. Their level of competence gives them access to the press and other media, and to areas of the culture such as drama, film and literature. Success in examinations at this level may be seen as proof that the learner is able to cope with high level academic work. Such examinations frequently have some cultural or academic content, often in the form of an optional component.
C-2: Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
ALTE: In social and travel contexts, a Level 4 user can cope with ease with the language use situations of everyday life, including conversations on a variety of topics and in a variety of contexts. Lapses in understanding or appropriacy of language use which occur are likely to be minor, and users at this level have the strategies for repairing misunderstandings. They can also handle phone conversations with people they know on a variety of topics. In the workplace, they can argue a case effectively, justifying demands and specifying needs clearly. They can handle a wide range of non-routine as well as routine situations arising out of dealings with colleagues and outside contacts. In meetings they can participate fully in discussions and arguments. If unknown terms are used, they can check them or compensate for lack of knowledge in the same way a native speaker would. If studying, users at this level can give a presentation or demonstration, handling questions or criticisms appropriately, although a complex, theoretical matter may, prove difficult to explain. They can take an active part in seminars and tutorials, arguing and expressing disagreement without giving offense.
TSE: Communication almost always effective: task performed very competently
ILR: Able to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels normally pertinent to professional needs. The individual's language usage and ability to function are fully successful. Organizes discourse well, using appropriate rhetorical speech devices, native cultural references, and understanding. Language ability only rarely hinders him/her in performing any task requiring language; yet, the individual would seldom be perceived as a native. Speaks effortlessly and smoothly and is able to use the language with a high degree of effectiveness, reliability, and precision for all representational purposes within the range of personal and professional experience and scope of responsibilities. Can serve as an informal interpreter in a range of unpredictable circumstances. Can perform extensive, sophisticated language tasks, encompassing most matters of interest to well-educated native speakers, including tasks which do not bear directly on a professional specialty. Examples: Can discuss in detail concepts which are fundamentally different from those of the target culture and make those concepts clear and accessible to the native speaker. Similarly, the individual can understand the details and ramifications of concepts that are culturally or conceptually different from his/her own. Can set the tone of interpersonal official, semi-official, and non-professional verbal exchanges with a representative range of native speakers (in a range of varied audiences, purposes, tasks, and settings). Can play an effective role among native speakers in such contexts as conferences, lectures, and debates on matters of disagreement. Can advocate a position at length, both formally and in chance encounters, using sophisticated verbal strategies. Understands and reliably produces shifts of both subject matter and tone. Can understand native speakers of the standard and other major dialects in essentially any face-to-face interaction.
+ (ILR) Speaking proficiency is regularly superior in all respects, usually equivalent to that of a well-educated, highly articulate native speaker. Language ability does not impede the performance of any language-use task. However, the individual would not necessarily be perceived as culturally native. Examples: The individual organizes discourse well, employing functional rhetorical speech devices, native cultural references, and understanding. Effectively applies a native speaker's social and circumstantial knowledge. However, cannot sustain that performance under all circumstances. While the individual has a wide range and control of structure, an occasional non-native slip may occur. The individual has a sophisticated control of vocabulary and phrasing that is rarely imprecise, yet there are occasional weaknesses in idioms, colloquialisms, pronunciation, cultural reference, or there may be an occasional failure to interact in a totally native manner.
ALTE: In the social and travel context, all normal uses of writing are available at a level below this. In the workplace, learners at this level can handle a wide range of non-routine as well as routine situations arising out of dealings with colleagues and outside contacts. They can take dictation all matters likely to arise in their area of expertise, but may need to use a dictionary to check spellings, just as a native speaker would. In meetings, they can make full and accurate notes while continuing to follow discussions and arguments and participate in them. Correspondence, even of a specialist type, can be understood at this level, the learner can write any type of letter demanded by the area of work. They can write reports without taking much longer than a native speaker, and without the risk of more than occasional, minor errors, and can write a set of instructions with little risk of error, even when complex or sensitive issues are involved. If studying, users at this level can make useful notes from text, and write essays with only the occasional error in grammar or vocabulary. They can write accounts of experiments with sensitivity to the conventions of presentation and style.
C2: Can write clearly and smoothly and in an appropriate style. Can write complex letters, reports or articles in such a way that helps the reader to notice and remember important points. Can write summaries and reviews of professional or literary texts. Can provide an appropriate and effective logical structure, which helps the reader to find significant points. Can produce clear, smoothly flowing, complex reports, articles or essays that present a case, or give critical appreciation of proposals or literary works. Can always write without consulting a dictionary. Can write so well that native speakers need not check the texts. Can write so well that the texts cannot be improved significantly even by teachers of writing.
ILR: Able to write the language precisely and accurately in a variety of prose styles pertinent to professional educational needs. Errors of grammar are rare, including those in low-frequency complex structures. Consistently able to tailor language to suit audience and able to express subtleties and nuances. Expository prose is clearly, consistently, and explicitly organized. The writer employs a variety of organizational patterns, uses a wide variety of cohesive devices such as ellipsis and parallelisms, and subordinates in a variety of ways. Able to write on all topics normally pertinent to professional/educational needs and on social issues of a general nature. Writing adequate to express all his/her experiences.
+ (ILR) Able to write the language precisely and accurately in a wide variety of prose styles pertinent to professional/educational needs. May have some ability to edit but not in the full range of styles. Has some flexibility within a style and shows some evidence of a use of stylistic devices.
ALTE: In social and travel contexts, users at this level can cope with most of what is available in the media. In the workplace, such learners can follow presentations, demonstrations with difficulties only where complex theoretical information, of a kind which might also present difficulties to a native speaker, is given. If studying, they can cope with lectures, presentations and demonstrations, although jokes and allusions and unfamiliar accents could cause difficulties.
C-2: Can understand any kind of spoken language, both when heard live and in the media. Can also understand a native speaker who speaks fast if s/he has some time to get used to the accent. Has no difficulty in understanding any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, delivered at fast native speed. Can follow specialized lectures and presentations which use a high degree of colloquialism, regional usage or unfamiliar terminology.
ILR: Able to understand all forms and styles of speech pertinent to professional needs. Able to understand fully all speech with extensive and precise vocabulary, subtleties and nuances in all standard dialects on any subject relevant to professional needs within the range of his/her experience, including social conversations; all intelligible broadcasts and telephone calls; and many kinds of technical discussions and discourse. Understands language specifically tailored (including persuasion, representation, counseling, and negotiating) to different audiences. Able to understand the essentials of speech in some non-standard dialects. Has difficulty in understanding extreme dialect and slang, also in understanding speech in unfavorable conditions; for example, through bad loudspeakers outdoors. Can discern relationships among sophisticated listening materials in the context of broad experience. Can follow unpredictable turns of thought readily in, for example, informal and formal speeches covering editorial, conjectural, and literary material in any subject matter directed to the general listener.
+ (ILR) Increased ability to understand extremely difficult and abstract speech as well as ability to understand all forms and styles of speech pertinent to professional needs, including social conversations. Increased ability to comprehend native speakers using extreme non-standard dialects and slang, as well as to understand speech in unfavorable conditions. Strong sensitivity to sociolinguistic and cultural references. Accuracy is close to that of the well-educated native listener but still not equivalent.
ALTE: In social and travel contexts, users at this level can cope with all areas of the media with little risk of misunderstanding. In the workplace, they can deal with correspondence, even where specialist areas of knowledge are involved. Reports and articles are also fully accessible, with the possibility of difficulties only where very complex or technical points are being made. If studying they can use written sources of information effectively. In dealing with texts, reading speed is still slow for a postgraduate level of study, and culturally remote references in the material may interfere with understanding. Sources of information can be accessed, the usefulness of materials assessed and dictionaries used effectively.
C2: Can read, without any problems, almost all forms of text, including texts which are abstract and contain difficult words and grammar. For example: manuals, articles on special subjects, and literary texts. Can understand and interpret practically all forms of written language including abstract, structurally complex, or highly colloquial literary and non- literary writings. Can understand a wide range of long and complex texts, understanding fully subtleties of style and meaning which is directly stated or implied.
ILR: Able to read fluently and accurately all styles and forms of the language pertinent to professional needs. The individual's experience with the written language is extensive enough that he/she is able to relate inferences in the text to real-world knowledge and understand almost all sociolinguistic and cultural references. Able to "read beyond the lines" (that is, to understand the full ramifications of texts as they are situated in the wider cultural, political, or social environment). Able to read and understand the intent of writers' use of nuance and subtlety. The individual can discern relationships among sophisticated written materials in the context of broad experience. Can follow unpredictable turns of thoughts readily in, for example, editorials, conjectural, and literary texts in any subject matter area directed to the general reader. Can read essentially all materials in his/her special field, including official and professional documents and correspondence. Recognizes all professionally relevant vocabulary known to the educated non-professional native, although may have some difficulty with slang. Can read reasonably legible handwriting without difficulty. Accuracy is often nearly that of a well-educated native reader.
+ (ILR) Nearly native ability to read and understand extremely difficult or abstract prose, a very wide variety of vocabulary, idioms, colloquialisms, and slang. Strong sensitivity to and understanding of sociolinguistic and cultural references. Little difficulty in reading less than fully legible handwriting. Broad ability to "read beyond the lines" (that is, to understand the full ramifications of texts as they are situated in the wider cultural, political, or social environment) is nearly that of a well-read or well-educated native reader. Accuracy is close to that of the well-educated native reader, but not equivalent.