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> our color belt system
 Our
color belt system
Our
Spanish program is composed of 9 conversational
belt levels ranging from white (complete beginner)
to black (ultimate Spanish master). The ranks are
useful for monitoring progress and matching you
with Spanish students of comparable ability.
A
brief Spanish evaluation, completed within the first
three sessions, ensures that you are assigned the
correct belt level. After the first three Spanish
classes you are ratified on your belt level or recommended
a change to a different level. When you surpass
the minimum standards assigned to the next belt
level on all variables considered, congratulations!
You are granted a new color belt.
The
following table lists the standard requirements
to assign each of our conversational color belt
levels:
Requirements
for
Beginner Spanish Belt Levels
|
| |
White
Belts |
Yellow
Belts |
Orange
Belts |
| Command
of Spanish speaking dynamics |
None |
Speaks
in Spanish with script in front. Needs
prior preparation. |
Speaks
going back and forth to script. Needs prior
preparation. |
| Spanish
Verb usage while speaking |
None |
Knows
and uses well phrases such as Yo como
(I eat), Yo estoy comiendo
(I am eating), and Yo voy a comer
(I am going to eat). |
Knows
and uses well phrases such as Yo comí
(I ate) and Yo comía
(I used to eat), along other phrases from prior
levels. |
| spanish
Vocabulary usage while speaking |
None |
Limited
to most common Spanish verbs, nouns and adjectives. |
Limited
to common verbs, nouns, adjectives and most
common adverbs. |
| Spanish
Pronunciation |
Non-Spanish
accent |
Good
pronunciation of Spanish vowels. |
Good
pronunciation of syllables. |
| Understanding
of others' speeches while listening |
None |
Limited
understanding of slow-paced
Spanish speech. |
Good
understanding of slow-paced
speech. Limited understanding
of regular-paced speech. |
| Speed
of Spanish conversation |
N/A |
Very slow. |
Slow. |
| Command
and usage of Spanish grammar rules while speaking |
None |
Spanish
sentences use subject, verb and object, and
time expression |
Sentences
use up to two verbs and two clauses. |
Requirements
for
Intermediate Spanish Belt Levels |
| |
Green
Belts |
Light
Blue Belts |
Navy
Blue Belts |
|
Command of Spanish speaking dynamics |
Speaks
Spanish without looking at script. Needs prior
written preparation. |
Is
able to improvise. Establishes good
eye contact during entire conversation in Spanish. |
Is
able to improvise. Establishes very
good eye contact during entire conversation
in Spanish. |
| Spanish
verb usage while speaking |
Knows
and uses well Spanish phrases such as Yo
comeré (I will eat), and Yo
he comido (I have eaten), along other
phrases from prior levels. |
Knows
and uses well Spanish phrases such as Yo
había comido (I had eaten),
Yo habré comido (I will
have eaten), Yo estuve comiendo and
Yo estaba comiendo (I was eating),
and Yo estaré comiendo
(I will be eating), along other phrases from
prior levels. |
Knows
and uses well Spanish phrases such as Dudo
que el coma (I doubt that he would
eat) and Dude que el comiera
(I doubted that we would eat), Si yo
fuera,... (If I were ...),
Yo comería (I would eat), along
other phrases from prior levels |
| Spanish
vocabulary usage while speaking |
Includes a good balance of
Spanish verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. |
Includes a very good balance
of Spanish verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. |
Includes an excellent balance
of Spanish verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. |
| Spanish
Pronunciation |
Good
Spanish intonation. |
Very
good Spanish intonation. |
Excellent
Spanish intonation. |
| Understanding
of others' speeches while listening |
Excellent
understanding of slow-paced
speech. Good understanding
of regular-paced speech. |
Good understanding of regular-paced
speech. Limited understanding
of fast -paced speech. |
Excellent
understanding of regular-paced
speech. Limited understanding
of fast -paced speech. |
| Speed
of Spanish conversation |
Medium-low. |
Medium. |
Medium-high. |
| Command
and usage of Spanish grammar rules while speaking |
Uses
well indirect object pronouns. |
Uses
well direct object pronouns. |
Uses
well reflexible pronouns. |
Requirements
for
Advanced Spanish Belt Levels |
| |
Purple
Belts |
Brown
Belts |
Black
Belts |
|
Command of Spanish speaking dynamics |
Is
able to improvise. Establishes excellent
eye contact during entire Spanish conversation.
Observes good command of facial
expressions and body language. |
Is
able to improvise. Establishes excellent
eye contact during entire conversation in Spanish.
Observes very good command
of facial expressions and body language. |
Is
able to improvise. Establishes excellent
eye contact during entire conversation
in Spanish. Observes excellent command
of facial expressions and body language. |
| Spanish
verb knowledge and usage while speaking |
Knows
and uses well Spanish phrases such as Dudo
que el este comiendo (I doubt that
he is eating), Dude que el estuviera
comiendo (I doubted that he was eating),
and Yo estaría comiendo
(I would be eating), along other phrases from
prior levels. |
Knows
and uses well Spanish phrases such as Dudo
que el haya comido (I doubt that he
had eaten), Dude que el hubiera comido
(I doubted that we had eaten) and Si el hubiera...,
yo habría comido... (If he had...,I
would have eaten....) along other phrases from
prior levels. |
Knows
and uses well Spanish phrases such as he
estado comiendo (I have been eating),
había estado comiendo
(I had been eating) and habré
estado comiendo (I will have been eating)
along other phrases from prior levels. |
| Spanish
vocabulary usage while speaking |
Includes an excellent balance
of Spanish verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. |
Includes
industry or activity-specific jargon. |
Observes
high command of country-specific jargon. |
| Spanish
pronunciation |
Excellent
Spanish intonation. |
Excellent
Spanish intonation. |
Excellent
Spanish intonation. |
| Understanding
of others' speeches while listening |
Excellent
understanding of regular-paced
speech. Limited understanding
of fast -paced speech. |
Excellent
understanding of regular-paced
speech. Good understanding
of fast -paced speech. |
Excellent
understanding of regular-paced
speech. Very good understanding
of fast -paced speech. |
| Speed
of Spanish conversation |
Medium-high. |
High. |
Very
high. |
| Command
and usage of Spanish grammar rules while speaking |
Medium-high. |
High. |
Very
high. |
Ascending
through the belts requires accumulating Spanish
tutoring session time to hone your skills. Purple
Belt, for example, requires the successful completion
of 16 hours. In addition to successfully completing
the required hours you will need to pass an Spanish
examination and meet minimum score requirements
to move up to the next belt.
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