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This section delves into the language of Spanish and the several testing resources that are available in order to be used to learn the language. Spanish is one of the most widespread and fastest growing languages spoken in the world today. Its relative ease of learning compared to other languages make it a popular choice as a second language. As more and more people have shown interest in learning the language, numerous testing resources have been created in order to be able to do so. The following section contains additional information about the language as well as a list of resources used to learn Spanish.
Spanish Internationally
Spanish is spoken as a native language by about 486 million people and as a non-native language by about 75 million people today. There are agreed to be 10 spoken dialects of Spanish.
Spanish in the United States
In the United States specifically, an estimated 53 million people speak Spanish. 41 million of those people are native speakers and the remaining 12 million people are bilingual. It is the second most spoken language in the country.
Proficiency Tests (United States)
DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera): The DELE exams are official qualifications certifying levels of competence in the Spanish language, granted by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. The DELE exams are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and are recognized internationally. They offer exams for six different levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2.
SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española): The SIELE certifies Spanish language proficiency through four tests that evaluate different language skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and interaction, and spoken expression and interaction. The SIELE offers more flexibility than DELE, as it's based on a point system and provides a certificate valid for five years.
Proficiency Tests Abroad
CELU (Certificado de Español: Lengua y Uso): The CELU is an exam specifically designed to assess proficiency in Spanish as used in everyday situations. Developed and administered in Argentina, this test is recognized by various educational institutions and government agencies in Argentina and other Spanish-speaking countries. The CELU is unique because it is contextualized within the Argentine cultural and linguistic milieu, offering a distinct perspective on Spanish language use compared to other standardized tests.
TELC (The European Language Certificates) offers language testing across multiple languages, including Spanish. The TELC Spanish tests align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), ensuring that they meet international standards. TELC certificates are widely recognized across Europe and are used by employers and universities to gauge language proficiency.
Links to Language Proficiency Tests
United States
Abroad
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