Dele Exams

Colásite Chiaráin and Instituto Cervantes

DELE EXAMINATIONS

The abbreviation *DELE means Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language). These diplomas offer the only internationally accredited official certification for the Spanish Language and are awarded by the Spanish Ministry for Education, culture and Sport.

The Department of Spanish in Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom, Co. Limerick is the only secondary school Examining Centre in the country. It is the third examining centre in Ireland outside of Dublin´s Instituto Cervantes and Cork University. In this role the Department is responsible for administering the DELE (Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language) examinations, the next of which will take place:

Friday 24th May 2019

A1 Escolar*, A2 Escolar*, B1 Escolar*

Only offered by Instituto Cervantes in Dublin and Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom

These Diplomas are the only official qualifications issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education, accrediting levels of competence and command of the Spanish language.

It is the only official Diploma in Spanish internationally recognised by corporations (providing better salaries), Chambers of Commerce and private and public educational institutions. It does not expire and it doesn´t have to be renewed.

The exams are open to ANY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS from Colaiste Chiarain or any other secondary schools in the country and the topics in the exams will be adapted to their interest according to age. Candidates can register for any level they wish and they can skip levels.

Cost:

Nivel A1 Escolar €120

Nivel A2-B1 Escolar €150

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM

Registration for May exams will close on March 27^th 2019. Registration after the closing date is strictly not allowed by the Instituto Cervantes.

Please complete the 2019 application form and strictly follow the instructions outlined below.

If you have any queries in relation to the levels please contact the co-ordinator Sara Martínez at dele@cco.ie or ring 061397700.

Please read the Terms & Conditions below prior to submission of your application

● Please send application form and fee to Spanish Department DELE exams, Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom, Co. Limerick. A receipt for payment will be forwarded to you.

● DELE EXAM APPLICATIONS ONLY must also include a photocopy of photographic identification such as a passport or driver's licence, the original of which must be shown on the day of the examination.

● You may pay by cash, cheque/bank draft/postal order only.

● Cheques/bank drafts/postal orders should be made payable to the LCETB

● You may pay in cash if you wish to call personally to the office in Coláiste Chiaráin.

● You will be written to prior to the examination with your registration and examination details.

● Applicants should note that fees paid are non-refundable under any circumstances.

UNDERSTANDING THE CURRICULUM

The curriculum of Instituto Cervantes Dublin has been developed following the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The CEFR is the basis for the elaboration of language syllabi, curriculum guidelines, testing and teaching materials for all of Europe. It describes what language learners need to do to effectively communicate within each language cultural context. The CEFR defines levels of proficiency and provides assessment of progress at each stage and throughout a lifetime.

DELE A1: Breakthrough

- Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases

- Introduce themselves and others; ask/answer questions about personal details

- Interact in a simple way if another person talks slowly and clearly

DELE A2: Way stage

- Understand sentences, common expressions, items of immediate relevance such as personal, family information, shopping, local geography and employment

- Communicate with simple and direct exchanges of information

- Communicate one´s background, environment, matters of immediate need.

DELE B1: Threshold

- Understand main points on familiar situations encountered at work, school and leisure

- Deal with situations encountered in travel circumstances in Spanish

- Converse about topics which are familiar or of personal interest

- Describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes, ambitions and can communicate opinions and plans

LEVELS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS: A1, A2/B1

Since May 2014 the Instituto Cervantes has offered A1 exams for young learners and will begin to offer A2/B1 exams for young learners starting in May 2015. These exams:

● Are geared towards students of Spanish between 11 and 17 years old (candidates aged 18 years and above should register for the general exams).

● Have been adapted to the specific environment, context, and situations of candidates in this age group.

● Consist, as in the adult exams, of four tests: reading comprehension, oral comprehension, written expression and interaction, and oral expression and interaction.

● Are, as with all DELE certificates, official certificates in Spanish, granted by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain.

● Enjoy international recognition and, once obtained, are valid indefinitely.

DELE A1 exam for young learners

The DELE A1 certificate for young learners certifies the linguistic competence necessary to understand and use common, everyday expressions and simple sentences, to address immediate needs.

What are the advantages of holding a DELE A1 certificate for young learners?

● It is an official certification that complies with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRE).

● It certifies and assesses knowledge of Spanish from the first moment of contact with the language.

● It is valid indefinitely.

● It motivates students between 11 and 17 years old, because it is both a challenge and offers recognition of their learning at these early stages.

Exam specifications

The DELE A1 exam for young learners consists of four parts:

● Reading comprehension test (45 min)

● Listening comprehension test (20 min)

● Writing expression and interaction test (25 min)

● Oral expression and interaction test (10 min + 10 min preparation time)

Exam guide

For more technical information about the different components of the exam, its structure and format, system of evaluation, or for samples of graded exams from previous candidates,

Sample exam

The Instituto Cervantes provides sample DELE A1 exams for young learners, so that candidates can familiarize themselves with the exam structure and format.

DELE exam A2/B1 for young learners

Students who pass the DELE A2/B1 exam for young learners, will receive one of the following certificates:

Certificate of Spanish level A2

● This diploma certifies that the candidate can understand commonly used, everyday phrases and expressions related to areas of experience especially relevant to them (basic information about themselves, and their families, shopping, places of interest, work, etc.).

Certificate of Spanish level B1

This certifies that the language user can:

● Understand the gist of clear texts, in standard language, if they involve well-known topics related to work, studies or leisure.

● Deal with most situations that occur while travelling in areas where Spanish is spoken.

● Produce simple and coherent texts about familiar topics, or topics of personal interest.

● Describe experiences, events, wishes and hopes, as well as to be able to briefly express opinions or explain plans.

What are the advantages of taking the DELE A2/B1 exam for young learners?

● They offer candidates the possibility to obtain either the DELE level A2 or B1, depending on their results. In other words, it is possible to qualify for one of two levels of reference by taking a single exam.

● As with the other DELE certification exams, candidates who pass the exam receive a DELE certificate, an official certificate in Spanish, issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain.

● This exam assesses and certifies candidates’ language competence at level A2 or B1 in Spanish, in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages(CEFR) and the Instituto Cervantes's Curriculum Plan.

● As with the other DELE certificates, the certificate is valid indefinitely and is recognized internationally.

● The exam recognizes and certifies, with the official DELE Certificate of Spanish certification, the Spanish language level achieved by the youngest students of this language: this exam is adapted to candidates between 11 and 17 years old (candidates aged 18 years and above should register for the general exams).

Exam specifications

The DELE A2/B1 exam for young learners consists of four parts:

● Reading comprehension test (50 min)

● Listening comprehension test (30 min)

● Writing expression and interaction test (50 min)

● Oral expression and interaction test (12 min + 12 min preparation time)

Exam guide

This exam guide is particularly useful for teachers of Spanish as a foreign language to help candidates prepare, for developers and publishers of teaching materials, and for candidates interested in more detailed information about the exam.

It includes:

● A description of the exam structure, as well as the tests and tasks involved

● The system of evaluation used for the exam

● The system of evaluation for the written and oral expression and interaction tests

● Sample written and oral expression and interaction tests from previous candidates, including their evaluations.

http://www.dele.org/?page=dele/levels-for-young-learners-a1-a2-b1