Modern Foreign Languages

At BAEC we offer a choice of learning routes to suit different learning needs and lifestyles. Most of our tutors are native speakers with experience of various levels and ability, and are able to provide support to if you have visual, speech or hearing impairements, or other disabilities. Specialised equipment is available in the main centres. Please enquire when enrolling.

Please note that enrolment and payment must be completed before the start date of the course.

Languages on offer

• Arabic
• Chinese (Mandarin)
• French
• German
• Greek
• Italian
• Japanese
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Turkish

30 week accredited courses

The majority of these courses comprise weekly 2 hour sessions and lead to ABC Practical Languages qualifications. The ABC assessments consist of short assessments in four skils (reading, listening, writing, speaking) which are compiled from lesson tasks to form a protfolio (no separate assessments necessary).

The college receives funding for these courses, which enables us to offer them at a subsidised rate.

30 weeks or 18 weeks non-accredited courses

These courses are of one or one and a half hour’s duration. They offer an alternative path accross the College levels for those not wishing to achieve a qualification.

All classes beyond Easy Intermediate Level are non-accredited.

One-day Saturday courses

The College offers occasional one day language courses or tasters.Please see the website for latest courses.

How to assess your level

If you are an existing student you will normally progress to the next level with your existing tutor. If you are a new student the descriptions below will serve as a general guide.

Please also complete our self-assessment questionnaire.

Please note that the descriptions are structures you should already know before joining that level, and not the course content. If you would like further information on course content, please contact the College who will put you in touch with a tutor.

Beginners

This is for students with no previous knowledge of the language.

False beginners / Post-Beginners

You already understand and can use a small number of words and basic phrases from a few topic areas. You are familiar with the present tense of some verbs and with the concept of masculine / feminine, singular / plural.

Improvers

You can ask and answer simple questions and talk about your interests. You can use the present tense with reasonable confidence. You can begin to say what you have done and when.

Easy Intermediates

You have sufficient vocabulary to deal with most practical situations. You can use the present tense accurately and you are familiar with the simplest way of expressing past and future. You can begin to give opinions and justify ideas.

Intermediates

You can begin to deal with more unpredictable situations. You can agree and disagree, stating your reasons, and can give descriptions, such as of your job or your town. You can talk about the past, present and future with reasonable confidence and can express what you would do. You can write letters requesting and giving information.

Higher intermediates

You can use, with confidence, the past, present and future in context and in association with each other. You can begin to tell stories and, with time for preparation and research, can relate the plot of a book or film. You are starting to use more complex conjunctions, pronouns and idioms to improve the stylistic value of your language. You can begin to access authentic material on the internet, radio or television.

Advanced

You can handle most unpredictable situations with confidence and can, to some extent, negotiate in the language. You can communicate using a variety of tenses. You are beginning to take part in debates and you can adapt your language according to your audience. You can understand authentic materials relating to non-specialist subjects.

Proficiency

You can express yourself fluently and can use with accuracy all the spoken tenses encountered in everyday conversations. Following input from the tutor, you can take part in a discussion , giving and justifying your opinions and ideas. When more unusual items of vocabulary are provided and when the text is replayed, you can understand the gist of a range of authentic spoken passages, such as brief news reports.

Mastery

For students who are fluent, or extramely confident, in the language.

If you are unsure of your level, please telephone the main office at the Widmore Centre on 0208 460 0020. If you leave your contact details, the language you require and availability for lessons, we can arrange for a language tutor to advise you. Please note that lower level language courses are conducted in a mixture of English and the target language. Higher level courses are conducted exclusively in the target language.