1: Elementary proficiency <--Basic (think 1-3 yrs HS Spanish)
2: Limited working proficiency<--Fair (think 2+ yrs college Spanish, little/no in-country experience)
2S Able to satisfy routine special demands and limited work requirements.
2R Sufficient comprehension to read simple, authentic written material in a form
equivalent to usual printing or typescript on familiar subjects.
3: General professional proficiency<--Good (think studied abroad; probably majored/minored in Spanish)
3S Able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to
participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations.
3R Able to read within a normal range of speed and with almost complete
comprehension.
4: Advanced professional proficiency<--Advanced (probably lived abroad for at least a year and/or uses Spanish professionally)
4S Able to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels.
4R Nearly native ability to read and understand extremely difficult or abstract prose,
colloquialisms and slang.
5: Functional native proficiency<--Native/Near Native (grew up in a Spanish-speaking area or moved there at a young age)
5S Speaking proficiency is functionally equivalent to that of a highly articulate well-
educated native speaker.
5R Reading proficiency is functionally equivalent to that of the well-educated native
reader.