The ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) standards for language proficiency are widely used to assess language ability in different languages, including German. These standards categorize proficiency into different levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior, and Distinguished, with each level further divided into sublevels (Low, Mid, High).

Here’s an outline of the basic ACTFL standards for German at the Novice and Intermediate levels:

Novice Level

• Novice Low, Mid, High:
  • Can communicate with memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences.
  • Understanding is limited to predictable, everyday contexts like greetings, giving personal information, or asking for directions.
  • Writing and speaking are often limited to simple expressions (e.g., "My name is...," "I live in...").
  • Can understand and respond to basic questions and statements if the speech is slow and clear.

Intermediate Level

• Intermediate Low, Mid, High:
  • Low: Can create with language by combining memorized phrases to communicate simple ideas on familiar topics, such as ordering food or talking about daily activities.
  • Mid: Can handle short social interactions and ask/answer questions in everyday situations like shopping or describing daily routines. Able to make simple requests and provide information.
  • High: Can participate in conversations on a variety of topics beyond basic survival needs, describe experiences, and handle simple social interactions (e.g., giving opinions or telling about an event).

As proficiency increases, learners move from basic recall of phrases and vocabulary at the Novice level to more creative, spontaneous use of the language at the Intermediate level.

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