CEF Elementary

Level A1

I can understand simple words and phrases, like “excuse me”, “sorry”, “thank you”, etc.
I can understand the days of the week and months of the year.
I can understand times and dates.
I can understand numbers and prices.
I can understand basic greetings and leave taking, like “Hello”, “good bye”, “good morning”, etc.
I can understand simple personal questions when people speak slowly and clearly. (e.g. “What’s your name?”, “How old are you?”, “What’s your address?” etc.).
When listening to a conversation, I can understand words and short sentences, provided that people speak very slowly and very clearly.
I can recognise my flight number in short, clear and simple messages at international airports.

I can recognise names, words and phrases I know and use them to understand very simple sentences if there are pictures.
I can understand words and phrases on everyday signs (for example “station”, “car park”, “no parking”, “no smoking”, “keep left”).
I can understand simple forms well enough to give basic personal details (e.g., name, address, date of birth).
I can understand very simple instructions if they are supported by pictures and if I know this type of instructions.
In everyday situations I can understand simple messages written by friends or colleagues, for example “back at 4 o’clock”.

I can use basic greeting and leave taking expressions.
I can ask how people are.
I can interact in a simple way, asking and answering basic questions, if I can repeat, repair and get help.
I can ask and answer (simple personal) questions, like “What’s your name?”, “How old are you?” if the other person speaks slowly and is very helpful.
I can ask people questions about where they live, people they know, things they have, etc. and answer such questions addressed to me provided they are articulated slowly and clearly.
I can buy things in shops where pointing or other gestures can support what I say.
I can use and understand simple numbers in everyday conversations (for example in prices or telephone numbers).
I can answer the phone, give my name and answer very simple questions (e.g. “When is Mrs Jones back?”).

I can give personal information (address, telephone number, nationality, age, family, and hobbies).
I can very simply describe myself and my family.
I can very simply describe where I live.

I can write about myself and where I live, using short, simple phrases.
I can understand a hotel registration form well enough to give the most important information about myself (name, surname, date of birth, nationality).
I can write a greeting card, for example a birthday card.

I can establish contact with people using simple words and phrases and gestures.
I can say when I do not understand.
I can very simply ask somebody to repeat what they said.

I have a very basic repertoire of words and simple phrases about family and personal details, plus simple everyday situations.
I can communicate very basic information about myself and my family in a simple way.
I can join simple phrases with words like “and” or “then”.
I can use memorised, short phrases for specific purposes with reasonable accuracy.
I can speak in very short phrases and isolated words.
I can use the simplest everyday polite forms of greetings and farewells; introductions; saying “please”, “thank you”, “sorry”, etc.