Category Archives: Spanish DELE

5 things you should know before planning for DELE

The D.E.L.E. exams are the most widely recognised Spanish language qualifications in the world. To put it short- if you want to add “I speak Spanish” on your CV, that means having a DELE. It’s definitely not an easy exam to pass, but it’s worth getting the diploma if you would like to work or even to boost your resume for work at home.

So if you are interested, here is some information and advice you should know before planning for DELE !

1.What is the DELE Exam?

The DELE Spanish exam is the only official and internationally recognized exam of Spanish as a foreign language and it can be written at any level, from beginner (A1) to mastery (C2). It has 5 parts: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing ability, grammar and vocabulary, and an oral exam. The first thing to do is check out the DELE Cervantes website and look at some of the past exams. This will help you to familiarize yourself with the different levels, and based on that you can decide which level exam you want to write. If you’re not sure which is the best DELE exam for you, you can also take Habla Ya’s Spanish Placement Test (at no charge) and they’ll get back to you with your current Spanish level, and then they will be able to “predict” how many hours of Spanish lessons you’ll need to prepare for each DELE Test.

2.Who can register for the DELE Exam?

The DELE certificate is an exam that you should take if you want an official evaluation of your Spanish language skills. Lots of employers and universities consider the DELE as the one Spanish level test which reflects a good evaluation of your ability to use the language.

Also the Registration fees for DELE vary. It depends on the level of the test as well as the country where the examination is taken.

The candidates willing to obtain the DELE certificate must, however, prove the citizenship of a country where Spanish is not the official language. If you are a citizen of a Spanish speaking country living in another country where Spanish is not the official language, you must satisfy at least two of the following conditions to register:

  • Spanish is not the mother tongue of either of your parents.
  • Spanish is not the first language that you learned.
  • Spanish is not the habitual language you use for communicating.
  • Spanish has not been the principal language in total or part of your primary or secondary education.

You must declare that you satisfy two of these conditions in a written document.

3. DELE Exam Levels

The DELEs are divided into three levels depending on the language level:

  • DELE A1
    This accredits the sufficient linguistic competence to understand and use daily expressions frequently used in any part of the Spanish-speaking world, aimed at satisfying immediate needs; asking and giving basic personal information about yourself and daily life and interacting on a basic level with speakers, whenever they are speaking slowly and clearly and are willing to cooperate.
  • DELE A2
    This accredits that the candidate is capable of understanding daily phrases and expressions frequently used related to areas of experience which are particularly relevant to them (basic information about yourself and your family, shopping, places of interest, occupations, etc.).
  • DELE B1(Intermediate-mid/threshold level) 
    This accredits sufficient knowledge of the language to allow control in situations which require an elementary use of the language.
  • DELE B2 (High-intermediate level)
    This accredits the necessary knowledge of the language to allow communication in everyday situations which do not require specialized terms.
  • DELE C1
    This accredits the sufficient linguistic competence to cope in common situations of daily life which require a specialized use of the language.
  • DELE C2 (Superior level)
    This accredits an advanced knowledge of the language allowing communicaton in all situations requiring advanced use of the language and a knowledge of cultural background.

4.DELE test format

Although the test differs in its exact format depending on the level, it tests the four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The test lasts about 3 hours, and is sent to Spain for grading which takes about 3 months. You have to receive 70% in each section in order to pass the test, so you have to make sure all of your skills are strong.

There are plenty of practice tests on their website, which are a great resource for people preparing to take the test as well as Spanish learners who want to test their skills.

5.How to prepare for DELE?

Spanish learning will be fun and exciting once you start using the online lessons and courses . You can prepare with CultureAlley that have courses for people taking the DELE. With CultureAlley  you can learn languages for free while browsing Facebook, and playing games. You get several free audio-visual lessons! You can learn Spanish for free while browsing your friend’s conversations on your own Facebook feed! It is the most immersive, fun, and contextual way to learn Spanish. You can Play fun games to master what you learn. You get over 70 free lessons to build your concepts on http://new.culturealley.com/ . Master conversations, grammar, vocabulary and more. Whether you are a traveler looking for quick vocabulary or a professional looking for some serious learning – we have the right lessons for everyone!

5 tips for preparing for DELE – Acing DELE 101

Have you ever found yourself just so damn frustrated with your progress in Spanish? Maybe you’ve decided to take the plunge and sit for an official D.E.L.E exam and now the nerves are building. The D.E.L.E. exams are the most widely recognised Spanish language qualifications in the world. To put it short- if you want to add “I speak Spanish” on your CV, that means having a DELE. Today we give you 5 key tips for preparing for DELE

1.Set Yourself Goals:

TOP TIP! Setting goals helps you focus and setting a time limit helps you keep that focus. Setting a hard deadline is an important first step. Be realistic – if you can’t put in the time needed to adequately prepare, don’t pay to do the exam.

CultureAlley is an online platform with interactive Spanish lessons, and fun vocabulary tools that sets a daily task plan and achievable goals for you. It has the most fun way to help you master Spanish vocabulary. CultureAlley lets you learn Spanish vocabulary while your browse your own Facebook newsfeed. It progressively replaces a few words from English to Spanish and provides you with their pronunciation and meaning . It provides 1 important lesson, and 1 practice game session everyday to help you learn a little Spanish everyday and sends your daily reminders for the tasks waiting for that day!

2. DO Find the right materials

The first thing to do is check out the DELE Cervantes website and look at some of the past exams. This will help you to familiarize yourself with the different levels, and based on that you can decide which level exam you want to write. It should come as no surprise that there are books made especially for the exam, much like the standard GRE or LSAT books.

And if you are looking for a free effective resource online, then you can find about 70+ lessons with CultureAlley covering grammar, conversations, vocabulary, lessons with native (Spanish) voice-overs, and practice exercises with fun games. CultureAlley covers all the domains required for language learning,i.e: reading,writing,listening,and speaking.

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3.DO consider taking a course

Doing simple google search for DELE courses nets hundreds of places to get exam prep, both online and in person. Most are costly (around 300€), but come with the practice book and tips to doing the exam. You can’t study completely on your own so you should consider hiring a Spanish teacher to help you with the writing and speaking part of the exam.

For hiring a good experienced tutor for 1-1 on coaching with native tutors who can mentor and guide through DELE preparation, you can book classes with CultureAlley. You just have to mail your query to contact@culturealley.com, and we will provide you with the tutor profiles and we can book your sessions!

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4.DO practice writing prompts like crazy

The writing section is a large part of the DELE, consisting of two parts: in the first, you’ll be asked to pick one of two options regarding a formal letter or email. It’s important to know formal salutations, advanced vocabulary and to include all of the parts asked for in the prompt. The second part is more personal, and you’ll have to choose between three different prompts. These could be about personal opinions, experiences or anecdotes.  Keep in mind you will have 60 minutes for brainstorming, drafting and re-writing your two pieces of 150-200 words in pen. Your pieces should also be clear. Practice with your clock ALWAYS.

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5.DO practice outside of the book:

Make sure that while you study the academic side of Spanish you continue to practice outside of class in the informal ways (watching TV, listening to music,speaking to local people) – it will take you from “classroom Spanish” to really using it as a second language. On the writing and speaking sections, and general knowledge of Hispanic culture is 100% important, as is being able to listen to different accents. The exam may call for you to read a quote and take a stance on it, talk about the economic crisis or the necessary knowledge of the language to allow communication in everyday situations.

CultureAlley helps learners to learn outside of courseware from daily conversations as learners can listen to the native pronunciation while learning vocabulary on the Facebook. A few relevant words on the Facebook feeds are converted into the language one wants to learn and one can listen to its pronunciation for better understanding as often as they want. You can listen to them, play games on them, practice your accent, and more! It helps one to speak Spanish fluently, and master the vocabulary and pronunciation just by logging into their Facebook account with CultureAlley. You also get over 70+ free audio-visual lessons to build your basic concepts.


Top 9 things to keep in mind while preparing for DELE – 9 myths to avoid!

Maybe you’ve decided to take the plunge and sit an official D.E.L.E exam and now the nerves are building. The D.E.L.E. exams are the most widely recognized Spanish language qualifications in the world. Well here are few myths you might just have about D.E.L.E

Don’t worry, we will clear the confusion!

1. It is an easy Exam

It’s definitely not an easy exam to pass, but it’s worth getting the diploma if you would like to work or boost your resume or even explore interesting freelance teaching and translation opportunities.

In the D.E.L.E. exams you will have to write and you will have to do a grammar and vocabulary section. But chances are you don’t often write all that much in your day to day life. You will need to pass all sections of the exam and so writing practice is an essential part of your language study. From day 1! And grammar is a stumbling block that you need to get over as soon as possible. You need 70% in every section and even if you’re acing all the other parts a 69% in one still means a fail. So its definitely not an easy exam, as you will have to focus on each section equally.

2. You can take it anytime

There are specific dates for the exams. You have to register yourself first for the exam by visiting the DELE official site and register before one month of the exam. You have to take the exam on that date only!

The following are the upcoming exam dates for 2014:
JULY: 18th July- Levels B1, B2, C1
NOVEMBER: 22nd November- Levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2

3.Only a grammar book is sufficient

No, you cannot pass DELE exam just by studying from books. You will need to practice  writing, speaking, and listening . The exam may ask you to read a quote and elaborate it. Make sure that while you study Spanish you continue to practice it outside of class in the informal ways (watching TV, listening to music, speaking to local people).

Memorizing vocabulary from mindless flashcards and boring! CultureAlley helps you expand your Spanish vocabulary while you browse your own Facebook wall! Yes, learn Spanish while reading your friend’s conversations on Facebook.

You can use http://new.culturealley.com/ to explore over 70 free lessons with grammar concepts and conversations.

4.DELE certificate Exam is for FREE

The price of the DELE exam varies based on country, level, and the center where you are take your exam from.

The following table is an example of the 2013 prices:

COUNTRY A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
CZECK REPUBLIC 1,285 Kč 1,600 Kč 1,820 Kč 2,150 Kč 2,400 Kč 2,510 Kč
EGYPT 345 EGP 420 EGP 470 EGP 570 EGP 645 EGP 700 EGP
FRANCE 88 € 98 € 109 € 145 € 155 € 160 €
GERMANY 114 € 123 € 134 € 189 € 199 € 204 €
GREECE 75 € 85 € 110 € 125 € 140 € 145 €

5. It is a written exam

Although the test differs in its exact format depending on the level,  students must pass the five sections of the exam in order to obtain the Diploma, as listed below:

  1. Reading Comprehension
  2. Writing
  3. Listening Comprehension
  4. Grammar and Vocabulary
  5. Speaking

In order to obtain a Diploma, students must score “apt” in all sections of the test, and not just in writing.

6. Classroom study is sufficient

Are you thinking of taking these exams to prove your level of Spanish? You need to continue to practice outside of class in the informal ways like watching TV, listening to music or speaking to local people to master the language.

You can Learn Spanish for free on http://new.culturealley.com/ while you browse your friend’s conversations on your own Facebook feed! It is the most immersive, fun, and contextual way to learn Spanish. Play fun games to master what you learn and get over 70 free lessons to build your concepts on through several free audio-visual lessons.!

7. Exam does not focus on speaking

This section could be very short but important indeed as you need to score good in each section to pass. Speaking is the quickest and most efficient way to improve your language level. You will need to “Frame” your thoughts. Very often the speaking section will involve you having to give an opinion on something. For example a photo, or perhaps a comparison of photos. Use framing phrases to say things like “in my opinion” “well, i see you’re point but I don’t quiet agree” “and that’s why, in a nutshell I think this photo expresses the themes of..”.
Remember it’s important to frame both the start and the end.

8.Even the citizens from Spanish speaking country can give the exam

Anyone who is living in a country where Spanish is not the official language can apply for the DELE exam. Also the citizens from Spanish speaking countries living in other countries where Spanish is not the official language, can give the DELE exam if they fulfill at least two of the following conditions (and declare it in a written document):

  1. Spanish is not the mother tongue of any of his/her parents.
  2. Spanish is not the first language that he/she learned.
  3. Spanish is not the habitual language used for communicating.
  4. He/She has not studied Spanish in the total or part of his/her primary or secondary education.
  5. Check yours Now!

9.You can start preparing for DELE a month before the exam

This is perhaps the biggest myth. If you think you can prepare well to appear for DELE in a month, then you are wrong. Numerous “language schools” specifically in developing countries might lure with flase promises of finishing DELE levels in record times – don’t get fooled! According to Instituto Cervantes, clearing each level requires significant number of learning hours. So start today and plan for the next exam in advance.

You can Learn Spanish for free on http://new.culturealley.com/ – with 70+ lessons, games, Facebook based language practice tools, and more!

Duración currículo oficial (A1-C1) Duración nivel C2 Duración total
      660 horas     180 horas    840 horas
Nivel Curso DELE
A
180 horas
A1
(90 horas)
1 (Inicial 1) A1
ACCESO
2 (Inicial 2)
3 (Inicial 3)
A2
(90 horas)
4 (Inicial 4) B1
INICIAL
5 (Inicial 5)
6 (Inicial 6)
B
300 horas
B1
(150 horas)
7 (Intermedio 1)
8 (Intermedio 2)
9 (Intermedio 3)
10 (Intermedio 4)
11 (Intermedio 5)
B2
(150 horas)
12 (Avanzado 1) B2
INTERMEDIO
13 (Avanzado 2)
14 (Avanzado 3)
15 (Avanzado 4)
16 (Avanzado 5)
C
360 horas
C1
(180 horas)
17 (Superior 1) C1
DOMINIO
18 (Superior 2)
19 (Superior 3)
20 (Superior 4)
21 (Superior 5)
22 (Superior 6)
C2
(180 horas)
23 (Especial) C2 SUPERIOR
24 (Especial)
25 (Especial)
26 (Especial)
27 (Especial)
28 (Especial)

 You can Learn Spanish for free on http://new.culturealley.com/ – with 70+ lessons, games, Facebook based language practice tools, and more!