Language proficiency or linguistic proficiency is the ability of an individual to speak or
perform in an acquired language.
As theories among pedagogues as to what constitutes proficiency go, there is little consistency
as to how different organizations classify it.
Additionally, fluency and language competence are generally recognized as being related,
but separate controversial subjects.
In predominant frameworks in the United States, proficient speakers demonstrate both accuracy
and fluency, and use a variety of discourse strategies.
Thus, native speakers of a language can be fluent without being considered proficient.
Native-level fluency is estimated to be between 20,000 - 40,000 words, but basic conversational
fluency might only require as little as 3,000 words.
Organizations ACTFL
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages distinguishes between proficiency
and performance.
In part, ACTFL's definition of proficiency is derived from mandates issued by the US
government, declaring that a limited English proficient student is one who comes from a
non-English background and "who has sufficient difficulty speaking, reading, writing, or
understanding the English language and whose difficulties may deny such an individual the
opportunity to learn successfully in classrooms where the language of instruction is English
or to participate fully in our society."
ACTFL views "performance" as being the combined effect of all three modes of communication:
interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational.
Proficiency frameworks Note that test scores may not correlate reliably,
as different understandings of proficiency lead to different types of assessment:
FSI Test Scores range from 0 to 5.
Interagency Language Roundtable Scores range from 0 to 5.
Language Proficiency Index ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines ACTFL recognises
ten different levels of proficiency: "novice", "intermediate", "advanced", and "superior",
of which the first three are each subdivided into "low", "mid", and "high".
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR recognises six levels: A1,
A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2.
Proficiency tests Cambridge English Language Assessment tests
CELPE-Bras Defense Language Proficiency Tests
DELE Examination for Japanese University Admission
General English Proficiency Test Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì
IELTS iTEP
Japanese Language Proficiency Test Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers
Pearson Test of English Academic The European Language Certificates
TOEFL TOEIC
TEPS Test of Russian as a Foreign Language
Test de français international Test de connaissance du français
TOCFL UBELT
See also: Language tests category Professional organizations
Alliance française American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages Association of Language Testers in Europe
Foreign service institute Goethe-Institut
UCLES UNIcert
Instituto Cervantes UBELT
References
See also EF English Proficiency Index
Fluency Vocabulary - The set of words in a given language
that a speaker is familiar with, which can be subdivided into: a) words which are recognized
upon hearing or reading; and b) words which a person feels comfortable using in speech.