0.1: What is Proficiency?
According to the Center on Advanced Research for Language Acquisition (CARLA) , there are three components to proficiency:
- CONTENT: the topic(s) of communication
- FUNCTION: the task to be completed; the purpose for communicating
- ACCURACY: correctness or appropriateness of the language for the context
Proficient language learners can communicate about something in a spontaneous setting (i.e. not a prepared speech) .... and get their point across!
Watch the short video below to understand the difference between proficiency and performance:
Can you explain the difference between proficiency and performance? Use the image below to help you.
A Proficiency Mindset
Don't get caught up with perfect speech; you haven't had as much experience with the target language (Spanish!) as your native language. Your Spanish is NOT on par with English (or your native language). And that's ok! In class, we want to strive for proficiency over perfection! So don't be afraid to speak. It doesn't have to be perfect for you to get your point across!
Works Cited:
Granite Schools. "How DLI Students Progress Toward Language Proficiency." YouTube , 28 May 2021, youtu.be/27nemTNmMy4?si=T7AUkGdM4EhHBiGn . Accessed 22 Dec. 2023.
Regents of the University of Minnesota, editor. "Characteristics of Proficiency-Oriented Language Instruction." The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) , 9 Apr. 2019, carla.umn.edu/articulation/MNAP_polia.html . Accessed 22 Dec. 2023.