DELE Exam

thismortalcoil · 26th February 2007, 11:47 PM

I've been in Spain for over 4 months now; my Spanish ability has quadrupled and is getting better every day. I was thinking perhaps there would be some way I could get an official recognition of my abilities. I plan to attend graduate school in the fall when I return home to study Spanish Education. I go to a language school here in Spain, but the approximately 500 clock hours of instruction will not transfer towards any credit at my US university.

It has been suggested that I take the DELE. After reading some of the sample tests, I feel pretty confident that I could do well on the Intermediate level. Has anyone ever had experience with the DELE and perhaps with trying to get it to count for college credit?

Even if it wouldn't count for credit, generally speaking, should I go for it? What has been your experiences with the test? I guess what I mainly want to know is...In the US, does it count for anything?

Damian Corrigan · 27th February 2007, 02:15 AM

I know this doesn't answer your question, but for anyone else reading this, I'm pretty sure that it doesn't count for much in the UK. In the UK, if you can do the DELE intermediate, you may as well do the A-level. I'm pretty sure they're approximately a similar level.

Damian

timg · 27th February 2007, 09:03 AM

I've done the DELE Básico, the DELE Superior and the UK 'A' level (though I did that in 2000). I reckon the level of grammar required for the DELE Básico was higher than for the A level. You also need knowledge of Spanish idioms. Both of these were distinctly lacking in the A level (just my opinion). I found it odd that in the A level exams there were questions where you could choose to answer in Spanish or English (specifically in the literature paper), yet the instructions didn't say that you would get more credit for answering in Spanish. Therefore, no-one took the risk of being marked down for making errors in their Spanish, and answered in English. Needless to say, the DELE exams are entirely in Spanish.

On the other hand, parts of the DELE exams are multiple-choice (or multiple-guess

).

The DELE inicial has no real value.

I don't know about the US college system, I'm afraid.

Damian Corrigan · 27th February 2007, 11:16 AM

I haven't done any of the exams, partly because the levels have always seemed so odd. As timg says, the inicial has no value. When I came to do the basico (the intermediate level), it seemed too easy. The superior still seems to difficult for me (especially, as timg says, as it has a lot of idioms). The spread seems very poor, it seems to me (and to Spanish teachers I know) that the inicial and basico exams should be increased in difficulty - as it stands, they are both too week.

When you compare them to the Cambridge English exams, the basico seems lower than the First Cert and the superior seems higher than the Advanced.
Because of this, it wouldn't surprise me if the exams aren't that respected overseas.

Going back to the initial question, I'd be surprised if a Spanish exam (from Spain, that is) would be that respected in the US. Hell, even the Cambridge TEFL qualification isn't respected in the States. I'd have thought you'd be better off doing an exam in the States. Saying "I lived in Spain for four months" is likely to have more standing than "I've done an exam you haven't heard of".

Damian

Ben · 27th February 2007, 11:22 AM

I have done the intermediate and the Superior DELE exams, but rather for any credits anywhere I did them for myself. Working towards an exam really makes you pin down some of that Grammar, motivates you enormously to improve, and gives you a great sense of acheivement. Even if it doesn't count for much officially back home (I have no idea about this I'm afraid), I found the experience really beneficial to my Spanish and would recommend it if you can afford it.

rod · 27th February 2007, 12:26 PM

I was in Spanish language schools for 28 weeks over a period of 8 months a year back. I didn't really think about doing the DELE exam at the time, I was more concerned on working on my practical conversation and listening skills so I didn't really want to be distracted by academic preparation. So when I left I just got a certificate saying how long I'd been there and the level of class I'd ended up (practically worthless I guess).

Do I regret not doing the DELE? Not too much, but given the opportunity again I probably would have done it. It would have been nice to have something on paper to show for my stay, and it is something extra for the CV. Ben's point about setting yourself challenges is an important one. I don't know about you, but after a few months in language schools I needed to keep setting myself challenges in order to keep myself interested (in my case though, I had professional challenges I wanted to take on).

MY main point is this. If you're anything like me your spoken and listening skills will fall away a bit as soon as you get out of a totally Spanish speaking environment, even though you can easily keep improving your reading skills, grammar and vocabulary. I'm in a very strange place since I've been back here, studying for a higher postgraduate diploma in translation whilst at the same time getting more and more inarticulate in Spanish conversation (as, if I make it to the GME, everyone will notice

).

So my point is: the listening and oral parts of the test will probably come easier to you while you're there than if you did a similar exam when you returned to the US.

eazyebeneezer · 14th March 2007, 10:42 AM

i did the DELE intermedio, and similar to ben's observations, found it a good motivating factor. i'm not sure it will get you credits at university in the states, but i'm sure people in the spanish department will be familiar with the test and you'll at least get some street cred

it might help you place your level and evaluate where your spanish knowledge really is. and it's true, there are quite a few idioms to learn which can be very interesting. i say, go for it!

rhodian · 15th March 2007, 11:40 PM

i think the main worth of the DELE (and i may be wrong here) is that it is the only qualification of proficiency in spanish which is recognised by the spanish government. but i agree with what others have said about the motivational factor of having something to work towards. DELE superior basically means you are officially fluent!

rod · 12th April 2007, 11:11 AM

I'm thinking of doing the DELE Superior exam in November (I've just missed the registration for deadline for May). I've decided I need a new challenge to drive me om learning Spanish, and I feel a little insecure that I don't have a formal language qualification on my CV. Does anybody know:

1. What level in US/UK terms is the DELE Superior equivalent to? (I think I read somewhere it was supposed to be equivalent to a BA degree)

2. Do you have to pass every part of the exam? Or is whether you pass or not based on your average score across all 5 (the one I'm concerned about the oral exam at Superior level, I should be able to pass the others)

And thismortalcoil, if you're still out there, what did you decide to do?

Alejandro · 12th April 2007, 01:57 PM

I also want to take the DELE exam to motivate me to keep up with my Spanish. I'm not worried about college credit. I just want to prove to myself that I can do it. Plus it gives me plenty of bragging rights.

However, I recently heard that the DELE exam is going away and will be replace by another test that uses a more global Spanish.

Does anyone know the name of this new exam and when will it be available?

26th February 2007, 11:47 PM	#1
thismortalcoil Forero Senior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alabama, USA Posts: 58	DELE Exam I've been in Spain for over 4 months now; my Spanish ability has quadrupled and is getting better every day. I was thinking perhaps there would be some way I could get an official recognition of my abilities. I plan to attend graduate school in the fall when I return home to study Spanish Education. I go to a language school here in Spain, but the approximately 500 clock hours of instruction will not transfer towards any credit at my US university. It has been suggested that I take the DELE. After reading some of the sample tests, I feel pretty confident that I could do well on the Intermediate level. Has anyone ever had experience with the DELE and perhaps with trying to get it to count for college credit? Even if it wouldn't count for credit, generally speaking, should I go for it? What has been your experiences with the test? I guess what I mainly want to know is...In the US, does it count for anything?

27th February 2007, 11:22 AM	#5
Ben Hero Forero Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,425	I have done the intermediate and the Superior DELE exams, but rather for any credits anywhere I did them for myself. Working towards an exam really makes you pin down some of that Grammar, motivates you enormously to improve, and gives you a great sense of acheivement. Even if it doesn't count for much officially back home (I have no idea about this I'm afraid), I found the experience really beneficial to my Spanish and would recommend it if you can afford it. __________________ Notes in Spanish: Get The Best Free Spanish-Learning Conversations On The Net!

27th February 2007, 12:26 PM	#6
rod Mega Forero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the Alpujarras Posts: 319	I was in Spanish language schools for 28 weeks over a period of 8 months a year back. I didn't really think about doing the DELE exam at the time, I was more concerned on working on my practical conversation and listening skills so I didn't really want to be distracted by academic preparation. So when I left I just got a certificate saying how long I'd been there and the level of class I'd ended up (practically worthless I guess). Do I regret not doing the DELE? Not too much, but given the opportunity again I probably would have done it. It would have been nice to have something on paper to show for my stay, and it is something extra for the CV. Ben's point about setting yourself challenges is an important one. I don't know about you, but after a few months in language schools I needed to keep setting myself challenges in order to keep myself interested (in my case though, I had professional challenges I wanted to take on). MY main point is this. If you're anything like me your spoken and listening skills will fall away a bit as soon as you get out of a totally Spanish speaking environment, even though you can easily keep improving your reading skills, grammar and vocabulary. I'm in a very strange place since I've been back here, studying for a higher postgraduate diploma in translation whilst at the same time getting more and more inarticulate in Spanish conversation (as, if I make it to the GME, everyone will notice). So my point is: the listening and oral parts of the test will probably come easier to you while you're there than if you did a similar exam when you returned to the US.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

27th February 2007, 02:15 AM	#2
Damian Corrigan Guide to Spain - Skype Me Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: All over Posts: 135	I know this doesn't answer your question, but for anyone else reading this, I'm pretty sure that it doesn't count for much in the UK. In the UK, if you can do the DELE intermediate, you may as well do the A-level. I'm pretty sure they're approximately a similar level. Damian

27th February 2007, 09:03 AM	#3
timg Mega Forero Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 267	I've done the DELE Básico, the DELE Superior and the UK 'A' level (though I did that in 2000). I reckon the level of grammar required for the DELE Básico was higher than for the A level. You also need knowledge of Spanish idioms. Both of these were distinctly lacking in the A level (just my opinion). I found it odd that in the A level exams there were questions where you could choose to answer in Spanish or English (specifically in the literature paper), yet the instructions didn't say that you would get more credit for answering in Spanish. Therefore, no-one took the risk of being marked down for making errors in their Spanish, and answered in English. Needless to say, the DELE exams are entirely in Spanish. On the other hand, parts of the DELE exams are multiple-choice (or multiple-guess ). The DELE inicial has no real value. I don't know about the US college system, I'm afraid.

27th February 2007, 11:16 AM	#4
Damian Corrigan Guide to Spain - Skype Me Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: All over Posts: 135	I haven't done any of the exams, partly because the levels have always seemed so odd. As timg says, the inicial has no value. When I came to do the basico (the intermediate level), it seemed too easy. The superior still seems to difficult for me (especially, as timg says, as it has a lot of idioms). The spread seems very poor, it seems to me (and to Spanish teachers I know) that the inicial and basico exams should be increased in difficulty - as it stands, they are both too week. When you compare them to the Cambridge English exams, the basico seems lower than the First Cert and the superior seems higher than the Advanced. Because of this, it wouldn't surprise me if the exams aren't that respected overseas. Going back to the initial question, I'd be surprised if a Spanish exam (from Spain, that is) would be that respected in the US. Hell, even the Cambridge TEFL qualification isn't respected in the States. I'd have thought you'd be better off doing an exam in the States. Saying "I lived in Spain for four months" is likely to have more standing than "I've done an exam you haven't heard of". Damian

14th March 2007, 10:42 AM	#7
eazyebeneezer Super Forero Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bordeaux, France Posts: 112	i did the DELE intermedio, and similar to ben's observations, found it a good motivating factor. i'm not sure it will get you credits at university in the states, but i'm sure people in the spanish department will be familiar with the test and you'll at least get some street cred it might help you place your level and evaluate where your spanish knowledge really is. and it's true, there are quite a few idioms to learn which can be very interesting. i say, go for it!

15th March 2007, 11:40 PM	#8
rhodian Forero Senior Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: irlanda del norte Posts: 63	i think the main worth of the DELE (and i may be wrong here) is that it is the only qualification of proficiency in spanish which is recognised by the spanish government. but i agree with what others have said about the motivational factor of having something to work towards. DELE superior basically means you are officially fluent!

12th April 2007, 11:11 AM	#9
rod Mega Forero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the Alpujarras Posts: 319	I'm thinking of doing the DELE Superior exam in November (I've just missed the registration for deadline for May). I've decided I need a new challenge to drive me om learning Spanish, and I feel a little insecure that I don't have a formal language qualification on my CV. Does anybody know: 1. What level in US/UK terms is the DELE Superior equivalent to? (I think I read somewhere it was supposed to be equivalent to a BA degree) 2. Do you have to pass every part of the exam? Or is whether you pass or not based on your average score across all 5 (the one I'm concerned about the oral exam at Superior level, I should be able to pass the others) And thismortalcoil, if you're still out there, what did you decide to do?

12th April 2007, 01:57 PM	#10
Alejandro Forero Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, EEUU Posts: 7	I also want to take the DELE exam to motivate me to keep up with my Spanish. I'm not worried about college credit. I just want to prove to myself that I can do it. Plus it gives me plenty of bragging rights. However, I recently heard that the DELE exam is going away and will be replace by another test that uses a more global Spanish. Does anyone know the name of this new exam and when will it be available?