Getting Certified in Spanish
The Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE; Spanish for "Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language") are official diplomas issued by the Spanish Instituto Cervantes and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science to participants who pass a standardized test indicating Spanish language proficiency. The DELE Diplomas are internationally recognized, and enjoy great prestige not only among public and private educational institutions and authorities, but also in the business world and chambers of commerce.
The Cervantes Institute is a worldwide non-profit organization created by the Spanish government in 1991. It is named after Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), the author of Don Quixote and perhaps the most important figure in the history of Spanish literature. The Cervantes Institute, a government agency, was modeled on the British Council and the German Goethe Institute, and is the largest organization in the world responsible for promoting the study and the teaching of Spanish language and culture.
In many countries, the DELE have been adopted by departments of education and official institutions of learning as a complement to their own assessment programmes. They are ideal for furthering your career and access to education, both in Spain and in other countries where the examinations are given. For more information, click here.
The DELEs are divided into three levels depending on the language level:
Diploma de Español 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.
Diploma de Español 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.).
Diploma de Español (Nivel Inicial - 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.
Diploma de Español (Nivel Intermedio - B2)
High-intermediate level
This accredits the necessary knowledge of the language to allow communication in everyday situations which do not require specialized terms.
Diploma de Español C1
This accredits the sufficient linguistic competence to cope in common situations of daily life which require a specialized use of the language. (November 2010).
Diploma de Español (Nivel Superior - 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.