Diploma Internacional de Español

DIE

Level Correspondencies

Written DIE

European Reference Frame

ACTFL

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

DELE

Elemental

1

Novice Low

2

A1

Novice Mid

Pre-intermedio

3

Novice High

4

Básico

A2

Intermediate Low

Inicial

Intermedio

5

Intermediate Mid

6

B1

Intermediate High

Avanzado

7

Advancec Low

8

Avanzado

B2

Advanced Mid

Intermedio

Superior

9

C1

Advanced High

10

Superior

C2

Superior

Superior

Especializado

-Teachers of Spanish

-Business

-Tourism

-Health

Specialized

-

-

-

The Gran Canaria School of Languages is the only authorised center for the DIE (Diploma Internacional de Español) examinations in Las Palmas.

The International Diploma of Spanish is recognised by the Courses of Spanish Language and Culture of the University Pontificia of Salamanca.

The DIE is the most complete Spanish diploma that presently exists due to the multiple levels it offers

The International Diploma of Spanish is recognised by the Courses of Spanish Language and Culture of the University Pontificia of Salamanca.

All those professionals in education who have some years experience in teaching languages can bear witness to the changes in perspective that have occurred in this field, and particularly in the teaching of foreign languages. This change of approach has affected some areas more than others, however the area that has undeniably undergone most changes is that of the spoken language, both in the way it is conceived and in the way that it should be taught.

In spite of the fact that in the past the ability to read literature in a foreign language was synonymous with fluency in a language, today very few people would dare to say that they know a language without being able to speak it.

On the other hand, it is important to take into account the fact that oral expression is inextricably connected to an aural ability, which in the natural order of learning a language, comes before all other abilities and, to a large extent, decides the others.

Diploma Internacional de Español (Intn'l Diploma in Spanish), D.I.E., offers children from the age of 7, young people and adults, the possibility of obtaining qualifications which vouch for their level of linguistic ability in Spanish: oral, written, or both. This qualification is divided as follows:

Ten oral levels: Elemental, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. Each stage has two levels.

Five written levels: Elemental, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced and Superior.

Four levels of specialisation: Spanish Teachers foreing language, Business, Health and Tourism.

The possibility of choosing the on-line modality, written, oral and specialised.
The objective of the D.I.E. consists of evaluating the capacity of each candidate to communicate effectively with other Spanish speakers.

Conversation between examiner and candidate. (6-7 minutes)

Conversation on a subject that the student prepares and presents. (10 minutes)

Conversation on: a subject prepared and presented by the student as well as on another subject that he will choose from those proposed by the examiner. (20 minutes)

Conversation on: a subject prepared and presented by the student as well as on another two subjects that he will choose from those proposed by the examiner. Reading of a text about which the examiner will ask various questions with the aim of assessing the student’s level of comprehensione. (25 minutes)

This test is worth a total of 100 points, which will be distributed in accordance with the following assessment criteria:

• Fluency                            
• Pronunciation                    
• Comprehension                
• Grammatical Correctness  
• Vocabulary                      

In order to pass this test a minimum of 65% must be obtained. If a result of 85% or over is obtained the Diploma will contain a distinction.

The minimum result must be achieved in each criteria in order to pass the exam.

The oral and the writen test are independent. The candidate can pass both or just one of them. In the last case the candidate will only get the Diploma of the passed past.

• The candidates who wish to do the exams to get the D.I.E. can choose between the oral and the written part, or both of them.
•The International Diploma in Spanish or D.I.E. exam, can be sat either in Spain or in the rest of the World, FIDESCU holds exams in different countries through its system of International Co-ordinators and Examination Centres.
• Any students interested in sitting the exam can do so in their schools or in the public or private centres in which they take Spanish courses.
• People who already have a certain level of Spanish and who do not need to take a course can also sit the D.I.E. exam.
• Exams are held throughout the year, and each centre interested in participating can choose the dates that are most convenient for its students.
• The contents of the D.I.E. exam are flexible and varied, the student can choose the subjects of conversation that interest him most.
• The students do not have to obtain all the levels before achieving level 10. If his knowledge of Spanish allows it he can sit the exams for the level he believes to be most appropriate to him in that moment.

INFORMATION AND EXAM SAMPLES TO PRACTICE: ORAL WRITTEN SPECIALISATION