Level Description in detail

Class Level (Approximate guidelines)

1a:  no background
1b:  1 to 2 years of high school
1c:  1 or 2 semesters of  college
1d:  3 or 4 semesters of college
2:   college plus
3:   advanced conversation

 

Level 1a/b  The first year (90% immersion )

Our teachers know that at a beginning level, information must be presented clearly in an organized manner and repeated and practiced often.   They encourage your questions and are happy to re teach until you feel comfortable. Comfortable and successful students accelerate.   Each class, we apply our 10 years of experience to create mini conversational opportunities so students can orally practice just what they know. You are never out of your depth. Our goal is for your accent to be clear and for you to be comfortably conversational with the language you learn at this level. We know what it takes for a successful beginning class, a relaxed, social atmosphere, effective practice activities and empathetic teachers.   You will be impressed with how well you and your fellow students can converse when you have completed Level 1a/b.

Click here for Adult Class Syllabus

Level 1c/d  The second year (90% immersion)

Our commitment to conversational practice continues in the second year. By the end of level c/d, you may find yourself quite confidently discussing with a fellow student something you saw on the news   –entirely in a foreign language! In levels c/d, more and more opportunities are provided for you to simply, “make yourself understood” or in other words, apply , as creatively as you can, the structures and vocabulary you are learning in the textbook curriculum.   be a guiding strand   Powerful techniques such as SF’s, “Not English Spoken” are introduced. This technique gets students comfortable using only the language they have in contexts that demand more language – just like in real life!

 

Click here for Adult Class Syllabus

Level 2 The third year & fourth years (99% immersion)

Rollicking conversations, jokes and debates led by our passionate teachers characterize the end of level 2..   The advanced grammar you study in the textbook are applied in increasingly challenging strategies and techniques that encourage you to begin to “think” in a foreign language. After participating in these activities, students find language flows from their brain to their tongues more automatically. At levels a/b & c/d your vocabulary blossoms and your “ear” improves because of your previous immersion exposure so listening comprehension activities suddenly “open up”.   It takes surprising little time to dredge up old language experiences. If you are a rusty intermediate speaker, this is the course to bring it all back!

 

Upper Intermediate/Advanced Levels   The fifth year+ (100% immersion)

Speaking like a native is the goal of our advanced levels. These are very social classes where students become friends and use foreign language to interact socially. The native speaking teacher acts as a facilitator, correcting, teaching mini lessons and providing material for interesting and provoking conversations that demand more advanced constructions from students. Classes meet weekly for conversation and often form a “lunch club”. Perfect for students who have lived in a foreign country but did not reach native-like fluency or have 5 years of college.

Not sure what level is right for you?

Come sit in a class – free of charge, of course!

322 Vista Del Mar Suite B Redondo Beach, CA 90277       Tel. 310-378-1086      info@sfli-ca.com