German

You can read and write the 26 letters of the German alphabet along with special characters (umlauts: ae, oe, ue, and Eszett: ss). You recognize numbers and basic words. You can use everyday greetings like "Hallo" and "Danke," and introduce yourself with your name and nationality. You can catch some words when someone speaks very slowly and clearly. (CEFR Pre-A1 to A1, Goethe-Zertifikat A1 level)

• Can accurately read and write all 26 German letters and special characters (umlauts: ae, oe, ue, and Eszett: ss)
• Can say and write numbers 1 through 100 in German
• Can use 10 or more basic greeting expressions (e.g., Hallo, Danke, Entschuldigung) in appropriate situations
• Can give a simple self-introduction in German covering name, nationality, and occupation
• Can identify familiar German words on signs, menus, and notices

You can form basic subject-verb-object sentences and hold simple conversations centered on the present tense. You can handle survival situations in German such as ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions, and shopping. You understand short, clear instructions and notices, and can write simple notes and messages. You have a basic grasp of German grammatical gender (Genus: masculine, feminine, neuter) and case system (Kasus: nominative through genitive). (CEFR A1 to A2, Goethe-Zertifikat A2 level)

• Can form basic German sentences using subject-verb-object structure
• Can distinguish between and use the present tense and the Perfekt (present perfect)
• Can read a menu and order in German at a restaurant
• Can ask for directions and understand simple directional guidance
• Can grasp the main points of a short German notice or email
• Can write a simple message or note of up to 50 words in German

You can converse naturally in German about familiar topics such as family, hobbies, and work. When traveling in German-speaking areas, you can handle most situations independently. You can read simple German articles or emails and identify key points. You can express experiences, plans, and opinions in connected sentences, using the main tenses (present, Perfekt, Praeteritum, Futur I) and the four-case system (Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ, Genitiv). (CEFR A2 to B1, Goethe-Zertifikat B1 level)

• Can hold a conversation in German for 5 or more minutes about familiar topics such as family, hobbies, and work
• Can independently handle hotel check-in, transportation, and emergencies when traveling in German-speaking areas
• Can identify the topic and key points of a simple German news article
• Can distinguish between and appropriately use the present tense, Perfekt, Praeteritum, and Futur I
• Can write an email or letter of about 200 words in German
• Can understand the general content of a German video with subtitles

You can state and support your opinions on both concrete and abstract topics. You converse fluently with native speakers and generally understand German at natural speed. You can identify the main ideas in complex texts and write clear, detailed pieces on a variety of topics. You're beginning to understand and use the basic forms of the Konjunktiv II (subjunctive mood). (CEFR B1 to B2, Goethe-Zertifikat B2 level)

• Can present your opinion on a social issue in German with at least 2 supporting arguments
• Can sustain a natural conversation with a native speaker for 30 or more minutes
• Can understand 70% or more of German news or documentaries without subtitles
• Can read CEFR B2-level German texts (novels, professional articles) and summarize the main points
• Can write a 500-word argumentative essay with introduction, body, and conclusion
• Can use the Konjunktiv II in hypothetical and polite contexts (e.g., "Ich wuerde gerne...", "Wenn ich koennte...")
• Can switch between formal address (Siezen) and informal address (Duzen) as the situation requires

You accurately understand and produce complex texts in academic, business, and technical fields. You lead high-level communication in German, including presentations, negotiations, and debates, and you pick up on implicit meanings and cultural context. You freely employ complex moods such as the Konjunktiv I (indirect speech) and Konjunktiv II, and you switch between language registers (Sprachregister) to suit the situation. (CEFR B2 to C1, Goethe-Zertifikat C1 level)

• Can read a CEFR C1-level academic paper or report and summarize its main argument in 3 sentences or fewer
• Can deliver a 30-minute or longer presentation in German with introduction, body, and conclusion
• Can conduct a business negotiation or contract discussion in German for 60 or more minutes
• Can write about the same topic in both formal register (Hochsprache) and colloquial register (Umgangssprache)
• Can write a 1,000-word or longer argumentative essay in German with citations and supporting evidence
• Can understand and use 20 or more German idiomatic expressions (Redewendungen) and metaphors in context
• Can identify 3 or more recurring error patterns in your own German usage and develop a concrete improvement strategy for each
• Can recognize standard language differences across German-speaking countries (German Standard German, Austrian German, Swiss German) and adjust vocabulary to match the interlocutor's background

You perform high-level communication at native-speaker level in academic conferences, senior business negotiations, and specialized fields such as law and medicine. You understand the varieties of German spoken across Germany (Standard German), Austria (Austrian German), and Switzerland (Swiss German), and you fine-tune style and tone to match your purpose. (CEFR C1 to C2, Goethe-Zertifikat C2 GDS level)

• Can express the same meaning in 3 or more distinct nuances in German (e.g., formal, informal, euphemistic)
• Can deliver a 20-minute or longer presentation in German at an academic conference and respond immediately to expert questions
• Can write a 500-word or longer stylistic analysis of a German literary work, covering its rhetorical devices (Stilmittel)
• Can distinguish between 3 or more regional varieties of German by listening (e.g., Hochdeutsch, Austrian German, Swiss German)
• Can accurately write 2,000 or more words of German in highly specialized fields such as law, medicine, or technology
• Can conduct diplomatic and strategic communication, both written and oral, with cultural context in mind
• Can understand native German speakers' dialectal and colloquial contractions, and perform register switching between formal and informal contexts naturally

You can design German language curricula or develop assessment systems. You create original content in German, whether literary works, speeches, or academic publications. You deeply understand the historical and social context of German and can analyze differences across German-speaking cultures with precision. (CEFR C2+, beyond Goethe-Zertifikat C2 GDS level)

• Can write an original literary work, speech, or academic publication of 5,000 or more words in German
• Can design a CEFR-based German language curriculum or assessment rubric
• Can explain German etymology, historical evolution (from Old High German to Modern German), and dialect divergence at a professional level
• Can demonstrate 3 or more professional experiences in simultaneous interpretation (Simultandolmetschen) or high-difficulty translation (literary, legal, medical) involving German
• Can exercise leadership in a multicultural team of 10 or more people using German
• Can author 1 or more research papers or publications related to German, contributing to the field of language education
• Can argue positions on the historical evolution of German and modern sociolinguistic trends (gender-neutral expressions, administrative language reform) with academic evidence