langula
A1At the café
Estoy en un café. Quiero un café con leche. El café está caliente. Mi amiga Ana entra. Hablamos y reímos.
0:00 / 0:18
Language levels A1 to C2: hear the difference
The Common European Framework (CEFR) splits language skills into six levels – from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient). Here you can hear the same story at every level.
Story in SpanishTap a level – the text switches instantly
What you can do at this level
- introduce yourself and ask simple questions
- order something when people speak slowly
- understand short present-tense sentences
- Vocabulary
- ≈ 500
- Words in text
- 20
- Words per sentence
- 4
A2A morning at the café
Esta mañana fui a un café pequeño cerca de mi casa. Pedí un café y un trozo de tarta. Después llegó mi amiga Ana y hablamos del fin de semana.
0:00 / 0:17
What you can do at this level
- talk about your day and your weekend
- understand simple texts in the past tense
- handle everyday tasks like shopping
- Vocabulary
- ≈ 1,000
- Words in text
- 30
- Words per sentence
- 10
B1Saturday at the café
El sábado por la mañana fui al cafecito de la esquina, que tiene el mejor café de la ciudad. Mientras esperaba mi pedido, entró mi amiga Ana, así que nos sentamos junto a la ventana y hablamos de nuestros planes para el verano.
0:00 / 0:14
What you can do at this level
- get the main points on familiar topics
- explain plans and give reasons
- handle most situations when traveling
- Vocabulary
- ≈ 2,000
- Words in text
- 43
- Words per sentence
- 22
B2An unexpected reunion
El sábado pasado me di el gusto de desayunar en el café de la esquina, un sitio que llevaba semanas queriendo probar. Apenas me había sentado cuando entró mi vieja amiga Ana, y acabamos charlando dos horas sobre su nuevo trabajo y sobre si debería mudarse al extranjero.
0:00 / 0:17
What you can do at this level
- follow longer conversations with ease
- weigh pros and cons
- talk fluently and spontaneously with native speakers
- Vocabulary
- ≈ 4,000
- Words in text
- 48
- Words per sentence
- 24
C1Breakfast turns into a talk
El sábado pasado por fin me animé a probar el café de la esquina, que poco a poco se había ganado fama por su café. Nada más acomodarme, apareció Ana, a quien no veía desde hacía siglos, y lo que iba a ser un desayuno rápido se convirtió en una conversación de dos horas sobre si debía aceptar la oferta de trabajo en el extranjero.
0:00 / 0:20
What you can do at this level
- catch hints and implied meaning
- express yourself precisely at work or school
- use complex sentences with confidence
- Vocabulary
- ≈ 8,000
- Words in text
- 65
- Words per sentence
- 32
C2A breakfast with consequences
El sábado pasado, por fin cumplí la promesa de conocer el discreto café de la esquina, cuyo café había adquirido una especie de culto. Apenas había tomado asiento cuando irrumpió Ana —a quien no veía desde hacía casi un año— y lo que yo había imaginado como un desayuno apresurado derivó en una pausada charla de dos horas sobre la conveniencia de dejarlo todo por un puesto en el extranjero.
0:00 / 0:24
What you can do at this level
- understand virtually everything with ease
- choose style and tone deliberately
- express fine shades of meaning
- Vocabulary
- ≈ 16,000
- Words in text
- 70
- Words per sentence
- 35
This story was written by Langula and is not an official exam sample.
Overview
The six levels at a glance
Vocabulary is approximate and varies by language and counting method.
- A1Beginner≈ 500 words
Simple sentences, familiar words, slow pace.
- A2Elementary≈ 1,000 words
Everyday life, past tense, short stories.
- B1Intermediate≈ 2,000 words
Main points, plans and reasons.
- B2Upper intermediate≈ 4,000 words
Fluent conversation, own opinions.
- C1Advanced≈ 8,000 words
Nuance, work and study.
- C2Proficient≈ 16,000 words
Effortless, precise, stylish.
Self-check
How much do you understand?
Listen to four short samples and rate how much you understood.
Sample 1: A morning at the caféSlow, simple past
How much did you understand?
Sample 2: Saturday at the caféNormal pace, linked sentences
How much did you understand?
Sample 3: An unexpected reunionFluent, longer sentences
How much did you understand?
Sample 4: Breakfast turns into a talkFast, idiomatic
How much did you understand?
B1
Your rough listening level
You’re just getting started – begin with A1 and short texts.
You understand simple texts – build confidence with A2 lessons.
You follow everyday topics well – B1 is your next step.
You can follow longer texts – practice with B2.
You understand a lot – go deeper with challenging texts.
Just a guide, not a test result – the placement test is more precise.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- What do A1, B1 and C1 mean?
- They are CEFR levels: A = basic user, B = independent user, C = proficient user.
- What level do I need for work?
- Usually B2; many customer-facing jobs need at least B1.
- How long does it take to get from A1 to B1?
- Often one to two years of regular study, depending on the language and your background.
- Is the self-check a certificate?
- No, it’s just a guide. Langula gives you a certificate after completing each level’s lessons.
- Why do Langula courses stop at B2?
- Lessons take you far up to B2. For C1 and C2, real texts and conversations help most.
All stories, recordings and estimates on this page were created by Langula. They follow the CEFR but are not official exam samples.
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