SICELE, a new international exam and proficiency certificate of Spanish

A new, international exam and proficiency certificate for the Spanish language was unveiled by Spanish language experts at last month's Congress of Spanish Language Academies in Medellin, Colombia.

The new proficiency program will be titled "International System of Spanish as a Foreign Language, or SICELE, for its Spanish initials.

César Antonio Molina, Director of Spain's Cervantes Institute, which, along with the University of Salamanca, played a collaborative role in the development of the new international program, told journalists the exam will be superior to national tests, such as Spain's DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera), and is expected to become a universally accepted reference test.

You can read more details in this article published by the International Herald Tribune.

If you are not familiar with Spain's current standard for Spanish proficiency, the DELE is the only certificate for non-native Spanish speakers officially recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, although this will change as the new international program is rolled out. This DELE has been of great value for students wishing to study at a Spanish university and those looking for work a Spanish speaking environment.

In 2006, 34,000 students throughout the world took a DELE exam. The number has doubled in the last five years, as demand for Spanish language skills - and certified proof of proficiency at the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels - has grown dramatically.

While the new test is in the works during 2007, the DELE will continue to be the most prestigious certificate of Spanish proficiency, and don Quijote will continue to offer a guaranteed preparatory course. Stay tuned for information about SICELE prep courses in upcoming years. In 2007, the DELE will be offered on May 11th, August 24th and November 16th.

To read more about our DELE prep courses, visit our website.