The DELE Exam Is It For Me?

Various articles have been published this summer about the increasing popularity of the DELE exam, with new centres springing up all over Spain, so I thought it would be useful to outline exactly what it involves and who it is for.

What is it?
DELE stands for "Diploma Español como Lengua Extranjera", or Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language. It is an official accrediation of a person's level of fluency in Spanish, and is globally recognised. The qualification is issued by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport; the Instituto Cervantes is in charge of administrating the exams; and the University of Salamanca prepares and evaluates the papers.

What is the exam like?
Exams are divided into five parts, which vary in length depending on your level:

• reading comprehension
• written paper
• listening comprehension
• grammar and vocabulary
• oral exam

Exams are held three times a year - every May, August and November - and there are exam centres worldwide, so you don't have to be in Spain to do the DELE.

Saying that, many students opt to take DELE preparation courses in Spanish-speaking countries, in order to practise as thoroughly as possible for the tests. Indeed, there is high demand for DELE training all over Spain, particularly by students from Germany, Britain, France and Holland.

Is it for me?
The advantages of doing the DELE exam are numerous. Most obviously, it is an official record of your aptitude in Spanish and so is highly valuable as proof of your linguistic aptitude.

There are six levels of DELE which cover the whole spectrum of competence in Spanish, so there is a paper for everyone. They range from A1, which recognises linguistic abilities sufficient to understand and use daily expressions and satisfy immediate needs, to C2, which accredits an advanced knowledge of the language and its cultural background.

Many people decide to take the exam because it is great for improving their employment prospects. Alternatively, the DELE may function as a brilliant tool to help people settle in to the Spanish language and culture if they are planning on moving to a Spanish-speaking country.

The DELE isn't exclusively about technical competence in the Spanish language, but also about simultaneously improving your understanding of the culture. As such, many schools also offer excursions and workshops in order to help students fully immerse themselves in various elements of Spanish culture, such as cooking, dance, and music.

Where can I find out more?
If you're considering the DELE, but would like more information and guidance, you may find the following websites useful:

• http://www.dele.org/
• http://diplomas.cervantes.es/index.jsp