Proficiency and Profiles: How CEFR Levels Can Help You in the Workplace

Whether it’s for placing an employee in the right language program or for recruiting global talent, English proficiency assessments play a key role in gauging professionals’ skills in using the language in the business world. For these evaluations, it is fundamental to have a set of benchmarks that can objectively determine an English learner’s capabilities. A tool you can utilize for this purpose is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Let’s take a look at what CEFR levels entail and how different company processes can benefit from it.

What is CEFR?

The CEFR is a standardized guideline used for describing a person’s language abilities. A scale by the Council of Europe in 2001, the framework measures various language levels through “can do” descriptors in four competencies: speaking, reading, writing, and a learner’s comprehension of the language in general. The CEFR is not also specific to English, meaning it can be applied to any language.

As a widely-used set of standards, the CEFR is recognized by various institutions, from schools to companies to governments worldwide. It is also accepted as a reference for grading many language proficiency exams, creating language learning and teaching materials, as well as setting minimum language requirements for various purposes.

According to the CEFR scale, language proficiencies are broken down into six levels, ranging from A1 to C2, and are organized into three general levels: Basic User, Independent User, and Proficient User. Each level is described as follows:

Basic User

A1 (Beginner)

Language learners at the A1 level have a basic understanding and use of words and expressions in familiar contexts, meaning they can give a simple self-introduction and answer personal questions like, “Where do you live?” or, “When is your birthday?”. So long as the other person speaks slowly and clearly, A1 learners are able to respond using very basic and short phrases.

A2 (Elementary)

If learners are at the A2 level, they have a grasp of vocabulary and expressions when communicating about topics that they can easily relate to, such as information about their families and jobs. While the other speaker may still need to talk slowly and convey messages in simple words, A2 learners can already answer questions in full sentences and handle short, direct exchanges using uncomplicated terms.

Independent User

B1 (Intermediate)

Progressing to the B1 level means that learners are able to hold conversations about more relevant themes, such as their interests, work, and current events. They can also express themselves in more situations if they’re traveling in the place where the language is spoken, such as meeting people or dining out. Furthermore, they can narrate and give simple opinions about their experiences, plans, and ambitions.

B2 (Upper Intermediate)

Learners at the B2 level can already interact with native speakers more fluently as well as talk about a wider range of subjects. They’re also now able to give arguments and comments on a variety of issues, from personal to abstract topics. Moreover, they can take part in work-related discussions and talk about the technical aspect of their jobs.

Proficient User

C1 (Advanced)

At the C1 level, learners have already achieved fluency and spontaneity when it comes to using the language in almost any situation, whether it’s in school, work, or social events. They also possess an excellent spoken and written command of the language, meaning they can use more complex structures and various styles. Additionally, they’re able to comprehend longer texts and will not find it complicated to worth with technical or specialized articles or instructions.

C2 (Proficient)

As they reach the highest CEFR level, C2 learners are considered to have near-native speaker proficiency. Their speech and comprehension at this stage are top-notch, meaning they can speak very fluently and precisely even if they deal with intricate topics. They can also understand and interpret almost any type of spoken or written language. Because of these, C2 learners can also use the language with ease in almost any kind of situation, from discussing work issues to negotiating with other people.

Relevance to HR Professionals

The CEFR has become a popular tool in hiring and other internal company processes wherein determining an employee or a candidate’s language skills objectively bears a lot of weight. For organizations looking to incorporate this guideline, it is vital to understand what the CEFR levels mean in order to set their standards for placing employees in various roles and programs.

In recruitment, for instance, you can make use of CEFR levels to set minimum English language requirements for recruiting or promoting candidates. To check if candidates meet the language qualification, you can administer an English proficiency test and ascertain their level by using the CEFR as a reference. This way, you can also decide if you can recommend them for other jobs or if they would need additional English language training to be eligible for promotion.

When it comes to language training, the CEFR is similarly a useful standard for designing Business English courses for employees with varying English levels. Additionally, through English proficiency testing, finding out where they are on the CEFR scale also helps you place them in the right language course, assess their learning progress, and identify the areas they need to work on in order to meet the requirements of future positions.

Benefits of Using CEFR

Comparing the English skills of candidates and employees abroad can be a challenge if there are no standards that you can refer to, and this is where CEFR becomes a meaningful and practical way to gauge a professional’s language level. Using this framework also provides you with the following advantages:

• As the CEFR is recognized on a global level, you can make use of it as a common reference for making decisions on determining the language skills of your organization’s staff and candidates.
• Because this scale is guided by “can do” statements, it can indicate how well employees and candidates can perform and function in various communicative contexts in English.
• CEFR levels describe various language competencies, which you can tie with the most important communicative tasks needed for certain roles. For instance, certain positions may require an understanding of technical documentation or the ability to write project proposals.
• As the achievements in using the language are indicated at each level, it allows you to easily measure language outcomes and establish goals for employees to work towards.

Mapping CEFR to Job Roles

As communicative tasks and competencies vary from one position to another, it’s not uncommon for language requirements for each role to also differ. For example, an accounting associate may be tasked with reviewing financial statements, answering audit queries, and participating in meetings with colleagues in the same area and will therefore need to be fluent in discussing the technicalities of his or her job. On the other hand, a procurement manager may be required to find suppliers, create networking opportunities for the company, and negotiate contracts. Thus, this kind of position will mostly call for strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.

Given this, you can map company positions against the CEFR levels in order to align and establish the level of English competence expected from each role. This way, you can identify if a candidate can fulfill specific language-related job requirements. A B2 level of English, for instance, may be sufficient for the accounting associate role mentioned above, while a procurement manager may perform better with at least a C1 level.

CEFR in Language Training Programs

It is possible to tailor your Business English training based on your employees’ current CEFR levels. By doing so, their learning process becomes more efficient and they’ll have a clearer understanding of why they’re studying the language. Additionally, personalized instruction allows you to focus on the practical applications of English in the workplace, therefore preparing them for various situations and potential roles.

Here’s how you can design effective language courses for professionals in your organization using CEFR as a reference:

• You can create the curriculum and outcomes of each program based on the level it is created for. For Business English courses, you can align CEFR level descriptors with employees’ abilities and goals you’d like them to achieve. For instance, knowing that B2 learners can already talk about topics relevant to them and have short, direct interactions, your training can cover the use of English in contexts like talking about the company, welcoming visitors, or asking for travel information.
• Given the learners’ level and the learning objectives you’ve chosen, you can then decide on the type and difficulty of materials, content, activities, and assessments for each course.
• In order to place employees in the right Business English training program, their levels can be assessed through English proficiency tests that are aligned with the CEFR.

For its English proficiency evaluations, BridgeEnglish interprets testing scores using the Global Scale of English, or GSE, which works hand in hand with the CEFR. As a language framework that breaks down the six-point CEFR scale into a 10-90 numerical scale, the GSE measures English proficiency by describing in detail what a learner can achieve in speaking, reading, listening, and writing at every level. While the targeted skills and goals of the CEFR are more applicable to general English, those of the GSE focus more on teaching and learning Business English.

Assessment and Certification

Determining employees’ English fluency through proficiency tests benefits not only the company’s hiring and training processes but also the professionals themselves. Firstly, taking an English proficiency exam allows them to earn an official certificate that proves their excellent English communication skills. Employees can also showcase this credential on their resumes in order to stand out and open doors to higher-level positions in the company. In addition, an English proficiency certificate is a regulatory requirement in several industries, such as hospitality, aviation, and healthcare.

While a lot of English proficiency exams exist nowadays, the key to choosing which evaluation to take is checking if it is administered by recognized assessment organizations and if the tests are aligned with CEFR levels.

As part of its Language Assessment Solutions, BridgeEnglish provides English proficiency testing services to company employees through exams that are created by reputable education institutions and are accepted by companies as well as academic and government institutions around the world. The scores obtained from these tests are also interpreted using the CEFR scale and describe fluency in the speaking, reading, listening, and writing areas.

1. Linguaskill
2. Versant
3. Pearson PTE
4. ETC TOIEC

Learn more about Bridge’s trusted assessments.

Through the CEFR, it is now possible to identify the language proficiency of professionals more accurately. Especially if you’re operating on a multinational level, the CEFR is an indispensable tool, so make sure you use it to your advantage, be it for streamlining hiring processes or helping you develop the right language programs for employees.