I´ve been trying to find references about how much class time it takes to go though each of the levels in the Common European Framework of Reference. I understand that it depends on the learner's mother tongue and the foreign language being studied. So, I am particularly asking about CEFR levels for Spanish speakers who are learning English.
It depends on the levels your students are aspiring towards, the amount of exposure they have to English outside the classroom (Internet, TV series etc), the number of class hours per week and the size of the class. Helping learners to move from A1 to A2 can usually be done quite easily in one year with Spanish speaking students with 2-3 contact hours per week. A2 to B1 is in most cases likely to take at least a year and a half more, but with committed, able students it can be done a little more quickly. Most learners are able to make the move from B1 to B2 if they put in the work outside class. I'm afraid I can't put a timescale on this move,as it varies so much. The biggest challenges are of course B2 to C1 and, even more so, C1 to C2. Some students, despite putting in the effort, never achieve this as they have too many fossilized errors from earlier learning.
It depends on the levels your students are aspiring towards, the amount of exposure they have to English outside the classroom (Internet, TV series etc), the number of class hours per week and the size of the class. Helping learners to move from A1 to A2 can usually be done quite easily in one year with Spanish speaking students with 2-3 contact hours per week. A2 to B1 is in most cases likely to take at least a year and a half more, but with committed, able students it can be done a little more quickly. Most learners are able to make the move from B1 to B2 if they put in the work outside class. I'm afraid I can't put a timescale on this move,as it varies so much. The biggest challenges are of course B2 to C1 and, even more so, C1 to C2. Some students, despite putting in the effort, never achieve this as they have too many fossilized errors from earlier learning.
Hi dear
I agree with Chris Turner . Outstanding answer dear colleague.
Liqaa
Dear Pedro,
The answer is It depends... On what? There so many different variables and factors that can determine in the end the number of instructional hours per level. However, there seems to be an approximate numer of hours which could be set in the middle of a continuum. This number is 200 which I have found in most teacher's guides.
The following table shows one of these approximate number of hours, according to its recommended testing measurement. Keep in mind that this could change depending on the emphasis of the course (and I mean a drammatic change...)
CEFR Level
Cambridge English Exam
Number of Hours (approximate)
C2
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
1,000—1,200
C1
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
700—800
B2
Cambridge English: First (FCE)
500—600
B1
Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET)
350—400
A2
Cambridge English: Key (KET)
180—200
My five cents
Jorge E. Benavides b.
The Cambridge English Support Site suggests 200 study hours to advance from one language level to the next (see below) and both The British Council and English Profile sites also provide guidelines for learners of English (see below).
However, these are very general guidelines. As Chris Turner has outlined above, the rate of an individual's L2 acquisition depends on various factors, including L1 background. Also, the demonstration of a particular level in one or more language skills doesn't necessarily imply the same competence level in all language skills.
Accuracy across Proficiency Levels (Thewissen, 2015) compares rates of acquisition for different aspects of the target language for English learners from a variety of different L1 backgrounds, including Spanish.
If you are looking for information on bilingual learners or young learners from a Spanish-speaking background, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages website may be a good starting point for your research.
http://www.englishprofile.org/images/pdf/GuideToCEFR.pdf
https://www.britishcouncil.pt/en/our-levels-and-cefr
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