This is a short description of what learners at Ardleibhéal 1 (C1) can be expected to do in the various skills. Please refer to the syllabus for further information.
Speaking
Learners should be able to actively participate in ordinary conversation or in more formal speech (lectures, debates and interviews, for example). They will be able to discuss abstract subjects with other people, including native speakers, as long as the discussion is not overly dialectal, specialised, technical or fast-paced. They will be able to express and defend opinions and ideas and to respond to points made by others. They will be able to speak fluently, spontaneously and accurately about a wide range of topics, in a way that does not tax listeners in any way. There may be some mistakes present in the learner’s speech, especially when the speaker is under pressure or speaking quickly or spiritedly/ passionately, but these mistakes are caused by pressure or carelessness, rather than not consistent errors reflecting a lack of knowledge of basic vocabulary or grammar. Learners can deliver extended speech in both formal and informal contexts.
Listening
Learners at Ardleibhéal 1 (C1) can understand, without much difficulty, extended speech including announcements, messages, recorded directions, lectures, debates, the majority of radio/ television programmes and other material common in social, academic or professional life. They can understand conversations and discussions between third parties, as long as they are not overly dialectal/ colloquial, specialised, technical or fast-paced. They can understand extended speech even if it is not clearly structured or if certain points are subtly or indirectly implied. They can understand a wide range of phrases and idioms and they can recognise differences in language register. It is not expected that learners will understand every word in technical speech or in speech that relates to subjects outside the range of expertise of the learner (for example, jargon or terminology relating to the law, information technology or theology) but they will understand the general meaning, nevertheless.
Reading
Learners at Ardleibhéal 1 (C1) will be able to deal with the ordinary Modern Irish texts which are typically read in social, professional or academic life (for example, correspondence, directions, articles, reports, books and so forth), as long as they are not overly colloquial, specialised or technical. Such texts may be long, complex or abstract. As well as a wide vocabulary, the learner will possess the following skills: the ability to make effective use of the appropriate reference materials (dictionaries and grammar books), the ability to scan long and complex documents and to extract relevant points of information from them; the ability to adapt their reading speed and style according to specific texts and objectives.
Writing
Learners at Ardleibhéal 1 (C1) will be able to produce a wide range of written texts of various types. The topic need not be predictable or related to their own work or areas of expertise. Learners at this level will be flexible and creative enough to write effectively about topics outside of their own experience, as long as they are not overly specialised or technical. These texts may include: handbooks or instructive pamphlets, flyers, magazine or newspaper articles, reports or job descriptions, memoranda, teaching materials, university theses, creative writing or the minutes of meetings. They will make fluent use of a wide range of expressions, idioms, linking devices and common terminology. Their writing style will have clarity, a natural feel and a wealth of expression. The influence of their mother tongue may be evident at times, but it should not be so obvious as to seriously impede the comprehensibilty of the text. The text will be accurate, for the most part, in terms of grammar and spelling.