Skills Defined by the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages for the Acquisition of a Superior Level of Academic English Language Proficiency Level Listening Speaking Reading Writing Advanced Understands social and work demands and concrete topics related to interests Satisfies work requirements with usually acceptable and effective language Reads factual, non-technical language, gasping main and subsidiary ideas Writes with some precision and in some detail about most common topics Understands all the essentials of standard speech, including technical aspects of professional field Speaks with enough precision to participate in practical, social, and professional conversations Reads a variety of authentic prose on unfamiliar subjects with near-complete comprehension Prepares effective formal and informal written exchanges on practical, social, and professional topics Superior Comprehends forms and styles of speech pertinent to professional needs Accomplishes a wide range of sophisticated and demanding professional tasks Comprehends a variety of styles and forms pertinent to professional needs Writes in a few prose styles pertinent to professional and education needs Understands all forms and styles of speech pertinent to professional needs Speaks fluently and accurately on all levels pertinent to professional needs Reads fluently and accurately all forms of language pertinent to professional needs Writes professionally and accurately in a variety of prose styles (back to homepage)