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DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera)

The DELE is an official certification provided by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish  Ministry of Education. It assesses Spanish language proficiency across six levels, from A1 to C2 (take a look at this guide for more information on the different levels), aligning with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 

Like most CEFR exams, the DELE exam grades the four key skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and interaction, and oral expression and interaction. The exam is only conducted in authorized examination centres. The DELE certificate is recognized internationally by educational institutions and employers. Notably, the certification has no expiration date, offering lifelong validity.

More information about the DELE Certification

SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española)

SIELE is a digital proficiency exam developed through the collaboration of the Instituto Cervantes, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of Salamanca, and the University of Buenos Aires. It evaluates Spanish language skills across reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and interaction, and oral expression and interaction.  In addition, this exam is pan-Hispanic, incorporating the different linguistic variables of Spanish.

In contrast to DELE, SIELE’s approach is a single multilevel test (known as SIELE Global) along with five distinct modules that give you the option of selecting particular skill sets for evaluation purposes. The examination is completely online which provides candidates with scheduling flexibility and faster result processing time – generally within three weeks. However, the SIELE certification only remains valid for five years. 

More Information about the SIELE Certification

CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)

The CCSE exam is designed for people seeking Spanish citizenship. It is administered by the Instituto Cervantes, it assesses knowledge of the Spanish Constitution, society, culture, and history. The exam comprises 25 multiple-choice questions, and a passing score requires correctly answering at least 15. Unlike DELE and SIELE, CCSE does not check language skills but focuses on sociocultural and legal knowledge essential for integration into Spanish society.

More Information about CCSE

DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera)

Where and When Does the Exam Take Place?
DELE exams are held on fixed dates at accredited examination centres worldwide, typically several times a year.

How Much Does It Cost and How Do I Register?
The fees vary between €100 and €200 based on the level of the exam and the country in which it is held. Registration can be completed online through the Instituto Cervantes website by choosing your location and date. 

When Will I Get the Results?
Results are generally available 2–3 months after the exam date. Successful candidates receive a certificate with lifetime validity. Worth the wait!

How Do I Prepare for the Test?
Getting ready includes taking practice tests and using study materials along with courses such as the ones provided by Hablamos. Assessing your speaking and writing abilities accurately can be challenging without input from teachers or language experts and these aspects play a role in the DELE exam.  For tips specific to the DELE exam, visit this blog post and this one for more general information.

SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española)

Where and When Does the Exam Take Place?
SIELE exams offer unparalleled flexibility and are available year-round in accredited centres (like Hablamos) or online with remote supervision.

How Much Does It Cost and How Do I Register?
The price ranges depending on the location. It is usually between €50 and €150 euros. The registration process is completed via the SIELE website where examinees can select a date, venue and type of exam. 

When Will I Get the Results?
Results are released within three weeks. The certification is valid for five years.

How Do I Prepare for the Test?
Hablamos provides SIELE-specific preparation, including practice tests, interactive tutorials, and strategies to ace the exam. As with DELE, the most challenging part of self-study is improving and evaluating your speaking and writing skills without feedback. Practising for SIELE tests can be challenging due to the time limits imposed on each section, which demands discipline from the test takers.  

Read more about how we can help you pass SIELE.

CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)

Where and When Does the Exam Take Place?
CCSE exams take place on fixed dates in accredited centres, typically once a month.

How Much Does It Cost and How Do I Register?
The exam fee is around €85. Registration is managed through the Instituto Cervantes website.

When Will I Get the Results?
Candidates receive results within 20 days after taking the exam.

How Do I Prepare for the Test?
Additional guidance can be found at Hablamos, and the official study guides and sample tests provided by Instituto Cervantes are free.

Recently, the number of online classes has increased a lot, so it is logical that many students turn to this method when they want to start studying Spanish.
Online classes allow you to study from wherever you want, whether you are at home, in your office or even when you are travelling. Many of the online classes are set up as individual classes so they are completely personalised according to your interests.
However, these types of classes require more discipline as it is very easy to get distracted when studying at home. Things like lack of interaction with others can also affect motivation.

Face-to-face courses are the best option if you prefer a real immersion in the language as there is a closer interaction with classmates and the teacher.
In face-to-face classes there are fewer distractions, everything is more organised in an environment that invites you to study: the classroom. This environment also allows for more varied practical activities such as games, role-play or debates.
However, if what you need is time flexibility or proximity to your home or work, a face-to-face class may not suit what you are looking for. You have to reckon with travelling to the school and with class schedules.

If you want to spend more than 3 months in language immersion in Spain, this is the course for you. Intensive courses are 20 hours per week, which is the length of time required to obtain a student visa.
This type of course is the most suitable to create a study habit. In two months you will be able to improve your level. In addition, sharing so much time with the same classmates will create real friendships.
However, these courses can be very difficult to follow if you need to combine them with your work or other studies. You will also have to take into account that they are more expensive in the short term.

If you are looking for a Spanish course that allows you to combine it with your work or other studies, extensive courses of 3 hours per week are ideal. These courses, as well as being cheaper, don’t have as much homework and are longer in duration. You will be able to study without stress and with more types of revision activities than in intensive courses.
These courses, on the other hand, do not allow you to progress as quickly.

Para formar diminutivos en español necesitamos un prefijo (una terminación que se añade a una palabra). En la actualidad el más común en España es -ito/-ita que se puede añadir a nombres (perro – perrito), a adjetivos (rojo – rojito) o a adverbios (cerca – cerquita). Normalmente, la formación de diminutivos sigue las siguientes reglas generales:

• Las palabras que terminan en o, a, io, ia remplazan esa terminación por –ito/-ita.
  perro -> perrito; limpio -> limpito.

• Las palabras que terminan en e, i, u sin acento, se añade –cito/-cita.

• Añadimos también –cito/-cita si la última vocal está acentuada.
  Sofá -> sofacito, té -> tecito.

• -cito/-cita también son la terminación en diminutivo para palabras que terminan en n o r.
  Camión -> camioncito, ordenador -> ordenadorcito.

• Si acaba en otra consonante, volvemos a añadir -ito/-ita
  Igual -> igualito

Si estamos haciendo un diminutivo a un adjetivo, la terminación debe cambiar según sea el nombre al que acompaña, como si fuese un adjetivo normal:

• La casa pequeña -> la casa pequeñita

Si el diminutivo es un nombre mantiene la terminación en el género que le corresponda al sustantivo o, en el caso de ser un masculino acabado en a, la a.

• El vino -> el vinito, el tema -> el temita.

-ito/-ita es el diminutivo más común, pero en España podemos escuchar otros muchos dependiendo de la preferencia, costumbre o región. No es raro escuchar diminutivos acabados en -ejo/-eja, -ete/-eta, -ico/-ica, -illo/-illa, -ín/-ina, -ino/-ina, -iño/-iña y -uco/-uca.

FEDELE Español en España, is the Spanish Federation of Associations of Spanish Schools for Foreigners. This federation is made up of six associations that bring together more than a hundred schools of Spanish as a Foreign Language.

Hablamos became a member of FEDELE Comunidad de Madrid in May 2024 as part of our commitment to offering quality teaching. This has allowed us to participate in the III Semana del Español together with many other schools from all over Spain with a common objective, the common goal that all students who come to Spain to improve their level of Spanish do so in an accredited centre offering a quality linguistic and cultural immersion experience.

During the III Semana del Español, the Hablamos team met with various teachers responsible for the Spanish language area in international centres, language and tourism agents and management from schools and universities from all over the world.

By participating in several round tables to analyse the issue of language tourism, talking to representatives of numerous international institutions and attending workshops and conferences on the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language, Hablamos was able to strengthen strategic alliances with educational and cultural institutions, explore new opportunities for exchange and collaboration programmes, and enrich its teaching methodologies with innovative approaches to the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language.

The participation in the III Semana del Español has allowed the school to become a reference in the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language, joining the network of the most sought-after federated schools in the Community of Madrid.

Hablamos is aware that language tourism is a point to be taken into account in the future and we are working to offer our students a complete experience together with our courses. From now on we are working to build bridges with international agents and teachers with the main objective of promoting the learning of the Spanish language and its culture at an international level.

‘It has been an honour to have participated in this III Semana del Español. Its conferences have helped us to know first hand the needs of our future students and our participation has made Hablamos enter the panorama of Spanish language schools for foreigners in Madrid’ Julio Colmenero, Director of Hablamos.

‘From now on we can work on designing study programmes that are closer to international students and that attract all those who are interested in a comprehensive Spanish language and culture learning experience at our school in Madrid’ Begoña González Afuera, Academic Coordinator of Hablamos.