The level guide

Which level am I? Two minutes, no test.

Taleivo books are graded to CEFR levels — the European standard from A1 (beginner) to B2 (upper intermediate). The trick to choosing: read the sample sentence for each level below. The right level is the one you can read comfortably, without translating in your head. If a sentence feels easy, move up one; if you're stopping at every word, move down one.

When in doubt, pick the easier level. Fast, pleasurable reading builds more vocabulary than struggling ever does.

A1 · Beginner

A1 — Beginner

You can: You know basic greetings and everyday words, and can follow very short, simple sentences.

Reading at A1: You can read very short, simple stories with everyday words, present tense, and lots of repetition.

Spanish books at A1 Dutch books at A1

Try reading this

“Me llamo Ana. Vivo en una casa pequeña con mi gato.”

Spanish

“Ik heet Ana. Ik woon in een klein huis met mijn kat.”

Dutch

Comfortable? Try the next level up. Hard going? Drop one down — that's your level.

A2 · Elementary

A2 — Elementary

You can: You can handle everyday situations and read short texts about familiar topics.

Reading at A2: You can follow a real plot told in short sentences — past tenses included — about travel, work, and daily life.

Spanish books at A2 Dutch books at A2

Try reading this

“Ayer compré un boleto de tren porque quería visitar a mi hermana en la costa.”

Spanish

“Gisteren kocht ik een treinkaartje, omdat ik mijn zus aan de kust wilde bezoeken.”

Dutch

Comfortable? Try the next level up. Hard going? Drop one down — that's your level.

B1 · Intermediate

B1 — Intermediate

You can: You can follow the main points of clear texts and express opinions on familiar subjects.

Reading at B1: You can enjoy full novels with subplots, opinions, and feelings, as long as the vocabulary stays reasonably common.

Spanish books at B1 Dutch books at B1

Try reading this

“Si tuviera más tiempo libre, aprendería a cocinar los platos que preparaba mi abuela.”

Spanish

“Als ik meer vrije tijd had, zou ik de gerechten leren koken die mijn oma vroeger maakte.”

Dutch

Comfortable? Try the next level up. Hard going? Drop one down — that's your level.

B2 · Upper intermediate

B2 — Upper intermediate

You can: You read longer texts comfortably and pick up nuance, idiom, and implied meaning.

Reading at B2: You can read longer, denser fiction with idiom, irony, and nuance — close to what native speakers read for fun.

Spanish books at B2 Dutch books at B2

Try reading this

“Por mucho que hubiera insistido, jamás habría aceptado un acuerdo que comprometiera sus principios.”

Spanish

“Hoe hard hij ook had aangedrongen, ze zou nooit een overeenkomst hebben geaccepteerd die tegen haar principes inging.”

Dutch

Comfortable? Try the next level up. Hard going? Drop one down — that's your level.