How Do You Determine Whether You Are Fluent in Italian or Any Other Foreign Languages?

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It is a common misconception that fluency has only to do with how well one speaks. It is no surprise this is the case considering the fact that most learners are unaware of how well or poorly they can speak a foreign language.

As a language coach, I often hear people describing themselves as fully fluent. Therefore, all they need is conversation lessons. Conversely, other learners will present themselves as being completely unsatisfied with their level of Italian, and ask for a systematic practice in order to improve different aspects of their speech. Those who claim to be fluent are typically incapable of sustaining a simple, practical, and brief conversation in Italian. The others are so good to be potentially able to reach fluency in a relatively short amount of time, provided they continue to work the right way.

The question thus arises, how do you determine whether you are fluent or not?

Speaking "well", whatever that means, is in no way enough to make one fluent. Fluency includes speech mechanics as well as social/cultural elements translated to language skills.

The term "fluent" itself originates from a Latin verb meaning "to flow", reminding us of water flowing down a riverbed for example. Water flows effortlessly and naturally. A flowing motion is in fact associated with water more than with anything else. Whenever there's an obstacle or obstruction in the way, water smoothly flows around it and continues on its course unhindered. If you can't compare your speaking skills by analogy to the flow of water down a riverbed, then you can't call yourself fluent.

In other words, a person is fluent when the mechanics of speech are delivered

1) Smoothly.

2) Effortlessly.

3) Clearly.

4) Through quick reactions and reflexes.

5) Without thinking much.

6) Thinking directly in Italian (or any other target language).

7) Without stress or anxiety hampering speech quality.

8) With the ability of going around lapses, blank-outs, and other speech glitches with skills close to a native speaker's.

9) Through different registers according to social context.

A language, however, is not just a product of speech mechanic or a mere matter of nomenclature, as it is treated by most learners and teachers alike. A language is a social institution more than it is anything else. Therefore, a multitude of cultural factors are involved in the development of a language. Without those, language itself would not exist. Linguistically, cultural factors translate to idioms, slang, humor, the use of emphatic speech, proverbs, sayings, gesturing, commonly known ready-made expressions, famous quotations, etc.

No one can consider themselves fluent unless they can show practical evidence of a firm grasp of at least a minimum amount of all the above.

Beyond all that, the act of listening can in no way be separated from that of speaking. The one involves the other. No one can call themselves fluent if they can't process and understand movie dialogue, songs lyrics, regional accents, and in general speech reaching their ears at varying paces, rhythms, sound and sound quality.

Here's a breakdown of descriptors that CANNOT and DO NOT assess speech fluency levels accurately and objectively.

1) Standardized tests.

2) Citizenship tests.

3) CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), which outlines six levels of language proficiency (A1 through C2).

4) In general any testing done in written form.

In conclusion, the best way to assess your own language level is to engage in conversation with one or more native speakers. Their feedback is a sure-fire way to get clear indications of your level. Otherwise, a skilled and qualified language coach can potentially tell you where you stand, provided he can offer an honest and unbiased account of what you should improve and how.

Self-assessment is always an option, though delusional bias and/or inexperience often hinder a person's view of their own skills and flaws.

So there's that.