Reach A2 in a New Language
16 weeks · 5 milestones
A2 is the level where a learner moves from survival phrases to handling familiar, everyday topics with some independence: routines, family, work, shopping, simple plans. This is the level most language apps claim to deliver but rarely do, because app-based learning optimizes for streak retention, not real conversational ability. Every milestone requires proof of real human communication — a recorded conversation with a native speaker. App scores are not accepted at any level.
Milestone map
Milestone map
5 milestones
Before attempting extended conversation, build the vocabulary and grammar base A2 requires: present tense conjugation for common verbs, the 600–1000 most frequent words, and basic question formation. This milestone is preparation, not proof of conversational ability — but it must be backed by evidence of real use, not just app completion.
Proof required
Submit a 3-minute recording of yourself speaking the target language UNSCRIPTED — describing your day, your home, or your family, using only what you've learned so far. This is not a test of fluency; it is a checkpoint showing your foundation is real, spoken vocabulary, not passive recognition. Write 100 words (in English) listing your study method and approximate hours per week so far.
What gets checked
- Recording is genuinely unscripted — speaking extemporaneously about a real topic, not reciting a memorized paragraph; a verifier should hear natural hesitation and self-correction, not a polished monologue
- Vocabulary used is appropriately basic for this stage — present tense, simple sentence structures; a recording using complex grammar suggests reliance on translation tools, not real learning
- Study method and hours are honestly reported — this becomes useful context for the verifier and for the learner's own later reflection on what actually worked
Resources
Enroll free to unlock learning resources →Mastery
Vocabulary Levels Test — Nation / Lextutor
Free online test of vocabulary knowledge by frequency band — first 1,000, 2,000, 3,000+ most common words. Paul Nation's research shows 98% text coverage (the threshold for comfortable authentic reading) requires around 15,000 words. Testing by band reveals exactly where your vocabulary foundation has gaps rather than giving a single undifferentiated count.
Unlocks after completing Foundation + Depth