Is There Any Khmer Proficiency Test?
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- I live above an internet cafe
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Is There Any Khmer Proficiency Test?
I can take to convince potential employers or my family that I know a little Khmer? Or at least to gauge some progress? I don't expect it to come in handy, but who knows. I know people of other languages frequently drop ranks like "Oh, I'm a C1 in Chinese" or whatever.
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- MerkinMaker
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There's no test for Khmer, but it's easy to do a self assessment as the guidelines are clear:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Eu ... _Languages
When it comes to Khmer spoken by westerners, I've never met anyone that I think is at C1 level. I think the best speakers are only really at B1 level, and then a few outliers that spent a lot of time truly submerged, such as Alexandro at Mother Nature who's probably at a B2.
I think in languages that are as far away from out mother tongue as Khmer is, you can only get past B1 if you are fully submerged for a year or more and to get to C1 or even C2 you need a formal higher level education in that language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Eu ... _Languages
When it comes to Khmer spoken by westerners, I've never met anyone that I think is at C1 level. I think the best speakers are only really at B1 level, and then a few outliers that spent a lot of time truly submerged, such as Alexandro at Mother Nature who's probably at a B2.
I think in languages that are as far away from out mother tongue as Khmer is, you can only get past B1 if you are fully submerged for a year or more and to get to C1 or even C2 you need a formal higher level education in that language.
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I think you are spot on starkmonster.starkmonster wrote:There's no test for Khmer, but it's easy to do a self assessment as the guidelines are clear:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Eu ... _Languages
When it comes to Khmer spoken by westerners, I've never met anyone that I think is at C1 level. I think the best speakers are only really at B1 level, and then a few outliers that spent a lot of time truly submerged, such as Alexandro at Mother Nature who's probably at a B2.
I think in languages that are as far away from out mother tongue as Khmer is, you can only get past B1 if you are fully submerged for a year or more and to get to C1 or even C2 you need a formal higher level education in that language.
I'm probably a B1 or close to it - I know others who are stronger than me, not sure if I'd say they have reached B2.
For the C levels I honestly don't think a higher level education helps (in Cambodia anyway!). I think it is for those special cases who have a real aptitude, an ear for it & have worked hard to get there.
- Barang_doa_slae
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I would also consider myself a B1. Reaching any further ranking would require intensive writing and reading studies which I was always too lazy to do.
However I know half a dozen expats that are B2 and another couple that would be strong C1.
There are surely stronger still:
Like that french linguist scholar who was giving ancient khmer scripts lecture in khmer to khmer university students.
Others are very strong in writing but poor in communication skills. I knew a guy who could read any khmer text be it a newspaper or law article as fast as any educated local. However it was difficult for a khmer tuktuk to understand him giving directions. Now he was Australian which of course explains a lot.
However I know half a dozen expats that are B2 and another couple that would be strong C1.
There are surely stronger still:
Like that french linguist scholar who was giving ancient khmer scripts lecture in khmer to khmer university students.
Others are very strong in writing but poor in communication skills. I knew a guy who could read any khmer text be it a newspaper or law article as fast as any educated local. However it was difficult for a khmer tuktuk to understand him giving directions. Now he was Australian which of course explains a lot.
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US Department of State gives tests. You can arrange for one through any of the language mills in the US in the Washington DC area. Not sure on how much they would charge. They have been giving the same test since 1970. I know the last answer to the last question. Sok was killed by a member of Sau's gang.
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Why are the gods such vicious cunts?
Where is the god of tits and wine?
Why are the gods such vicious cunts?
Where is the god of tits and wine?
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- MerkinMaker
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I think I'm at B1 too, occasionally I think I'm at B2 then I get my arse handed to me and I realize I'm not there yet.
One example was last week, I was in a meter taxi stuck in traffic for over an hour and talking politics with the driver. He was an LDP supporter and knew their core manifesto pledges off by heart, he was reciting them to me one by one and I was just stumped, I got the gist of it, but there were a ton of formal sounding nouns in there that just went straight over my head.
I think I could get to B2 if I put some effort in, but the problem is motivation. At B1 you can communicate well in almost all non-formal situations and rarely frustrate or get frustrated.
Personally I find it's frustration that pushes me onto the next level. In the beginning it was the frustration at being dependent on English speakers even for life's basics. That got me to A1. Next is was the frustration of not really having any idea what the people or signs around me were saying. That got me to A2. Then it was the frustration of not being able to clearly express myself to the people in my life that got me to B1.
The problem is that now I'm at B1 (and I've been there a long time) is there is no daily frustration that's pushing me on to B2. I'm sure I'll get there in time without trying, but if there was a real frustration that's incentivising me to try, I would get there much quicker.
I think I would only bother with C1 and C2 if there was a professional incentive (which there isn't).
One example was last week, I was in a meter taxi stuck in traffic for over an hour and talking politics with the driver. He was an LDP supporter and knew their core manifesto pledges off by heart, he was reciting them to me one by one and I was just stumped, I got the gist of it, but there were a ton of formal sounding nouns in there that just went straight over my head.
I think I could get to B2 if I put some effort in, but the problem is motivation. At B1 you can communicate well in almost all non-formal situations and rarely frustrate or get frustrated.
Personally I find it's frustration that pushes me onto the next level. In the beginning it was the frustration at being dependent on English speakers even for life's basics. That got me to A1. Next is was the frustration of not really having any idea what the people or signs around me were saying. That got me to A2. Then it was the frustration of not being able to clearly express myself to the people in my life that got me to B1.
The problem is that now I'm at B1 (and I've been there a long time) is there is no daily frustration that's pushing me on to B2. I'm sure I'll get there in time without trying, but if there was a real frustration that's incentivising me to try, I would get there much quicker.
I think I would only bother with C1 and C2 if there was a professional incentive (which there isn't).
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I don't think ancient Khmer really counts for the rankings. If someone could lecture you on Chaucer would you consider his English to be really strong? Possibly, but not really. It's a different language altogether in many respects.Barang_doa_slae wrote:I would also consider myself a B1. Reaching any further ranking would require intensive writing and reading studies which I was always too lazy to do.
However I know half a dozen expats that are B2 and another couple that would be strong C1.
There are surely stronger still:
Like that french linguist scholar who was giving ancient khmer scripts lecture in khmer to khmer university students.
Others are very strong in writing but poor in communication skills. I knew a guy who could read any khmer text be it a newspaper or law article as fast as any educated local. However it was difficult for a khmer tuktuk to understand him giving directions. Now he was Australian which of course explains a lot.
I agree with the poster that said the C ranking is a bit strange for a country like Cambodia. I would be more impressed if someone could turn on ពាលស៊ីពាល and follow along easily:
- ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ
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I think you've kinda missed the point.merchantsmutual wrote:I don't think ancient Khmer really counts for the rankings. If someone could lecture you on Chaucer would you consider his English to be really strong? Possibly, but not really. It's a different language altogether in many respects.Barang_doa_slae wrote:I would also consider myself a B1. Reaching any further ranking would require intensive writing and reading studies which I was always too lazy to do.
However I know half a dozen expats that are B2 and another couple that would be strong C1.
There are surely stronger still:
Like that french linguist scholar who was giving ancient khmer scripts lecture in khmer to khmer university students.
Others are very strong in writing but poor in communication skills. I knew a guy who could read any khmer text be it a newspaper or law article as fast as any educated local. However it was difficult for a khmer tuktuk to understand him giving directions. Now he was Australian which of course explains a lot.
He was lecturing in Khmer to university students. The topic was ancient Khmer.
The fact that he can lecture at university language implies a certain level of language. The fact that he is lecturing on ancient Khmer implies a deep understanding of language roots.
- Jamie_Lambo
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yeah you wouldnt question a persons level of greek, if he was an Asian, speaking Greek in a university lecture, teaching students about ancient greek (which like ancient khmer is a different language)ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote:I think you've kinda missed the point.merchantsmutual wrote:I don't think ancient Khmer really counts for the rankings. If someone could lecture you on Chaucer would you consider his English to be really strong? Possibly, but not really. It's a different language altogether in many respects.Barang_doa_slae wrote:I would also consider myself a B1. Reaching any further ranking would require intensive writing and reading studies which I was always too lazy to do.
However I know half a dozen expats that are B2 and another couple that would be strong C1.
There are surely stronger still:
Like that french linguist scholar who was giving ancient khmer scripts lecture in khmer to khmer university students.
Others are very strong in writing but poor in communication skills. I knew a guy who could read any khmer text be it a newspaper or law article as fast as any educated local. However it was difficult for a khmer tuktuk to understand him giving directions. Now he was Australian which of course explains a lot.
He was lecturing in Khmer to university students. The topic was ancient Khmer.
The fact that he can lecture at university language implies a certain level of language. The fact that he is lecturing on ancient Khmer implies a deep understanding of language roots.
Mean Dtuk Mean Trey, Mean Loy Mean Srey
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- Jamie_Lambo
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fully relate to this, probably on a similar level,starkmonster wrote:I think I'm at B1 too, occasionally I think I'm at B2 then I get my arse handed to me and I realize I'm not there yet.
One example was last week, I was in a meter taxi stuck in traffic for over an hour and talking politics with the driver. He was an LDP supporter and knew their core manifesto pledges off by heart, he was reciting them to me one by one and I was just stumped, I got the gist of it, but there were a ton of formal sounding nouns in there that just went straight over my head.
I think I could get to B2 if I put some effort in, but the problem is motivation. At B1 you can communicate well in almost all non-formal situations and rarely frustrate or get frustrated.
Personally I find it's frustration that pushes me onto the next level. In the beginning it was the frustration at being dependent on English speakers even for life's basics. That got me to A1. Next is was the frustration of not really having any idea what the people or signs around me were saying. That got me to A2. Then it was the frustration of not being able to clearly express myself to the people in my life that got me to B1.
The problem is that now I'm at B1 (and I've been there a long time) is there is no daily frustration that's pushing me on to B2. I'm sure I'll get there in time without trying, but if there was a real frustration that's incentivising me to try, I would get there much quicker.
I think I would only bother with C1 and C2 if there was a professional incentive (which there isn't).
really related about when you mention about being at a comfortable high B1 level that your vocabulary isnt pushed any further on a day to day basis and you end up in that comfort zone,
and learning becomes slower, i occasionally pick up on new words that i add to my vocab, as and when i hear/need, and i try pushing myself as much as possible,
it feels slow, and i feel like i havent progressed much in recent months/years, but if i look back and see how much further ive come/more fluent/more comfortable/confident ive become, its further than i think,
i think it was at first i was just focused on learning new words, then i focused on reading and writing, so now i feel i havent really learnt a word until i can speak/read/write it,
i think as you become more advanced in anything, you soon realise how little you did know, or how little you still know, as you become less naive/more aware
Mean Dtuk Mean Trey, Mean Loy Mean Srey
Punchy McShortstacks School of Hard Knocks
Punchy McShortstacks School of Hard Knocks
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