I speak English reasonably well, but I am a native German speaker. My Spanish is different: I cannot yet hold a conversation. That makes the idea of filming a Spanish baseline uncomfortable—but it also makes the baseline useful.
The purpose is not to perform. It is to create an honest record before I begin Lesson 1 of Rocket Spanish.
What if I cannot answer?
Then that is the result.
I will not memorize a polished introduction just to make the video less awkward. If I can only say my name, recognize a word, or fall back into English, I will record exactly that. A true zero point gives every later comparison meaning.
The tasks I will repeat
The baseline will use a small set of consistent tasks that can be repeated after 10, 30, 60, and 100 logged study hours.
1. A spontaneous introduction
I will try to say who I am, where I am from, why I want to learn Spanish, and why Gran Canaria matters to me. No script will be visible. If I cannot complete it, I will stop rather than inventing a success.
2. A restaurant situation
I will try to greet someone, ask for a simple item, respond to one follow-up question, and close the exchange politely. At Day Zero this may produce very little Spanish. That is fine.
3. Asking for directions
I will try to ask where a familiar place is and show whether I understand a short answer. Speaking the question and understanding the response will be recorded separately.
4. A short tutor conversation
A Spanish-speaking tutor will attempt a short beginner conversation without first teaching me the answers. I will record what I recognize, when I need repetition, and whether I can repair a misunderstanding.
5. A simple listening check
I will listen to a few previously unseen beginner-level prompts and describe, in English if necessary, what I understood. The same difficulty and scoring rules will be used later, but the exact prompts will change to avoid memorization.
What the baseline will record
- the date and confirmation that it happened before Lesson 1;
- which tasks I attempted;
- what I could say without a script;
- what I could understand without prior study;
- where I needed English, repetition, or help;
- the recording conditions and any limitations.
I will not assign myself a formal CEFR level. “True beginner” is accurate enough until a proper assessment justifies anything more specific.
Current status
The baseline is scheduled, not yet recorded. The public status remains:
True beginner · baseline scheduled before Lesson 1 · 0.0 logged study hours
Once the recording exists, this note will be updated with the date, an honest summary, and the recording or transcript where appropriate.