How can we best describe Cynthia’s proficiency in spoken English?

Describing Cynthia’s proficiency in spoken English as "beginning" suggests that she is in the early stages of learning the language. This designation typically indicates limited vocabulary, basic grammatical understanding, and difficulty with more complex sentence structures. At this level, a learner may be able to engage in very simple conversations or respond to basic questions but struggles significantly with fluency and accuracy in speech.

Assessment of language proficiency is often based on specific criteria related to vocabulary range, grammatical accuracy, and ability to communicate effectively. Therefore, if Cynthia is characterized as having a beginning proficiency level, it implies that she is just starting to acquire the foundational skills in spoken English, indicating that further instruction and practice are necessary to build her communication abilities.

In contrast, higher proficiency levels such as intermediate, advanced, and advanced-high would reflect more developed skills in vocabulary use and fluency, which would not align with a description of a beginner.