level descriptors

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North Side Learning Center ESL Level Descriptors Thank you for volunteering to work with our ESL learners! Since we offer multiple levels of courses here at NSLC, below is a guide to those levels. Each group has different abilities within the core listening, speaking, reading, and writing skill areas. This guide is intended to help you see the overall abilities of each level. This way, you can choose activities and a teaching style to help your learners maximize their participation and progress in English class. Level Listening Speaking Reading Writing PL Pre-Literate Understands occasional isolated words (cognates, borrowed words, high-frequency social conventions) No real functional ability, pronunciation may make speaking unintelligible. After time, able to name objects, exchange greetings and introductions. Identifies isolated words when strongly supported by context. After time, able to recognize symbols and learned sentences. Able to form some letters, copy letters, copy familiar words or phrases. No practical communicative writing skills. A Beginner Understands short, simple sentences in context. May require frequent repetition, rephrasing, slower speech. Communicates minimally relying heavily on memorized material. Can ask and answer simple questions using learned material. Even with repetition, may be difficult for natives to understand. Reads sight words and highly contextualized words. Rarely understands more than single phrases at a time. Able to use fixed expressions, fill in simple forms. Basic knowledge of written symbols. Letter formation and spelling often incorrect. B Intermediate Understands new combinations of learned material in context or related to personal background / needs, routine tasks. Uneven understanding. Creates with language, mainly in reactive mode. Can initiate, sustain and close simple communicative tasks with some errors, ask and answer questions. Generally able to be understood by natives with repetition. Understands main idea from simple texts that have chronological sequencing, structure, or subjects that are of high interest or knowledge. Able to write short messages, take simple notes. Begins to use ¶ structure. Frequent errors but understandable to non-native reader. C Advanced Understands the main idea of discourse on a variety of topics beyond immediate context. May include interviews, short lectures on familiar topic, factual reports. Able to evenly initiate / respond in conversation. Can initiate, sustain, and close a wide variety of communicative tasks. Able to communicate in daily work and home contexts, explain in detail, hypothesize. Understands a variety of longer, structured texts on both familiar and unfamiliar subjects. Gets main idea but may miss some details. Able to write several ¶ on familiar topics, simple letters, factual descriptions. Some errors in punctuation, spelling. Understandable to natives not used to writing of non-natives. *based on the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency Guidelines http://www.actfl.org/

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Page 1: Level Descriptors

North Side Learning Center ESL Level Descriptors 

 Thank you for volunteering to work with our ESL learners! Since we offer multiple levels of courses here at NSLC, below is a guide to those levels. Each group has                                                           different abilities within the core listening, speaking, reading, and writing skill areas. This guide is intended to help yousee theoverall abilities of each level. Thisway,                                                       you can choose activities and a teaching style to help your learners maximize their participation and progress in English class. 

Level  Listening  Speaking  Reading  Writing 

PL Pre-Literate 

Understands occasional isolated words (cognates, borrowed words, high-frequency social conventions) 

No real functional ability, pronunciation may make speaking unintelligible. After time, able to name objects, exchange greetings and introductions.  

Identifies isolated words when strongly supported by context. After time, able to recognize symbols and learned sentences. 

Able to form some letters, copy letters, copy familiar words or phrases. No practical communicative writing skills. 

A Beginner 

Understands short, simple sentences in context. May require frequent repetition, rephrasing, slower speech.  

Communicates minimally relying heavily on memorized material. Can ask and answer simple questions using learned material. Even with repetition, may be difficult for natives to understand. 

Reads sight words and highly contextualized words. Rarely understands more than single phrases at a time. 

Able to use fixed expressions, fill in simple forms. Basic knowledge of written symbols. Letter formation and spelling often incorrect. 

B Intermediate 

Understands new combinations of learned material in context or related to personal background / needs, routine tasks. Uneven understanding. 

Creates with language, mainly in reactive mode. Can initiate, sustain and close simple communicative tasks with some errors, ask and answer questions. Generally able to be understood by natives with repetition. 

Understands main idea from simple texts that have chronological sequencing, structure, or subjects that are of high interest or knowledge. 

Able to write short messages, take simple notes. Begins to use ¶ structure. Frequent errors but understandable to non-native reader. 

C Advanced 

Understands the main idea of discourse on a variety of topics beyond immediate context. May include interviews, short lectures on familiar topic, factual reports. 

Able to evenly initiate / respond in conversation. Can initiate, sustain, and close a wide variety of communicative tasks. Able to communicate in daily work and home contexts, explain in detail, hypothesize. 

Understands a variety of longer, structured texts on both familiar and unfamiliar subjects. Gets main idea but may miss some details. 

Able to write several ¶ on familiar topics, simple letters, factual descriptions.  Some errors in punctuation, spelling. Understandable to natives not used to writing of non-natives. 

*based on the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency Guidelines http://www.actfl.org/ 

   

Page 2: Level Descriptors

North Side Learning Center ESL Level Descriptors 

Level  Grammar  Skills Focus  Alternate Literacy Skills 

A1 English Basic 

Nouns: regular sing/plural Articles: a, an, the Verbs: to be, to have, imperative Pronouns: subject, possessive 

R/W/L/S: Alphabet, sounds of letters, numbers, sentence structure. 

Survival language skills like reading signs, labels, using emergency numbers. Use a calculator, complete forms, follow directions, communicate basic personal needs… 

A2 High Beginner 

Nouns: regular/irregular, sing/plural Adjectives Basic Prepositions Verbs: regular/some irregular  There is/are, contractions, negatives, imperatives, simple present, pres continuous, past, future Pronouns: subject, possessive Adverbs, Countable vs Uncountable nouns Q&A: Wh-? Are you? Do you? Can you? Did you? Will you? (Long and short answer) 

R/W/L/S: pronunciation, basic English tenses and vocabulary. Learn basic communication skills for going shopping, going to the doctor, talking about themselves, finding a job, finding a home, getting around, basic safety. 

Survival language skills like reading signs, labels, using emergency numbers. Complete forms, follow directions, communicate personal needs. Read maps, charts, graphs. Use a calculator, computer, internet, office equipment like phone/copier/fax. Basic cultural/social etiquette… 

B Intermediate 

Adjectives: comparative, superlative Pronouns: subject, object, possessive More Prepositions Verbs: regular and irregular Contractions, Pres continuous, past continuous, modals, conditionals, present perfect  Pronouns: subject, possessive Adverbs, Countable vs Uncountable nouns, To Do vs To Make, Conjunctions Q&A: Are you –ing? Could you? Would you? Should you? If…, then… Were youdoing? Have you ever done? (Long and short answer) 

R/W/L/S: pronunciation, more English tenses and vocabulary, develop more interactive communication skills within themes for daily living. 

Survival language skills like reading signs, labels, using emergency numbers. Complete forms, follow directions, communicate personal needs, retell stories, use of non-verbals. Read maps, charts, graphs. Use a calculator, computer, internet, office equipment like phone/copier/fax. Basic cultural/social etiquette, polite language, phone protocol … 

C Advanced 

Verbs: regular and irregular Present perfect, past continuous, passive  Conjunctions Q&A: Have you ever done? Were you doing? Had you done? If…, then… (Long and short answer)  

R/W/L/S: pronunciation, advanced English tenses and vocabulary. Continue developing knowledge and communication within themes for daily living. More focus on communication in less familiar contexts or surprising situations. 

Communicate personal needs, retell stories, use of non-verbals. Read maps, charts, graphs. Use a calculator, computer, internet, office equipment like phone/copier/fax. Basic cultural/social etiquette, phone protocol …