Texas Adult Education Standards and Benchmarks
for ABE ASE and ESL Learners

1.1 Understand and respond to some simple and survival words, phrases, and questions in predictable, familiar situations relying heavily on non-verbal cues.

Examples

* Respond to greetings and safety signs.

* Provide addresses, telephone numbers, and zip codes when requested.

* Understand verbal use of dates, months, and days.

* Point to the blackboard, identifying objects through pictures.

1.2 Understand and respond to simple and high-frequency words, phrases, questions, short conversations, and 1-step instructions in predictable, familiar situations.

Examples

* Respond to “Where are you from?”

* Respond to “Close the door,” “Repeat after me,” and “Sit/stand.”

1.3 Understand and respond to increasingly complex words and phrases in questions, requests, short conversations, and short instructions in predictable situations.

Examples

* Respond to work vocabulary (e.g., “Paper or plastic?”) and simple work requests.

* Understand simple TV and radio advertising.

* Follow simple recipes.

1.4 Understand and respond to sentence-length communication in face-to-face conversations, instructions and short narratives related to familiar topics or tasks.

Examples

* Follow instructions on completing a simple job-related task.

* Understand store announcements and current events.

* Follow more complex recipes.

* Hold brief conversations with supervisors.

1.5 Understand and respond to complex sentences, questions, and multi-step instructions in conversations and narratives related to familiar tasks and situations.

Examples

* Follow short telephone conversations or recorded messages.

* Engage in a brief conversation with supervisor.

* Complete a more complex job-related task

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1.6 Understand and respond to extended explanations and narratives, detailed instructions, and complex conversations in varied contexts where language is not adjusted for English language learners.

Examples

* Follow mini-lectures, panel discussions, presentations, and political discussions.

* Understand slang and colloquialisms. 

2.1 Recognize and respond to a few high-frequency grammar conventions used in speech.

Examples

Respond to:

* Simple present tense for very common verbs such as “have,” “be,” “like,” and “go.”

* Subject pronouns.

* Some wh- questions such as “What is your name?” and “Where are you from?”

2.2 Recognize and respond to additional high-frequency grammar conventions used in speech.

Examples

Respond to:

* Present progressive and simple present tense, including negatives.

* Question forms.

* Single/plural nouns.

* Possessives.

* Simple adjectives.

* Common verbs.

* Prepositions of location and time.

2.3 Recognize and respond to various grammar conventions used in speech, including simple verb tenses.

Examples

Respond to:

* Simple past tense.

* Simple future tense.

* Common contractions like I’m, I’ve, you’re, you’ve, we’re, and we’ve.

* Adjectives and adverbs.

* Other prepositions.

2.4 Recognize and respond to some complex grammar conventions used in speech.

Examples

Respond to:

* Present perfect tense.

* Modals (e.g., should, would, and can).

* Prepositional phrases.

* Gerunds.

2.5 Recognize and respond to many complex grammar conventions used in speech.

Examples

Respond to:

* Conditional tense.

* Phrasal verbs such as "ran into."

* Common idioms.

* Complex sentences.

* Time clauses.

2.6 Understand highly complex sentences used in speech, including the integration of most grammatical forms.

Examples

Respond to:

* Dependent clauses in complex sentences.

* Mixture of tenses.

* Passive voice.

3.1 Recognize some consonant and vowel sounds to determine meaning.

Examples

Recognize:

* Long vowel sounds and initial consonant sounds.

* Slowed and repeated speech.

3.2 Recognize most consonant and vowel sounds to determine meaning.

Examples

Recognize:

* Short and long vowel sounds, ending consonant sounds, and consonant blends.

* Slowed and repeated speech.

3.3 Distinguish similar sounds in simple words and contracted speech to determine meaning.

Examples

Distinguish between:

* g/j, e/i, b/v, b/p, and t/d.

* Minimal pairs (e.g., heart/hard, three/tree, shoes/choose, mint/meant, and pin/pen).

* I’ve, can’t, and isn’t.

* Gonna and shoulda.

* Understand some slowed speech with some repetition.

3.4 Distinguish similar sounds in conversations from speakers in a variety of settings to determine meaning.

Examples

* Understand instructional tapes or CDs.

* Understand speech at a normal rate of speed with some repetition.

3.5 Distinguish sounds from different speakers in authentic communication in a variety of settings to determine meaning.

Examples

Distinguish sounds in:

* Newscasts, TV shows, guest speakers, and telephone conversations.

* Formal and informal speech.

* Various registers: health, work, and academic settings.

* Understand speech at a normal rate of speed.

3.6 Begin to distinguish regional and non-native pronunciation of sounds in words to determine meaning.

Examples

Distinguish and understand:

* “Dawg” vs. “dog.”

* Y’all.

* Yellow vs. yella.

* Added beginning “e” to words that start with ‘s” (e.g., estomach).

4.1 Use nonverbal and simple verbal strategies to demonstrate understanding and/or lack of understanding of basic concepts, words, or phrases.

Examples

* Use gestures (e.g., shrug, shake head, and frown).

* Use “repeat,” “don’t know,” “excuse me,” and “help.”

4.2 Demonstrate understanding and/or lack of understanding relying heavily on verbal and nonverbal cues.

Examples

* Use facial expressions (e.g., anger, joy, and surprise).

* Ask speaker to repeat.

* Listen for tone.

4.3 Use a few simple strategies to convey a degree of understanding to gather missing information, and/or to repair problems in comprehension.

Examples

* Ask speaker to repeat.

* Draw a picture or use simple rephrasing to check understanding.

4.4 Use several strategies to gather missing information and/or to repair problems in general comprehension.

Examples

* Ask speaker to rephrase, clarify, or provide elaboration.

4.5 Use a range of strategies in a variety of settings to gather missing information and/or repair gaps in comprehension.

Examples

* Request clarification, paraphrase, make notes, and summarize.

4.6 Use a wide range of strategies to repair gaps in understanding, taking into account implied meaning, the level of formality of the situation, and other socio-cultural factors.

Examples

* Hold questions until a speaker has finished and clarify comprehension.

5.1 Use knowledge of a few basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Examples

* Demonstrate an understanding of informal and formal speech such as “Hi” vs. “Hello,” and “How’s it going,” vs. “How are you?”

* Distinguish between rude or polite communication: “please be quiet” vs. “shut up.”

5.2 Use knowledge of some basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Examples

* Understand use of titles.

* Understand use of nicknames.

* Understand use of first and last names.

* Understand use of personal space and eye contact when listening.

5.3 Use knowledge of various basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Examples

* Demonstrate understanding of the situation, conversational protocols, and/or cultural norms.

* Demonstrate understanding of concepts of time.

* Understand phone etiquette.

5.4 Use knowledge of some complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Examples

* Demonstrate understanding of the situation, conversational protocols and registers: distinguish between situations, such as job interviews and interactions with supervisors vs. casual conversations.

5.5 Use knowledge of various more complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Examples

* Demonstrate understanding of the situation, conversational protocols, cultural norms, problem-solving activities, sarcasm, and fact vs. fiction.

* Follow debates.

* Demonstrate understanding of taking turns in discussions, arguments, and meetings.

5.6 Use knowledge of a wide range of more complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Examples

* Demonstrate understanding of the situation, conversational protocols, cultural norms, and implied meaning.

* Determine relevance and literal vs. implied meaning.

* Determine validity.

* Interpret meaning from multiple sources.