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

1.1 Use alphabet, numbers, and a limited set of learned words and phrases related to personal information and basic needs.

Examples

* Greet familiar people (co-workers, classmates, etc.) in a familiar setting.

* Spell name and address.

* Say telephone number and age.

1.2 Use words related to personal experience and everyday topics in familiar and predictable communication tasks.

Examples

* Ask for simple directions (e.g., to an address or to the bathroom).

* Give short answers about personal information (e.g., family questions, birthdays, etc.) in response to simple, learned questions.

1.3 Use high-frequency vocabulary and phrases to convey unrehearsed, basic ideas and information.

Examples

* Identify self and leave a short, simple (learned and rehearsed) message on telephone voice mail.

* Ask for a variety of information (e.g., directions to the post office).

1.4 Use expanded vocabulary in familiar and some unfamiliar situations.

Examples

* Respond to an oral interview about some general personal information.

* Participate in a basic job interview.

* Make an emergency telephone call.

1.5 Use appropriate vocabulary in familiar and unfamiliar situations with proper level of formality.

Examples

* Call a supervisor to report an on-the-job problem.

* Formally welcome a visitor to the workplace or classroom.

* Participate in parent-child-teacher conference.

1.6 Use complex vocabulary and phrases (including idioms) in familiar and unfamiliar situations.

Examples

* Give a short speech to the class about a childhood memory.

* Give clear instructions on how to do a task (e.g., how to take inventory of store stock).

2.1 Use a few basic grammar conventions in structured communication.

Examples

* Call out for help.

* Use common verbs and subject pronouns.

* Answer simple questions.

2.2 Use some basic grammar conventions in structured communication.

Examples

* Ask for specific information (such as the time or the cost of an item in a store).

* Answer Wh-questions.

* Use simple present and present progressive tenses.

* Use plurals.

2.3 Use some basic grammar conventions in authentic communication.

Examples

* Respond to wh-questions with attention to basic grammar and authentic communication.

* Use common prepositions, future tense, and possessives.

2.4 Demonstrate control of basic grammar conventions while beginning to use    some complex grammar in authentic communication.

Examples

* Give simple directions to a coworker on what needs to be done next.

* Use adverbs and past progressive tense.

2.5 Demonstrate control of some complex grammar conventions in authentic communication.

Examples

* Respond to questions about experience and qualifications in a simple job interview.

* Use gerunds, modals, reduced forms, and present perfect tense.

2.6 Demonstrate consistent control of most grammar conventions and complex sentences in authentic communication.

Examples

* Give a 2-minute oral response to a likely job interview question.

* Use conditional tense, time clauses, and dependent clauses

3.1 Use a few basic strategies to monitor communication.

Examples

* Use nonverbal communication to check listener’s comprehension (e.g., point, gesture, shrug, nod, and make facial expressions).

* Use simple questions such as “Okay?”

3.2 Use several basic strategies to monitor communication.

Examples

* Check listener’s reactions to determine whether you have been understood.

3.3 Use a few complex strategies to monitor communication and begin to self-correct.

Examples

* Give feedback on individual and group work.

* Ask speaker to repeat.

3.4 Use several complex strategies to monitor communication and self-correct.

Examples

* Ask appropriate questions to check for understanding.

* Rephrase.

* Find another way to say something using known vocabulary.

3.5 Use complex strategies to monitor communication and self-correct with increasing accuracy.

Examples

* Rephrase.

* Provide details.

* Check pacing.

* Clarify.

* Begin to self-assess problems.

3.6 Use complex strategies to frequently monitor communication with accuracy.

Examples

* Provide examples, selecting the most important and relevant information.

* Adjust pace.

* Predict questions or concerns of listener.

* Summarize.

4.1 Produce basic sounds, words, and phrases as modeled in an instructional setting with very limited control over rhythm, stress, and intonation.

Examples

* Produce long vowel sounds and initial consonant sounds.

* Produce slowed and repeated speech.

4.2 Produce basic sounds, words, and phrases as modeled in an instructional setting with very limited control over rhythm, stress, and intonation.

Examples

* Produce short and long vowel sounds, ending consonant sounds, and consonant blends.

* Produce simple words and phrases.

4.3 Produce rehearsed comprehensible oral language independently with limited control of pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and intonation.

Examples

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

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

* Use contractions (e.g., I’ve, can’t, and isn’t).

* Use informal contracted speech (e.g., gonna and shoulda).

* Produce some slowed speech with some repetition.

4.4 Produce spontaneous comprehensible oral language independently with some control of pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and intonation.

Examples

* Interact with instructional tapes or CDs.

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

* Demonstrate expanding vocabulary.

4.5 Produce spontaneous comprehensible oral language independently with increasing control of pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and intonation.

Examples

* Participate in telephone conversations.

* Use formal and informal speech.

* Carry out short presentations such as book reports.

* Express and defend opinions.

* Make a speech at a normal rate of speed.

4.6 Produce spontaneous comprehensible oral language independently with appropriate control of pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and intonation.

Examples

* Participate in debates.

* Resolve a problem over the telephone (e.g., dispute a charge on a utility bill).

* Hold conversations with native English speakers.

* Provide detailed instructions.

* Make appropriate and well-timed contributions to an informal meeting or discussion.