Summary Tables of Texas Adult Education Content Standards & Benchmarks

Created by M.J. Ochoa, Far West GREAT Center
July 2008 (revised January 2009)

ESL CONTENT STANDARDS
LISTEN ACTIVELY

Attend to oral information.
Clarify purpose for listening and use listening strategies appropriate to that purpose.
Monitor comprehension, adjusting listening strategies to overcome barriers to comprehension.
Integrate information from listening with prior knowledge to address listening purpose.

ESL Content Standards: Listen Actively

	LEVEL 1 BEGINNING LITERACY	LEVEL 2 LOW BEGINNING	LEVEL 3 HIGH BEGINNING	LEVEL 4 LOW INTERMEDIATE	LEVEL 5 HIGH INTERMEDIATE	LEVEL 6 ADVANCED
ATTEND TO ORAL COMMUNICATION	(L1.1) Understand and respond to some simple and survival words, phrases, and questions in predictable, familiar situations relying heavily on non-verbal cues. Example: Respond to greetings and safety signs.	(L1.2) Understand and respond to simple and high-frequency words, phrases, questions, short conversations, and 1-step instructions in predictable, familiar situations. Example: Respond to “Where are you from?”	(L1.3) Understand and respond to increasingly complex words and phrases in questions, requests, short conversations, and short instructions in predictable situations. Example: Understand simple TV and radio advertising.	(L1.4) Understand and respond to sentence-length communication in face-to-face conversations, instructions and short narratives related to familiar topics or tasks. Example: Follow instructions on completing a simple job-related task.	(L1.5) Understand and respond to complex sentences, questions, and multi-step instructions in conversations and narratives related to familiar tasks and situations. Example: Follow short telephone conversations or recorded messages.	(L1.6) 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. Example: Understand slang and colloquialisms.
RECOGNIZE GRAMMAR USAGE	(L2.1) Recognize and respond to a few high-frequency grammar conventions used in speech. Example: Respond to simple wh- questions* such as “What is your name?”*	(L2.2) Recognize and respond to additional high-frequency grammar conventions used in speech. Example: Respond to question forms.	(L2.3) Recognize and respond to various grammar conventions used in speech, including simple verb tenses. Example: Respond to adjectives and adverbs.	(L2.4) Recognize and respond to some complex grammar conventions used in speech. Example: Respond to present perfect tense.	(L2.5) Recognize and respond to many complex grammar conventions used in speech. Example: Respond to complex sentences and time clauses.	(L2.6) Understand highly complex sentences used in speech, including the integration of most grammatical forms. Example: Respond to mixture of tenses.
ATTEND TO PRONUNCIATION	(L3.1) Recognize some consonant and vowel sounds to determine meaning. Example: Recognize slowed and repeated speech.	(L3.2) Recognize most consonant and vowel sounds to determine meaning. Example: Recognize slowed and repeated speech.	(L3.3) Distinguish similar sounds in simple words and contracted speech to determine meaning. Example: Understand some slowed speech with some repetition.	(L3.4) Distinguish similar sounds in conversations from speakers in a variety of settings to determine meaning. Example: Understand speech at a normal rate of speed with some repetition.	(L3.5) Distinguish sounds from different speakers in authentic communication in a variety of settings to determine meaning. Example: Understand speech at a normal rate of speed.	(L3.6) Begin to distinguish regional and non-native pronunciation of sounds in words to determine meaning. Example: Distinguish and understand “Dawg” vs. “Dog.”
DEVELOP COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES	(L4.1) Use nonverbal and simple verbal strategies to demonstrate understanding and/or lack of understanding of basic concepts, words, or phrases. Example: Use gestures (e.g., shrug and frown).	(L4.2) Demonstrate understanding and/or lack of understanding relying heavily on verbal and nonverbal cues. Example: Ask speaker to repeat.	(L4.3) Use a few simple strategies to convey a degree of understanding to gather missing information, and/or to repair problems in comprehension. Example: Draw a picture or use simple rephrasing to check understanding.	(L4.4) Use several strategies to gather missing information and/or to repair problems in general comprehension. Example: Ask speaker to rephrase, clarify, or provide elaboration.	(L4.5) Use a range of strategies in a variety of settings to gather missing information and/or repair gaps in comprehension. Example: Request clarification, paraphrase, make notes, and summarize.	(L4.6) 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. Example: Hold questions until a speaker has finished and clarify comprehension.
RECOGNIZE CULTURAL CONVENTIONS OF SPEECH	(L5.1) Use knowledge of a few basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication. Example: Distinguish between rude and polite communication: “please be quiet” vs. “shut up.”	(L5.2) Use knowledge of some basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication. Example: Understand use of titles and nicknames.	(L5.3) Use knowledge of various basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication. Example: Demonstrate understanding of concepts of time.	(L5.4) Use knowledge of some complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication. Example: Demonstrate understanding of the situation, conversational protocols and registers: distinguish between situations, such as job interview and interactions with supervisors vs. casual conversations.	(L5.5) Use knowledge of various more complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication. Example: Demonstrate understanding of taking turns in discussions, arguments, and meetings.	(L5.6) Use knowledge of a wide range of more complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication. Example: Interpret meaning from multiple sources.

LEVEL 1
BEGINNING LITERACY

LEVEL 2
LOW BEGINNING

LEVEL 3
HIGH BEGINNING

LEVEL 4
LOW INTERMEDIATE

LEVEL 5
HIGH INTERMEDIATE

LEVEL 6
ADVANCED

ATTEND TO ORAL COMMUNICATION

(L1.1) Understand and respond to some simple and survival words, phrases, and questions in predictable, familiar situations relying heavily on non-verbal cues.

Example: Respond to greetings and safety signs.

(L1.2) Understand and respond to simple and high-frequency words, phrases, questions, short conversations, and 1-step instructions in predictable, familiar situations.

Example: Respond to “Where are you from?”

(L1.3) Understand and respond to increasingly complex words and phrases in questions, requests, short conversations, and short instructions in predictable situations.

Example: Understand simple TV and radio advertising.

(L1.4) Understand and respond to sentence-length communication in face-to-face conversations, instructions and short narratives related to familiar topics or tasks.

Example: Follow instructions on completing a simple job-related task.

(L1.5) Understand and respond to complex sentences, questions, and multi-step instructions in conversations and narratives related to familiar tasks and situations.

Example: Follow short telephone conversations or recorded messages.

(L1.6) 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.

Example: Understand slang and colloquialisms.

RECOGNIZE GRAMMAR USAGE

(L2.1) Recognize and respond to a few high-frequency grammar conventions used in speech.

Example: Respond to simple wh- questions such as “What is your name?”

(L2.2) Recognize and respond to additional high-frequency grammar conventions used in speech.

Example: Respond to question forms.

(L2.3) Recognize and respond to various grammar conventions used in speech, including simple verb tenses.

Example: Respond to adjectives and adverbs.

(L2.4) Recognize and respond to some complex grammar conventions used in speech.

Example: Respond to present perfect tense.

(L2.5) Recognize and respond to many complex grammar conventions used in speech.

Example: Respond to complex sentences and time clauses.

(L2.6) Understand highly complex sentences used in speech, including the integration of most grammatical forms.

Example: Respond to mixture of tenses.

ATTEND TO PRONUNCIATION

(L3.1) Recognize some consonant and vowel sounds to determine meaning.

Example: Recognize slowed and repeated speech.

(L3.2) Recognize most consonant and vowel sounds to determine meaning.

Example: Recognize slowed and repeated speech.

(L3.3) Distinguish similar sounds in simple words and contracted speech to determine meaning.

Example: Understand some slowed speech with some repetition.

(L3.4) Distinguish similar sounds in conversations from speakers in a variety of settings to determine meaning.

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

(L3.5) Distinguish sounds from different speakers in authentic communication in a variety of settings to determine meaning.

Example: Understand speech at a normal rate of speed.

(L3.6) Begin to distinguish regional and non-native pronunciation of sounds in words to determine meaning.

Example: Distinguish and understand “Dawg” vs. “Dog.”

DEVELOP COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES

(L4.1) Use nonverbal and simple verbal strategies to demonstrate understanding and/or lack of understanding of basic concepts, words, or phrases.

Example: Use gestures (e.g., shrug and frown).

(L4.2) Demonstrate understanding and/or lack of understanding relying heavily on verbal and nonverbal cues.

Example: Ask speaker to repeat.

(L4.3) Use a few simple strategies to convey a degree of understanding to gather missing information, and/or to repair problems in comprehension.

Example: Draw a picture or use simple rephrasing to check understanding.

(L4.4) Use several strategies to gather missing information and/or to repair problems in general comprehension.

Example: Ask speaker to rephrase, clarify, or provide elaboration.

(L4.5) Use a range of strategies in a variety of settings to gather missing information and/or repair gaps in comprehension.

Example: Request clarification, paraphrase, make notes, and summarize.

(L4.6) 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.

Example: Hold questions until a speaker has finished and clarify comprehension.

RECOGNIZE CULTURAL CONVENTIONS OF SPEECH

(L5.1) Use knowledge of a few basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Example: Distinguish between rude and polite communication: “please be quiet” vs. “shut up.”

(L5.2) Use knowledge of some basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Example: Understand use of titles and nicknames.

(L5.3) Use knowledge of various basic cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Example: Demonstrate understanding of concepts of time.

(L5.4) Use knowledge of some complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

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

(L5.5) Use knowledge of various more complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

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

(L5.6) Use knowledge of a wide range of more complex cultural conventions to understand oral communication.

Example: Interpret meaning from multiple sources.