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
LEVEL 1 – BEGINNING LITERACY

SPEAK SO OTHERS CAN UNDERSTAND • Determine the purpose for communicating. • Organize and relay information to effectively serve the purpose, context and listener. • Pay attention to conventions of oral English communication, including grammar, word choice, register, pace and gesture in order to minimize barriers to listener’s comprehension. • Use multiple strategies to monitor the effectiveness of the communication.	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.	READ WITH UNDERSTANDING • Determine the purpose for reading. • Select reading strategies appropriate to the purpose. • Monitor comprehension and adjust reading strategies. • Analyze the information and reflect on its underlying meaning. • Integrate new understanding with prior knowledge to address the reading purpose.	CONVEY IDEAS IN WRITING • Determine the purpose for communicating. • Organize and present information to serve the purpose, context, and audience. • Pay attention to conventions of English language usage, including grammar, spelling and sentence structure. • Seek feedback and revise to enhance the effectiveness of the communication.
Vocabulary for Communication (S1.1) Use alphabet, numbers, and a limited set of learned words and phrases related to personal information and basic needs. Example: Spell name and address. Grammar Usage (S2.1) Use a few basic grammar conventions in structured communication. Example: Call out for help. Monitor Communication (S3.1) Use a few basic strategies to monitor communication. Example: Use simple questions such as “Okay?” Pronunciation (S4.1) Produce basic sounds, words, and phrases as modeled in an instructional setting with very limited control over rhythm, stress and intonation. Example: Produce slowed and repeated speech.	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. 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?”* Attend to Pronunciation (L3.1) Recognize some consonant and vowel sounds to determine meaning. Example: Recognize slowed and repeated speech. 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). 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.”	Purpose (R1.1) Read for simple, real-life purposes in survival situations. Example: Read safety signs, addresses, telephone numbers, calendars, and common logos such as restroom signs and traffic lights. Decoding (R2.1) Decode words or word groups in simple text with assistance. Example: Associate oral vocabulary with the written word. Vocabulary and Language Structure (R3.1) Demonstrate familiarity with concepts of print and common vocabulary. Example: Understand left-to-right progression, basic punctuation, and distinction between upper and lower case letters. Locating Information (R4.1) Locate survival information in very short, simple text with guidance and in response to questions or prompts. Example: Recognize words such as Stop, Help, Restroom, Keep Out, Police, and Yes/No. Comprehension (R5.1) Comprehend personal and survival information stated in very simple lists and phrases. Example: Recognize questions about personal information such as name and address. Monitor Reading (R6.1) Self-monitor accuracy in identification of letter/sounds and simple words using basic strategies with support. Example: Re-read or ask for help.	Determine Purpose (W1.1) Write for a basic purpose as directed with minimal attention to audience. Example: Appropriately use writing instruments to reproduce* letters, highly familiar words, symbols, and numbers.* Organize Information (W2.1) Organize information following a structured format. Example: Write entries in a personal address book. Present Information (W3.1) Convey information by writing some highly familiar words and phrases. Example: Write names, signatures, addresses, phone numbers and prices. Revise Content of Writing (W4.1) Recognize the need for revision with instructional support to make appropriate changes. Example: Recognize mistakes in basic personal information. Edit Grammar and Mechanics of Writing (W5.1) Make simple edits of handwriting, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization with instructional support. Example: Write clearly formed letters – from left to right.

SPEAK SO OTHERS CAN UNDERSTAND

• Determine the purpose for communicating.
• Organize and relay information to effectively serve the purpose, context and listener.
• Pay attention to conventions of oral English communication, including grammar, word choice, register, pace and gesture in order to minimize barriers to listener’s comprehension.
• Use multiple strategies to monitor the effectiveness of the communication.

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.

READ WITH UNDERSTANDING

• Determine the purpose for reading.
• Select reading strategies appropriate to the purpose.
• Monitor comprehension and adjust reading strategies.
• Analyze the information and reflect on its underlying meaning.
• Integrate new understanding with prior knowledge to address the reading purpose.

CONVEY IDEAS IN WRITING

• Determine the purpose for communicating.
• Organize and present information to serve the purpose, context, and audience.
• Pay attention to conventions of English language usage, including grammar, spelling and sentence structure.
• Seek feedback and revise to enhance the effectiveness of the communication.

Vocabulary for Communication
(S1.1) Use alphabet, numbers, and a limited set of learned words and phrases related to personal information and basic needs.

Example: Spell name and address.

Grammar Usage
(S2.1) Use a few basic grammar conventions in structured communication.

Example: Call out for help.

Monitor Communication
(S3.1) Use a few basic strategies to monitor communication.

Example: Use simple questions such as “Okay?”

Pronunciation
(S4.1) Produce basic sounds, words, and phrases as modeled in an instructional setting with very limited control over rhythm, stress and intonation.

Example: Produce slowed and repeated speech.

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.

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?”

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

Example: Recognize slowed and repeated speech.

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).

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.”

Purpose
(R1.1) Read for simple, real-life purposes in survival situations.

Example: Read safety signs, addresses, telephone numbers, calendars, and common logos such as restroom signs and traffic lights.

Decoding
(R2.1) Decode words or word groups in simple text with assistance.

Example: Associate oral vocabulary with the written word.

Vocabulary and Language Structure
(R3.1) Demonstrate familiarity with concepts of print and common vocabulary.

Example: Understand left-to-right progression, basic punctuation, and distinction between upper and lower case letters.

Locating Information
(R4.1) Locate survival information in very short, simple text with guidance and in response to questions or prompts.

Example: Recognize words such as Stop, Help, Restroom, Keep Out, Police, and Yes/No.

Comprehension
(R5.1) Comprehend personal and survival information stated in very simple lists and phrases.

Example: Recognize questions about personal information such as name and address.

Monitor Reading
(R6.1) Self-monitor accuracy in identification of letter/sounds and simple words using basic strategies with support.

Example: Re-read or ask for help.

Determine Purpose
(W1.1) Write for a basic purpose as directed with minimal attention to audience.

Example: Appropriately use writing instruments to reproduce letters, highly familiar words, symbols, and numbers.

Organize Information
(W2.1) Organize information following a structured format.

Example: Write entries in a personal address book.

Present Information
(W3.1) Convey information by writing some highly familiar words and phrases.

Example: Write names, signatures, addresses, phone numbers and prices.

Revise Content of Writing
(W4.1) Recognize the need for revision with instructional support to make appropriate changes.

Example: Recognize mistakes in basic personal information.

Edit Grammar and Mechanics of Writing
(W5.1) Make simple edits of handwriting, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization with instructional support.

Example: Write clearly formed letters – from left to right.