student performance level (spl) descriptors for listening and … · 2011. 4. 18. · student...

6
English Language Assessment Instruments IV-47 ____________________PART IV: TOPICS IN ADULT ESL EDUCATION & FAMILY LITERACY Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication Functions minimally, if at all, in English. Can handle only very routine entry-level jobs that do not require oral communication, and in which all tasks can be easily demonstrated. A native speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers can rarely communicate with a person at this level except through gestures. Understands only a few isolated words, and extremely simple learned phrases. Vocabulary limited to a few isolated words. No control of grammar. Functions in a very limited way in situations related to immediate needs. Can handle only routine entry- level jobs that do not require oral communication, and in which all tasks can be easily demonstrated. A native English speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers will have great difficulty communicating with a person at this level. Understands a limited number of very simple learned phrases, spoken slowly with frequent repetitions. Expresses a limited number of immediate survival needs using very simple learned phrases. Functions with some difficulty in situations related to immediate needs. Can handle routine entry-level jobs that involve only the most basic oral communication, and in which all tasks can be demonstrated. A native English speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers will have great difficulty communicating with a person at this level. Understands simple learned phrases, spoken slowly with frequent repetitions. Expresses immediate survival needs using simple learned phrases. General Language Ability Listening Comprehension Oral Communication No ability whatsoever No ability whatsoever No ability whatsoever Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Upload: others

Post on 19-Aug-2020

3 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and … · 2011. 4. 18. · Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication, if at Functions

English Language Assessment Instruments IV-47

____________________PART IV: TOPICS IN ADULT ESL EDUCATION & FAMILY LITERACY

Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication

Functions minimally, if at all, in English. Can handle only very routine entry-level jobs that do not require oral communication, and in which all tasks can be easily demonstrated. A native speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers can rarely communicate with a person at this level except through gestures.

Understands only a few isolated words, and extremely simple learned phrases.

Vocabulary limited to a few isolated words. No control of grammar.

Functions in a very limited way in situations related to immediate needs. Can handle only routine entry-level jobs that do not require oral communication, and in which all tasks can be easily demonstrated. A native English speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers will have great difficulty communicating with a person at this level.

Understands a limited number of very simple learned phrases, spoken slowly with frequent repetitions.

Expresses a limited number of immediate survival needs using very simple learned phrases.

Functions with some difficulty in situations related to immediate needs. Can handle routine entry-level jobs that involve only the most basic oral communication, and in which all tasks can be demonstrated. A native English speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers will have great difficulty communicating with a person at this level.

Understands simple learned phrases, spoken slowly with frequent repetitions.

Expresses immediate survival needs using simple learned phrases.

General Language Ability

Listening Comprehension

Oral Communication

No ability whatsoever

No ability whatsoever

No ability whatsoeverLevel

0Level

1

Level

2

Level

3

Page 2: Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and … · 2011. 4. 18. · Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication, if at Functions

IV-48 English Language Assessment Instruments

PART IV: TOPICS IN ADULT ESL EDUCATION & FAMILY LITERACY___________________

Can satisfy basic survival needs and a few very routine social demands. Can handle entry-level jobs that involve some simple oral communication, but in which tasks can be easily demonstrated. A native English speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers will have difficulty communicating with a person at this level.

Understands simple learned phrases easily, and some simple new phrases containing familiar vocabulary, spoken slowly with frequent repetitions.

Expresses basic survival needs including asking and responding to related questions, using both learned and a limited number of new phrases. Participates in basic conversations in a few very routine social situations. Speaks with hesitation and frequent pauses. Some control of basic grammar.

General Language Ability

Listening Comprehension

Oral Communication

Level

4

Can satisfy basic survival needs and some limited social demands. Can handle jobs and job training that involve following simple oral instructions but in which most tasks can also be demonstrated. A native English speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers will have some difficulty communicating with a person at this level.

Understands learned phrases easily and short new phrases containing familiar vocabulary spoken slowly with repetition. Has limited ability to understand on the telephone.

Functions independently in most face-to-face basic survival situations but needs some help. Asks and responds to direct questions on familiar and some unfamiliar subjects. Still relies on learned phrases but also uses new phrases (i.e., speaks with some creativity) but with hesitation and pauses. Communicates on the phone to express a limited number of survival needs, but with some difficulty. Participates in basic conversations in a limited number of social situations. Can occasionally clarify general meaning by simple rewording. Increasing, but inconsistent control of basic grammar.

Level

5

Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication (continued)

Page 3: Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and … · 2011. 4. 18. · Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication, if at Functions

English Language Assessment Instruments IV-49

____________________PART IV: TOPICS IN ADULT ESL EDUCATION & FAMILY LITERACY

Can satisfy most survival needs and limited social demands. Can handle jobs and job training that involve following simple oral and written instructions and diagrams. A native English speaker not used to dealing with limited English speakers will be able to communicate with a person at this level on familiar topics, but with difficulty and some effort.

Understands conversations containing some unfamiliar vocabulary on many everyday subjects, with a need for repetition, rewording or slower speech. Has some ability to understand without face-to-face contact (e.g. on the telephone, TV).

Functions independently in most survival situations, but needs some help. Relies less on learned phrases; speaks with creativity, but with hesitation. Communicates on the phone on familiar subjects but with some difficulty. Participates with some confidence in social situations when addressed directly. Can sometimes clarify general meaning by rewording. Control of basic grammar evident, but inconsistent; may attempt to use more difficult grammar but with almost no control.

General Language Ability

Listening Comprehension

Oral Communication

Level

6

Can satisfy survival needs and routine work and social demands. Can handle work that involves following oral and simple written instructions in familiar and some unfamiliar situations. A native English speaker not used to dealing with limited English speakers can generally communicate with a person at this level on familiar topics.

Understands conversations on most everyday subjects at normal speed when addressed directly; may need repetition, rewording, or slower speech. Understands routine work-related conversations. Increasing ability to understand without face-to-face contact (telephone, TV, radio). Has difficulty following conversation between native speakers.

Functions independently in survival and many social and work situations, but may need help occasionally. Communicates on the phone on familiar subjects. Expands on basic ideas in conversation, but still speaks with hesitation while searching for appropriate vocabulary and grammar. Clarifies general meaning easily, and can sometimes convey exact meaning. Controls basic grammar, but not more difficult grammar.

Level

7

Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication (continued)

Page 4: Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and … · 2011. 4. 18. · Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication, if at Functions

IV-50 English Language Assessment Instruments

PART IV: TOPICS IN ADULT ESL EDUCATION & FAMILY LITERACY___________________

Drawn from:

Grognet, A. G. (1997). Performance-based curricula and outcomes: The mainstream English language training project (MELT) Updated for the 1990s and beyond. Denver, CO: Spring Institute for International Studies.

Office of Refugee Resettlement (DHHS). (1985). Competency-based mainstream English language training project (MELT) resource package. Washington, DC: Author. (Alexandria, VA: ERIC Document Reproduction Service, No. ED 264 384, 232 pp.)

Can participate effectively in social and familiar work situations. A native English speaker not used to dealing with limited English speakers can communicate with a person at this level on almost all topics.

Understands general conversation and conversation on technical subjects in own field. Understands without face-to-face contact (telephone, TV, radio); may have difficulty following rapid or colloquial speech. Understands most conversations between native speakers; may miss details if speech is very rapid or colloquial or if subject is unfamiliar.

Participates effectively in practical and social conversation and in technical discussions in own field. Speaks fluently in both familiar and unfamiliar situations; can handle problem situations. Conveys and explains exact meaning of complex ideas. Good control of grammar.

General Language Ability

Listening Comprehension

Oral Communication

Level

8

Can participate fluently and accurately in practical, social, and work situations. A native English speaker not used to dealing with limited English speakers can communicate easily with a person at this level.

Understands almost all speech in any context. Occasionally confused by highly colloquial or regional speech.

Approximates a native speaker’s fluency and ability to convey own ideas precisely, even in unfamiliar situations. Speaks without effort. Excellent control of grammar with no apparent patterns of weakness.

Level

9

Level

10Ability equal to that of a native speaker of the same socioeconomic level.

Equal to that of a native speaker of the same socioeconomic level.

Equal to that of a native speaker of the same socioeconomic level.

Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication (continued)

Page 5: Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and … · 2011. 4. 18. · Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication, if at Functions

English Language Assessment Instruments IV-51

____________________PART IV: TOPICS IN ADULT ESL EDUCATION & FAMILY LITERACY

Nat

iona

l Rep

ortin

g Sy

stem

(NRS

) ESL

func

tioni

ng le

vel d

escr

ipto

rs

4

Out

com

e M

easu

re D

efin

ition

sED

UC

ATI

ON

AL

FUN

CTI

ON

ING

LEVE

LD

ESC

RIP

TOR

S—EN

GLI

SH-A

S-A

-SEC

ON

DLA

NG

UA

GE

LEVE

LS

Lite

racy

Leve

lSp

eaki

ng a

nd L

iste

ning

Bas

ic R

eadi

ng a

nd W

ritin

gFu

nctio

nal a

nd W

orkp

lace

Ski

llsB

egin

ning

ESL

Lite

racy

Test

ben

chm

ark:

CAS

AS (a

ll):

180

and

belo

wSP

L (S

peak

ing)

0-1

SPL

(Rea

ding

and

Writ

ing)

0-1

Ora

l BES

T: 0

-15

BEST

Plu

s: 4

00 a

nd b

elow

Lite

racy

BES

T: 0

-7

Indi

vidu

al c

anno

t spe

ak o

r und

erst

and

Engl

ish,

or u

nder

stan

ds o

nly

isol

ated

wor

ds o

r phr

ases

.In

divi

dual

has

no

or m

inim

al re

adin

g or

writ

ing

skills

in a

ny la

ngua

ge. M

ay h

ave

little

or n

oco

mpr

ehen

sion

of h

ow p

rint c

orre

spon

ds to

spok

en la

ngua

ge a

nd m

ay h

ave

diffi

culty

usi

nga

writ

ing

inst

rum

ent.

Indi

vidu

al fu

nctio

ns m

inim

ally

or n

ot a

t all

inEn

glis

h an

d ca

n co

mm

unic

ate

only

thro

ugh

gest

ures

or a

few

isol

ated

wor

ds, s

uch

asna

me

and

othe

r per

sona

l inf

orm

atio

n; m

ayre

cogn

ize

only

com

mon

sig

ns o

r sym

bols

(e.g

.,st

op s

ign,

pro

duct

logo

s); c

an h

andl

e on

ly v

ery

rout

ine

entry

-leve

l job

s th

at d

o no

t req

uire

ora

lor

writ

ten

com

mun

icat

ion

in E

nglis

h. T

here

isno

kno

wle

dge

or u

se o

f com

pute

rs o

rte

chno

logy

.B

egin

ning

ESL

Test

ben

chm

ark:

CAS

AS (a

ll): 1

81-2

00SP

L (S

peak

ing)

2-3

SPL

(Rea

ding

and

Writ

ing)

2-4

Ora

l BES

T 16

-41

BEST

Plu

s: 4

01-4

38Li

tera

cy B

EST:

8-4

6

Indi

vidu

al c

an u

nder

stan

d fre

quen

tly u

sed

wor

ds in

con

text

and

ver

y si

mpl

e ph

rase

ssp

oken

slo

wly

and

with

som

e re

petit

ion;

ther

eis

littl

e co

mm

unic

ativ

e ou

tput

and

onl

y in

the

mos

t rou

tine

situ

atio

ns; l

ittle

or n

o co

ntro

l ove

rba

sic

gram

mar

; sur

viva

l nee

ds c

an b

eco

mm

unic

ated

sim

ply,

and

ther

e is

som

eun

ders

tand

ing

of s

impl

e qu

estio

ns.

Indi

vidu

al c

an re

cogn

ize,

read

and

writ

enu

mbe

rs a

nd le

tters

, but

has

a li

mite

dun

ders

tand

ing

of c

onne

cted

pro

se a

nd m

ayne

ed fr

eque

nt re

-read

ing;

can

writ

e a

limite

dnu

mbe

r of b

asic

sig

ht w

ords

and

fam

iliar w

ords

and

phra

ses;

may

als

o be

abl

e to

writ

e si

mpl

ese

nten

ces

or p

hras

es, i

nclu

ding

ver

y si

mpl

em

essa

ges.

Can

writ

e ba

sic

pers

onal

info

rmat

ion.

Nar

rativ

e w

ritin

g is

dis

orga

nize

dan

d un

clea

r; in

cons

iste

ntly

use

s si

mpl

epu

nctu

atio

n (e

.g.,

perio

ds, c

omm

as, q

uest

ion

mar

ks);

cont

ains

freq

uent

erro

rs in

spe

lling.

Indi

vidu

al fu

nctio

ns w

ith d

iffic

ulty

in s

ituat

ions

rela

ted

to im

med

iate

nee

ds a

nd in

lim

ited

soci

al s

ituat

ions

; has

som

e si

mpl

e or

alco

mm

unic

atio

n ab

ilitie

s us

ing

sim

ple

lear

ned

and

repe

ated

phr

ases

; may

nee

d fre

quen

tre

petit

ion;

can

pro

vide

per

sona

l inf

orm

atio

n on

sim

ple

form

s; c

an re

cogn

ize

com

mon

form

s of

prin

t fou

nd in

the

hom

e an

d en

viro

nmen

t, su

chas

labe

ls a

nd p

rodu

ct n

ames

; can

han

dle

rout

ine

entry

leve

l job

s th

at re

quire

onl

y th

em

ost b

asic

writ

ten

or o

ral E

nglis

hco

mm

unic

atio

n an

d in

whi

ch jo

b ta

sks

can

bede

mon

stra

ted.

The

re is

min

imal

kno

wle

dge

orex

perie

nce

usin

g co

mpu

ters

or t

echn

olog

y.Lo

w In

term

edia

te E

SLTe

st b

ench

mar

k:C

ASAS

(all)

: 201

-210

SPL

(Spe

akin

g) 4

SPL

(Rea

ding

and

Writ

ing)

5O

ral B

EST:

42-

50BE

ST P

lus:

439

-472

Lite

racy

BES

T: 4

7-53

Indi

vidu

al c

an u

nder

stan

d si

mpl

e le

arne

dph

rase

s an

d lim

ited

new

phr

ases

con

tain

ing

fam

iliar v

ocab

ular

y sp

oken

slo

wly

with

freq

uent

repe

titio

n; c

an a

sk a

nd re

spon

d to

que

stio

nsus

ing

such

phr

ases

; can

exp

ress

bas

ic s

urvi

val

need

s an

d pa

rtici

pate

in s

ome

rout

ine

soci

alco

nver

satio

ns, a

lthou

gh w

ith s

ome

diffi

culty

;ha

s so

me

cont

rol o

f bas

ic g

ram

mar

.

Indi

vidu

al c

an re

ad s

impl

e m

ater

ial o

n fa

milia

rsu

bjec

ts a

nd c

ompr

ehen

d si

mpl

e an

dco

mpo

und

sent

ence

s in

sin

gle

or li

nked

para

grap

hs c

onta

inin

g a

fam

iliar v

ocab

ular

y;ca

n w

rite

sim

ple

note

s an

d m

essa

ges

onfa

milia

r situ

atio

ns, b

ut la

cks

clar

ity a

nd fo

cus.

Sent

ence

stru

ctur

e la

cks

varie

ty, b

ut s

how

sso

me

cont

rol o

f bas

ic g

ram

mar

(e.g

., pr

esen

tan

d pa

st te

nse)

, and

con

sist

ent u

se o

fpu

nctu

atio

n (e

.g.,

perio

ds, c

apita

lizat

ion)

.

Indi

vidu

al c

an in

terp

ret s

impl

e di

rect

ions

and

sche

dule

s, s

igns

and

map

s; c

an fi

ll ou

t sim

ple

form

s, b

ut n

eeds

sup

port

on s

ome

docu

men

tsth

at a

re n

ot s

impl

ified

; can

han

dle

rout

ine

entry

leve

l job

s th

at in

volv

e so

me

writ

ten

or o

ral

Engl

ish

com

mun

icat

ion,

but

in w

hich

job

task

sca

n be

dem

onst

rate

d. I

ndiv

idua

l can

use

sim

ple

com

pute

r pro

gram

s an

d ca

n pe

rform

ase

quen

ce o

f rou

tine

task

s gi

ven

dire

ctio

nsus

ing

tech

nolo

gy (e

.g.,

fax

mac

hine

,co

mpu

ter).

.

National Reporting System (NRS) ESL functioning level descriptors

Page 6: Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and … · 2011. 4. 18. · Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication, if at Functions

IV-52 English Language Assessment Instruments

PART IV: TOPICS IN ADULT ESL EDUCATION & FAMILY LITERACY___________________

Nat

iona

l Rep

ortin

g Sy

stem

(NRS

) ESL

func

tioni

ng le

vel d

escr

ipto

rs

5

Out

com

e M

easu

re D

efin

ition

sED

UC

ATI

ON

AL

FUN

CTI

ON

ING

LEVE

LD

ESC

RIP

TOR

S—EN

GLI

SH-A

S-A

-SEC

ON

DLA

NG

UA

GE

LEVE

LS

Lite

racy

Leve

lSp

eaki

ng a

nd L

iste

ning

Bas

ic R

eadi

ng a

nd W

ritin

gFu

nctio

nal a

nd W

orkp

lace

Ski

llsH

igh

Inte

rmed

iate

ESL

Test

ben

chm

ark:

CAS

AS (a

ll): 2

11-2

20SP

L (S

peak

ing)

5SP

L (R

eadi

ng a

nd W

ritin

g) 6

Ora

l BES

T: 5

1-57

BEST

Plu

s: 4

73-5

06Li

tera

cy B

EST:

54-

65

Indi

vidu

al c

an u

nder

stan

d le

arne

d ph

rase

s an

dsh

ort n

ew p

hras

es c

onta

inin

g fa

milia

rvo

cabu

lary

spo

ken

slow

ly a

nd w

ith s

ome

repe

titio

n; c

an c

omm

unic

ate

basi

c su

rviv

alne

eds

with

som

e he

lp; c

an p

artic

ipat

e in

conv

ersa

tion

in li

mite

d so

cial

situ

atio

ns a

ndus

e ne

w p

hras

es w

ith h

esita

tion;

relie

s on

desc

riptio

n an

d co

ncre

te te

rms.

The

re is

inco

nsis

tent

con

trol o

f mor

e co

mpl

ex g

ram

mar

.

Indi

vidu

al c

an re

ad te

xt o

n fa

milia

r sub

ject

sth

at h

ave

a si

mpl

e an

d cl

ear u

nder

lyin

gst

ruct

ure

(e.g

., cl

ear m

ain

idea

, chr

onol

ogic

alor

der);

can

use

con

text

to d

eter

min

e m

eani

ng;

can

inte

rpre

t act

ions

requ

ired

in s

peci

fic w

ritte

ndi

rect

ions

, can

writ

e si

mpl

e pa

ragr

aphs

with

mai

n id

ea a

nd s

uppo

rting

det

ail o

n fa

milia

rto

pics

(e.g

., da

ily a

ctiv

ities

, per

sona

l iss

ues)

by

reco

mbi

ning

lear

ned

voca

bula

ry a

ndst

ruct

ures

; can

sel

f and

pee

r edi

t for

spe

lling

and

punc

tuat

ion

erro

rs.

Indi

vidu

al c

an m

eet b

asic

sur

viva

l and

soc

ial

need

s, c

an fo

llow

som

e si

mpl

e or

al a

nd w

ritte

nin

stru

ctio

n an

d ha

s so

me

abilit

y to

com

mun

icat

e on

the

tele

phon

e on

fam

iliar

subj

ects

; can

writ

e m

essa

ges

and

note

sre

late

d to

bas

ic n

eeds

; com

plet

e ba

sic

med

ical

form

s an

d jo

b ap

plic

atio

ns; c

an h

andl

e jo

bsth

at in

volv

e ba

sic

oral

inst

ruct

ions

and

writ

ten

com

mun

icat

ion

in ta

sks

that

can

be

clar

ified

oral

ly.

The

indi

vidu

al c

an w

ork

with

or l

earn

basi

c co

mpu

ter s

oftw

are,

suc

h as

wor

dpr

oces

sing

; can

follo

w s

impl

e in

stru

ctio

ns fo

rus

ing

tech

nolo

gy.

6

Out

com

e M

easu

re D

efin

ition

sED

UC

ATI

ON

AL

FUN

CTI

ON

ING

LEVE

LD

ESC

RIP

TOR

S—EN

GLI

SH-A

S-A

-SEC

ON

DLA

NG

UA

GE

LEVE

LS

Lite

racy

Leve

lSp

eaki

ng a

nd L

iste

ning

Bas

ic R

eadi

ng a

nd W

ritin

gFu

nctio

nal a

nd W

orkp

lace

Ski

llsLo

w A

dvan

ced

ESL

Test

ben

chm

ark:

CAS

AS (A

ll): 2

21-2

35SP

L (S

peak

ing)

6SP

L (R

eadi

ng a

nd W

ritin

g) 7

Ora

l BES

T 58

-64

BEST

Plu

s: 5

07-5

40Li

tera

cy B

EST:

66

and

abov

e

Indi

vidu

al c

an c

onve

rse

on m

any

ever

yday

subj

ects

and

som

e su

bjec

ts w

ith u

nfam

iliar

voca

bula

ry, b

ut m

ay n

eed

repe

titio

n, re

wor

ding

or s

low

er s

peec

h; c

an s

peak

cre

ativ

ely,

but

with

hes

itatio

n; c

an c

larif

y ge

nera

l mea

ning

by

rew

ordi

ng a

nd h

as c

ontro

l of b

asic

gra

mm

ar;

unde

rsta

nds

desc

riptiv

e an

d sp

oken

nar

rativ

ean

d ca

n co

mpr

ehen

d ab

stra

ct c

once

pts

infa

milia

r con

text

s.

Indi

vidu

al is

abl

e to

read

sim

ple

desc

riptio

nsan

d na

rrativ

es o

n fa

milia

r sub

ject

s or

from

whi

ch n

ew v

ocab

ular

y ca

n be

det

erm

ined

by

cont

ext;

can

mak

e so

me

min

imal

infe

renc

esab

out f

amilia

r tex

ts a

nd c

ompa

re a

nd c

ontra

stin

form

atio

n fro

m s

uch

text

s, b

ut n

otco

nsis

tent

ly.

The

indi

vidu

al c

an w

rite

sim

ple

narra

tive

desc

riptio

ns a

nd s

hort

essa

ys o

nfa

milia

r top

ics,

suc

h as

cus

tom

s in

nat

ive

coun

try; h

as c

onsi

sten

t use

of b

asic

punc

tuat

ion,

but

mak

es g

ram

mat

ical

erro

rsw

ith c

ompl

ex s

truct

ures

.

Indi

vidu

al c

an fu

nctio

n in

depe

nden

tly to

mee

tm

ost s

urvi

val n

eeds

and

can

com

mun

icat

e on

the

tele

phon

e on

fam

iliar t

opic

s; c

an in

terp

ret

sim

ple

char

ts a

nd g

raph

ics;

can

han

dle

jobs

that

requ

ire s

impl

e or

al a

nd w

ritte

n in

stru

ctio

ns,

mul

ti-st

ep d

iagr

ams

and

limite

d pu

blic

inte

ract

ion.

Th

e in

divi

dual

can

use

all

basi

cso

ftwar

e ap

plic

atio

ns, u

nder

stan

d th

e im

pact

of

tech

nolo

gy a

nd s

elec

t the

cor

rect

tech

nolo

gy in

a ne

w s

ituat

ion.

Hig

h A

dvan

ced

ESL

Test

ben

chm

ark:

CAS

AS (A

ll): 2

36-2

45SP

L (S

peak

ing)

7SP

L (R

eadi

ng a

nd W

ritin

g) 8

Ora

l BES

T 65

and

abo

veBE

ST P

lus:

541

-598

Exit

Crit

eria

: SPL

8 (B

EST

Plus

599

and

high

er)

Indi

vidu

al c

an u

nder

stan

d an

d pa

rtici

pate

effe

ctiv

ely

in fa

ce-to

-face

con

vers

atio

ns o

nev

eryd

ay s

ubje

cts

spok

en a

t nor

mal

spe

ed;

can

conv

erse

and

und

erst

and

inde

pend

ently

insu

rviv

al, w

ork

and

soci

al s

ituat

ions

; can

expa

nd o

n ba

sic

idea

s in

con

vers

atio

n, b

ut w

ithso

me

hesi

tatio

n; c

an c

larif

y ge

nera

l mea

ning

and

cont

rol b

asic

gra

mm

ar, a

lthou

gh s

till l

acks

tota

l con

trol o

ver c

ompl

ex s

truct

ures

.

Indi

vidu

al c

an re

ad a

uthe

ntic

mat

eria

ls o

nev

eryd

ay s

ubje

cts

and

can

hand

le m

ost

read

ing

rela

ted

to li

fe ro

les;

can

con

sist

ently

and

fully

inte

rpre

t des

crip

tive

narra

tives

on

fam

iliar t

opic

s an

d ga

in m

eani

ng fr

omun

fam

iliar t

opic

s; u

ses

incr

ease

d co

ntro

l of

lang

uage

and

mea

ning

-mak

ing

stra

tegi

es to

gain

mea

ning

of u

nfam

iliar t

exts

. Th

ein

divi

dual

can

writ

e m

ultip

arag

raph

ess

ays

with

a cl

ear i

ntro

duct

ion

and

deve

lopm

ent o

f ide

as;

writ

ing

cont

ains

wel

l for

med

sen

tenc

es,

appr

opria

te m

echa

nics

and

spe

lling,

and

few

gram

mat

ical

erro

rs.

Indi

vidu

al h

as a

gen

eral

abi

lity

to u

se E

nglis

hef

fect

ivel

y to

mee

t mos

t rou

tine

soci

al a

ndw

ork

situ

atio

ns; c

an in

terp

ret r

outin

e ch

arts

,gr

aphs

and

tabl

es a

nd c

ompl

ete

form

s; h

ashi

gh a

bilit

y to

com

mun

icat

e on

the

tele

phon

ean

d un

ders

tand

radi

o an

d te

levi

sion

; can

mee

tw

ork

dem

ands

that

requ

ire re

adin

g an

d w

ritin

gan

d ca

n in

tera

ct w

ith th

e pu

blic

. Th

e in

divi

dual

can

use

com

mon

sof

twar

e an

d le

arn

new

appl

icat

ions

; can

def

ine

the

purp

ose

ofso

ftwar

e an

d se

lect

new

app

licat

ions

appr

opria

tely

; can

inst

ruct

oth

ers

in u

se o

fso

ftwar

e an

d te

chno

logy

.

National Reporting System (NRS) ESL functioning level descriptors

Sour

ce: N

RS

Impl

emen

tatio

n G

uide

lines

, U.S

. Dep

artm

ent o

f Edu

caito

n, O

ffice

of V

ocat

iona

l and

Adu

lt Ed

ucat

ion.

http

://w

ww

.nrs

web

.org