ESLOA: Level Description Grid 13
  General Listening Speaking Work Reading Writing
graphic of presentation - Beginner Students enter the beginning level with little or no ability to read or write in English. Low beginners are unable to function in a situation requiring spoken English. Students at high beginning level function in a limited way speaking English in situations related to their immediate needs. Students are able to comprehend a range of high-frequency words used in context. Students understand a limited number of very simple learned phrases. spoken slowly with frequent repetitions. Students can communicate survival needs using very simple learned phrases and sentences. Students ask and respond to simple questions and have some control over basic grammar. Students can handle only very routine entry- level jobs that do not require oral communication and in which all tasks can be easily demonstrated. Students at high- beginning level can use only the most basic oral communication skills on a non-technical level. Students are able to attain limited meaning from print materials with successive rereading and checking. Students are able to copy isolated words and phrases and generate short sentences based on previously leamed material
graphic of presentation - Intermediate Students who enter the low-intermediate level function satisfactorily in the use of English in basic survival situations related to their needs. At the high-intermediate level students can use English to function independently in most familiar situations. Students comprehend conversations containing some unfamiliar vocabulary. Students understand simple learned phrases easily and some new phrases containing familiar vocabulary. Students have some ability to participate in face-to-face conversations on topics beyond their survival needs. They clarify meaning by asking questions or simply rewording. Students have some control of basic grammar. Students can function independently in their jobs, handling job training and work situations that involve oral communication skills on both a nontechnical and technical level. Written directions and materials may need to be simplified or clarified orally. Students can read simplified material on familiar subjects and have limited success when attempting to read some authentic materials. Students can generate simple sequential paragraphs related to survival skills, personal topics, and non-personal topics with some errors.
Students enter the advanced level with the ability to use English to function effectively in familar and unfamiliar social situations and familiar work situations. High level advanced students use English to meet most routine social and work-related demands with confidence. though not without instances of hesitation. Students can comprehend abstract topics presented in familiar contexts. They can also understand descriptive and narrative form. Students are able to participate in casual and extended conversation. They communicate on the phone on familiar subjects, clarify general meaning, and control of basic grammar is evident. Students can meet most work demands with , confidence. They can : also function effectively' in work situations that I require interaction with the public. They can . follow written C instructions in technical work manuals. Students can read authentic materials on abstract topics in familiar contexts as well as descriptions and narrations of factual material. Students can write descriptions. short essays, summaries. letters. and can complete complex forms or applications. Students can use basic self-correction techniques.

13 Ruth Johnson Colvin, I Speak English. (Syracuse, New York: New Reders Press, 1997), p.51. Used by permission.