A Phase II ESL Literacy learner can:

• Use some metacognitive, comprehension, compensation strategies to carry out a language activity
• Listen and tell the teacher if help is needed
• Recognize and use formulaic phrases and patterns
• Risk making mistakes in order to develop literacy skills
• Take initiative for own learning
• Collaborate with peers and with more proficient users of the target language.

A Phase II ESL Literacy learner usually can:

• Relate new information in the text to prior knowledge _ compare and contrast
• Use a variety of strategies to monitor and aid comprehension, such as
  • Re-read the text to understand and remember better
  • Categorize new words into organizational pieces
  • Think if or how the new word is similar to a word in L1 (cognates)
• Use oral language strengths to assist in making good guesses and increase comprehension
• Determine which words or phases are new in order to highlight them
• Use a picture dictionary when necessary.

A Phase II ESL Literacy learner usually can:

• Use organizational strategies when filling out forms, such as:
  • Pick up 2 copies of a form _ one for practice, one to copy
  • Plan for space needed for copying
  • Do practice form in pencil first, in pen second
  • Look back at a model for assistance
  • Keep documents in wallet for reference
• Look up spelling of unknown words in notebook or dictionary.

A Phase II ESL Literacy learner usually can:

• Explain a concept or equation to another learner
• Use estimation to determine if the answer is plausible
• Understand and apply deductive and inductive reasoning, proportional reasoning, and spatial and visual reasoning to problems at the Phase II level.