TEXT TYPE Quantity of Language Produced NOVICE-MID NOVICE-HIGH INTERMEDIATE-LOW INTERMEDIATE- MID INTERMEDIATE-HIGH ADVANCED-LOW Words, phrases, and memorized simple sentences Words, lists, and simple sentences Simple sentences Strings of sentences Connected sentences and paragraphs Paragraph-level discourse LANGUAGE CONTROL Grammatical Accuracy NOVICE-MID NOVICE-HIGH INTERMEDIATE-LOW INTERMEDIATE-MID INTERMEDIATE-HIGH ADVANCED-LOW Accurate when producing memorized language Inconsistently accurate Most accurate when expressing one’s own ideas on previously studied and familiar topics Minimally accurate as creativity in language and/or production increases Inconsistently accurate Most accurate when expressing one’s own ideas on previously studied and familiar topics Minimally accurate as creativity in language and/or production increases Evidence of control of grammar when using simple sentences and basic verb forms Demonstrates some ability to use grammatical and stylistically cohesive elements Generally accurate when narrating and describing in present time Less accurate in past and future time Applies familiar structures to new situations Sustained control of simple target-language sentence structures and partial control of more complex structures Grammatical unevenness with some control of aspect Some grammatical errors in control of aspect VOCABULARY USE NOVICE-MID NOVICE-HIGH INTERMEDIATE-LOW INTERMEDIATE-MID INTERMEDIATE-HIGH ADVANCED-LOW Comprehends and produces vocabulary related to common objects and actions in familiar categories Uses words and phrases primarily as lexical items without awareness of grammatical structure Comprehends and produces an expanding amount of vocabulary from previously studied themes Understands and uses a few memorized idiomatic expressions Comprehends and produces vocabulary from a limited number of themes not previously studied Understands and uses a limited number of idiomatic expressions Uses false cognates (for languages that contain English cognates) Comprehends and produces vocabulary on a wider range of everyday themes Understands and uses some idiomatic expressions and culturally authentic expressions Searches for adequate Comprehends and produces vocabulary from an expanding variety of themes Understands and uses idiomatic expressions and culturally authentic Comprehends and produces vocabulary on an expanding variety of themes, including some abstract topics related to interest and aptitude Understands and uses idiomatic expressions and culturally authentic expressions
Uses false cognates (for languages that contain English cognates) vocabulary expressions Uses specialized and precise vocabulary for a limited number of topics Uses specialized and precise vocabulary for a wider range of topics Employs generic vocabulary COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES Techniques to understand and to be understood As students progress through proficiency levels, they gain stronger control of the strategies acquired at previous levels while beginning to use new strategies characteristic of the targeted proficiency level. INTERPRETIVE NOVICE-MID NOVICE-HIGH INTERMEDIATE-LOW INTERMEDIATE-MID INTERMEDIATE-HIGH ADVANCED-LOW Identifies a limited number of cognates and loanwords to aid comprehension Uses visual cues to aid comprehension Uses background experience to enhance comprehension Identifies some cognates, loanwords, word families, roots, prefixes, and suffixes to aid comprehension Skims and scans Infers meaning of some unfamiliar words to aid comprehension Predicts Identifies a wide range of cognates, loanwords, word families, roots, prefixes, and suffixes to aid comprehension Infers meaning of unfamiliar words to aid comprehension Uses contextual clues Occasionally uses some resources such as target language dictionaries and online resources to aid comprehension Rereads May paraphrase when reading or listening; asks Uses knowledge of own culture and target culture to deduce meaning Derives meaning by examining familiar and unfamiliar structures Effectively uses resources, such as target language dictionaries and online resources, to aid comprehension Identifies the organizing principle(s) of oral or written text Infers and interprets the intent of the author Handles linguistic challenges with a complication or handles an unexpected turn of events within familiar contexts and routine situations