Level

Minimal Contact Hours

Proficiency Descriptor

Examples from ACTFL Speaking Proficiency Descriptions

I

150

Novice-High

Able to satisfy immediate needs using learned utterances. Can ask questions or make statements with reasonable accuracy only where this involves short memorized utterances or formulae. There is no real autonomy of expression, although there may be some emerging signs of spontaneity and flexibility. There is a slight increase in utterance length but frequent long pauses and repetition of interlocutor's words still occur. Most utterances are telegraphic and work endings are often omitted, confused or distorted. Vocabulary is limited to areas of immediate survival needs. Can differentiate most phonemes when produced in isolation but when they are combined in words or groups of words, errors are frequent and , even with repetition, may severely inhibit communication even with persons used to dealing with such learners. Little development in stress and intonation is evident.

II

300

Inter-mediate-Low

Able to satisfy basic survival needs and minimum courtesy requirements. In areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics, can ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements, and maintain very simple face-to-face conversations. When asked to do so, is able to formulate some questions with limited constructions and much inaccuracy. Almost every utterance contains fractured syntax and other grammatical errors. Vocabulary inadequate to express anything but the most elementary needs. Strong interference from native language occurs in articulation, stress and intonation, misunderstandings frequently arise from limited vocabulary and grammar and erroneous phonology but, with repetition, can generally be understood by native speakers in regular contact with foreigners attempting to speak their language. Little precision in information conveyed owing to tentative state of grammatical development and little or no use of modifiers.

III

450

Inter-mediate- Mid

Able to satisfy some survival needs and some limited social demands. Is able to formulate some questions when asked to do so. Vocabulary permits discussion of topics beyond basic survival needs such as personal history and leisure time activities. Some evidence of grammatical accuracy in basic constructions, for example, subject-verb agreement, noun-adjective agreement, some notion of inflection.

IV

600

Inter-mediate-High

Able to satisfy most survival needs and limited social demands. Shows some spontaneity in language production but fluency is very uneven. Can initiate and sustain a general conversation but has little understanding of the social conventions of conversation. Developing flexibility in a range of circumstances beyond immediate survival needs. Limited vocabulary range necessitates much hesitation and circumlocution. The commoner tense forms occur but errors are frequent in formation and selection. Can use most question forms. While some word order is established, errors still occur in more complex patterns. Cannot sustain coherent structures in longer utterances or unfamiliar situations. Ability to describe and give precise information is limited. Aware of basic cohesive features such as pronouns and verb inflections, but many are unreliable, especially if less immediate in reference. Extended discourse is largely a series of short, discrete utterances. Articulation is comprehensible to native speakers used to dealing with foreigners, and can combine most phonemes with reasonable comprehensibility, but still has difficulty in producing certain sounds, in certain positions, or in certain combinations, and speech will usually be labored. Still has to repeat utterances frequently to be understood by the general public. Able to produce some narration in either past or future.

Global Tasks/Functions

Context

Content

Accuracy

Text Type

SUPERIOR

Can discuss extensively by supporting opinions, abstracting and hypothesizing

Most formal and formal settings

Wide range of general interest topics and some special fields of interest and expertise; concrete, abstract and unfamiliar topics

Errors virtually never interfere with communication or disturb the native speaker

Extended discourse

ADVANCED

Can describe and narrate in major time/aspect frames

Most informal and some formal settings

Concrete and factual topics of personal and public interest

Can be understood without difficulty by speakers unaccustomed to nonnative Speakers

Paragraph discourse

INTERMEDIATE

Can maintain simple face-to-face conversation by asking and responding to simple questions

Some informal settings and a limited number of transactional situations

Topics related primarily to self and immediate environment

Can be understood, with some repetition, by speakers accustomed to non-native speakers

Discrete sentences and strings of sentences

NOVICE

Can produce only formulaic utterances, lists and enumerations

Highly predictable common daily settings

Common discrete elements of daily life

May be difficult to understand, even for those accustomed to non-native speakers

Discrete words and phrases

ILR Oral Proficiency Levels and ACTFL/ETS Modifications

Oral Proficiency Levels

Three Aspects of Oral Proficiency

ACTFL/ETS Modifications of ILR Rating Scale*

ILR Scale

(Task accomplished, attitudes expressed, tone conveyed)

(Topics, subject areas, activities, and jobs addressed)

(Acceptability, quality, and accuracy of message conveyed)

5

Functions equivalent to an Educated Native Speaker (ENS)

All Subjects

Performance equivalent to an ENS

4

Able to tailor language to fit audience, counsel, persuade, negotiate, represent a point of view, and interpret for dignitaries

All topics normally pertinent to professional needs

Nearly equivalent to an ENS. Speech is extensive, precise appropriate to every occasion with only occasional errors

3- Superior Low

3

Can converse in formal and informal situations, resolve problem situations, deal with unfamiliar topics, provide explanations, describe, give opinions, and hypothesize

Practical, social, professional and abstract topics, particular interests, and special fields of competence

Errors never interfere with understanding and rarely disturb the native speaker (NS). Only sporadic errors in basic structures

2- Advanced Low

2

Able to fully participate in casual conversations, can express facts, give instructions, describe, report on, and provide narration about current, past, and future activities

Concrete topics such as own background, family, interests, work, travel, and current events

Understandable to a NS not used to dealing with foreigners: sometimes miscommunicates

1- Intermediate Low

1

Can create with the language; ask and answer questions, participate in short conversations

Everyday survival topics and courtesy requirements

Intelligible to a NS used to dealing with foreigners

0- Novice Low

0

No functional ability

None

Unintelligible