PROFICIENCY
BENCHMARKS
INTERPRETIVE COMMUNICATION-
INTERMEDIATE
PROFICIENCY BENCHMARK
I can understand the main idea and some pieces of information on familiar topics from sentences and series of connected sentences within texts that are spoken, written, or signed.
What can I understand, interpret or analyze
in authentic informational texts that I hear, read or view?
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
I can identify the topic and related information from simple sentences in short informational texts.
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 2
I can understand the main idea and key information in short straightforward informational texts.
LEVEL 3
I can usually follow the main message in various time frames in straightforward, and sometimes descriptive, paragraph length
informational texts.
What can I understand, interpret or analyze
in authentic fictional texts that I hear, read or view?
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
LEVEL 1
I can identify the topic and related information from simple sentences in short fictional texts.
LEVEL 2
I can understand the main idea and key information in short straightforward fictional texts.
LEVEL 3
I can usually follow the main story and actions expressed in various time frames in paragraph-length fictional texts.
What can I understand, interpret or analyze in conversations and discussions
that I hear, read or view, in which I am not a participant?
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
LEVEL 1
I can identify the main idea in short conversations.
LEVEL 2
I can identify the main idea and key information in short straightforward conversations.
LEVEL 3
I can usually understand the main idea and flow of events expressed in various time frames in conversations and
discussions.
What elements of literacy lead to higher levels of understanding in the Interpretive Mode?
Learners move along the proficiency continuum at different speeds in listening, reading, or viewing. Factors that impact how well learners understand texts include:
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Text complexity or length
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Familiarity with the topic and background knowledge
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Ability to use literacy strategies such as recognizing keywords, detecting the main idea, identifying supporting details, noting organizational features, guessing meaning from context, identifying logical inferences, and identifying the author’s perspective and cultural perspectives/norms.