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ILR Skill Level Descriptions Revisions Crosswalk Matrix (1)

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Speaking Listening Reading Revisions Combined

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Interagency Language Roundtable Language Skill Level Descriptions - Reading Preface The following Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Skill Level Descriptions (SLDs) describe proficiency as the functional ability to comprehend written language that reflects current usage. The SLD…

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Unable to understand the written language in almost any context. Has essentially no ability to understand written material beyond occasional isolated letters, characters, or words.

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Able to understand some memorized, isolated words and phrases with random accuracy and little regard to context. Can recognize some discrete words, memorized phrases, and some formulaic expressions. Understands some short, memorized phrases or expressions, such as numbers, names of people and places, and common signage, such as street, office, and store signs. Understanding of vocabulary is extremely limited and random.

Understanding of structures is limited to memorized material. Can recognize some elements of some standard printed or electronic writing systems. Generally unable to identify the topic. Has almost no ability to understand cultural appropriateness. May be able to recognize common greetings and introductions. Cannot distinguish between formal and informal forms outside of memorized constructions. Has almost no ability to understand mood, feeling, or emotion in written texts.

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Able to understand simple written language dealing with basic information, often with great difficulty and in limited contexts. Understands general subject matter in simple written material. Can understand straightforward instructions and simple statements and questions, and explicitly stated simple messages when supported by redundancy or context. Understands connected phrases and sentences in simple texts such as notes, forms, business advertisements, and simple text messages. Has little to no ability to understand organizational devices. Understands some high frequency vocabulary.

May show no understanding of major historical or cultural references. Understands some basic structures. Can read written materials using some standard printed or electronic writing systems. Understanding is limited to self, family, or immediate environment, including, but not limited to, meals, time, directions, simple transactions, or personal information. Can identify general subject matter in some simple texts. Generally understands short exchanges and statements. Demonstrates an extremely limited understanding of cultural norms and expectations and is unable to distinguish formality other than in simple phrases and expressions. Cannot easily understand mood, feeling, or emotion conveyed in linguistic features of written texts.

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Able to understand simple written language dealing with basic information, often with great difficulty and in limited contexts. Understands general subject matter in simple written material. Can understand straightforward instructions and simple statements and questions, and explicitly stated simple messages when supported by redundancy or context. Understands connected phrases and sentences in simple texts such as notes, forms, business advertisements, and simple text messages. Has little to no ability to understand organizational devices. Understands some high frequency vocabulary.

May show no understanding of major historical or cultural references. Understands some basic structures. Can read written materials using some standard printed or electronic writing systems. Understanding is limited to self, family, or immediate environment, including, but not limited to, meals, time, directions, simple transactions, or personal information. Can identify general subject matter in some simple texts. Generally understands short exchanges and statements. Demonstrates an extremely limited understanding of cultural norms and expectations and is unable to distinguish formality other than in simple phrases and expressions. Cannot easily understand mood, feeling, or emotion conveyed in linguistic features of written texts.

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Level 0+ Able to understand some memorized, isolated words and phrases with random accuracy and little regard to context. Can recognize some discrete words and memorized phrases. Can understand minimal exchanges, such as formulaic questions and utterances. Most understanding is of telegraphic exchanges. Understanding of vocabulary is extremely limited and random. Understanding limited to memorized structures. Has great difficulty distinguishing different sounds and tones. Understands isolated random words and phrases. Generally unable to identify the topic. Does not understand most words and phrases. May be able to recognize common greetings and introductions, though cannot distinguish between formal and informal forms outside of memorized constructions. Rarely understands in non-participatory listening unless supported by redundancy or context. Needs interlocutor to slow down, repeat, and paraphrase.

Able to understand simple spoken language dealing with basic information, often with great difficulty and in limited contexts. Understands general subject matter in simple spoken material. Can understand straightforward instructions and simple statements and questions. Can understand explicitly stated simple messages in non-participatory listening when supported by redundancy or context. Understands connected phrases and sentences in simple speech. Understands some high frequency vocabulary. Understands some basic structures. May distinguish some different sounds and tones. Level 1

Understanding is limited to self, family, or immediate environment, including, but not limited to, meals, time, directions, simple transactions, or personal information. Can identify general subject matter in some simple speech. Generally understands short exchanges and statements. Able to understand speech that fills basic courtesy requirements. Not able to distinguish formality other than in simple phrases and expressions. Demonstrates an extremely limited understanding of cultural norms and expectations. Cannot easily understand mood, feeling, or emotion conveyed in speech. Understands some spoken language during participatory listening, particularly if delivered at a slower rate than normal, with frequent repetitions or paraphrase.

Able to adequately understand straightforward spoken language on everyday topics, including routine work-related matters. Can understand speech in everyday interactions. Can understand the main ideas and some details in material intended for general audiences, such as straightforward descriptions, instructions, and narrations across timeframes. In general, lacks command of the language to draw inferences. Can understand speech that conveys sequencing of connected phrases. Has some understanding of frequently used rhetorical devices, such as repetition and exaggeration. Can readily understand high frequency vocabulary and sometimes understand references to major historical or cultural events. Generally understands information presented in almost all basic structures. Usually understands standard pronunciation, but not typically implication of stress, intonation, and tone (in tonal languages). Understands spoken language about personal life, such as family, activities, and work, or major current events. Level 2

Understands most main points and some details. Understands exchanges and messages, but cannot sustain comprehension of extended speech. May demonstrate some understanding of common cultural norms, albeit inconsistently. Understands basic social norms and etiquette, though has little understanding of the social conventions of conversations. Can recognize formal and informal forms of speech. May be able to recognize some mood, feeling, emotion, or position in speech. Understands straightforward spoken language delivered at a normal rate, but complexity or high rates of speech impede understanding.

Able to understand formal and informal spoken language with accuracy on general social and professional topics and tasks. Can understand argumentation expressed through supported opinion, conjecture, and hypothesis. Can draw inferences from speech. Can get the gist of more sophisticated speech, but may be unable to detect or understand subtelty or nuance. Able to understand cohesive discourse with clear relationships of ideas found in genres such as speeches, lectures, and briefings. Understands commonly used rhetorical devices such as simile and metaphor. Readily understands a broad range of vocabulary, including mid frequency terms and technical vocabulary in the area of professional specialty. Level 3

Understands widely used idiomatic expressions and cultural references. Understands a variety of structures accurately, but occasional misunderstandings occur in complex structures. Misunderstandings of implications of stress, intonation, and tone may still occur, but they rarely impede overall comprehension. Can understand speech about one's own fields of competence and matters of general interest. Understands main points and many key details, including some implicit meanings. Understands extended speech consistently. Understands common cultural norms and expectations in routine and professional speech, though may have difficulty with texts that rely on cultural knowledge. Understands some social conventions of conversations and presentations. Usually understands formal and informal forms of speech in various settings. Generally understands mood, feeling, emotion, or stance including some emotional overtones, such as the use of irony, sarcasm, or humor. Understands speech delivered at a normal rate with ease, but may have some difficulty with fast spoken language.

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Level 0+ Able to understand some memorized, isolated words and phrases with random accuracy and little regard to context. Can recognize some discrete words and memorized phrases. Can understand minimal exchanges, such as formulaic questions and utterances. Most understanding is of telegraphic exchanges. Understanding of vocabulary is extremely limited and random.

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Able to adequately understand straightforward written material on everyday topics, including routine work-related matters. Can understand the main ideas and some details in material written for general audiences, such as straightforward descriptions, instructions, and narrations across timeframes. In general, lacks command of the language to draw inferences. Can understand written material in everyday interactions. Can understand factual texts, including online or printed materials such as news items about frequently occurring events; routine business correspondence, email, and text messages; and clearly written descriptions and comments.

Has some understanding of frequently used rhetorical devices, such as repetition and exaggeration. Readily understands high frequency vocabulary and can sometimes understand references to major historical or cultural events. Generally understands information presented in almost all basic structures. Can read written materials using standard printed or electronic writing systems. Understands written language about personal life, such as family, activities, and work, or major current events. Understands most main points and some details. Understands short texts and exchanges, but cannot sustain comprehension of long texts. May demonstrate some understanding of common cultural norms, albeit inconsistently. Can recognize formal and informal forms of writing. Understands basic social norms and etiquette, though inconsistently. May be able to recognize some mood, feeling, emotion, or position in writing.

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Able to understand written language in many informal and everyday contexts; however, understanding is not always complete in some formal and professional contexts. May understand some instances of common rhetorical devices such as simile and metaphor. Readily understands high frequency vocabulary and shows some inconsistency in mid frequency vocabulary. May understand some widely used idiomatic language and cultural references, though not fully.

Understands frequently used structures consistently and some complex structures with difficulty. Understands written language about personal life, major current events, and some matters of general interest. Understands main points and some key details. Understands extended texts, but not consistently. May understand cultural norms and expectations in routine and some professional texts. Sometimes understands formal and informal registers. Has some understanding of the social conventions of writing. Shows some understanding of mood, feeling, emotion, or position in writing, but inconsistently.

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Able to understand formal and informal written language with accuracy on general social and professional topics and tasks. Can understand argumentation expressed through supported opinion, conjecture, and hypothesis. Can draw inferences from text. Can get the gist of more sophisticated texts, but may be unable to detect or understand subtlety or nuance. Can read material that includes a variety of language patterns, developed ideas, and overarching messages, such as conventional commentaries, editorials, and some technical material. Understands some common rhetorical devices such as simile and metaphor.

Readily understands a broad range of vocabulary, including mid frequency terms and technical vocabulary in professional specialty. Understands widely used idiomatic expressions and cultural references. Understands a variety of structures accurately, but occasional misunderstandings occur in complex structures. Can read written materials using various printed or electronic writing systems. Can understand written language about one's own fields of competence and matters of general interest. Understands main points and many key details, including some implicit meanings. Understands extended writing consistently. Understands common cultural norms and expectations in professional texts, though has difficulty with texts that are dependent on cultural knowledge. Usually understands formal and informal forms of writing. Generally understands mood, feeling, emotion, or position. Can detect some emotional overtones, such as the use of irony, sarcasm, or humor.
Understands widely used idiomatic expressions and cultural references. Understands a variety of structures accurately, but occasional misunderstandings occur in complex structures. Misunderstandings of implications of stress, intonation, and tone may still occur, but they rarely impede overall comprehension. Can understand speech about one's own fields of competence and matters of general interest. Understands main points and many key details, including some implicit meanings. Understands extended speech consistently. Understands common cultural norms and expectations in routine and professional speech, though may have difficulty with texts that rely on cultural knowledge. Understands some social conventions of conversations and presentations. Usually understands formal and informal forms of speech in various settings. Generally understands mood, feeling, emotion, or stance including some emotional overtones, such as the use of irony, sarcasm, or humor. Understands speech delivered at a normal rate with ease, but may have some difficulty with fast spoken language.

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Able to understand a number of prose styles with accuracy, including some culturally appropriate writing tailored to some audiences on a range of topics. Can understand some rhetorical devices for targeted effect or emphasis. Lexicon is broad. Understands, with occasional inaccuracies, some low frequency words and phrases. Understands some cultural references across different contexts. Understands some texts that include some complex structures, though misunderstandings occur.

Can understand many professional topics, and to some degree concepts relating to social, cultural, and theoretical topics. Understands the relationships between ideas, including some implicit meanings. Understands some cultural norms and expectations in a variety of texts. May understand language that is tailored to an audience. Sometimes understands the subtleties and nuances of mood, feeling, emotion, or stance.

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Able to understand with considerable precision writing using culturally appropriate language tailored to a variety of audiences on a wide range of topics. Understands language tailored to different audiences. Understands implications of texts as they are positioned in the broader cultural, political, or social contexts of the intended audience. Can readily follow turns of thought. Comprehends many forms and styles of written language.

Texts may include literature, editorials, satire, or commentaries. Can understand many rhetorical devices used for effect or emphasis. Has an extensive understanding of vocabulary, including many low frequency words and phrases and many cultural references. Understands many complex structures, including complex embedding. Sporadically misunderstands. Can read written materials using many printed or electronic writing systems. Can understand many social, cultural, and theoretical topics, including those which do not bear directly on a professional specialty.

Understands the relationships between ideas to arrive at a broader view or new perspective, including many implicit meanings. Understands many cultural norms and expectations in texts that are dependent on cultural knowledge. Usually understands the effect of tailored writing or register shifts. Usually understands the subtleties and nuances of mood, feeling, emotion, or stance, including emotional overtones, such as the use of irony, sarcasm, or humor.

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Able to understand precise written language that uses diverse linguistic resources to present articulate, tailored, and nuanced language in most contexts, with only rare mistakes. Understands most rhetorical devices. Understands most nuanced, low frequency vocabulary, idioms, colloquialisms, and cultural references across different contexts.

Understands most complex structures accurately, though a few misunderstandings may occur. Can understand most topics and their implications to some extent. Understands most cultural norms and expectations in a variety of contexts. Understands a variety of registers tailored to different audiences, shifts between them, and some implications. Usually understands how mood, feeling, emotion, or stance are used for effect, such as to evoke an emotional response, or add emphasis, certainty, uncertainty, or authority.

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Able to understand clear and precise writing that uses diverse linguistic resources to produce articulate, nuanced, and engaging language in almost any context. Can understand almost any official, semi-official, and non-professional text tailored to a specific audience, purpose, task, or setting. Understands atypical texts with diverse concepts or perspectives woven together. Demonstrates a mastery of the language. Understands almost all genres of written language and rhetorical devices.

Understands almost all nuanced and low frequency vocabulary, as well as idioms, colloquialisms, and cultural references. Understands almost all structures of the language at all levels. Can understand in detail the implications of almost any topic. Understands almost all cultural norms and expectations in texts. Understands tailored writing, register shifts, and their implications. Understands how mood, feeling, emotion, or stance are used for effect, such as to evoke an emotional response, or add emphasis, certainty, uncertainty, or authority.

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Interagency Language Roundtable Language Skill Level Descriptions - Speaking Preface The following Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Skill Level Descriptions (SLDs) describe proficiency as the functional ability to produce spoken language that reflects current usage. The SLDs ch…

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Unable to understand the spoken language in almost any context. Has essentially no ability to understand spoken communication. Understanding is limited to occasional isolated words.

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Able to understand some memorized, isolated words and phrases with random accuracy and little regard to context. Can recognize some discrete words and memorized phrases. Can understand minimal exchanges, such as formulaic questions and utterances. Most understanding is of telegraphic exchanges. Understanding of vocabulary is extremely limited and random. Understanding limited to memorized structures. Has great difficulty distinguishing different sounds and tones. Understands isolated random words and phrases. Generally unable to identify the topic. Does not understand most words and phrases. May be able to recognize common greetings and introductions, though cannot distinguish between formal and informal forms outside of memorized constructions. Rarely understands in non-participatory listening unless supported by redundancy or context. Needs interlocutor to slow down, repeat, and paraphrase.

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Able to understand simple spoken language dealing with basic information, often with great difficulty and in limited contexts. Understands general subject matter in simple spoken material. Can understand straightforward instructions and simple statements and questions. Can understand explicitly stated simple messages in non-participatory listening when supported by redundancy or context. Understands connected phrases and sentences in simple speech. Understands some high frequency vocabulary. Understands some basic structures. May distinguish some different sounds and tones.

Understanding is limited to self, family, or immediate environment, including, but not limited to, meals, time, directions, simple transactions, or personal information. Can identify general subject matter in some simple speech. Generally understands short exchanges and statements. Able to understand speech that fills basic courtesy requirements. Not able to distinguish formality other than in simple phrases and expressions. Demonstrates an extremely limited understanding of cultural norms and expectations. Cannot easily understand mood, feeling, or emotion conveyed in speech. Understands some spoken language during participatory listening, particularly if delivered at a slower rate than normal, with frequent repetitions or paraphrase.

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Able to understand simple speech in areas beyond most basic needs, though inaccurately and not always appropriately. Understands most high frequency vocabulary. Has limited understanding of organizational devices. May understand some major historical or cultural references. Has inconsistent understanding of basic structures. Understands some main points and some details in spoken language about personal life, such as family, activities, and work in short exchanges and messages. Can recognize some formal and informal forms of speech, yet with limited understanding of basic social norms and etiquette. May recognize some instances of mood, feeling, or emotion in speech. Demonstrates little understanding of cultural norms and expectations in routine speech, but with little understanding of cultural norms and expectations in routine speech. Understanding is uneven at a normal rate of speech and impeded by complexity and high rates of speech.

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Able to adequately understand straightforward spoken language on everyday topics, including routine work-related matters. Can understand speech in everyday interactions. Can understand the main ideas and some details in material intended for general audiences, such as straightforward descriptions, instructions, and narrations across timeframes. In general, lacks command of the language to draw inferences. Can understand speech that conveys sequencing of connected phrases. Has some understanding of frequently used rhetorical devices, such as repetition and exaggeration. Can readily understand high frequency vocabulary and sometimes understand references to major historical or cultural events. Generally understands information presented in almost all basic structures. Usually understands standard pronunciation, but not typically implication of stress, intonation, and tone (in tonal languages). Understands spoken language about personal life, such as family, activities, and work, or major current events.

Understands most main points and some details. Understands exchanges and messages, but cannot sustain comprehension of extended speech. May demonstrate some understanding of common cultural norms, albeit inconsistently. Understands basic social norms and etiquette, though has little understanding of the social conventions of conversations. Can recognize formal and informal forms of speech. May be able to recognize some mood, feeling, emotion, or position in speech. Understands straightforward spoken language delivered at a normal rate, but complexity or high rates of speech impede understanding.

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Able to understand spoken language in many informal and everyday contexts; however, understanding is not always complete in some formal and professional contexts. May understand some instances of common rhetorical devices such as simile and metaphor. Readily understands high frequency vocabulary and shows some inconsistency in mid frequency vocabulary. May understand some widely used idiomatic language and cultural references, though not fully. Understands a variety of structures, including some complex structures, but not consistently. Understands spoken language about personal life, major current events, and some matters of general interest. Understands main points and some key details. Understands extended speech, but not consistently. May understand cultural norms and expectations in routine and some professional speech. Sometimes understands formal and informal forms of speech. Has some understanding of the social conventions of conversations, while the understanding of mood, feeling, emotion, or position in speech is inconsistent. Understands speech delivered at a normal rate.

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Able to understand formal and informal spoken language with accuracy on general social and professional topics and tasks. Can understand argumentation expressed through supported opinion, conjecture, and hypothesis. Can draw inferences from speech. Can get the gist of more sophisticated speech, but may be unable to detect or understand subtelty or nuance. Able to understand cohesive discourse with clear relationships of ideas found in genres such as speeches, lectures, and briefings. Understands commonly used rhetorical devices such as simile and metaphor. Readily understands a broad range of vocabulary, including mid frequency terms and technical vocabulary in the area of professional specialty.

Understands widely used idiomatic expressions and cultural references. Understands a variety of structures accurately, but occasional misunderstandings occur in complex structures. Misunderstandings of implications of stress, intonation, and tone may still occur, but they rarely impede overall comprehension. Can understand speech about one's own fields of competence and matters of general interest. Understands main points and many key details, including some implicit meanings. Understands extended speech consistently. Understands common cultural norms and expectations in routine and professional speech, though may have difficulty with texts that rely on cultural knowledge. Understands some social conventions of conversations and presentations. Usually understands formal and informal forms of speech in various settings. Generally understands mood, feeling, emotion, or stance including some emotional overtones, such as the use of irony, sarcasm, or humor. Understands speech delivered at a normal rate with ease, but may have some difficulty with fast spoken language.

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Able to understand with accuracy some culturally appropriate speech tailored to some audiences on a range of topics. Can understand some rhetorical devices for targeted effect or emphasis. Lexicon is broad. Understands some low frequency words and phrases, though with some inaccuracy. Understands some elaborate discourse including some complex structures, though misunderstandings occur. Understands some cultural references across different contexts. Can understand many professional topics, and to some degree concepts relating to social, cultural, and theoretical topics. Understands the relationships between ideas, including some implicit meanings. Understands some cultural norms and expectations in a variety of interactions. May understand language that is tailored to an audience. Sometimes understands the subtleties and nuances of mood, feeling, emotion, or stance. Can understand most spoken language effortlessly.

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Able to understand with considerable precision speech using culturally appropriate language tailored to a variety of audiences on a wide range of topics. Understands language tailored to different audiences, including persuasion, representation, counseling, and negotiation. Understands the implications of spoken texts in the broader cultural, political, or social contexts of the intended audience. Can readily follow turns of thought. Understands complex speech characterized by intentional shifts of topic and tone and many rhetorical devices used for effect or emphasis. Has an extensive understanding of vocabulary, including many low frequency words and phrases and many cultural references. Understands many complex structures, including complex embedding. Sporadically misunderstands. Understands a variety of pronunciation patterns, stress, intonation and tone (in tonal languages). Can understand many social, cultural, and theoretical topics, including those which do not bear directly on a professional specialty. Understands the relationships between ideas to arrive at a broader view or new perspective, including many implicit meanings. Understands many cultural norms and expectations in a variety of contexts. Usually understands tailored speech and register shifts. Understands most social conventions of conversations and presentations. Usually understands the subtleties and nuances of mood, feeling, emotion, or stance, including emotional overtones, such as the use of irony, sarcasm, or humor. Can understand nearly all spoken language effortlessly.

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Able to understand precise spoken language that uses diverse linguistic resources to present articulate, tailored, and nuanced language in most contexts, with only rare mistakes. Understands a wide range of rhetorical devices. Understands most nuanced, low frequency vocabulary, idioms, colloquialisms, and cultural references across different contexts. Understands a wide range of complex structures accurately, though a few misunderstandings may occur. Can understand most topics and their implications to some extent. Understands most cultural norms and expectations in a variety of contexts. Understands tailored speech and register shifts. Usually understands how mood, feeling, emotion, or stance are used for effect, such as to evoke an emotional response, or add emphasis, certainty, uncertainty, or authority.

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Able to understand clear and precise speech that uses diverse linguistic resources to produce articulate, nuanced, and engaging language in almost any context. Can understand almost any official, semi-official, and non-professional speech tailored to a specific audience, purpose, task, or setting. Understands atypical texts with diverse concepts or perspectives woven together. Demonstrates a mastery of the language. Understands almost all genres of spoken language and rhetorical devices. Understands almost all nuanced and low frequency vocabulary, as well as idioms, colloquialisms, and cultural references. Understands almost all structures of the language at all levels. Can understand in detail the implications of almost any topic. Understands almost all cultural norms and expectations of speech. Understands tailored speech, register shifts, and their implications. Understands how mood, feeling, emotion, or stance are used for effect, such as to evoke an emotional response, or add emphasis, certainty, uncertainty, or authority.

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Unable to speak the language in almost any context. Has essentially no functional communicative ability. Oral production is limited to occasional isolated words.

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Able to produce some memorized, isolated words and phrases with random accuracy and little regard to context. Able to list some simple words and produce minimal exchanges, such as asking formulaic questions and making memorized statements. Most utterances are telegraphic. Has almost no ability to employ organizational or rhetorical devices. Vocabulary is extremely limited and random. Some use of structures may be evident in memorized phrases but has no control of structures otherwise. Pronunciation, stress, intonation, and tone (in tonal languages) are usually quite faulty. Range of topics is extremely limited. Lacks linguistic resources to stay on topic. Utterances are minimal and often insufficient. Has almost no ability to demonstrate cultural appropriateness or to articulate mood, feeling, or emotion. May be able to produce rehearsed expressions of courtesy, greetings, introductions, or isolated instances of politeness. Has almost no ability to manage turn-taking. May exhibit some fluency in prepared material, but long pauses between words and phrases are frequent.

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Able to maintain simple exchanges on topics related to self, despite pervasive errors and limited contextual appropriateness. Can conduct daily activities or state in a simple manner action to be taken. Able to formulate some brief questions. Can elicit and provide minimal biographical information. Speaks in disconnected or loosely connected phrases and short sentences with unrehearsed material. With rehearsed material, may be able to produce more coherent discourse. Has little to no ability to employ organizational devices. Vocabulary is frequently inaccurate and generally restricted to the highest frequency items. Little ability to make cultural references. Displays some use of basic structural relations, although errors mark almost every statement; accuracy is limited. Pronunciation, stress, intonation, and tone (in tonal languages) are generally poor and often interfere with communication. Topics are usually limited to self, family, or immediate environment, including basic needs and activities, such as meals, time, simple transactions or directions, or personal information. Often lacks linguistic resources to stay on topic. Conveys basic ideas with little to no details. Demonstrates an extremely limited command of cultural norms and expectations and an extremely limited ability to express register other than in basic courtesy requirements. Little ability to manage turn-taking. Operates mostly in a reactive mode. Cannot easily articulate mood, feeling, or emotion. Often speaks with great difficulty and false starts.

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Able to initiate and maintain simple conversations in areas beyond most basic needs, though inaccurately and not always appropriately. May exhibit some frequently used organizational devices. Usually, cannot sustain cohesiveness in longer utterances. Shows good control of most high frequency vocabulary, but vocabulary is typically inaccurate elsewhere. May make some cultural references. Accuracy in basic grammatical relations is inconsistent. Use of person, place, and time references is often incorrect. Can speak about personal life, such as family and activities, and a limited ability to discuss work or major current events. Sometimes able to speak on topic in routine content, but with limited ability to give details. Shows little ability to apply social norms and etiquette, though may have little command of cultural norms and expectations. Demonstrates some turn-taking management; however, transitions between turns are often abrupt or unnatural. May convey some isolated instances of mood, feeling, or emotion. Pauses may be infrequent on some topics, but speech is typically labored elsewhere.

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Able to communicate intended meaning in straightforward, everyday conversations and routine, work-related interactions. Can typically report facts, make simple recommendations, and provide straightforward descriptions, directions, instructions, and narrations across timeframes. Additionally, can participate in everyday interactions and can handle complications in otherwise routine transactions. Speech consists of connected statements that are minimally cohesive yet demonstrates sequencing and linking of phrases. Has some ability to employ frequently used rhetorical devices, such as repetition and exaggeration. Can readily produce high frequency vocabulary that is appropriate for routine interactions, but vocabulary may be unusual, imprecise, or lead to paraphrasing elsewhere. Can sometimes make references to historical or cultural events, such as movies, famous people, books, or major holidays. Generally, has command of simple structures and basic grammatical relations. Errors in complex structures are frequent and may be patterned or cause misunderstanding. Pronunciation occasionally interferes with communication. Can sustain, with some repair, most normal, frequently occurring social conversations, including casual conversations about personal life, such as family, activities, or work, or major current events. Often able to speak on topic in routine content. Can provide some supporting details, but does not always make the message clear or cover the topic thoroughly. Generally, language is culturally awkward. May demonstrate some command of common cultural and social norms, albeit inconsistently. Does not control register shifts. Is often able to manage turn-taking and use some collaborative features in interactions such as topic initiation or development of topics initiated by interlocutor; however, transitions between turns may sometimes be abrupt or unnatural. May be able to verbally convey some mood, feeling, emotion, or position, though not always appropriate to the context. Speaks easily, but at times speech production may be labored.

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Able to communicate fully in many informal and everyday contexts; in some formal and professional contexts, speaks with language that is often, but not always, acceptable and effective. Often communicates a coherent message; however, the message conveyed is not consistently clear or there may be occasional instances of miscommunication. May employ some common rhetorical devices. Uses high frequency and some mid frequency vocabulary but cannot always make appropriate lexical choices. May use some widely used idiomatic expressions and cultural references, though not always accurately. Controls most basic structures. Control of complex structures is limited. Speech may contain awkward or inaccurate phrasing of ideas and mistaken time, space, or person references. Shows considerable ability to communicate effectively on topics relating to interests and special fields of competence. Information conveyed is typically on topic. Generally, provides supporting details, but not consistently. Often shows a high degree of fluency and ease of speech. Is often able to adhere to social norms and etiquette, but not consistently. May be able to fulfill common cultural norms and expectations in routine and some professional interactions. Is almost always able to manage turn-taking and use some collaborative features in interactions such as topic initiation or development of topics initiated by interlocutor. Demonstrates high ability to start turns. Can verbally convey some mood, feeling, emotion, or position, though not consistently.

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Able to speak with sufficient accuracy to participate effectively in formal and informal contexts on general social and professional topics and tasks. Can perform a range of tasks, such as discuss and compare societal issues and their implications, state and defend a position or policy, support opinions, hypothesize, elicit information and informed opinion, resolve unexpected situations, or present on a topic. Able to produce cohesive discourse with clear relationships of ideas. May employ some common rhetorical devices, such as simile and metaphor. Uses mid frequency vocabulary that is sufficiently broad to clearly discuss a range of professional matters and abstract or societal issues. May make cultural references or use widely known proverbs and idiomatic expressions. Uses a variety of structures, including basic and some complex structures. In general, basic structures are controlled, though there are occasional structural errors that minimally interfere with communication. Pronunciation, stress, intonation, and tone (in tonal languages) rarely impede communication. Can discuss own interests and fields of competence. Otherwise, linguistic limitations in depth and precision generally restrict language use to matters of general interest. Information conveyed is on topic and supports ideas in a clear manner without much unnecessary information. Able to fulfill common cultural norms and expectations in routine and professional interactions. Speech may be culturally awkward at times. Can usually control formal and informal registers in various settings and has command of most social conventions of conversations. Able to manage turn-taking smoothly and naturally. Can frequently use turn-taking devices such as rapid speaker changes and invitations to participate in turn closings. Assumes joint responsibility in maintaining the interaction. Can convey some mood, feeling, emotion, or position appropriate to the context. Speaks readily, at a rate of speech that does not impede comprehension.

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Able to speak with accuracy using some culturally appropriate language tailored to some audiences on a range of topics. Employs some complex discourse strategies to organize thoughts and present a clear, coherent message. Can use some rhetorical devices for targeted effect or emphasis. Lexicon is broad and includes a range of nuanced words and phrases, with some inaccuracies. Uses some appropriate idiomatic expressions and cultural references. Uses some complex structures although not all are accurate or controlled. Weakness or unevenness in language use may result in loss of precision. Can speak on many professional topics, and to some degree on concepts relating to social, cultural, and theoretical topics. Supports ideas thoroughly without unnecessary information. Able to fulfill some cultural norms and expectations in a variety of interactions, although there may be instances of awkwardness. Controls formal and informal registers and can sometimes use register to tailor the message or make it more effective. Is sometimes able to engage with interlocutor's contributions and develop a joint discourse. Mood, feeling, emotion, or stance sometimes enhances the message conveyed. Often speaks effortlessly and smoothly.

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Able to speak with considerable precision using culturally appropriate language tailored to a variety of audiences on a wide range of topics. Can advise, persuade, negotiate, or counsel effectively. Can participate in or give a formal speech at a conference, lecture, or debate. Can advocate a position at length and represent a point of view other than one’s own, both in prepared and unprepared remarks. Employs discourse strategies to organize thoughts and present them in a convincing manner, such as appropriate rhetorical speech devices or intentional shifts of topic and tone. Can use many rhetorical devices for targeted effect or emphasis. Vocabulary is consistently extensive and includes low frequency items. Uses cultural references appropriately to further an argument or add emphasis. Controls many complex structures, including complex embedding. Errors are sporadic and may be part of acceptable language use in certain contexts. Pronunciation, stress, intonation, and tone (in tonal languages) do not hinder communication. Can speak on many social, cultural, and theoretical topics, including those which do not bear directly on a professional specialty. May incorporate another relevant topic or make additional informative points to present a broader view. Presents information to support ideas clearly and extensively. Able to fulfill many cultural norms and expectations in a variety of interactions, although there may be instances of awkwardness. Demonstrates an ability to shift register or tailor speech to meet many situational norms and expectations, though may not sustain shifts under all circumstances. Adheres to most social conventions of conversations and presentations. Able to engage with interlocutor's contributions and develop a joint discourse. Is generally able to verbally convey mood, feeling, emotion, or stance to add effect, such as emphasis, certainty, uncertainty, or authority. Speaks effortlessly and smoothly.

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Able to speak with precision, using diverse linguistic resources to produce articulate, tailored, and nuanced language in most contexts with only rare mistakes. Uses discourse strategies flexibly to enhance the effectiveness of the message conveyed. Employs a wide range of rhetorical devices. Incorporates nuanced phrasing and low frequency vocabulary that are rarely imprecise, but sometimes with weaknesses, for example in idioms, colloquialisms, or cultural references. Has a wide range and control of complex structures, including complex embedding. Makes few mistakes. Can address most topics to some extent. Can elaborate on the implications of most societal issues. Able to fulfill most cultural norms and expectations in a variety of interactions, although there may be rare instances of awkwardness. Shifts register and tailors speech to provide convincing arguments on most occasions. No further expectations for turn taking. Mood, feeling, emotion, or stance usually enhances the message conveyed. Uses the language with flexibility.

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Able to speak with clarity of expression and precision, using diverse linguistic resources to produce articulate, nuanced, and engaging language in almost any context. Can set the tone of interpersonal official, semi-official and non-professional verbal exchanges for varied audiences, purposes, tasks, and settings. Can effectively weave together different concepts to create novel ideas and perspectives. Demonstrates a mastery of the language. Employs a wide range of rhetorical devices exceptionally well to achieve a desired goal or effect. Able to speak in an articulate and precise manner, although the rare error may occur. Demonstrates a precise and extensive control of nuanced, low frequency vocabulary, as well as idioms, colloquialisms, and cultural references. Controls almost all structures of the language at all levels. Can elaborate extensively on the implications of many topics and address almost any topic to some extent. Information presented is relevant and often incorporates other topics to present a broader view or new perspective. Presents information to support ideas clearly, thoroughly, and concisely. Able to fulfill cultural norms and expectations in a wide variety of interactions. Can tailor speech skillfully to an audience, shifting between registers for effect and impact. Able to articulate mood, feeling, emotion, or stance effectively to set a mood, persuade the listener, or produce an emotional response. Can use intonation, tone, stress patterns, humor, and other features to add emphasis, certainty, uncertainty, authority, or other stances. Uses the language with complete flexibility.