LOW INTERMEDIATE ESL COMPETENCY OUTLINE

CASAS Range: 201-210

By the end of this level, learners will have worked on and attained competency in the following areas:

1. Communication

   1. Differentiate between and recognize uses of documents related to identity.

      1. Driver’s license

         1. how to get one

         2. uses of

         3. information on

      2. Insurance card (health)

         1. uses of

         2. information on

      3. Social security card

         1. how to get one

            1. filling out an application

            2. where to go to get one

         2. uses of

         3. information on

      4. Passport

         1. how to get one

         2. uses of

         3. information on

   2. Answer, orally and in writing, comprehension questions about conversations.

      1. Complete sentences

      2. Abbreviated responses

   3. Respond appropriately to verbal statements and questions.

      1. Verbal and nonverbal feedback

2. Consumer Economics

   1. Count and use US coins and currency.

      1. Identify all US coins and paper money

      2. Sequence money in order from least to greatest

      3. Read and write monetary amounts in numbers

      4. Read and write monetary amounts to $100 in words

      5. Make change for $1, $5, $10, $20

   2. Write a check and record information in a checking or savings register.

      1. Write a check

         1. Payee, date, amount in numbers, amount in words, signature, “memo”

      2. Enter information into a savings or checking register

         1. read and write payees

         2. read and write monetary amounts in numbers

         3. deposits and withdrawals

      3. Cash a check

         1. endorsement

   3. Identify clothing items.

      1. Dress, skirt, blouse, shirt, pants, suit, underwear, hat, shoes, socks, boots, coat, gloves, mittens, pajamas, shorts, bathing suit, jeans, t-shirt, scarf

   4. Reading and interpret closing size and care labels.

      1. Sizes—L, S, M, XL, XXL, size numbers, difference in sizes for children and adults, difference in size labels between shoes and clothing

      2. Laundry instructions

         1. Wash in cold water

         2. Hand wash

         3. Line dry

         4. Dry clean only

         5. Tumble dry

         6. Machine wash

      3. Dressing appropriately for the weather

   5. Read clothing sale ads and compare prices.

      1.  

         1. read prices

         2. compare prices to regular prices

         3. percent off, half off

         4. interpret restrictions to purchase

   6. Identify types of housing and household items.

      1. Types of housing—house, apartment, condo, mobile home, high rises

      2. Own, rent

      3. Household rooms and items

         1. kitchen—stove, oven, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, sink, counter, cupboard, table, pots, pans, dishes, glasses, plates, silverware, knives, forks, spoon, bowl, cup, napkins

         2. living room/family room—couch, chair, rocking chair, TV, rug, coffee table, end table, picture, painting, pillows, curtains, carpet

         3. bedroom—bed, dresser, closet, lamp, mirror, sheet, blanket, pillows

         4. bathroom—bathtub, toilet, sink, mirror, medicine cabinet, towel, washcloth, shower, shower curtain

         5. basement—furnace, washer, dryer, washing machine, iron, ironing board, air conditioner, water softener

         6. garage—garage door, garage door opener

         7. outside—lawn, yard, sidewalk, garden

   7. State food costs, read ads, use coupons, and compare prices.

      1. Compare prices

      2. Compute unit price when size or quantity varies

      3. Locate and read prices when not on product labels

      4. What are bar codes and scanners

      5. Read food ads

         1. locate sales price

         2. locate amount saved

         3. locate any restrictions to purchase

      6. Read and interpret coupons

         1. locate cents-off

         2. locate any restrictions

            1. expiration date

            2. quantity restrictions

      7. Compare prices of items bought with coupon versus items on sale or at regular price

   8. Communicate information about home repair and maintenance.

      1. Tools—hammer, screwdriver, saw, drill, nail, screw

      2. Shovel, shoveling, lawn mowing, gardening, painting, siding, washing windows, dusting, sweeping, lawn mower, rake, raking, vacuuming, cleaning up

      3. Household problems

         1. The sink is leaking; there is a leak in the sink/bathtub/toilet

         2. The furnace isn’t working

         3. The window won’t open

         4. The air conditioner isn’t working

         5. The electricity is out

         6. The window is broken

         7. The --- isn’t working

   9. Know issues and responses to basic home emergencies and safety.

      1. Calling 911

      2. Safety hazards in the home

         1. electricity and water

         2. slippery sidewalks and steps in winter

         3. windows in high rises without barriers other than screens

         4. hot water in bathtubs

         5. stoves

         6. overloaded electrical outlets

         7. extension cords

      3. Emergencies

         1. fire extinguishers

            1. location and use of

         2. strangers

         3. burns

         4. escape from a fire

         5. emergency kits

         6. first aid kits

3. Community Resources

   1. Leave and take a phone message.

      1. Leave a phone message with name, phone, and reason for calling

         1. friends

         2. employer

         3. potential employer

         4. doctor’s office

      2. Take a phone message

         1. name, phone number and reason for calling

         2. filling out a phone message form

            1. vocabulary—urgent, please call, stopped by

   2. Read and understand a telephone bill.

      1. Locate amount due

      2. Locate address to send payment

      3. Locate what happens if not paid on time

      4. Locate charges for local calls

      5. Locate charges for long distance

      6. Locate where to contact if a problem with the bill

      7. Vocabulary—long distance, local, calling card, directory assistance, remit, past due

   3. Identify basic utility companies.

      1. Gas company, electric company, trash, garbage, cable, telephone, water

   4. Read and understand traffic signs.

      1. Traffic signs

         1. stop sign, stop light, warning light, merge, slippery wet, steep hill, men working, pedestrian crossing, walk/don’t walk, yield, speed limit, one way, no right/left turn, no right turn on red, no parking, school zone

   5. Describe and identify community and public services.

      1. Library

         1. library card, check out, books, librarian, computers, Internet

      2. Post office

         1. stamps, postage, mail carrier, packages

         2. procedures for mailing a package or a letter

      3. Workforce center

         1. unemployment, job assistance, dislocated worker programs

      4. Driver’s license office

         1. driver’s test, identification card, driver’s license, permit, written test

         2. filling out a request form

      5. Community Education

         1. ECFE, adult enrichment, after school care

         2. finding a class in a community education brochure

         3. fill out a registration form for a community education class

   6. Demonstrate understanding of holidays and social customs.

      1. New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas

   7. Describe weather conditions.

      1. Rain, sun, sunny, hot, humid, cold, freezing, windy, wind chill, snow, hail, thunder, lightning, tornado, blizzard, warm, cool, breeze(y), pleasant, unpleasant, severe

   8. Respond appropriately to weather emergencies.

      1. Severe weather warnings

         1. blizzards

         2. high winds

         3. tornados

         4. flooding

         5. thunderstorm

      2. Watch vs warning

      3. Tornado shelter

      4. What to do when it’s hailing

      5. What to do when it’s a blizzard

4. Health

   1. Define, read, write, and say health care and emergency vocabulary.

      1. Vocabulary—doctor, nurse, lab technician, x-ray technician, pharmacist, scale, weight, height, blood pressure, appointment, emergency, pulse, health, immunization, shot, checkup, dentist, prescription

      2. Name body parts (internal and external)

   2. Request a doctor’s appointment.

      1. State reason for appointment

      2. Write appointment information

      3. Read appointment card

   3. Communicate symptoms and injuries.

      1. I have a cold; I have a toothache; I have a bloody nose; I have a stomachache; I have a pain in my ---; I have a fever; My --- is broken/sprained/hurts; I feel sick to my stomach; I cut my ---

   4. Follow doctor’s instructions given orally and in writing; read and interpret information on medicine labels.

      1. Daily, three times a day, take until gone, call if the pain persists, stay off your feet, take with food, take with water, take on an empty stomach, bed rest, no heavy lifting

      2. Age appropriate dosages

      3. Teaspoon/spoonful

      4. How often to take

      5. Reactions and responses to reactions

      6. Poison control center

   5. Read a thermometer.

      1. Fahrenheit

      2. Normal body temperature

      3. Tenths of a degree

      4. I have a temperature of ---

      5. My temperature is ---

      6. Fever

   6. Identify basic foods and food groups.

      1. Food groups—bread, grains, meat, protein, dairy, sweets, fats, vegetables, fruits

      2. Food vocabulary, servings

   7. Read nutritional information on food labels.

      1. Food pyramid

      2. Calories per serving

      3. Grams per serving

      4. Fat per serving

      5. Ingredients list

      6. Vitamins per serving

5. Employment

   1. Read simple want-ads.

      1. Abbreviations—exp, ft, pt, hr, hrly, mo, wk

      2. Vocabulary—experience, full time, part time, necessary, apply, resume, education, salary, hourly

      3. Identify how to apply for a job through the ad

         1. locate phone number

         2. locate address

         3. locate name of person to contact

         4. locate information or process needed to apply

   2. Complete a simple job application without assistance and describe personal work experience and skills.

      1. Name, address, phone, social security number, education history, employment history, references, signature

      2. Write and recite names, addresses, and duties of past jobs in chronological order

   3. Understand basic employment expectations, regulations, and safety.

      1. Being on time, filling out time cards, calling in absences, requesting time off

      2. Coffee break, lunch break

      3. Recognize safety signs—electrical danger, slippery when wet, hazardous substance, eye wash station, flammable, fire extinguisher, first aid, no smoking

      4. Filling out an accident report

         1. name, date

         2. narrative description of incident

   4. Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal skills for employment situations.

      1. Hand shake, eye contact, nodding

      2. Asking for assistance

         1. Could you help me

         2. I need help with---

         3. Could you show me

      3. Asking for clarification

         1. Could you repeat that, please

         2. Could you explain---

   5. Recognize and respond appropriately to work place safety hazards.

      1. Slippery floors

      2. Hazardous materials

      3. Construction areas

      4. Protective apparel

         1. eye protection

         2. hard hat

         3. clean suit

         4. ear protection

6. Government and Law

   1. Identify the US President, Vice-President, and Minnesota Governor.

   2. Understand basic government concepts.

      1. Leaders are elected

      2. Majority rule

      3. Innocent until proven guilty

      4. Equal rights

      5. Freedom of speech

7. Computation

   1. Read and write the numbers 0-100.

   2. Count by 2’s, 3’s, 5’s, 10’s, 25’s, and 50’s.

   3. Know basic math symbols and concepts.

      1. Even and odd numbers

      2. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division signs

      3. Equal sign

      4. Equal versus unequal

      5. Greater than, less than

   4. Know place value from hundred to hundredth.

      1. Ones

      2. Tens

      3. Hundreds

      4. Tenths

      5. Hundredths

   5. Complete addition and subtraction computations.

      1. Add and subtract multi-digit numbers

      2. Inverse relationship of addition and subtraction

         1. use addition to check subtraction

   6. Complete multiplication and division computations.

      1. identify multiples of 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

      2. identify the multiplication facts through 12

      3. Multiply numbers by 10, 100

      4. Multiple 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers

      5. Multiple with multi-digit numbers

      6. Square numbers to 12²

      7. Inverse relationship of multiplication and division

      8. Divide even numbers up to 100 in half

      9. Identify common factors of numbers up to 100

      10. Divide numbers by 10,100

      11. Divide a two-digit number by a single-digit number with remainder

      12. Use multiplication to check division

   7. Recognize fraction concepts.

      1. Write fractions to represent part of a whole

      2. Read and write common fractions

      3. Compare and order simple fractions

      4. Relate fractions to division

      5. Divide an object into fractions

   8. Complete computations using fractions.

      1. Add and subtract common fractions with same denominator

   9. Read and write decimals.

      1. Identify place value up to 2 places

      2. Read, write, order, and compare decimals up to 2 places

   10. Connect fractions to decimals.

       1. Convert simple fractions to decimals

   11. Compute decimal problems related to money.

       1. Count money

       2. Do computations involving money

       3. Make and verify change

   12. Follow a problem solving process.

       1. Identify mathematical question

       2. Identify necessary information

       3. Apply required operation

       4. Use estimation

   13. Use a calculator to make basic calculations.

   14. Recognize patterns in multiplication tables.

       1. Even numbers

       2. Multiples of 5 end in 5 or 0

       3. Multiples of 10 end in 0

       4. Multiples of 4 are even numbers

   15. Express mathematical expressions symbolically.

       1. Substitute shapes or letters for numbers

   16. Round to 10’s and 100’s.

       1. Solve problems with rounding

       2. Calculate to check

   17. Know basic measurement concepts.

       1. Length

          1. inches

          2. feet

          3. yard

          4. mile

       2. Capacity

          1. cup

          2. pint

          3. quart

          4. gallon

       3. Weight

          1. pound

          2. ounce

          3. ton

       4. Temperature

          1. Fahrenheit

          2. Celsius

   18. Express measurements in fraction and decimal terms.

   19. Measure dimensions using a ruler.

       1. Length

       2. Width

       3. Height

   20. Measure temperature using a thermometer.

       1. Identify positive and negative temperatures

   21. Characterize and classify two- and three-dimensional shapes.

       1. Square

       2. Rectangle

       3. Circle

       4. Triangle

       5. Cube

   22. Know geometry concepts of symmetry and reflection.

       1. Symmetry

       2. Reflection

   23. Convert and calculate units of time.

       1. Hours, minutes

   24. Interpret data in lists, tables, and charts.

       1. Identify the data

       2. Count

       3. Compare

   25. Identify information from bar graphs.

   26. Analyze data.

       1. Collect data for a purpose

       2. Categorize the data

       3. Represent the data on a table, chart, or bar graph

8. Learning to Learn (Reading)

   1. Recognize and apply alphabetics concepts.

      1. Ending consonant blends

      2. Consonant digraphs

      3. Y as a vowel

      4. Long vowel sounds formed with ending consonants

         1. ind

         2. ild

         3. igh

         4. old

         5. olt

         6. ost

      5. Syllables

         1. CVC

         2. VCe

         3. Vr

   2. Read and interpret vocabulary.

      1. Symbols and signs from life skills topics

      2. Dolch sight words Level 1

      3. Contractions

      4. Abbreviations

         1. cooking

         2. employment

      5. Meaning from word formation

         1. verb endings

         2. plurals

      6. Meaning from simple prefixes

         1. un

         2. pre

      7. Words with multiple meanings

         1. enter a room, enter data on a computer

   3. Read and comprehend a variety of texts.

      1. Sentences with familiar vocabulary

      2. Short narratives

      3. Basic consumer materials

      4. Written instructions

      5. Statements

      6. Questions

      7. Negatives

      8. Adjectives modifying nouns

      9. Pronoun reference

      10. Simple idioms

      11. Forms

          1. employment

          2. registration

          3. appointments

      12. Charts, tables, graphs

      13. Maps

      14. Diagrams

   4. Read and comprehend text using conventions of written English.

      1. Contextual clues to clarify word meaning, i.e. Save $10 on your next purchase)

      2. Signal words

         1. first

         2. then

         3. it’s important that

      3. Formatting clues

         1. headings

         2. captions

         3. bullets

         4. bold

         5. italic

   5. Utilize reference tools.

      1. Table of contents

      2. Directory

      3. Simple dictionary

   6. Practice reading strategies.

      1. Pre-reading

         1. previewing

         2. predicting

      2. Scan simple text for specific information

      3. Fluency

   7. Practice reading skills.

      1. Main idea of a multi-paragraph text

      2. Sequence in a narrative

      3. Inferences

      4. Conclusions

      5. Compare information from multiple sources, i.e. ads

9. Grammar and Writing

   1. Recognize, state, read, and write statements and questions.

      1. Change statements into questions and vice versa

   2. Use subject, object, and possessive pronouns.

      1. Subject

      2. Object

      3. Possessive

   3. Use common verbs in the present, future, and past tense.

      1. Regular and irregular

      2. Past, present, future

   4. Use adjectives.

      1. Descriptive

      2. Possessive

      3. Demonstrative

      4. Time

   5. Use prepositions.

      1. Of location

      2. Of direction

   6. Use common and proper nouns in the singular and plural.

      1. Common and proper

      2. Singular and plural

      3. Count and non-count

   7. Use adverbs.

   8. Use articles.

   9. Write a personal paragraph.

      1. Focuses on one topic

      2. Basic word choice

      3. Simple sentences

      4. Some errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics; may cause readability issues

10. Listening

    1. Recognize words and phrases in English.

       1. Reduced words and phrases

          1. gonna

          2. didja

    2. Comprehend familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary.

       1. Familiar situations

       2. Phrases

       3. Words

       4. Phrasal verbs

       5. Idioms

       6. Functional context vocabulary

       7. Homonyms in context

       8. Basic prefixes and suffixes as the change word meaning

       9. Using context clues on unfamiliar vocabulary

    3. Utilize grammatical structures to assist in comprehension.

       1. Signal words

       2. Simple past

       3. Modals

       4. Present progressive

       5. Compound simple sentence

    4. Participate appropriately in conversations.

       1. In person

       2. Non-face-to-face

       3. Abbreviated forms of speech

       4. Extended conversations

    5. Respond appropriate to instructions and directions.

       1. Single step

       2. Multi step in familiar contexts

    6. Comprehend oral information.

       1. Main idea or topic

       2. Details

       3. Simple inferences

       4. Non-verbal language

       5. Relationship of context to type of language and conversation pattern, i.e. doctor to patient

       6. Hypothetical situational questions, i.e. you are the patient, what do you say to the doctor