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LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY LEVELS
To be proficient in a second language means to effectively communicate or understand thoughts or ideas through the language's grammatical system and its vocabulary, using its sounds or written symbols. Language proficiency is composed of oral (listening and speaking) and written (reading and writing) components as well as academic and non-academic language (Hargett, 1998).
Identifying a student’s proficiency level is the first step in using the Washington State English Language Development Standards to design effective instruction so that all students can access content. There are five proficiency levels (beginning, advanced beginning, intermediate, advanced, transitional) in each of the four language domains (listening, speaking, reading, writing). A fifth domain, Comprehension, is embedded within the four domains and is part of the Washington Language Proficiency Test.
- K-2 Proficient Levels (Word) (pdf)
- 3-5 Proficient Levels (Word) (pdf)
- 6-8 Proficient Levels (Word) (pdf)
- 9-12 Proficient Levels (Word) (pdf)
Why do we need proficiency levels?
- Students vary in proficiency.
- Learning needs vary.
- Levels help teachers differentiate instruction.
- Levels provide access points to content.
WASHINGTON STATE - ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
(WA State ELD Standards)
The purpose of developing the WA State ELD Standards is:
- To define progressive levels of competence in the use of English.
- To set clear benchmarks of progress that reflect differences for students entering school at various grade levels.
- To ensure that limited English proficient (LEP) students, develop English proficiency and meet the same academic content and academic achievement standards
Characteristics of the WA State ELD Standards
- All Language domains are addressed in the WA State ELD Standards.
- Aligned to the Communication (Listening/Speaking), Reading, and Writing EALRs.
- Five Proficiency Levels are included (beginning, advanced beginning, intermediate, advanced, transitional).
Format of the WA State ELD Standards
- When possible, benchmarks were combined and collapsed, grouping similar components.
- Some components were continued through grade levels to reflect the English development needs (i.e., Component 1.1 Use word recognition skills and strategies to read and comprehend text).
WA State ELD Listening/Speaking Standards (Word)
Listening and speaking have been combined into one set of descriptors.
WA State ELD Reading Standards (Word)
Six areas are embedded in the WA State ELD Standards: Language production, Phonemic awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension.
WA State ELD Writing Standards (Word)
Five areas are embedded in the WA State ELD Standards: Language production, Purpose, Conventions, Audience/Voice, and Writing process
Glossary (Word
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