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  • Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors for listening and oral communication
  • National Reporting System (NRS) ESL functioning level descriptors

Student Performance Level (SPL) descriptors
for listening and oral communication
  General Language Ability Listening Comprehension Oral Communication

Level
0

No ability whatsoever No ability whatsoever No ability whatsoever
Level
1		 Functions minimally, if at all, in English. Can handle only very routine entry-level jobs that do not require oral communication, and in which all tasks can be easily demonstrated. A native speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers can rarely communicate with a person at this level except through gestures. Understands only a few isolated words, and extremely simple learned phrases. Vocabulary limited to a few isolated words. No control of grammar.
Level
2		 Functions in a very limited way in situations related to immediate needs. Can handle only routine entry-level jobs that do not require oral communication, and in which all tasks can be easily demonstrated. A native English speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers will have great difficulty communicating with a person at this level. Understands a limited number of very simple learned phrases, spoken slowly with frequent repetitions. Expresses a limited number of immediate survival needs using very simple learned phrases.
Level
3		 Functions with some difficulty in situations related to immediate needs. Can handle routine entry-level jobs that involve only the most basic oral communication, and in which all tasks can be demonstrated. A native English speaker used to dealing with limited English speakers will have great difficulty communicating with a person at this level. Understands simple learned phrases, spoken slowly with frequent repetitions. Expresses immediate survival needs using simple learned phrases.