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Title / Participateinspoken transactions (EL)
Level / 3 / Credits / 5
Purpose / This unit standard is for people for whom English is an additional language.
People credited with this unit standard are able toparticipate in spoken transactions (EL).
Classification / Languages > English Language
Available grade / Achieved, Merit, and Excellence
Criteria for Merit / Spoken transaction shows evidence of spontaneity and fluency. A range of appropriate conventions and language is used with good control. Interaction demonstrates the use of a range of language features. Meaning of spoken text is conveyed with minor inconsistencies.
Criteria for Excellence / Spoken transaction shows significant evidence ofspontaneity and fluency. A range of appropriate conventions and language is used withconsistent control. Interaction demonstrates control of a wide range of language features. Meaning of spoken text is conveyed with minimal inconsistencies.
Prerequisites / Unit 27992, Participate in simple, spoken routine transactions (EL),or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Guidance Information
1English Language (EL) refers to the acquisition of English as an additional language.
2This unit standard can be awarded with an Achieved, Merit, or Excellence grade. For the Achieved grade to be awarded, the outcome must be achieved as specified in the outcome statement. For Merit grade to be awarded, the candidate must meet the Achieved and Merit criteria. For Excellence grade to be awarded, the candidate must meet the Achieved, Merit and Excellence criteria.
3This unit standard is at a level comparable to the Common European Framework of Reference B1.
4This unit standard may contribute to the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 3) [Ref:1882]. Assessment of outcomes must clearly reflect the qualifier(general, workplace or academic) being studied.
5All assessment activities must be conducted in English, which must not be the candidate’s first language.
6It is recommended that:
ithe outcomes are assessed as part of an integrated unit of work, relevant to the learning context of the candidate;
iiassessment be conducted in conjunction with assessment against other English Language unit standards at this level.
7Clarification to understand the requirements of the task may be requested by the candidate.
8The interview may be simulated or an authentic situation. Two candidates may be assessed simultaneously, but each candidate must fulfil the requirements of the unit standard independently.
9For the purposes of moderation, the assessment must be recorded audio-visually. Guidelines for digital visual submissions for moderation can be found at:
10Assessment support material for English Language unit standards can be found at
11Definitions
A limited range of language features refers to the selection and use of sufficient language features to communicate ideas.
A range of language features refers to the selection and use of language features to communicate ideas effectively.
A wide range of language features refers to the selection of a variety of language features used to communicate ideas precisely and fluently.
Coherent refers to speech which is clear and comprehensible.
Conventionsrefer to verbal and non-verbal strategies and behaviour appropriate to the contextsuch as, negotiating, clarifying, confirming, asking for repetition, giving or responding to feedback, assertive strategies.
Errors refer to systematic use of incorrect language features.
Fluencyrefers to a smooth flow of language with few unnatural pauses.
Inconsistenciesrefer to a lack of control in language features, where the candidate can self-correct if necessary.
Spoken transactions refer to interactions such as requests for information and negotiating goods and services (e.g. negotiating an employment contract, making travel bookings, arranging a course of study, buying a car, arranging a mortgage).
Spontaneity refers to responses that are natural and unrehearsed. It may include the candidate adjusting learnt language patterns to suit the questions.
Outcomes and Performance criteria
Outcome 1
Participate in spoken transactions (EL).
Rangetwo different contexts, assessed on separate occasions;
minimum of ten turns by the candidate for each transaction.
Performance criteria
1.1Spoken transaction is generally coherent with evidence of emerging spontaneity. Conventions and language features are appropriate to the context and relationship between participants, with some lapses. Interaction demonstrates the use of a limited range of language features. Spoken text may contain errors and inconsistencies, but these do not interfere with meaning.
Rangelanguage features include – grammatical, lexical and phonological features relevant to content and context;
grammatical features may include but are not limited to – verb forms, modals, question and response forms;
lexical features may include but are not limited to – word choice, grammatical form;
phonological features include – pronunciation, intonation, stress, pace, audibility, rhythm.
Replacement information / This unit standard was replaced by unit standard 31016.This unit standard replaced unit standard 17140.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 17 October 2013 / 31 December 2019
Rollover and Revision / 2 / 21 May 2015 / 31 December 2019
Review / 3 / 29 March 2018 / 31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0226
This CMR can be accessed at
NZQA National Qualifications ServicesSSB Code 130301 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut