ACTFL’s Proficiency Guidelines

Generic Guidelines

http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3318

Japanese Guidelines

http://members.aol.com/sokogakuen/actfl.html

DESCRIPTIONS--SPEAKING

The Intermediate level is characterized by the speaker's ability to:

·  create with the language by combining and recombining learned elements, though primarily in a reactive mode

·  initiate, minimally sustain, and close in a simple way basic communicative tasks

·  ask and answer questions.

INTERMEDIATE-LOW. Able to handle successfully a limited number of interactive, task-oriented, and social situations. Can ask and answer questions, initiate and respond to simple statements, and maintain face-to-face conversation, although in a highly restricted manner and with much linguistic inaccuracy. Within these limitations, can perform such tasks as introducing self, ordering a meal, asking directions, and making purchases. Vocabulary is adequate to express only the most elementary needs. Strong interference from native language may occur. Misunderstandings frequently arise, but with repetition, the Intermediate-Low speaker can generally be understood by sympathetic interlocutors.

INTERMEDIATE-LOW Japanese. Can ask and answer questions, such as IMA NAN-JI DESU KA? HACHI-JI DESU. Can engage in a simple, reactive conversations using formal nonpast/past, affirmative/negative forms (A: BOKU WA KINOO FUTTOBOORU O MI NI IKIMASHITA. B: SOO DESU KA. BOKU MO IKIMASHITA.), demonstrates (KORE/SORE/ARE WA WATASHI NO KURUMA DESU.), and classifiers (KAMI GA NI-MAI ARIMASU.), Misunderstanding frequently arises from poor pronunciation, wrong pitch-accents, and limited vocabulary.

INTERMEDIATE-MID. Able to handle successfully a variety of uncomplicated, basic, and communicative tasks and social situations. Can talk simply about self and family members. Can ask and answer questions and participate in simple conversations on topics beyond the most immediate needs; e.g., personal history and leisure time activities. Utterance length increases slightly, but speech may continue to be characterized by frequent long pauses, since the smooth incorporation of even basic conversational strategies is often hindered as the speaker struggles to create appropriate language forms. Pronunciation may continue to be strongly influenced by first language and fluency may still be strained. Although misunderstandings still arise, the Intermediate-Mid speaker can generally be understood by sympathetic interlocutors.

INTERMEDIATE-MID Japanese. Can ask and answer simple questions on topics such as personal history (ONIISAN GA ARIMASU KA?), leisure time activities (EIGA NI YOKU IKIMASU KA?), and simple transactions, such as at the post office (100 EN KITTE GO-MAI KUDASAI.), etc. Quantity of speech is increased and quality is improved. Greater accuracy in basic constructions and use of high frequency verbs and auxiliary verbs (A: IMA NANI O SHITE IMASU KA? B: TEREBI O MITE IMASU.). The intermediate-Mid speaker is generally a less reactive and more interactive conversational partner. (A: EIGA NI IKIMASHOO KA? B: IIE, WATASHI WA ONGAKKAI NI IKITAI DESU.). The use of classifiers is expanded, and the use of particles is more appropriate.

DESCRIPTIONS—LISTENING

The Intermediate level is characterized by an ability to understand main ideas and some facts from interactive exchanges and simple connected aural texts.

INTERMEDIATE-LOW Able to understand sentence-length utterances which consist of recombinations of learned elements in a limited number of content areas, particularly if strongly supported by the situational context. Content refers to basic personal background and needs, social conventions and routine tasks, such as getting meals and receiving simple instructions and directions. Listening tasks pertain primarily to spontaneous face-to-face conversations. Understanding is often uneven; repetition and rewording may be necessary. Misunderstandings in both main ideas and details arise frequently.

INTERMEDIATE-LOW Japanese. In areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics, can understand simple questions, e.g., IMA NANJI DESU KA? GAKUSEI DESU KA?, and answers, e.g., HACHIJI DESU. HAI, SOO DESU, and statement face-to-face conversations. Comprehension areas include basic information about such things as meals, lodging, transportation, time, simple instructions, making a purchase (including prices), and personal identification. Misunderstanding frequently arises from lack of vocabulary and inability to process syntactic information.

INTERMEDIATE-MID Able to understand sentence-length utterances which consist of recombinations of learned utterances on a variety of topics. Content continues to refer primarily to basic personal background and needs, social conventions and somewhat more complex tasks, such as lodging, transportation, and shopping. Additional content areas include some personal interests and activities, and a greater diversity of instructions and directions. Listening tasks not only pertain to spontaneous face-to-face conversations but also to short routine telephone conversations and some deliberate speech, such as simple announcements and reports over the media. Understanding continues to be uneven.

INTERMEDIATE-MID Japanese. Limited to sustain understanding of topics beyond a variety of survival needs. Beginning to understand longer utterances, but frequently requires repetition. Increasing awareness of particles and their meanings. Comprehend both sets of numbers (ICHI, NI, SAN...and HITOTSU, FUTATSU, MITTSU....), the basic classifiers (-EN, -MAI, -SATSU,, -HON, -KEN, -DAI), and the common time classifiers.

DESCRIPTIONS--WRITING

The Intermediate level is characterized by an ability to meet practical writing needs by communicating simple facts and ideas in a loose collection of sentences.

INTERMEDIATE-LOW Able to meet limited practical writing needs. Can write short messages, postcards, and take down simple notes, such as telephone messages. Can create statements or questions within the scope of limited language experience. Material produced consists of recombinations of learned vocabulary and structures into simple sentences on very familiar topics.

INTERMEDIATE-LOW Japanese. Can write short messages, e.g., 一時半ごろ帰りますからここで待っていて下さい。but may make errors. Makes only occasional KANA spelling errors. Without the use of a dictionary KANA may be used where KANJI would be expected. Vocabulary is expanding but still limited to everyday objects and common verbs and adjectives. Topics are simple, such as likes and dislikes, e.g., 私は、テニスが好きです。 short descriptions, e.g., 今日はあついです。 recounting of everyday events in a list-like manner, e.g., 八時に晩ご飯を食べました。テレビでフットボールを見ました。おもしろかったです。１２時ごろねました。 Makes persistent errors in KANJI , word choice, and grammar. Sentences are primarily simple sentences without any subordinate clauses.

INTERMEDIATE-MID Able to meet a number of practical writing needs. Can write short, simple letters. Content involves personal preferences, daily routine, everyday events, and other topics grounded in personal experience. Can express present time and at least one other time frame or aspect consistently, e.g., nonpast, habitual, imperfective. Evidence of control of the syntax of non-complex sentences and basic inflectional morphology, such as declensions and conjugation. Writing tends to be a loose collection of sentences or sentence fragments on a given topic and provides little evidence of conscious organization. Can be understood by natives used to the writing of non-natives.

INTERMEDIATE-MID Japanese. Able to write an increasing number of frequently-encountered KANJI. Can write a very short simple letter on topics related to the writer's personal experience, e.g., 昨日はボストンに行きました。ボストンの町を見て、それから博物館で日本の浮世絵をみました。うちに１２時ごろ帰りました。 but connectives are usually missing. There are still many errors in use of JOSHI and verb/adjective conjugations. In general, there is a heavy overlay of the writer's native language syntax.

DESCRIPTIONS--READING

The Intermediate level is characterized by an ability to understand main ideas and some facts from simple connected texts.

INTERMEDIATE-LOW Able to understand main ideas and/or some facts from the simplest connected texts dealing with basic personal and social needs. Such texts are linguistically noncomplex and have a clear underlying internal structure, for example, chronological sequencing. They impart basic information about which the reader has to make only minimal suppositions or to which the reader brings personal interest and/or knowledge. Examples include messages with social purposes and information for the widest possible audience, such as public announcements and short, straightforward instructions dealing with public life. Some misunderstandings will occur.

INTERMEDIATE-LOW Japanese. Can read, for basic survival and social needs, very simple, specially-prepared (quasi-authentic) material. Understands main ideas in specially-prepared material where sentences are extremely simple. Can read very simple hand-printed messages, e.g., 明日、朝９時頃またきます。田中 Understands only the simplest language with high frequency vocabulary and structure. Sentence structure is limited to simple sentences without any subordination. Misunderstanding arises when syntax diverges from that of the native language or when grammatical cues are overlooked.

INTERMEDIATE-MID Able to read consistently with increased understanding simple, connected texts dealing with a variety of basic and social needs. Such texts are still linguistically noncomplex and have a clear underlying internal structure. They impart basic information about which the reader has to make minimal suppositions and to which the reader brings personal interest and/or knowledge. Examples may include short, straightforward descriptions of persons, places, and things written for a wide audience.

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PAPI Japanese H. Kataoka and T Okawa, 2006