Lower Introductory Reading and Writing for English Language Learners

Reading Skills

1. Identify key information in descriptive and narrative texts.
2. Identify purpose, topic and key information in simple business/service texts (eg. brochures, notices, flyers).
3. Get gist, key information, and important details from short personal notes, letters, and email messages.
4. Locate specific information in formatted texts (eg. forms, tables, schedules, bills).
5. Understand simple maps and diagrams.
6. Follow 1-5 step common everyday instructions and instructional texts.
7. Scan for details (eg. numbers).
8. Determine meanings of unfamiliar words in course materials.
   • Begin to use an English-English dictionary.
   • Guess meaning from context.

Writing Skills

1. Write informal personal messages (e.g. Invitations or personal requests).
2. Fill out simple forms (e.g. a library card application, an emergency contact form)
3. Copy short texts (e.g. from dictionaries or textbooks) to complete tasks or learn information (e.g. record a dictionary definition).
4. Write short informal descriptions of people or daily routines.
5. Write short informal personal narratives.
6. Write informally about present and past events.
7. Keep a journal.

Accuracy

For explicit instruction and evaluation:

1. Verb tenses (simple present, simple past, simple future).
2. Basic parts of speech and basic sentence parts.
3. Simple sentences.
4. Simple spelling, capitalization and punctuation conventions (period, question mark).

Classroom Skills

1. Take responsibility for the following:
   • Attendance and punctuality.
   • Classwork and assignments.
   • Participation and teamwork, collaboration in groups and decision-making.
2. Follow instructions, communicate with peers and instructors and ask for clarification.
3. Show an awareness of cultural differences and general features of their culture and the world.