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EXPANDING

The Can Do Descriptors are a sampling of the language expectations of English language learners as they travel along the continuum of English language development.  These Descriptors for the four language domains—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—and five levels of English language proficiency are based on the WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards. (From WIDA website:  http://www.wida.us/standards/CAN_DOs/ )

LISTENING

SPEAKING

READING

  WRITING

  • Create multiple-paragraph essays

  • Justify ideas

  • Produce content-related reports

  • Use details/examples to support ideas

  • Use transition words to create cohesive passages

  • Compose intro/body/ conclusion

  • Paraphrase or summarize text

  • Take notes (e.g., for research)

  • Order paragraphs

  • Identify summaries of passages

  • Identify figurative language (e.g., “dark as night”)

  • Interpret adapted classics or modified text

  • Match cause to effect

  • Identify specific language of different genres and informational texts

  • Use an array of strategies (e.g., skim and scan for information)

  • Paraphrase and summarize ideas presented orally

  • Defend a point of view

  • Explain outcomes

  • Explain and compare content-based concepts

  • Connect ideas with supporting details/evidence

  • Substantiate opinions with reasons and evidence

  • Identify main ideas and details of oral discourse

  • Complete content-related tasks or assignments based on oral discourse

  • Apply learning strategies to new situations

  • Role play, dramatize, or re-enact scenarios from oral

  • reading

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