Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS)
Center for Applied Second Language Studies - The Northwest National Foreign Language Resource Center
Japanese Oral Benchmarks
» I: Novice-Low
 
» II: Phase 1:
Novice-Mid
 
» II: Phase 2:
Novice-Mid
 
» III: Phase 1:
Novice-High
 
» III: Phase 2:
Novice-High
 
» IV: Phase 1: Intermediate-Low
 
» IV: Phase 2: Intermediate-Low
 
» V: Phase 1: Intermediate-Mid
 
» V: Phase 2: Intermediate-Mid
 
» VI: Intermediate-High
Other Generic Benchmarks
» Generic Literacy Benchmarks

Generic Oral Benchmarks

The spoken benchmarks set minimum standards of the tasks a student should be able to perform on demand. The spoken standards are based on four broad criteria: topic, function, text type, and performance level.

Topics refer to the subjects a student can discuss. Students at lower proficiency levels will be limited to discussing simple themes in their immediate environment, such as objects or people. At higher levels, students are expected to talk about activities, areas of study, and future plans.
Functions (students are able to...) describe what a student can accomplish with the language. Examples of functions are "obtain information," "express likes and dislikes," and "make suggestions."
Text types explain the types of language a student can produce. At first, students are only expected to say isolated words. Later, they must progress to speaking in phrases and full sentences.
Performance levels measure how successful a student’s speech is at conveying a message to another person. If pronunciation or grammar mistakes cause the listener to misinterpret the student, that student will be penalized for accuracy.

Benchmarks are organized by the National Standard for Foreign Languages’ 5C’s (communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities) and by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational).