Below is a list of learning objectives that should be attainable in the completion of each ESL level. It is divided into the four skills of English. Despite this division, the skills will not be taught independently. Classes and activities will frequently employ more than one skill and attempt to satisfy a broad range of learning styles. 

LEVEL 1

SPEAKING

Students should be able to :
• Attract attention.
• Request assistance.
• Inquire about and state time.
• Provide basic personal information related to the context.
• Express ability/inability.
• Use and respond to a few courtesy formulas, greet someone known and not known.
• Respond appropriately to introductions by other people.
• Indicate communication problems in a number of ways.
• Give a number of short common daily instructions.
• Give positive and negative commands.
• Express and respond to a number of requests.
• Express and respond to caution and warning.
• Provide expanded basic personal information appropriate to the context.
• Give a basic description.
• Talk about things one enjoys.

LISTENING

Students should be able to :
• Identify greetings or other goodwill expressions in speech.
• Recognize appeals for repetition and clarification.
• Follow simple instructions and positive and negative commands and requests.
• Identify expressions used to attract attention.
• Identify expressions used to request assistance.
• Identify specific literal details: numbers, letters, a few key words and short expressions.
• Identify a range of expressions used to request assistance, express and respond to requests, and express warnings.
• Identify specific literal details: numbers, letters, time reference, places, key words and short expressions in a dialogue.

READING

Students should be able to :
• Demonstrate understanding of short greetings and other written texts.
• Follow short one-sentence written instruction.
• Get information from very basic short texts: identify specific details.
• Follow one- to four-step, one-sentence, common everyday written instructions in a predictable context.
• Understand very short basic common forms, simplified maps and diagrams, signs, labels, tables, schedules.
• Understand a short two- to three-sentence common business/service notice.
• Get information from very basic short texts.
• Identify main idea and specific details of texts.

WRITING

Students should be able to :
• Convey greetings or other messages by completing a standard greeting card with minimum required information.
• Copy numbers, letters, words, short phrases and sentences for personal use or to complete short writing tasks.
• Fill out simple forms.
• Describe a personal situation by completing a short guided text about self and family.
• Convey an expanded range of goodwill messages (e.g., thanks, apologies, congratulations, get well wishes, goodbyes and sympathy).
• Describe personal situation by completing short guided texts or by answering simple questions in writing.