The ESL Literacy Benchmarks lay out the progression of reading, writing and numeracy skills for ESL adults who have little or no literacy skills in their first language. The document is also useful with ESL students who are literate in a non-Roman alphabet language and need to learn reading and writing basics in English.

These benchmarks are descriptions of what ESL Literacy students are able to do at various stages of their development. They are not a curriculum, nor are they a test; however, they can be used to inform the development of both.

The ESL Literacy Benchmarks are divided into a pre-reading and writing phase, called the Foundation Phase, followed by Phases I - III.

Since ESL Literacy learners have little or no formal education they may also require basic numeracy skills. These skills are as important in everyday life as being able to read and write. Like reading and writing, numeracy is a communication skill. Numeracy provides a language for dialoguing about quantities, measurement, comparing, identifying patterns, reasoning, and communicating precisely.

Basic numeracy includes addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, decimals, percentages and fractions. Sometimes learners are more comfortable manipulating numbers than words on a page. Developing competence in numeracy can help build the confidence necessary to learn to read and write. It can help adults who may need to deal with situations involving numbers, mathematical ideas, and quantities. Generally, non-Roman alphabet learners, if they are well educated, will not need to learn numeracy skills.

However, if they are not fully literate in their first language this may be necessary. Even learners who have had some exposure to math instruction may have been taught quite differently. Some languages have non-Arabic numbering systems, although usually this is found only in older learners.

The ESL Literacy Benchmarks are primarily intended for instructors to help them determine the developmental level of their students and design appropriate teaching/learning activities. They may also be useful to curriculum, material, or test developers.

The ESL for Adults Benchmarks are designed for use with literate learners. The ESL Literacy Benchmarks are designed to be used with the listening and speaking ESL for Adults Benchmarks until such time as the learner has developed sufficient fluency as a reader to move into a regular ESL program or into a literacy program for native speakers of English, such as ABE (Adult Basic Education).

For the ESL Literacy student, these benchmarks replace the early levels of the ESL for Adults reading and writing benchmarks. The exception is the Foundation Phase, which describes the development of the pre-reading and writing skills and knowledge necessary before beginning Phase l reading and writing.

Adult students of ESL usually develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at different rates. It is not uncommon for an adult ESL student to have Canadian Language Benchmarks assessment scores at different levels in the various skill areas. For ESL Literacy students, while their oral skills can be described on the same scale as ESL for Adults students, their literacy skills require a different description: one which articulates the specific aspects of their literacy development. Figure 1 illustrates approximate comparative benchmark levels for the ESL for Adults and ESL Literacy descriptors. However, the diagram does not reflect the significant differences in the rate of progress of students in the two streams.

The end of the Phase III ESL Literacy can be viewed as a time of transition. Those students with higher oral/aural levels may be ready to enter an ABE program. Others,

whose oral/aural level is closer to their literacy level, would probably benefit from participating in a regular adult ESL class to develop their speaking and listening along with their literacy skills.

Canadian Language Benchmarks www.language.ca