Learn
As you go through the content, make sure to take notes. You will be allowed to use your notes on the exercise at the end of the lesson.
Interpersonal Mode
Interpretive Mode
Presentational
Can-Do Statements
ACTFL has created a self-assessment checklist called "Can-Do" statements. They help you evaluate what you "can do" with the language.
Novice Low CAN-DO
- Interpretive Novice Low: I can recognize a few memorized words and phrases when I hear them. I can recognize a few memorized words and phrases when I read.
- Presentational Novice Low: I can present information about myself and other very familiar topics using single words and phrases (in both spoken and written form).
- Interpersonal Novice Low: I can communicate on some very familiar topics using single words or phrases I have practiced or memorized.
Novice Mid CAN DO
- Interpretive Novice Mid: I can recognize a few memorized words and phrases when I hear them. I can recognize a few memorized words and phrases when I read.
- Presentational Novice Mid: I can present information about myself and other very familiar topics using single words and phrases (in both spoken and written form such as lists).
- Interpersonal Novice Mid: I can communicate on very familiar topics using a variety of words and phrases that I have practiced and memorized.
Novice High CAN DO
- Interpretive Novice High: I can often understand words, phrases and simple sentences related to everyday life. I can sometimes understand the main topic of what is being said or what I have read.
- Presentational Novice High: I can present basic information on familiar topics using language I have practiced using phrases and simple sentences. I can write short messages and notes on familiar topics.
- Interpersonal Novice High: I can communicate and exchange information about familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences. I can usually handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions.
Intermediate Low CAN DO
- Interpretive Intermediate Low: I can understand the main idea in short simple messages, presentations or readings on familiar topics.
- Presentational Intermediate Low: I can present information on most familiar topics using a series of simple sentences (both spoken and written).
- Interpersonal Intermediate Low: I can participate in conversations on a number of familiar topics using simple sentences. I can handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions.
Intermediate Mid CAN DO
- Interpretive Intermediate Mid: I can understand the main idea and key information in short straightforward informational texts.
- Presentational Intermediate Mid: I can give straightforward presentations on a variety of familiar topics and some concrete topics I have researched, using sentences and series of connected sentences.
- Interpersonal Intermediate Mid: I can exchange information in conversations on familiar topics and some researched topics, creating sentences and series of sentences and asking a variety of follow-up questions.
Intermediate High CAN DO
- Interpretive Intermediate High: I can usually follow the main message in various time frames in straightforward, and sometimes descriptive, paragraph-length informational texts.
- Presentational Intermediate High: I can give detailed presentations on a variety of familiar topics and some concrete topics I have researched, using a few short paragraphs, often across various time frames.
- Interpersonal Intermediate High: I can exchange information in conversations and some discussions on a variety of familiar and some concrete topics that I have researched, using connected sentences that may combine to form paragraphs and asking a variety of questions, often across various time frames.
Interpersonal Assessments
In your online course, you will often be working at different times from your teacher and classmates. This makes it a little more difficult to practice and evaluate your skills at interpersonal communication.
In this class, you will have at least two major assessments on your interpersonal communication skills, one in each term. Your teacher will prepare you for these assessments well in advance. You may be offered two options for the interpersonal assessment.
- Your teacher may offer several times for a real-time conversation by phone or web conference. The conversation will be carried out in the target language.
- If you and your teacher cannot find a time to communicate in real-time, you will record yourself holding a simulated conversation. For this conversation, you will record yourself responding to a series of prerecorded audio or video prompts. Your recording will be submitted to the dropbox for a grade.
Each interpersonal assessment will be equivalent to a unit test grade, so make sure that you take the time to complete them.
To prepare yourself for the interpersonal asessments, practice speaking with others in your school who speak the target language. This includes anyone else taking the same ACCESS class, people in the face-to-face version of the class, or people in your school or community who speak the language. Make sure that you also practice recording your conversations. If you cannot find a partner, talk to your dog or even just yourself. Read all of your assignments in the target language to yourself out loud. The more you practice, the less fear you will have.
And remember - depending on your level, you might only speak a few words or phrases. That's OK! It is how all language learning starts.
