Stage I:
Banking and Numeracy
This theme focuses on the communication skills needed to understand and use numbers, particularly related to home finances. Find out more about this theme at Language for Success and Skills for Success.
Choose a CLB level by clicking below to access information about Real-World Tasks and Detailed Sample Tasks for this theme.
Listening
CLB 1
Listen to a very short password to enter the letters and numbers in the field.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand very short, simple instructions, commands and requests related to immediate personal needs.
- Identifies words or phrases that indicate positive or negative commands.
- Indicates comprehension with appropriate verbal or non-verbal requests.
Listen to a sentence from a bank teller about documents needed to open a checking account.
Comprehending Information
Understand very simple information about highly familiar, concrete topics.
- Identifies a few obvious factual details, such as numbers, times and dates.
- Identifies a few simple key words and short expressions.
CLB 2
With visual supports, follow a few, short steps to set a password.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand short, simple, common instructions, commands and direction requests related to immediate personal needs.
- Identifies letters and numbers.
- Identifies words or phrases that indicate positive or negative commands.
Listen to a few simple sentences about the fees when opening a new account.
Comprehending Information
Understand simple information about familiar, concrete topics.
- Identifies specific factual details, such as numbers, letters, time, place.
- Identifies key words and expressions.
CLB 3
Follow 2 to 4 steps to set a strong password.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand instructions and direction requests related to familiar, everyday situations of immediate personal relevance.
- Identifies basic connectors related to time (now, then, before, after) and place (this, that, here, there).
- Responds with correct actions to instructions.
Listen to a few short sentences about the costs of payday loans.
Comprehending Information
Understand short, simple, descriptive communication about a person, object, situation, scene, personal experience or daily routine.
- Gets the gist.
- Identifies key information and main idea.
Listen to a few short sentences in an infomercial about where you can access government services in French or other languages.
Getting Things Done
Understand short communication intended to influence or persuade others in familiar everyday situations.
- Identifies purpose, main ideas, factual details and some implied meanings in simple announcements, commercials or infomercials.
CLB 4
Listen to 4 to 5 banking safety tips to share.
Comprehending Information
Understand short descriptive or narrative communication on topics of personal relevance.
- Responds with appropriate actions to instructions.
- Recognizes and identifies the correct sequence of steps.
Listen to up to 10 sentences to compare the costs of payday loans and the cost of borrowing money on a credit card.
Comprehending Information
Understand short, descriptive or narrative communication on topics of personal relevance.
- Identifies factual details (who, what, where and when).
- Identifies some implied meanings, key words, and expressions.
Speaking
CLB 1
In a single sentence, ask for assistance using the ATM.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to simple requests related to immediate personal needs.
- Uses appropriate single words, phrases, memorized expressions and courtesy formulas.
- Uses expressions for money and amounts
Give a single sentence instruction to a friend on how to sign up for online banking.
Giving Instructions
Give brief, simple, common, routine instructions to a familiar person. [Instructions are a few words or a short phrase.]
- Use imperative forms and memorized stock expressions.
- Use appropriate courtesy formulas.
CLB 2
Using two or three sentences, make a request at a bank to withdraw some cash.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to simple requests related to common everyday activities.
- Uses appropriate memorized expressions, simple sentences and courtesy formulas.
- Relies on gestures to convey meaning.
Give 1 to 2 instructions to a friend on how to deposit a cheque through online banking.
Giving Instructions
Give short, simple, common, routine instructions to a familiar person. [Instructions are short phrases or imperative sentences.]
- Use imperative forms, memorized stock expressions and use appropriate courtesy formulas.
- Give both positive and negative commands.
CLB 3
Ask a bank teller if there are ATMs for customers who are visually impaired.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to an expanding range of simple requests related to everyday activities.
- Uses simple sentences and question formations.
- Repeats and attempts to explain when necessary.
Give 2 to 3 directions to a classmate about when and where they can attend a free tax clinic in other languages including the two official languages.
Giving Instructions
Give simple, common, routine instructions and directions to a familiar person.
- Use appropriate courtesy formulas and structures.
- Expresses movement and location.
CLB 4
Ask a teller at your local bank branch where you can access financial planning services in French or another language.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to a range of requests and offers.
- Asks questions and makes requests politely and appropriately.
- Facilitates the listener’s comprehension by repeating and explaining.
Give short instructions to a friend or family member about how to get ready for the upcoming tax season like deadlines, tax clinics to help, or websites.
Giving Instructions
Give a set of simple, common, routine instructions and directions to a familiar person.
- Use appropriate courtesy formulas and structures.
- Expresses movement and location.
Ask a teller if they have an English only form because the bilingual form is confusing.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to a range of requests and offers.
- Asks questions and makes requests politely and appropriately.
- Facilitates the listener’s comprehension by repeating and explaining.
Reading
CLB 1
Find the total amount due on a utility bill.
Getting Things Done
Get information from very short, simple, common, formatted texts.
- Identifies numbers (amounts, dates).
- Identifies familiar information (addresses, cities, names).
Read a one line message from a classmate inviting you to a workshop about online safety.
Interacting with Others
Understand short greetings and simple goodwill messages.
- Identifies specific goodwill expressions and their meanings.
- Locates dates, times, addresses, and phone numbers.
CLB 2
Find the total amount due and due date on a utility bill.
Getting Things Done
Get information from simple formatted texts.
- Recognizes layout of the bill.
- Scans text to find specific simple details.
Read a short message from a friend or classmate telling you about a common scam.
Interacting with Others
Understand short greetings and other goodwill messages.
- Gets the gist.
- Finds a few simple details.
CLB 3
Read a few short sentences about the options for how to pay your utility bill.
Getting Things Done
Get information from simple formatted texts.
- Identifies words and phrases that indicate amounts.
- Identifies basic connectors related to time (now, then, before, after) and place (this, that, here, there).
Read a text message from a family member or friend inviting you to a workshop about online scams targeting newcomers.
Interacting with Others
Understand short personal social messages within predictable contexts of daily experience.
- Gets the gist.
- Finds a few simple details.
CLB 4
Read an article about how large banks often sponsor different groups and organizations like newcomers, sports teams or Pride by donating money.
Comprehending Information
Understand the purpose, main idea, key information and specific details in simple, short texts related to everyday familiar and personally relevant situations and topics.
- Gets the overall meaning
- Identifies type and purpose of the text.
- Finds key information and specific details.
Read a utility bill to find out how much the late payment penalty charge is and calculate the total amount that will be due.
Getting Things Done
Get information from simple formatted texts.
- Identifies the type and purpose of the document.
- Compares information to make choices.
Read an email from a family member asking for advice about a possible online scam targeting newcomers.
Interacting with Others
Understand simple personal social messages within predictable contexts of daily experience.
- Gets the gist.
- Identifies specific important details (such as sender, date and response required).
Writing
CLB 1
Write a shopping list of 5 to 10 items by copying food words from a picture dictionary.
Reproducing Information
Copy numbers, letters, words, short phrases and sentences from simple lists or very short passages for personal use.
- Copies or records letters, numbers and words, including capitalization and punctuation.
- Copies text legibly; reader may still have difficulties decoding some numbers or letters.
Using two or three words, complete a simple guided text about paying with a debit card in a store.
Sharing Information
Write a few words to complete a short, guided text to answer simple questions to describe a personal situation.
- Writes a few personal and familiar details.
- Writes legibly.
Write up to 5 highly familiar personal information details to complete a very simplified form to register for a financial literacy workshop for women.
Getting Things Done
Complete very short, simple or simplified forms that require only basic personal identification information.
- Writes basic personal information in appropriate sections.
- Follows some conventions for addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
CLB 2
Budget for grocery expenses by copying prices from a store flyer next to a list of food items.
Reproducing Information
Copy a range of information from simple lists or very short passages for personal use.
- Copies or records letters, numbers and words correctly.
- Copies text legibly; reader may still have difficulties decoding some numbers or letters.
Complete a simple guided text of 5-7 sentences about paying for groceries like using cash, debit, or credit card.
Sharing Information
Write a few words to complete a short, guided text to answer simple questions to describe a personal situation.
- Writes personal details in response to a few short questions.
- Follows some spelling and punctuation conventions.
Complete up to 10 items of personal information on a form to register for a financial education workshop for women.
Getting Things Done
Complete short, simple or simplified forms that require only basic personal identification or familiar information.
- Follows some conventions for addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
- Follows some basic spelling conventions.
CLB 3
Copy a list of monthly expenses from a template.
Reproducing Information
Copy or record a range of information from short texts for personal use.
- Copies or records letters, numbers and words with no major omissions.
- Copies text legibly, causing only slight uncertainty in decoding for the reader.
Write up to 5 sentences to describe how to get assistance in either official language when using telephone banking.
Sharing Information
Write a few sentences to describe a familiar person, object, place, situation or event.
- Uses a few connected sentences.
- Provides adequate descriptions, though a reader may have some difficulty following the message.
Complete up to 15 items on a short, simple form to apply for a banking product for newcomer women.
Getting Things Done
Complete short, simple forms that require basic personal or familiar information and some responses to simple questions.
- Follows appropriate conventions for addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
- Follows most spelling conventions.
CLB 4
Prepare a monthly budget using information from a template.
Reproducing Information
Copy or record an expanded range of information from short texts for personal use.
- Accurately copies elements of formatting from template.
- Copies information with no major omissions.
Prepare a budget with a partner using information from a template. Talk about household shared responsibility, distribution of household income and transparency.
Reproducing Information
Copy or record an expanded range of information from short texts for personal use.
- Accurately copies elements of formatting from template.
- Copies information with no major omissions.
Complete up to 20 items on a simple form to apply for a micro-loan for newcomer women.
Getting Things Done
Complete simple forms that require basic personal or familiar information and some responses to simple questions.
- Follows appropriate conventions for addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
- Follows most spelling conventions.
Write your bank representative an email and ask them to correct the spelling of your name.
Getting Things Done
Write simple business or service messages
- Conveys main ideas and supports them with some detail in a basic paragraph structure.
- Uses language and content that are appropriate to the purpose, intent and social context.
Sample Real World Tasks
This information is aligned with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and is designed to help guide you in the planning process. You can use these sample real-world tasks to guide and inform your selection or creation of skill-building activities, skill-using tasks and assessment tasks
These sample real-world tasks include the following: skill, real-world task, competency area, one competency statement and two sample indicators of ability. This is not an exhaustive list: there are more indicators of ability and information about this CLB level in Canadian Language Benchmarks English as a Second Language for Adults. Consult this resource for more information and to select your own competencies or indicators of ability. Remember, you can use more learner-friendly language in your materials and assessments.
This is NOT a lesson plan, module plan or curriculum.
