Stage I:
Employment –
Finding a Job
This theme focuses on the communication skills needed to find, acquire, and maintain a job.
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 short recorded message about an upcoming (face-to-face) job interview. Identify the date and time of the interview.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand very short, simple instructions, commands and requests related to immediate personal needs.
- Identifies letters and numbers.
- Identifies words or phrases that indicate positive or negative commands or requests.
Listen to a sentence about what questions to expect in a job interview like where do you work now or when can you start?
Comprehending Information
Understand very simple information about highly familiar, concrete topics.
- Identifies a few obvious factual details, such as numbers, letters, times and dates.
- Identifies a few key words and short expressions related to immediate needs.
CLB 2
Listen to a job seeker asking about a company’s work hours in an information interview.
Getting Things Done
Understand expressions used to make and respond to requests in situations of immediate personal need.
- Identifies expressions for basic requests.
- Responds appropriately with physical or verbal responses.
Listen to a few short sentences about what questions to expect in a job interview like where do you work now, when can you start or can you work in the evenings?
Comprehending Information
Understand simple information about familiar, concrete topics.
- Identifies specific factual details, such as numbers, letters, time, place, key words and expressions.
- Identifies words related to personal identification information.
CLB 3
Listen to a brief recording of an information interview explaining how an employer accommodates persons with physical disabilities in their workplace.
Getting Things Done
Understand expressions used in familiar everyday situations.
- Identifies phrases and sentences related to simple persuasive functions (such as requests and permissions).
Listen to a short description of some topics that employers are not allowed to ask during a job like pregnancy, age and marital status.
Comprehending Information
Understand short, simple, descriptive communication about a person, object, situation, scene, personal experience or daily routine.
- Gets the gist.
- Identifies factual details, key words and expressions as required.
CLB 4
Listen to a hiring manager describe their approach to creating a workplace which welcomes neurodivergent employees.
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.
Listen to a brief description of laws for employers that do not allow for interview questions about race, sexual orientation and religion during a job interview.
Comprehending Information
Understand short descriptive or narrative communication on topics of personal relevance.
- Gets the gist
- Identifies factual details, some implied meanings, key words and expressions.
Speaking
CLB 1
Answer 2 or 3 personal information questions at the start of an interview.
Interacting With Others
Use and respond to basic courtesy formulas and greetings.
- Responds appropriately to common greetings, introductions, and leave-takings.
- Uses appropriate basic courtesy formulas.
Tell someone your previous job title and company.
Sharing Information
Give basic personal information in response to direct questions from a supportive listener.
- Answers simple questions about personal information.
- Uses alphabet to spell out words, such as own name.
CLB 2
Answer several basic personal information questions at the start of an interview.
Interacting With Others
Use and respond to courtesy formulas and greetings.
- Initiates and responds appropriately to introductions and leave-takings using appropriate courtesy formulas.
- Opens a short conversation.
In a few short sentences, tell someone a brief, simplified job history.
Sharing Information
Give expanded basic personal information to a supportive listener.
- Answers simple questions about personal information.
- Expresses basic ability or inability.
CLB 3
Make small talk and answer several basic personal information questions at the start of an interview.
Interacting With Others
Use a range of courtesy formulas and greetings in very short, casual, face-to-face interactions.
- Opens a conversation.
- Uses an expanding range of courtesy formulas and small talk phrases.
In a few short simple sentences share a brief job history including your education, work experience and work goals in Canada.
Sharing Information
Give simple descriptions of concrete objects, people or experiences in a few short sentences.
- Sustains about 4 or 5 sentences, which may not be adequately connected as discourse.
- Expresses some feelings.
CLB 4
Answer a range of questions in an information interview.
Interacting With Others
Use a range of courtesy formulas and some casual small talk in short, one-on-one or small group interactions.
- Opens and closes a short conversation.
- Asks and responds to questions about common, everyday routines.
Share information to respond to the interview question, “Walk me through your resume.”
Sharing Information
Give brief descriptions of personal experiences, situations or simple processes, such as getting goods or services.
- Sustains about 5 to 7 sentences, which are adequately connected as discourse.
- Gives descriptions in coherent narratives.
Reading
CLB 1
Find the job title and location on a very short, simplified job profile.
Getting Things Done
Get information from very short, simple, common formatted texts.
- Identifies numbers (amounts, dates) and familiar words (names, addresses, city names).
- Identifies an address.
Read simple captions on visual depictions of working in Canada.
Comprehending Information
Recognize names, numbers and some basic details in very simple, short texts related to everyday situations and immediate needs.
- Identifies numbers, letters and a few key words and short expressions.
CLB 2
Find information such as the job title, location, and salary range on a simplified job profile.
Getting Things Done
Get basic information from short, simple business or service notices.
- Scans text to find specific details.
- Recognizes layout.
Read a few sentences about how youth can gain valuable experience through volunteering in the community.
Comprehending Information
Understand the purpose and some basic details in very simple short texts related to everyday, familiar, personally relevant situations and topics.
- Identifies purpose.
- Identifies numbers, a few key words and short, common expressions.
CLB 3
Find information about a job and the skills and qualifications required on a short job profile like if you need experience or need to be bilingual in French and English.
Getting Things Done
Get information from short business or service texts.
- Gets overall meaning.
- Interprets simple graphics.
Read several job ads to compare jobs that have inclusion statements.
Comprehending Information
Understand the purpose, main idea, key information and some details in simple, short texts related to everyday familiar and personally relevant situations and topics.
- Gets the gist.
- Identifies key information and main idea.
CLB 4
Find information about a job from a company website such as duties, health benefits, vacation leave and parental leave options.
Getting Things Done
Get information from short business or service texts.
- Identifies type and purpose.
- Finds main ideas, specific information and key details.
Read a short article about how to request accommodations at work for a physical disability.
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.
- Finds key information and specific details.
Writing
CLB 1
Fill out an application form with up to 5 items to volunteer at a seniors’ care centre.
Getting Things Done
Complete very short, simple or simplified forms that require only basic personal identification information.
- Includes the required basic information.
- Writes legibly.
Respond to a “Help Wanted” notice by copying a few details such as address and telephone number.
Reproducing Information
Copy numbers, letters, words, short phrases or sentences from simple lists or very short passages, for personal use or to complete short tasks.
- Copies letters, numbers, words and short sentences, including capitalization and punctuation.
- Copies text legibly; readers may still have difficulties decoding some letters and numbers.
CLB 2
Fill out a job application form with up to 10 items to volunteer at a community event for newcomers.
Getting Things Done
Complete short, simple or simplified forms that require only basic personal identification or familiar information.
- Writes basic personal information in appropriate sections.
- Follows some conventions for addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
Respond to a “Help Wanted” notice by copying information such as location, telephone number and contact person.
Reproducing Information
Copy a range of information, from simple lists or very short passages, for personal use or to complete short tasks.
- Copies letters, numbers, words, and sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation.
- Copies text with no major omissions and only occasional copying mistakes.
CLB 3
Complete a job application form with 12-15 items to volunteer at a community centre to provide settlement support for newcomers.
Getting Things Done
Complete short, simple forms that require basic personal or familiar information and some responses to simple questions.
- Includes the required basic information with no major omissions.
- Follows most spelling conventions.
Copy instructions for how to apply for a job from a website or business flyer.
Reproducing Information
Copy or record a range of information from short texts for personal use.
- Follows standard Canadian conventions for capitalization, punctuation and other requirements of the genre.
- Copies text with no major omissions and only occasional copying mistakes.
CLB 4
Complete a job application form with 15-20 items to volunteer at a local shelter with unhoused youth.
Getting Things Done
Complete simple forms that require basic personal or familiar information and some responses to simple questions.
- Includes the required basic information with no major omissions.
- Follows appropriate conventions for addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
Copy job opportunity information from two company business flyers or websites to choose which one to apply for.
Reproducing Information
Copy or record an expanded range of information from short texts for personal use.
- Follows standard conventions for capitalization and punctuation; accurately copies other elements of formatting.
- Copies text with no major omissions and only occasional copying mistakes.
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.
