Stage I:
Health and Wellness
This theme focuses on the communication skills required to navigate health systems, and understand and manage health and well-being in Canada.
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 an announcement about free vaccine clinics to find the date and time.
Comprehending Information
Understand very simple information about highly familiar topics.
- Identifies a few obvious factual details, such as numbers, letters, times and dates.
- Identifies a few key words and short expressions.
Follow simple instructions of a few words for what to bring to the hospital when giving birth.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand very short, simple instructions, commands and requests related to immediate needs.
- Identifies words or phrases that indicate positive or negative commands.
- Indicates comprehension with appropriate verbal or non-verbal requests.
CLB 2
Listen to a short announcement for a vaccine clinic to find the location, dates, and times.
Comprehending Information
Understand simple information about familiar, concrete topics.
- Identifies factual details, such as numbers, letters, time and place.
- Identifies key words and expressions.
Follow instructions of 2 or 3 simple sentences for fasting before a hospital test.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand short, simple common instructions, commands, requests and directions related to immediate needs.
- Identifies words or phrases that indicate positive or negative commands.
- Responds verbally or with actions.
CLB 3
Listen to a short description of the benefits of getting a yearly flu shot.
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.
Follow simple instructions for how to access healthcare services in French/ other languages that may be available in your community.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand instructions and directions 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 instruction.
Listen to a short conversation of up to 5 turns between two mothers talking about time off needed for taking care of sick children.
Interacting with Others
Understand simple social exchanges, including styles of greetings, introductions and leave taking.
- Begins to identify formal and casual style and register.
- Identifies participant roles and relationships based on courtesy formulas and introductions.
CLB 4
Listen to a short description about the benefits and possible side effects of getting a flu shot.
Comprehending Information
Understand short descriptive or narrative communication on topics of personal relevance.
- Identifies factual details, some implied meanings, key words and expressions.
- Compares simple information.
In the emergency room listen to a nurse saying she does not speak French, or another language, but will get another nurse who can.
Comprehending Information
Understand short descriptive or narrative communication on topics of personal relevance.
- Identifies factual details, some implied meanings, key words and expressions.
- Compares simple information.
Follow instructions for organizing home care services after leaving the hospital.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand common, sequentially presented instructions and directions related to familiar, everyday situations of personal relevance.
- Identifies words and phrases that indicate manner and frequency.
- Recognizes and identifies the correct sequence of steps.
Speaking
CLB 1
Greet the receptionist at a medical clinic; give name and time of appointment.
Interacting With Others
Use and respond to basic courtesy formulas and greetings.
- Responds appropriately to common greetings, introductions, and leave-takings.
- Uses acceptable gestures and body language when making requests.
Answer 2 to 3 questions related to personal identification information at a medical clinic.
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.
Ask your friend where they go to the doctor.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to simple requests related to immediate and personal needs such as asking for assistance or for the time, a price or an amount).
- Uses appropriate single words, phrases, memorized expressions and courtesy formulas.
- Uses acceptable gestures and body language when making requests.
CLB 2
Make a follow-up appointment at the family doctor choosing the date and time.
Interacting With Others
Use and respond to courtesy formulas and greetings.
- Opens a short conversation.
- Indicates communication problems verbally, if needed.
Give a basic, short description of your symptoms when you visit the emergency department.
Sharing Information
Give expanded personal information to a supportive listener.
- Answers simple questions about personal information.
- Expresses basic ability or inability.
Ask a friend if they know of any health professionals in your cultural community.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to simple requests related to common everyday activities.
- Uses appropriate memorized expressions, simple expressions and courtesy formulas for requests.
CLB 3
Make an appointment for a family member or friend at a medical clinic.
Interacting With Others
Use a range of courtesy formulas and greetings in very short, casual, face-to-face interactions.
- Responds appropriately in short routine exchanges.
- Initiates and responds appropriately in short routine exchanges about self and another person.
Ask your neighbour to help you find a family doctor in your area that speaks your language.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to to an expanding range of simple requests related to everyday activities.
- Uses appropriate polite expressions.
- Uses simple sentences and question formations.
- Repeats and attempts to explain when necessary.
Describe a family member’s or friend’s symptoms to a medical practitioner.
Sharing Information
Give simple descriptions of experiences in a few short sentences.
- Answers simple, factual questions.
- Follows conventions for providing personal information such as addresses and phone numbers.
CLB 4
Call an information line to find out about the options for healthcare services in French/ other languages that may be available in the community.
Interacting With Others
Participate in short, very simple phone calls.
- Asks and responds to routine questions.
- Uses a range of small talk phrases and expressions.
Describe your reaction to a new medication to a pharmacist.
Sharing Information
Give information about needs and feelings related to common everyday situations.
- Answers simple, factual questions.
- Expresses feelings, needs, and preferences.
Call to reschedule an appointment; Give a reason for not being able to attend the original appointment time.
Getting Things Done
Make and respond to a range of requests and offers such as giving assistance, and asking for, offering, accepting or rejecting goods or services.
- Asks questions and makes requests and suggestions politely and appropriately.
- Uses modals with some accuracy.
- Facilitates the listener’s comprehension by repeating and clarifying.
- Elicits or provides details as needed.
Reading
CLB 1
Match a few simple words to visuals to understand some Indigenous food and plant medicines.
Comprehending Information
Recognize names, numbers, and some basic details in very simple short texts related to everyday situations.
- Identifies numbers, letters, a few key words and short expressions.
- Identifies a few simple details.
Read a simplified prescription label to determine how many pills to take.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand very short, simple instructions for common, familiar everyday situations.
- Recognizes individual words (imperative verbs and common nouns) in a set of instructions.
- Identifies numbers, a few key words and short expressions in instructions.
Identify personal information on a health card.
Getting Things Done
Get information from very short simple common formatted texts.
- Identifies numbers and familiar words.
- Identifies an address.
CLB 2
Read a few, short sentences about foods and plants some local Indigenous peoples use for healing.
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.
Read instructions on a simplified prescription label to determine how many pills to take and when.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand short, simple, clearly sequenced instructions for common, familiar everyday situations.
- Recognizes individual words, phrases and symbols used in simple instructions.
- Follows instructions in the proper sequence.
CLB 3
Read a short description about how local Indigenous peoples use traditional foods and plants as medicine.
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.
Read instructions on a medicine label; identify how many pills to take and time to take the medication and whether to take with food or on an empty stomach.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand short, simple, clearly sequenced instructions for familiar everyday situations.
- Identifies sequence signals (such as first, second, next).
- Recognizes words, phrases and symbols commonly used in instructions.
Get information from a short notice about a community health service, to determine whether to use it.
Getting Things Done
Get information from short business or service texts.
- Gets overall meaning.
- Scans text for specific information.
CLB 4
Read an article of up to 3 paragraphs about traditional foods being used in Indigenous cultures for healing.
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.
- Identifies the type and purpose of the text.
- Finds key information and specific details.
Read a simplified prescription information handout to understand the medication instructions (including when to take medication, whether to take with food and what to avoid) and how to respond to minor side effects of medication.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand short, simple, clearly sequenced instructions and instructional texts for familiar everyday situations.
- Identifies sequence signals (such as first, next, before).
- Recognizes common sentence patterns, phrases and symbols commonly used in instructions.
Read a short article of up to 3 paragraphs on how to best prevent breast or prostate cancer.
Comprehending Information
Understand short descriptions or narrative communication on topics of personal relevance.
- Gets the gist
- Identifies factual details, some implied meanings, key words and expressions.
Writing
CLB 1
Complete the personal information section of a simplified form at a medical or dental office.
Getting Things Done
Complete very short, simple or simplified forms that require only basic personal identification information.
- Includes the required basic information.
- Write basic information in appropriate sections.
Copy simple tips to accompany pictures of healthy habits.
Reproducing Information
Copy numbers, letters, words, short phrases or sentences from simple lists or short passages for personal use.
- Copies or records letters, numbers, words and short sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation.
- Copies text legibly; reader may still have some difficulties decoding some letters and numbers.
CLB 2
Complete a change of address form at a medical or dental office.
Getting Things Done
Complete short, simple or simplified forms that require only basic personal identification or familiar information.
- Includes the required basic information.
- Follows standard conventions for capitalization and punctuation.
Copy a list of activities that you can join each week from a list of options at the community centre to help practice healthy living.
Reproducing Information
Copy a range of information for personal use.
- Copies or records letters, numbers, words and short sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation.
- Copies text with no major omissions and only occasional copying mistakes.
CLB 3
Complete a short, simple new patient form at a medical centre; include current medications and emergency contact information.
Getting Things Done
Complete short, simple forms that require basic, personal identification or familiar information.
- Includes the required basic information with no major omissions.
- Follows standard conventions for capitalization and punctuation.
From a list of health or wellness suggestions, copy tips for your own use.
Reproducing Information
Copy or record a range of information from short texts for personal use.
- Copies or records letters, numbers, words and sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation.
- Copies text with no major omissions and only occasional copying mistakes.
CLB 4
Complete a simplified new patient information form at a medical centre including current medications, allergies or other health concerns.
Getting Things Done
Complete short, simple forms that require basic, personal identification or familiar information.
- Includes the required basic information with no major omissions.
- Follows standard conventions for capitalization and punctuation.
Write a short email to your dentist’s office requesting information about payment plans for treatment.
Getting Things Done
Write simple business or service messages.
- Conveys main ideas and supports them with some detail in a basic paragraph.
- Uses language and content that are appropriate to the purpose.
From a short text about healthy living, make a list of suggestions for your own use.
Reproducing Information
Copy or record an expanded range of information from short texts for personal use.
- Follows standard conventions for capitalization and punctuation.
- 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.
