Stage I:
Home and Neighbourhood
This theme focuses on the communications skills needed to find and manage housing, and help build communities.
Choose a CLB level by clicking below to access information about Real-World Tasks and Detailed Sample Tasks for this theme.
Listening
CLB 1
Follow a short simple (2-5-word) instruction from a landlord on where to put recycling.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand very short, simple instructions and requests related to immediate personal needs.
- Identifies words or phrases that indicate positive or negative commands or requests.
- Indicates comprehension with appropriate verbal and non-verbal responses.
Listen to a family member say a few short sentences about their day and match words on a household chore list.
Interacting with Others
Understand individual greetings, introductions and goodwill expressions.
- Identifies individual, familiar words and short phrases used in courtesy formulas.
- Indicates comprehension with appropriate verbal or non-verbal responses.
Listen to a neighbour warn about an icy sidewalk.
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.
CLB 2
Follow short, simple instructions from a landlord on separating garbage and recycling.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand short, simple and common instructions and requests related to immediate personal needs.
- Identifies words or phrases that indicate positive or negative commands or requests.
- Responds verbally (by answering questions) or with actions.
Listen to a neighbour with a disability ask for help with a chore; agree and provide a day and time.
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 short, simple Indigenous story of 3-4 sentences about the seasons.
Comprehending Information
Understand simple information about familiar concrete topics.
- Identifies specific factual details such as numbers, letters, time, place key words, and expressions.
CLB 3
Listen to instructions for reducing water use during a water restriction period.
Comprehending Instructions
Understands instructions and directions related to familiar, everyday situations of immediate personal relevance.
- Identifies words and phrases that indicate movement, location, measurement, weight, amount and size.
- Responds with correct actions to directions and instructions.
Listen to classmates suggest tasks for a potluck lunch; volunteer for one of the tasks.
Comprehending Information
Understand short, simple, descriptive communication about a situation.
- Gets the gist.
- Identifies factual details, key word and expressions as required.
CLB 4
Listen to an apartment building manager give instructions on how to reduce energy and water use in the building.
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 group discussion on the organization of clean up chores at a community inclusion picnic and volunteer to help.
Interacting with Others
Understand simple social exchanges, including styles of greetings, introductions, and leave-taking.
- Identifies formal and casual style and register.
- Uses a range of small talk phrases and expressions.
Speaking
CLB 1
Respond to a greeting from a neighbour.
Interacting with Others
Use and respond to basic courtesy formulas and greetings.
- Responds appropriately to common greetings, introductions, and leave-takings.
- Indicates communication problems verbally or non-verbally.
Ask your landlord for assistance with door keys.
Getting Things Done
Make simple requests related to immediate personal needs.
- Uses appropriate single words, phrases, memorized expressions and courtesy formulas.
- Use acceptable gestures and body language when making requests.
CLB 2
Introduce yourself to a new neighbour and respond to their introductions.
Interacting with Others
Uses and responds to courtesy formulas and greetings.
- Initiates and responds appropriately to introductions and leave-takings using appropriate courtesy formulas.
- Opens a short conversation.
Ask your landlord for help with a household repair.
Getting Things Done
Make simple requests related to common everyday activities.
- Uses appropriate memorized expressions, simple sentences, and courtesy formulas for requests.
- Speaks in short phrases and some short sentences, with very little evidence of connected discourse.
CLB 3
Introduce yourself to a new neighbour and respond to their introduction; ask and answer a few questions about yourself.
Interacting with Others
Use a range of courtesy formulas and greetings in very short, casual, face-to-face interactions.
- Uses appropriate polite expressions.
- Uses simple sentences and question formations.
Ask your landlord for help with a neighbour who has been harassing you because of an identity factor like ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion.
Getting Things Done
- Uses simple sentences and question formations.
- Repeats and attempts to explain when necessary.
CLB 4
Introduce two neighbours to each other and participate in a short, casual conversation.
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.
Request an accommodation from your landlord because of a disability (e.g., wheelchair ramp, brighter lighting in the garage, grab bar in the shower).
Getting Things Done
Make a range of requests and offers.
- Asks questions and makes requests and suggestions politely and appropriately.
- Facilitates the listener’s comprehension by repeating and explaining.
Reading
CLB 1
Read an invitation to a neighbour’s barbecue to find the date and time.
Interacting with Others
Understand short greetings and simple goodwill messages.
- Identifies specific goodwill expressions and their meanings.
- Locates specific words and phrases.
Read a very short simple rental listing to find the rent and address.
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 a very short, simple notice in a community newsletter about a new mom’s group to find the days and times they meet.
Getting Things Done
Get information from very short, simple, common formatted texts.
- Identifies numbers (amounts, dates) and familiar words (names, addresses, city names).
- Finds a few key words and simple details.
Read a simple poster about a Francophone Festival in your community to find the date and time.
Getting Things Done
Get information from very short, simple, common formatted texts.
- Identifies numbers (amounts, dates) and familiar words (names, addresses, city names).
- Finds a few key words and simple details.
CLB 2
Read an invitation to a neighbour’s housewarming party to determine the date, time and what to bring.
Interacting with Others
Understand short greetings and other goodwill messages.
- Identifies specific goodwill expressions and their meanings.
- Identifies when and where.
Read a short simple rental listing; identify the rent, address and size of the property.
Getting Things Done
Get information from simple formatted texts.
- Recognizes layout.
- Scans text to find specific details.
Read a short simple notice in a community newsletter about a women’s walking group; identify the days, times and meeting location.
Getting Things Done
Get basic information from short, simple business or service notices.
- Scans text to find specific details.
- Finds key words and simple details.
CLB 3
Read an invitation to a community all-ages Caribbean Carnival event.
Interacting with Others
Understand short, personal messages within predictable contexts of daily experience.
- Gets the gist.
- Identifies some specific details and information (such as sender, date and response required).
Read a simple short text on how to end a tenancy; identify details.
Getting Things Done
Get information from short business or service texts.
- Gets overall meaning.
- Scans formatted text to find specific information.
Read a short notice in the community newsletter about a women’s home repair workshop to determine if you want to go.
Getting Things Done
Get information from short business or service texts.
- Gets overall meaning.
- Interprets simple graphics.
CLB 4
Read an email with updates about a Pride community event, including a new time, date and other information.
Interacting with Others
Understand simple personal social messages within predictable contexts of daily experience.
- Identifies specific important details (such as sender, date and response required).
- Identifies words that indicate politeness and tone.
Read a short text about a housing right (e.g., rent deposits) to understand if you have been treated fairly by your landlord.
Getting Things Done
Get information from short business or service texts.
- Finds main ideas, specific information and key details.
- Compares facts and information to make choices.
Read a short notice in a community newsletter about a fundraiser for a building that provides safe, affordable housing for women and children to determine the purpose of the event and how to help.
Getting Things Done
Get information from short business or service texts.
- Identifies type and purpose.
- Finds main ideas, specific information and key details.
Writing
CLB 1
Complete a guided text of 3 to 5 sentences to describe your home.
Sharing Information
Writes a few words to complete a short, guided text to describe a personal situation.
- Writes a few personal and familiar details.
- Writes legibly.
Complete the personal identification section (up to 5 items) of a short simplified property rental form.
Getting Things Done
Complete very short, simplified forms that require only basic personal identification information.
- Writes a few personal and familiar details.
- Follows some conventions for addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
CLB 2
Complete a guided text of 5-7 sentences to describe a room in your home.
Sharing Information
Writes a few words to complete a short, guided text to describe a personal situation.
- Writes personal details in response to a few short questions.
- Follows some spelling and punctuation conventions.
Complete a short simple form (up to 10) items to confirm to your landlord you will not renew your lease.
Getting Things Done
Complete short, simplified forms that require only basic personal information.
- Includes the required basic information in appropriate sections.
- Follows some conventions for addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
Copy 3-5 sentences about the role of a community police officer. Identify the local police office and write the address and telephone number.
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.
- Follows standard Canadian conventions and styles when copying addresses and phone numbers.
- Copies text legibly; reader may still have difficulties decoding some letters and numbers.
CLB 3
Write up to 5 sentences to describe your neighbourhood and home.
Sharing Information
Write a few sentences to describe a familiar place.
- Uses a few connected sentences.
- Provides adequate descriptions, though a reader may have some difficulty following the message.
Write a short email to inform your landlord that the lights in the parking area are not working.
Getting Things Done
Write short, simple business messages.
- Conveys the message, although a reader might have some difficulty following.
- Uses language and content that are appropriate to the intent and social context.
Copy a short passage of up to 1 paragraph about home safety tips like childproofing, fire safety or safety for seniors.
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 legibly; causing only slight uncertainty in decoding for the reader.
- Copies with no major omissions and only occasional copying mistakes.
CLB 4
Write a paragraph to describe an experience with your first home in Canada.
Sharing Information
Write a short paragraph to describe a familiar personal experience.
- Uses basic paragraph structure.
- Expresses preferences relevant to the content and with some supporting explanation.
Write a short email to request that your landlord intervene in a dispute with noisy neighbours.
Getting Things Done
Write simple business 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.
