Stage II: Canadian Workplace Culture
This theme focuses on the cultural competency and communication skills that are expected in many workplaces in Canada.
Choose a CLB level by clicking below to access information about Real-World Tasks and Detailed Sample Tasks for this theme.
CLB 5
CLB 6
CLB 7
CLB 8
Listening
CLB 5
Follow a short series of instructions from
a co-worker for a procedure at work.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand simple to moderately complex directions and instructions for generally familiar and relevant procedures.
- Follows a range of basic cohesive devices indicating order and sequence.
- Responds with actions to directions and instructions.
Participate in a short conversation with a
co-worker about weekend plans such as
attending Pride events.
Interacting With Others
Understand the gist and some details in moderately complex common and predictable social exchanges.
- Identifies specific factual details and implied meanings.
- Interprets feelings such as interest, likes/ dislikes, preferences.
Interacting With Others
Participate in basic social conversations for some everyday purposes.
- Opens and maintains a conversation.
- Responds to small talk.
Have an informal feedback conversation
with your employer and respond to their
feedback.
Getting Things Done
Understand the gist and some details in moderately complex communication intended to influence or persuade.
- Identifies basic signals in speech for collaboration, turn-taking and interrupting.
- Recognizes and interprets advice, opinions and suggestions.
Getting Things Done
Give and respond to informal requests, permissions, suggestions and advice.
- Provides details and gives reasons.
- Uses modals with the appropriate level of politeness.
CLB 6
Follow sequential instructions from a
co-worker for a procedure at work.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand moderately complex directions and instructions for technical or non-technical tasks.
- Follows sequence markers or other linguistic clues to infer order of steps.
- Responds with actions to directions and instructions.
Participate in a short conversation with a
group of co-workers about weekend plans
such as attending a multicultural festival.
Interacting With Others
Understand common social exchanges.
- Identifies specific factual details and implied meanings.
- Identifies mood, attitude and emotional states from tone and intonation.
Interacting With Others
Participate in routine social conversations for some everyday purposes.
- Uses and responds to small talk.
- Encourages conversation by adding supportive comments.
Participate in a performance review with
your employer and respond to their feedback.
Getting Things Done
Understand moderately complex communication intended to influence or persuade in everyday, personally relevant situations.
- Identifies main intent, main ideas, factual details, words and expressions.
- Identifies the functions of utterances (such as suggestions, encouragement and requests).
Getting Things Done
Give and respond to informal and somewhat formal suggestions and indirect requests.
- Conveys a developing ability to make indirect requests appropriately.
- Uses modals with the appropriate level of politeness.
CLB 7
Understand and follow indirectly expressed
instructions from a supervisor for a procedure
at work.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand moderately complex directions and instructions for technical or non-technical tasks.
- Follows sequence markers, cohesive devices (connecting words, reference, parallel structure, substitution) or other linguistic clues to infer order of steps.
- Responds with actions to directions and instructions.
Participate in small talk at the beginning of
a meeting with supervisors and co-workers.
Interacting With Others
Understand moderately complex social exchanges.
- Identifies emotional state, mood and attitude from tone and intonation.
- Interprets feelings such as gratitude, hope and appreciation.
Interacting With Others
Participate in less routine social conversations for many everyday purposes.
- Opens and maintains a short formal conversation, closing with 3 customary steps (pre-closing, closing, leave-taking).
- Changes the topic appropriately.
CLB 8
Understand and follow instructions from a supervisor for a technical procedure at work.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand extended multistep directions or instructions for technical or non-technical tasks.
- Follows sequence markers, cohesive devices (connecting words, reference, parallel structure, substitution) or other linguistic clues to infer order of steps.
- Responds with actions to directions and instructions.
Participate in extended small talk at the
beginning of a business meeting with clients.
Interacting With Others
Understand moderately complex social exchanges.
- Identifies speakers’ purpose and intent.
- Identifies emotional state, mood and attitude from tone and intonation.
Interacting With Others
Participate in less routine social conversations for most everyday purposes.
- Asks follow-up questions to keep conversations going.
- Introduces guests or speakers appropriately.
Speaking
CLB 5
Introduce a Francophone guest to your
colleagues.
Interacting With Others
Participate in basic social conversations for some everyday purposes.
- Opens and maintains a conversation.
- Responds to small talk.
Give a new co-worker directions for
completing a simple workplace task.
Giving Instructions
Give instructions and directions for everyday activities and processes.
- Uses appropriate courtesy forms and structures.
- Uses appropriate expressions to sequence instructions.
Demonstrate initiative at work by making
a suggestion to a supervisor.
Sharing Information
Ask for and give information related to routine daily activities in one-on-one interactions.
- Expresses opinions and feelings.
- Agrees and disagrees appropriately.
CLB 6
Introduce a Francophone guest speaker at a meeting.
Interacting With Others
Participate in routine social conversations for some everyday purposes.
- Introduces someone to a small familiar group in a way that is appropriate to the situation and audience.
- Uses and responds to small talk.
Give a co-worker sequential directions for
completing a multi-step workplace task.
Giving Instructions
Give sequential instructions and directions for everyday activities and processes.
- Uses sequencing intonation so that the listener can follow.
- Checks to confirm understanding.
Demonstrate initiative at work by making a suggestion during a staff meeting.
Sharing Information
Ask for and give information in some detail; express opinions, feelings, obligation, ability and certainty one-on-one and in small group discussions or meetings.
- Provides necessary information.
- Agrees and disagrees appropriately, when necessary.
CLB 7
Brainstorm with colleagues about how to plan a bilingual webinar.
Getting Things Done
- Uses appropriate persuasive arguments.
- Uses modals with appropriate level of politeness.
Give a co-worker sequential directions for completing a technical, multi-step task such as completing and filing a report.
Giving Instructions
Give instructions and directions for technical and non-technical tasks, procedures and processes.
- Uses clear references and provides necessary details.
- Uses sequencing intonation so that a listener can follow.
Discuss a disagreement about how to do a task with a colleague to find compromise.
Interacting With Others
Participate in less routine social conversations for many everyday purposes.
- Asks follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.
- Shows developing ability to hold the floor and resume after an interruption.
CLB 8
Brainstorm with colleagues about how to plan a bilingual event or conference with simultaneous interpretation.
Getting Things Done
- Describes problems and clarifies details.
- Indicates possible solutions, recommends the best ones, and gives reasons.
Give a co-worker sequential directions for
completing an important multi-step task,
such as leading an opening or closing
procedure.
Giving Instructions
Give instructions and directions for a broad
range of technical and non-technical tasks,
procedures and processes.
- Uses correct sequence of steps.
- Uses clear references and provides necessary details.
Discuss a disagreement about project responsibilities with a colleague to find resolution.
Interacting With Others
Participate in less routine social conversations for most everyday purposes.
- Responds to minor conflicts or complaints, or comforts others in distress.
- Asks follow-up questions to keep conversations going.
Reading
CLB 5
Read a short article about what “the invisible rules” at a workplace are, especially how they impact newcomers.
Comprehending Information
Understand simple to moderately complex descriptive or narrative texts on familiar topics.
- Identifies organization of text and links between paragraphs.
- Scans to locate relevant terms to access the information needed.
CLB 6
Read an article about what “the invisible
rules” at a workplace are, especially how they
impact women or people who identify as
women.
Comprehending Information
Understand moderately complex descriptive or narrative texts on familiar topics.
- Distinguishes facts from opinions.
- Retells or summarizes.
CLB 7
Read a short blog about “the invisible rules”
at a workplace, especially how they impact
members of equity-deserving groups.
Comprehending Information
Understand moderately complex extended descriptions, reports and narrations on familiar topics.
- Distinguishes facts from opinions.
- Evaluates ideas in text to draw conclusions.
Read a performance review and respond by
forming new professional goals.
Getting Things Done
Get information from moderately complex business/ service texts containing assessments, evaluations and advice.
- Identifies main ideas, key details and some implied meanings.
- Identifies the writer’s purpose, intent, mood and attitude in sections of text.
Getting Things Done
Write business or service correspondence for a range of routine and less routine purposes.
- Conveys a clear message.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
CLB 8
Review your organization’s equity, diversity
and inclusion (or human resources) policies
to identify what needs to be updated.
Comprehending Information
Understand moderately complex extended descriptions, feature articles, reports and narrations.
- Locates and integrates relevant information across paragraphs/ sections of the text.
- Evaluates ideas in text, draws conclusions, compares with own opinion.
Read a performance review and respond by
appropriately expressing a concern you have
with the review.
Getting Things Done
Get information from moderately complex business/ service texts containing proposals, recommendations and statements of rules, regulations or policies.
- Identifies main ideas, key details and implied meanings.
- Scans text and makes inferences to select the relevant information.
Getting Things Done
Write business or service correspondence for an expanding range of purposes.
- Conveys a clear message to the reader.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
Writing
CLB 5
Apologize for a delay on a task that impacts
a co-worker.
Interacting With Others
Convey personal messages in short, formal and informal correspondence for a range of everyday social purposes.
- Conveys the intended meaning.
- Uses language and content appropriate and relevant to the situation.
Write a one paragraph email to management
to ask how the company will celebrate
International Women’s Day.
Getting Things Done
Write short business or service correspondence for routine personal needs.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
- Conveys the message clearly.
Inform your employer you are leaving your job.
Getting Things Done
Write short business or service correspondence for routine personal needs.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
- Conveys the message clearly.
CLB 6
Apologize for a delay on a task that impacts
a co-worker and offer a solution.
Interacting With Others
Convey personal messages in short, formal, and informal correspondence for an expanding range of everyday social purposes.
- Conveys the intended meaning.
- Expresses main ideas and supports them with some detail.
Write a one to two paragraph email to
management to ask permission to organize
a team event to share and celebrate
International Women’s Day.
Getting Things Done
Write short business or service correspondence for routine purposes.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
- Conveys the message clearly.
Inform your employer you are leaving
your job and share some details of what
you enjoyed in your job.
Getting Things Done
Write short business or service correspondence for routine purposes.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
- Conveys the intended message.
CLB 7
Demonstrate initiative at work by proposing an idea for a change to a product to management.
Sharing Information
Write 2 or 3 connected paragraphs to relate a familiar sequence of events, make a comparison, or provide a detailed description of a person, system, routine or procedure.
- Addresses the purpose of the task.
- Expresses main ideas and supports them with details.
Write an email to management to request
that the company recognize International
Women’s Day, including some suggestions
of how to celebrate it appropriately.
Getting Things Done
Write business or service correspondence for a range of routine and less routine purposes.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
- Conveys a clear message.
Inform your employer you are leaving your job
and request a reference.
Getting Things Done
Write business or service correspondence for a range of routine and less routine purposes.
- Conveys a clear message.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
CLB 8
Demonstrate initiative at work by proposing an idea for a change to a multistep process to management.
Sharing Information
Write 3 or 4 connected paragraphs to relate a historical event, provide a detailed description of a phenomenon, explain a procedure, or express and analyze opinions on a familiar abstract topic.
- Addresses the purpose of the task.
- Provides accurate and detailed descriptions, explanations and accounts of events in a clear sequence.
Write an email to management to request
that the company recognize International
Women’s Day, including an explanation
of why the day is important to employees
who identify as women.
Getting Things Done
Write business or service correspondence for an expanding range of purposes.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
- Conveys a clear message to the reader.
Inform your employer you are leaving your job,
describe how any remaining work will be
addressed and request a reference.
Getting Things Done
Write business or service correspondence for an expanding range of purposes.
- Conveys a clear message to the reader.
- Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
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.
