Stage II: Collaboration and Teamwork
This theme focuses on the communication skills needed to work together and support others in achieving goals. Find out more about these skills 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.
CLB 5
CLB 6
CLB 7
CLB 8
Listening
CLB 5
Follow a co-worker’s instructions to complete
a common workplace task together, such as
sending out reminders of team tasks for an
upcoming team day.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand simple to moderately complex, step-by-step instructions and instructional texts for multi step procedures related to everyday situations.
- Interprets sequence and location signals (such as first, next and before).
- Follows instructions and directions by responding with actions as required to complete task.
Participate in an informal workplace meeting.
Comprehending Information
Understand information about familiar or relevant topics.
- Gets the gist.
- Identifies factual details and some implied meanings.
Sharing information
Agree, disagree and give opinions in small group discussions or meetings.
- Agrees and disagrees appropriately.
- Participates adequately in interactions with some degree of support from others.
CLB 6
Follow a co-worker’s instructions to complete
a multi-step common workplace task together,
such as opening or closing procedures.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand simple to moderately complex, step-by-step instructions and instructional texts for multi step procedures related to everyday situations.
- Interprets sequence and location signals (such as first, next and before).
- Follows instructions and directions by responding with actions as required to complete task.
Participate in a formal workplace meeting.
Comprehending Information
Understand short group interactions and discussions on familiar topics.
- Identifies topic-specific words, phrases and expressions.
- Identifies factual details, main ideas, supporting details and implied meaning.
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.
- Presents information using connected discourse.
- Uses an introduction, development, and conclusion.
CLB 7
Follow instructions from colleagues to
complete a complex workplace task together,
such as preparing the daily bank deposit.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand extended, moderately complex, multi step instructions and instructional texts for established (set) procedures related to specialized tasks.
- Interprets sequence and location signals and implied meanings.
- Infers the correct sequence.
Lead an informal team meeting.
Comprehending Information
Understand short group interactions, discussions and meetings on generally familiar topics.
- Identifies factual details, main ideas and supporting details.
- Interprets factual information, explanations and opinions.
Sharing information
Give detailed information; express and qualify opinions and feelings; express reservations, approval, disapproval, possibilities and probabilities one-on-one and in small group discussions or meetings.
- Asks and addresses relevant questions.
- Holds the floor, shares the floor, and thanks others for their contributions and information.
CLB 8
Follow instructions from colleagues to complete a complex, multi step workplace task together, such as checking and submitting weekly payroll.
Comprehending Instructions
Understand extended, moderately complex, multi step instructions and instructional texts for established (set) procedures related to specialized tasks.
- Interprets sequence and location signals and implied meanings.
- Infers the correct sequence.
Chair a formal workplace meeting.
Comprehending Information
Understand group interactions about abstract and complex ideas on familiar topics.
- Identifies rhetorical discourse markers and patterns of chronological order and sequence, comparison and contrast, and cause and effect.
- Interprets factual information, explanations and opinions.
Sharing information
Give detailed information; express and qualify opinions and feelings; express reservations, approval, disapproval, possibilities and probabilities one-on-one and in small group discussions or meetings.
- Asks and addresses relevant questions.
- Holds the floor, shares the floor, and thanks others for their contributions and information.
Speaking
CLB 5
Invite your classmate for coffee at your
favourite Turkish coffee shop as a thank you for lending you their class notes.
Sharing Information
Give presentations about sequences of events; incidents in the past, present or future; or to describe scenes, pictures or daily routines.
- Presents information using connected discourse.
- Provides adequate descriptions.
Ask a co-worker for help with a small task needing teamwork, such as completing inventory.
Interacting With Others
Participate in routine social conversations for some everyday purposes (such as apologies, excuses, expressing opinions, and making suggestions or arrangements).
- Opens, maintains and closes a conversation.
- Uses and responds to small talk.
Give a five-minute presentation at work about a company mentorship program for newcomers.
Sharing Information
Give presentations about sequences of events; incidents in the past, present or future; or to describe scenes, pictures or daily routines.
- Presents information using connected discourse.
- Provides adequate descriptions.
CLB 6
As part of your weekly staff meeting, let your boss and co-workers know that the agency’s dress code policy unfairly targets employees by not allowing them to wear culturally appropriate clothing.
Getting Things Done
Give and respond to informal and somewhat formal suggestions and indirect requests.
- Gives reasons and predicts consequences of not following through.
- Uses modals with the appropriate level of politeness.
Ask a colleague to do you a favour or help with a task, such as switching duties or shifts.
Interacting With Others
Participate in routine social conversations for some everyday purposes (such as apologies, excuses, expressing opinions, and making suggestions or arrangements).
- Opens, maintains and closes a conversation.
- Uses and responds to small talk.
Give a seven-minute presentation at work about a company mentorship program for newcomers, including success stories with the program.
Sharing Information
Give detailed presentations about sequences of events; incidents in the past, present or future; simple processes; or to describe or compare things such as people and places.
- Presents information using connected discourse.
- Provides adequate detailed descriptions.
CLB 7
Tell your child’s homeroom teacher that other students are picking on them because they wear a turban or hijab, explaining how this makes your child feel and how the problem could be remedied with the whole class.
Getting Things Done
Give extended warnings, suggestions, recommendations or advice.
- Uses appropriate persuasive arguments.
- Uses modals with the appropriate level of politeness.
Ask a colleague to do you a significant favour, such as completing your closing or opening duties so you can leave early.
Interacting with Others
Understand moderately complex social exchanges (such as expressions of and responses to gratitude, hopes, appreciation, complaints, disappointment, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, approval and disapproval).
- Identifies formal and casual style and register.
- Understands the intent of the expressions and the responses.
Give a ten-minute presentation at work about a company leadership development program for women and some of the benefits.
Sharing Information
Give presentations about moderately complex processes, to tell stories (including future scenarios), or to describe, compare and contrast in detail 2 events, jobs or procedures.
- Presents information using connected discourse.
- Provides clear and detailed descriptions and comparisons.
CLB 8
Ask your supervisor for support in starting an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee at your workplace, explaining how it would benefit the organization.
Getting Things Done
Propose or recommend solutions to problems in a familiar area.
- Describes problems and clarifies details.
- Indicates possible solutions, recommends the best ones, and gives reasons.
Ask a colleague to do you a significant favour or take on one of your tasks, such as chairing a meeting or leading a shift for you.
Interacting With Others
Participate in less routine social conversations for most everyday purposes.
- Expresses and responds to sympathy.
- Asks follow-up questions to keep conversations going.
Give a twenty-minute presentation at work about a company leadership development program for underrepresented equity- deserving groups and the benefits for all involved.
Sharing Information
Give presentations to describe and explain structures, systems or processes based on research.
- Presents information using connected discourse.
- Provides accurate and somewhat detailed descriptions, explanations or accounts.
Reading
CLB 5
Read an invitation from a co-worker about a BIPOC or Queer lunch group that regularly happens within the organization.
Interacting with Others
Understand simple to moderately complex personal and public social messages (such as those conveying compliments, invitations, likes, dislikes and preferences) related to a familiar context.
- Identifies specific factual details and implied meanings.
- Identifies the purpose of the message.
Read an organization’s mission and values statement to find information about working with others.
Comprehending Information
Understand simple to moderately complex descriptive or narrative texts on familiar topics.
- Identifies organization of text and links between paragraphs.
CLB 6
Read an invitation from Human Resources
about openings on BIPOC, gender-equity or 2SLGBTQIA+ workplace advisory
committees.
Interacting with Others
Understand moderately complex social messages (such as those conveying announcements, cancellations of arrangements and apologies) related to a personal experience or a familiar context.
- Identifies specific factual details and implied meanings.
- Identifies the context.
Read a section from an employee handbook
about an organization’s expectations for
teamwork and collaboration.
Comprehending Information
Understand moderately complex descriptive or narrative texts on familiar topics.
- Retells or summarizes.
- Identifies organization of text and links between paragraphs.
CLB 7
Read a policy in an employee handbook that
outlines appropriate workplace communication.
Comprehending Information
Understand moderately complex extended descriptions, reports and narrations on familiar topics.
- Evaluates ideas in text to draw conclusions.
- Identifies organization of text and links between paragraphs.
CLB 8
Read an employee code of conduct to find information about working with others.
Comprehending Information
Understand moderately complex extended descriptions, feature articles, reports and narrations.
- Follows sequences of narrations or processes.
- Locates and integrates relevant information across paragraphs/ sections of the text.
Writing
CLB 5
Collaborate with a co-worker to create an
employee poll to gather information about employee mental health challenges.
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.
Brainstorm ideas for a type of project with a group, using a shared document for
collaboration through tools such as Trello
or Google docs.
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
Collaborate with several co-workers to create a survey to gather feedback and ideas for
workplace mental health supports.
Getting Things Done
Give and respond to informal and somewhat formal suggestions and indirect requests.
- Gives reasons and predicts consequences of not following through.
- Uses modals with the appropriate level of politeness.
Brainstorm ideas and steps for a specific project with a team, using a shared document
for collaboration through tools such as Trello or Google docs.
Getting Things Done
Give and respond to informal and somewhat formal suggestions and indirect requests.
- Uses modals with the appropriate level of politeness.
- Conveys a developing ability to make indirect requests appropriately.
CLB 7
Email a colleague inviting them to join a BIPOC, gender-equity or 2SLGBTQIA+ workplace advisory committee and explain some of the work involved.
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.
- Expresses main ideas and supports them with details.
- Provides accurate and detailed descriptions, explanations or accounts of events, in a clear sequence.
Gather employee survey feedback and
collaborate with several colleagues to
summarize the results in a report.
Sharing Information
Give extended warnings, suggestions, recommendations or advice.
- Provides necessary information.
- Summarizes information and ideas to clarify and confirm understanding.
Collaborate with a team to outline stages
of a project using a shared document for
collaboration through tools such as Trello
or Google docs.
Getting Things Done
Write business or service correspondence for a range of routine and less routine purposes (such as passing on information, and making and responding to requests, recommendations and warnings).
- Conveys a clear message.
Conveys a sense of audience in language and format.
CLB 8
Write the guidelines for participating on a BIPOC, gender-equity or 2SLGBTQIA+ workplace advisory committee.
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.
- Provides accurate and detailed descriptions, explanations and accounts of events in a clear sequence.
- Presents text as a coherent connected whole with good use of appropriate connective words and phrases.
Gather employee survey feedback and
collaborate with several colleagues to share
the results in a report or presentation,
with some graphics.
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.
- Provides accurate and detailed descriptions, explanations and accounts of events in a clear sequence.
- Presents text as a coherent connected whole with good use of appropriate connective words and phrases.
Collaborate with a team to outline stages
of a project and divide up tasks using a
shared document for collaboration through
tools such as Trello or Google docs.
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.
