CLB-ES comparative framework

Updating the Essential Skills/Canadian Language Benchmark comparative framework

Project team

NorQuest College (lead: Lisa Rochman)
Centre for the Canadian Language Benchmarks (lead: Krista Walsh-Murray)
InQuire Consulting

Background

Provided by InQuire Consulting

Relating Canadian Language Benchmarks to Essential Skills: A Comparative Framework (CF) was produced in 2005 for the purpose of bringing together the communicative abilities described in the Essential Skills (ES) and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). The CF was designed from the perspective of Essential Skills, with the focus on illustrating how CLB levels lined up with ES tasks and descriptors.

The CF shows that the Essential Skills generally require language ability that aligns with Stage II and Stage III of the CLB scale. For this reason, the original CF document was used primarily by ESL practitioners working with learners at CLB 5 or higher.

Because instructors working with learners at CLB Stage I were interested in finding ways to incorporate Essential Skills principles into their classroom activities, a second resource was later developed for their use. This foundational framework was introduced as the Essential Skills Primer: CLB Stage I, and it included suggestions for activities that could help lower-level learners work toward developing the skills, strategies and abilities to eventually accomplish ES tasks.

The CF and ES Primer have been in use for more than a decade, during which time revisions have been made to the Canadian Language Benchmarks document.

Download a copy of the comparative framework