Name _______________________________

Date ____________________

Rubrics 2011

Highline ESL Speaking

ESL Level 1 Speaking Rubric Simplified

Adult Level 1 speakers will:
require a supportive listener and repetition
When speaking about:
personal information
everyday activities
ESL 1 Speaking Outcomes

Always/Usu
ally
(80-100%)

Someti
mes
(5080%)

Rarely
(<50%)

Comments

COMMUNICATION

Message is clear: learned

words and phrases

Responds accurately to
simple, direct questions

PRONUNCIATION/FLUENCY

Pace is appropriate
(some hesitation okay)

Words are intelligible

VOCABULARY

Variety of Level 1 words

used correctly

GRAMMAR

Meaning is understood
despite frequent grammar
errors

SPEAKING LEVEL
one-on-one
group work

presentation
pair work

observation

role play

10/11

Name _______________________________

Date ____________________ Highline ESL Speaking

Rubrics 2011
For a student to pass to the next level, all checks need to be in the always/usually
column (80% and above).

10/11

Name _______________________________
Rubrics 2011

Date ____________________

Highline ESL Speaking

ESL Level 2 Speaking Rubric Simplified

Adult Level 2 speakers will:
be understood with a moderately high level of support and some
repetition
when speaking:
about personal information and everyday activities
about familiar objects, people, places, events
to describe, clarify, and ask questions
ESL 2 Speaking Outcomes

Always/Usu
ally
(80-100%)

Someti
mes
(5080%)

Rarely
(<50%)

Comments

COMMUNICATION
Message is clear:
combines short, known
words & phrases

Responds accurately to
simple questions

PRONUNCIATION/FLUENCY

Pace is appropriate(little
hesitation in familiar
settings)

Words are intelligible

VOCABULARY
Variety of Level 2 words
used correctly
GRAMMAR
Meaning is understood
despite grammar errors

Uses subject and verb

SPEAKING LEVEL
one-on-one
group work

presentation
pair work

observation

role play

10/11

Name _______________________________

Date ____________________ Highline ESL Speaking

Rubrics 2011
For a student to pass to the next level, all checks need to be in the always/usually
column (80% and above).

ESL Level 3 Speaking Rubric Simplified

Adult Level 3 speakers will:
be understood with a moderate level of support
when speaking:
about past events and future plans
to request, confirm, and clarify information
ESL 3 Speaking Outcomes

Always/Usu
ally
(80-100%)

Someti
mes
(5080%)

Rarely
(<50%)

Comments

COMMUNICATION

Message is clear

Combines known words

& phrases to serve new
purposes

PRONUNCIATION/FLUENCY

Pace is appropriate
(speaks with few pauses
in familiar settings)

Words are understood

VOCABULARY
Variety of Level 3 words
used correctly
GRAMMAR
Meaning is understood
despite some grammar
errors

Questions and
statements show
understanding of
present, present
continuous, past, and
future tenses
10/11

Name _______________________________
Rubrics 2011

Date ____________________

Highline ESL Speaking

SPEAKING LEVEL
one-on-one
group work

presentation
pair work

3
observation

2
role play

For a student to pass to the next level, all checks need to be in the always/usually
column (80% and above).

10/11

Name _______________________________
Rubrics 2011

Date ____________________

Highline ESL Speaking

ESL Level 4 Speaking Rubric Simplified

Adult Level 4 speakers will:
be understood by a supportive listener without repetition
when speaking:
about goals, experiences, information, and opinions
to advocate, negotiate, explain, and report
ESL 4 Speaking Outcomes

Always/Us
ually
(80-100%)

Someti
mes
(5080%)

Rarel
y
(<50
%)

Comments

COMMUNICATION
Message is clear and
organized

Elaborates as needed

Checks for understanding

and adjusts as necessary

Uses appropriate register

in most situations
PRONUNCIATION/FLUENCY
Stress and intonation
support message

Pace is appropriate
(speaks fluently in familiar
and some unfamiliar
settings)

Words are easily

understood
VOCABULARY
Variety of Level 4 words
used correctly
GRAMMAR
Meaning is understood
with few grammar errors

Questions and statements

show understanding of
simple, continuous, and
perfect tenses

Uses a range of sentence

structures

10/11

Name _______________________________

Date ____________________

Rubrics 2011

SPEAKING LEVEL
one-on-one
group work

presentation
pair work

4
observation

Highline ESL Speaking

3
role play

For a student to pass to the next level, all checks need to be in the always/usually
column (80% and above).

ESL Level 5/Transition Speaking Rubric

Simplified

Adult Level 5 speakers will:

be understood by an unsupportive listener without repetition
when speaking:
about goals, experiences, information, opinions and academic
content
to advocate, negotiate, explain, and report
ESL 5 Speaking Outcomes

Always/Us
ually
(80-100%)

Someti
mes
(5080%)

Rarel
y
(<50
%)

Comments

COMMUNICATION
Message is clear

Selects & organizes

relevant information with
significant
detail/complexity

Checks for understanding

and adjusts as necessary

Uses appropriate register

to reach intended audience
PRONUNCIATION/FLUENCY
Stress and intonation
support message

Pace is appropriate

(speaks fluently in familiar

and unfamiliar settings)

Words are easily

understood
VOCABULARY
Variety of Level 5 words
used correctly

10/11

Name _______________________________
Rubrics 2011

Date ____________________

Highline ESL Speaking

GRAMMAR
Meaning is understood with
minor grammar errors

Selects comfortably from a

wide variety of verb tenses
to deliver a clearly
comprehensible message

Uses a full range of

sentence structures,
including complex
sentences

SPEAKING LEVEL
one-on-one
presentation
group work
pair work

Exit
5
observation

4
role play

For a student to pass to the next level, all checks need to be in the always/usually
column (80% and above).

10/11