Canadian Language Benchmarks: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:43, 15 May 2009

Latest revision as of 07:10, 4 April 2025

(38 intermediate revisions by 30 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Canadian language proficiency assessment}}

The Canadian Benchmarks are a 12-point scale of task-based language proficiency descriptors used to guide the teaching and assessment of ESL learners in Canada. Like the [[Common European Framework of Reference for Languages]] and the [[ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines]], the Canadian Language Benchmarks describe ESL learners' successive levels of communicative achievement. The CLB's 12 benchmarks are divided into 3 parts: Stage I: Basic Proficiency; Stage II: Intermediate Proficiency; and Stage III: Advanced Proficiency.

{{MOS|date=May 2021}}The '''Canadian Language Benchmarks''' ('''CLB'''), or '''Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien''' ('''NCLC''') in French, comprise a 12-point scale of task-based language proficiency descriptors used to guide the teaching and assessment of ESL learners in Canada. Like the [[Common European Framework of Reference for Languages]] and the [[ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines]], the Canadian Language Benchmarks describe ESL learners' successive levels of communicative achievement.

The CLB's 12 benchmarks are divided into 3 parts: Stage I: Basic Proficiency; Stage II: Intermediate Proficiency; and Stage III: Advanced Proficiency. The CLB cover four skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing. There is also a French version of the CLB. The theory behind the CLB is explained in the document the "Theoretical Framework for the Canadian Language Benchmarks and Niveaux De Compétence Linguistique Canadiens" and includes pragmatic knowledge, grammatical knowledge, textual knowledge, functional knowledge, and sociolinguistic knowledge.<ref>[http://bookshelf.language.ca/ THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE CANADIAN LANGUAGE BENCHMARKS AND NIVEAUX DE COMPÉTENCE LINGUISTIQUE CANADIENS], Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks, 2012</ref>

Each benchmark is then described in terms of "can do" statements or "Performance Descriptors". For example, the following is the summary descriptor for Benchmark 5: Initial Intermediate Proficiency for writing.

Each benchmark is then described in terms of "Can do" statements or "Performance Descriptors". For example, the following are two task descriptors for Benchmark 5 in writing (from the 2012 version of the CLB):

1) Learner demonstrates initial ability in performing moderately complex writing tasks. 2) Can effectively convey an idea, opinion, feeling or experience in a single paragraph. 3) Can write short letters and notes on a familiar topic. 4) Can fill out extended application forms. 5) Can take simple dictation with occasional repetitions at a slow to normal rate of speech. 6) Can reproduce in writing simple information received orally or visually. 7) Can write down everyday phone messages. 8) Can complete a short routine report (usually on a form) on a familiar topic. ''etc.''

''Descriptor'': Write short business or service correspondence for routine personal needs.

[Writing is about 1 paragraph.]

Example: Write a paragraph to report a

factual event or incident, such

as an accident, a workplace

incident or a burglary.

''Descriptor'': Write a paragraph to relate a familiar sequence of events, description of a person, object

or routine.

Write a paragraph for a class

newsletter to inform readers

about a new or useful service in

the community (such as a new

language class, community

centre, childcare centre or food

bank).

Because such descriptor systems focus on the successful completion of communicative tasks, rather than on a strict emphasis on correct linguistic forms, they have quickly gained in popularity among proponents of [[task-based language learning]] (TBLL).

Line 9 ⟶ 28:

== History ==

The CLB grew out of a federal government initiative undertaken in 1992, to support the language learning needs of immigrants to the country. In 1993, Citizenship and Immigration Canada established the National Working Group on Language Benchmarks. In November 1996, the group published the Canadian Language Benchmarks (Working Document). This working group was eventually to become the Board of Directors of the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks. The CCLB received its charter as a non-profit agency in March 1998. In 2000, the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000, by Grazyna Pawlikowska-Smith, was published. It was the culmination of years of work by dozens of experts, and has since steadily grown in popularity with students, teachers and institutions.

In 2012, a revised version of the CLB was published and an updated theoretical framework. A team of writers and language experts worked on the revision in both English and in French. The CLB/NCLC theory was validated against the Common European Framework for Language, the ACTEFL and the Quebec version of the benchmarks. The validation showed that the CLB and NCLC are valid and reliable for use in a variety of contexts including community, academic and workplace.

== See also ==

A set of benchmarks for literacy learners who have English as a second language was first developed in 1996 and revised in 2000 by the Government of Manitoba. Another revision of the literacy benchmarks was done in fiscal 2013/2014 and was expected to be released once validation was complete in 2014.<ref>See [https://web.archive.org/web/20140619070457/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17357&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 CLB 2000: ESL for Literacy Learners]</ref>

[[Task-based language learning]]

The CLB has also been used to identify the level of curricula, courses and requirements for entry into post-secondary training in some parts of Canada, e.g. in Manitoba, some Ontario community colleges and in British Columbia where it is part of an articulation agreement.<ref>See work done by [http://www.arucc.ca/conferences/arucc2008/CIITE%20-%20Systemic%20Change%20in%20Ontario's%20Colleges%20and%20Institutes%20Part%201.pdf CIITE].</ref>

== External links ==

Since 2002, the CLB has been used as a scale to help define the language demands that are used in some occupations and professions. The first benchmarking projects were done at the provincial level by Red River College in Manitoba. In 2002, CCLB did the first national benchmarking project to identify the language demands of the nursing profession.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.language.ca/documents/FINAL_NURSING_REPORTS_cclb.pdf |title=Benchmarking the English Language Demands of the Nursing Profession Across Canada |access-date=2014-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819013457/http://www.language.ca/documents/final_nursing_reports_cclb.pdf |archive-date=2013-08-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This was followed by the development of a national test to verify the language competency of internationally trained nurses, the Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN). Further research was done by the Centre for occupations in the following industries: travel and hospitality, trucking, trades, food and grocery, and professions like pharmacy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, audiology and speech language pathology. Many of these profiles have been captured in documents called "Occupational Language Analyses" (OLAs), which reflect the communication skills extrapolated from occupational competency documents, the Essential Skills and aligned to the CLB/NCLC. Many of these are available on the website Canadian Language Benchmarks and Essential Skills for the workplace.<ref>https://www.language.ca/resourcesexpertise/essential-skills/</ref> or by contacting the CCLB. The CLB has also been correlated to the Essential Skills.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140616060946/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17367&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 "Relating Canadian Language Benchmarks to the Essential Skills"]</ref>

Canadian Language Benchmarks home: http://www.language.ca/

== Assessment ==

Common European Framework home: http://www.coe.int/

The CLB has been used since 1996 as the background of CLB-based assessments. CLB-based assessments reflect what a second language speaker can demonstrate in terms of language and communication. They usually cover the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. the CLB have been used for both formative and summative assessment and are defined for low-stakes or higher stakes uses.

American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages home: http://www.actfl.org/

===Examples===

* The Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLBA)

* The Canadian Language Benchmarks Literacy Assessment (CLBLA)

* The Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17886&M=4032&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825003223/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17886&M=4032&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-date=2014-08-25 | title=CLBPT }}</ref>

* Literacy Placement Tool: Volume I<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17362&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616060430/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17362&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-date=2014-06-16 | title=CLB Literacy Placement Tool (LPT) - Volume 1 }}</ref>

* Literacy Placement Tool: Volume II<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17363&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616060447/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17363&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-date=2014-06-16 | title=CLB Literacy Placement Tool (LPT) - Volume 2 }}</ref>

* Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN)

* Milestones (a high-stakes test in development for Citizenship & Immigration Canada)

===Classroom assessment resources for instructors===

* Summative Assessment Manual (SAM)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17364&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616060938/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17364&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-date=2014-06-16 | title=Summative Assessment Manual }}</ref>

* Exit Tasks for CLB 5 - 10<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17366&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616060942/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17366&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-date=2014-06-16 | title=CLB 5-10 Exit Assessment Tasks }}</ref>

* Integrating Assessment into the CLB Classroom<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17365&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619070514/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17365&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-date=2014-06-19 | title=Integrating CLB Assessment into your ESL Classroom }}</ref>

* Portfolio-based language assessment (PBLA)

* Can Do Statements<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17369&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701144300/http://www.language.ca/index.cfm?Voir=sections&Id=17369&M=4038&Repertoire_No=2137991327 | archive-date=2014-07-01 | title=Can do Statements }}</ref>

== Immigration language requirements ==

Canada has strict language requirements for immigration. Federal Skilled Workers are expected to have a minimum CLB level 7 score in order to be eligible for immigration.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Immigration|first=Refugees and Citizenship Canada|date=2007-03-31|title=Language testing—Skilled immigrants (Express Entry)|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-requirements/language-testing.html|access-date=2020-08-18|website=aem}}</ref> Canada accepts popular English testing reports of IELTS-GT and CELPIP-G and French testing reports of TEF/TCF for immigration purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Immigration|first=Refugees and Citizenship Canada|date=2007-03-31|title=Language testing—Skilled immigrants (Express Entry)|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-requirements/language-testing.html|access-date=2020-08-18|website=aem}}</ref> The bands have to be converted to CLB /NCLC equivalent levels using the below conversion chart<ref>{{Cite web|last=Immigration|first=Refugees and Citizenship Canada|date=2015-01-01|title=Language requirements — Skilled immigrants (Express Entry)|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-requirements.html|access-date=2020-08-18|website=aem}}</ref> or by using a CLB Calculator<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.immiboards.com/clb-calculator/ | title=CLB Calculator - Language Test Equivalency Tool &#124; Convert IELTS to CLB, CELPIP to CLB, TEF to NCLC, TCF to NCLC | date=29 April 2024 }}</ref> which converts IELTS/CELPIP-G/TEF/TCF scores to their CLB/NCLC equivalents:

=== Federal Skilled Worker Program ===

{| class="wikitable"

|+First official language

!Language

!Minimum level for all four abilities

|-

!English

|CLB 7

|-

!French

|NCLC7

|}

Second official language: Minimum level of CLB or NCLC 5.

=== Canadian Experience Class ===

{| class="wikitable"

!NOC skill type or level

!Minimum level for all four language abilities (English)

!Minimum level for all four language abilities (French)

|-

!NOC 0 or A

|CLB 7

|NCLC 7

|-

!NOC B

|CLB 5

|NCLC 5

|}

=== Federal Skilled Trades Program ===

{| class="wikitable"

!Language

!Abilities

!Minimum level

|-

!English

|Speaking and listening

|CLB 5

|-

!English

|Reading and writing

|CLB 4

|-

!French

|Speaking and listening

|NCLC 5

|-

!French

|Reading and writing

|NCLC 4

|}

== See also ==

* [[Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program|CELPIP]] (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)

* [[International English Language Testing System|IELTS]]

== References ==

<references />

== External links ==

* [http://www.language.ca/ Canadian Language Benchmarks home]

* [http://www.clb-osa.ca/ Online Self-Assessment CLB-OSA]

* [http://www.coe.int/ Common European Framework home]

* [http://www.actfl.org/ American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages home]

* [https://www.immiboards.com/clb-calculator/ Canada CLB Calculator]

* {{cite journal |last1=Fox |first1=Janna |first2=Robert |last2=Courchêne |url=https://www.teslontario.org/uploads/publications/researchsymposium/ResearchSymposium2005.pdf#page=7 |title=The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB): A Critical Appraisal |journal=Contact: Special Research Symposium Issue |publisher=Teachers of English as a Second Language of Ontario |volume=31 |issue=2 |year=2005 |pages=7–28 }}

[[Category:Education in Canada]]

[[Category:Language tests]]