In today¡¯s interconnected world, effective communication in English is more crucial than ever. As educators and language learners seek to measure and improve English proficiency, a resource like the Global Scale of English (GSE) offers a valuable framework for assessment. This blog post will explore how the GSE can be used to assess listening skills, providing insights into how it also helps tailor instruction and support language development.
For listening skills, the GSE focuses on how well learners can understand spoken English in different contexts. It assesses comprehension at varying levels of complexity:
Understanding simple information: At lower levels, learners are expected to understand basic information, such as simple instructions or everyday topics. The GSE provides learning objectives for how well learners can grasp essential details.
Understanding main ideas: As proficiency grows, learners should be able to identify main ideas and key points in more complex spoken texts, such as conversations and broadcasts. The GSE outlines how well learners can extract important information from various sources.
Understanding detailed information: At advanced levels, learners are expected to comprehend detailed and nuanced information, including implicit meaning and speaker intent. The GSE describes the level of detail and depth of understanding required at these stages.
The GSE also shows how students engage in different operations of listening, from global comprehension, recognizing information and identifying specific information to extracting information. By taking this into account, teachers can monitor students¡¯ progress and assess their listening skills. An example will show this in action.
Let¡¯s consider a level, say GSE 30-35 (equivalent to low A2 on the CEFR) and focus on how students process information. When checking a listening activity, rather than simply focusing on whether the answers are correct or incorrect, we can analyze our learners using the GSE and see what progress they are making and what we need to do as teachers to help them move on. Heres how:
Learning objectives |
GSE |
Date 1 |
Date 2 |
Date 3 |
Date 4 |
Can understand basic information about someone when introduced to them using simple language. |
28 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can recognize phrases and content words related to basic personal and family information. |
30 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can identify simple information in a short video, provided that the visual supports this information and the delivery is slow and clear. |
30 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can extract key factual information - prices, times and dates - from short clear, simple announcements. |
30 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can identify basic factual information in short, simple dialogues or narratives on familiar everyday topics, if spoken slowly and clearly. |
32 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can understand key information about arrangements in simple dialogues spoken slowly and clearly. |
32 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can understand information related to people's daily routines. |
32 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can understand the main information in short, simple dialogues about familiar activities, if spoken slowly and clearly. |
33 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can identify key information from short audio recordings, if spoken slowly and clearly. |
33 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can understand the main information in simple conversations about hobbies and interests. |
34 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can extract key factual information such as prices, times and dates from a recorded phone message. |
35 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can recognize some fixed expressions used to confirm information. |
35 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Can identify specific information in short, simple dialogues in which speakers make arrangements to do something, if spoken slowly and clearly. |
35 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Every class will include a range of different abilities: some students get all of the questions right, whereas others may not. In this case, the GSE provides teachers with an extremely valuable tool to assess learners¡¯ performance.
We may see that students are performing well at the understanding and recognition level but still find it hard to identify and extract specific information. Will we solve this by simply giving them more listening activities? Well, no. To support them in identifying and extracting specific information, we need to help them understand and identify clues in a text. Analyzing the written audioscripts is the best way to help learners understand what they are listening to.
We can also use the same table, above, to record information each time we do a listening activity.
Students write the date and compare results to the ones they fill out in the future. This way, they can truly see progress and if they¡¯ve mastered a particular learning objective, something hard for them to see, even if we tell them so.
The Global Scale of English provides a structured and detailed approach to assessing speaking and listening skills. By using the?GSE framework, teachers can offer precise, level-appropriate feedback and tailor their instruction to meet learners' needs. This not only enhances the learning experience but also ensures that learners effectively develop their English communication skills. Whether you're a teacher or a learner, embracing the GSE can lead to more targeted, effective, and meaningful language assessment.
Explore the teaching resources available at GSE to support learning, including tools like our .?
Read our other posts 'How the GSE can help teachers personalize activities' and 'The Global Scale of English and planning'.
With the holiday season approaching, it¡¯s good to add some fun into teaching to keep your students engaged and motivated. We¡¯ve created 12 simple classroom activities and tips that you can carry out with your primary class to encourage them to be good.
Sometimes, it¡¯s nice to share cultural insights with our students so they can get a deeper understanding of the context of the language they are learning. However, without lots of time and money, it can be tough to travel to an English-speaking country yourself and experience what life is like first-hand.
But what if you could learn about British history, customs and culture from the comfort of your sofa?
That¡¯s right - in an instant you could be transported back to the dark cobbled streets of 19th century London, to an industrial town in northern England or a rural village in Surrey.
Today, we want to share six English stories set in Britain that provide cultural, historical and social aspects of British life, both past and present.
So sit back, relax and let us take you on an adventure.
Written by (1775-1817)
This story about the intelligent and beautiful Emma was first published at the end of 1815. The book, which takes place in a fictional village called Highbury (located in the charming county of Surrey), covers themes such as romance, social class and female empowerment.
Emma is a social person who enjoys seeing people happy and contented. She spends her time arranging marriages between her friends but sometimes makes mistakes. Will the problems she causes upset people? And can she find love herself?
Written by (1854-1900)
This philosophical yet supernatural thriller, first published in 1890, is full of lies, secrets and mystery. The tale revolves around the main character, Dorian Gray, who after inheriting a property from his grandfather, travels to London and soon makes new friends. One of his new acquaintances paints a portrait of Dorian, who makes a dangerous wish that he would give anything - even his soul - to stay as young and good-looking as he appears in the painting.
Soon, things start to go wrong and his life gets out of control. But he doesn¡¯t seem to get older. Why? The terrible secret he¡¯s hiding in his attic is the answer. What could it be? Allow yourself to travel back to Victorian times and see London through the eyes of this handsome and hedonistic young man.
Written by (1819-1880)
Written under Mary¡¯s pen name,George Elliott, this work of realism was first published in eight installments during 1871 and 1872. The story, set in the fictitious Midlands town of Middlemarch from 1829-1832, tells a tale of science and discovery. It follows Dorothea, a young woman determined to change the world and Dr. Lydgate, an ambitious man who wants to be a leader in science. Dorothea and Dr. Lydgate are both married, but soon their marriages go wrong.
Can they ever be happy? Will they achieve their dreams? Although the central theme of the book revolves around the marriage of the two main characters, with many historical references such as the 1832 Reform Act, the beginnings of the railways and the death of King George IV, Middlemarch is great for those who are interested in history as well as provincial life.?
Written by (born 1956)
Those looking for a more modern look at British life can learn plenty about customs and cultures in this contemporary book, which has been adapted from one of Britain¡¯s funniest and most popular films. Released in 1994, Four Weddings and a Funeral is about Charles (played by Hugh Grant in the film), a charming man who is very unlucky in love.
One day, during his friend¡¯s wedding, he meets a beautiful girl called Carrie. Unfortunately, she does not plan to stay in England, and travels back to the United States. But they keep meeting each other, so maybe things can work out for the couple.?Laugh while discovering the ins and outs of the British social scene in this romantic comedy.
Written by (1810-1865)
North and South, published in 1855, is about a young woman named Margaret Hale who moves with her parents from rural southern England to an industrial town called Milton in the north. There, she meets a wealthy mill owner named Mr. Thornton, and though she dislikes him, he immediately falls in love with her.
During her time in Milton, she witnesses what it¡¯s like to work in the mills where employers and workers constantly clash. As his workers go on strike, will Mr. Thornton be able to charm Margaret? This complex and provoking story follows the working class struggle during the .
Written by (1812-1870)
Published in 1832, Oliver Twist was Dickens¡¯ second novel. The story tells the tale of a young orphan we can all feel for. Oliver is brought up in a workhouse where he is beaten, starved and poorly treated. With no parents to look after him, he decides to run away to London, where he joins a gang of thieves.
His new friends look out for him, but can they protect him from a life of danger and crime? An interesting look at the darker side of Britain¡¯s capital, Oliver Twist is still popular today with film, musical and TV adaptations.
Want some more reading inspiration for your English lessons?
Discover graded Readers featuring some of the world¡¯s best-loved authors.
ÃÛÌÒapp has Readers adapted from classic English novels with audio files and a comprehensive teacher resources section, meaning you can use them in class with your students too.?
In the fast-paced world of business, there is one undeniable fact that holds true: employees are the key to success. Their commitment and expertise propel organizations towards their objectives, which is why investing in a learning culture is essential. The advantages are numerous and include improved staff retention, increased productivity and the goal of higher employee engagement.
