Attachement 1 S3 R3 Criteria.pdf

Solicitation 19GE5020R0070

Attachment 1

Description of Language Level Requirement

S-3 Speaking 3 (General Professional Proficiency): Able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on the practical, social, and professional topics Nevertheless, the individual's limitations generally restrict the professional contexts of language use to matters of shared knowledge and/or international convention Discourse is cohesive The individual uses the language acceptably, but with some noticeable imperfections; yet, errors virtually never interfere with understanding and rarely disturb the native speaker The individual can effectively combine structure and vocabulary to convey his/her meaning accurately The individual speaks readily and fills pauses suitably In face-to-face conversation with natives speaking the standard dialect at a normal rate of speech, comprehension is quite complete Although cultural references, proverbs, and the implications of nuances and idiom may not be fully understood, the individual can easily repair the conversation Pronunciation may be obviously foreign Individual sounds are accurate; but stress, intonation, and pitch control may be faulty

Examples:

The individual can typically discuss particular interests and special fields of competence with reasonable ease Can use the language as part of normal professional duties such as answering objections, clarifying points, justifying decisions, understanding the essence of challenges, stating and defending policy, conducting meetings, delivering briefings or other extended and elaborate informative monologues Can reliably elicit information and informed opinion from native speakers Structural inaccuracy is rarely the major cause of misunderstanding Use of structural devices is flexible and elaborate Without searching for words or phrases, the individual uses the language clearly and relatively naturally to elaborate concepts freely and make ideas easily understandable to native speakers Errors occur infrequently except in highly complex structures

Speaking 3+: Is often able to use the language to satisfy professional needs in a wide range of sophisticated and demanding tasks

Examples:

Despite obvious strengths, the individual may exhibit some hesitancy, uncertainty, effort, or errors that limit the range of language-use tasks that can be reliably performed Typically, there is particular strength in fluency and one or more, but not all of the following: Breadth of lexicon, including low- and medium-frequency items, especially socio-linguistic/cultural references and nuances of close synonyms;

Structural precision, with sophisticated features that are readily, accurately, and appropriately controlled (such as complex modification and embedding in Indo-European languages);

Solicitation 19GE5020R0070

Discourse competence in a wide range of contexts and tasks, often matching a native speaker's strategic and organizational abilities and expectations

Occasional patterned errors occur infrequently except in highly complex structures

R-3

Reading 3 (General Professional Proficiency): Able to read at a normal speed and with almost complete comprehension of a variety of authentic prose material on unfamiliar subjects Reading ability is not dependent on subject matter knowledge, although it is not expected that the individual can thoroughly comprehend subject matter that is highly dependent on cultural knowledge or outside his or her general experience without an accompanying explanation Text-types include news stories similar to wire service reports or international news items in major periodicals, routine correspondence, general reports, and technical material in his/her professional field.

All of these may include hypothesis argumentation, and supported opinions Misreading is rare Is almost always able to interpret material correctly, relate ideas, and "read between the lines" (i.e.

understand the writers' implicit intentions) Can get the gist of more sophisticated texts, but may be unable to detect or understand subtlety and nuance Rarely has to pause over or reread general vocabulary However, may have trouble with unusually complex structure and low-frequency idioms

Reading 3+: Can comprehend a variety of styles and forms pertinent to professional needs Rarely misinterprets such texts as described above, or experiences difficulty relating ideas or making inferences Is able to comprehend many sociolinguistic and cultural references However, may miss some nuances and subtleties Is able to comprehend a considerable range of intentionally complex structures, low frequency idioms, and uncommon connotative intentions; however, accuracy is not complete Is typically able to read with facility and appreciate contemporary expository, technical, or literary texts that do not rely heavily on slang and unusual idioms