Companion Tables to the  
                                                 Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000 
                                  
                                                         The Companion Tables were developed to facilitate the use of the CLB 
                                                         2000 for task selection, task development, evaluation procedures, 
                                                         assessment and test instrument alignment activities. 
                                                                                  ƒ       Working Document, April 2006 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                 Funding provided by the Governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and 
                                                 Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
                                                                                                                                
                                        
                                      Introduction to the Companion Tables to the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000  
                                            
                                      The Canadian Language Benchmarks is the national standard used to describe, measure                                                                                                                                                                                        The CLB 2000 groups the 12 CLB 
                                      and recognize the second language proficiency of adult immigrants and prospective                                                                                                                                                                                          levels into 3 sections 
                                      immigrants for living and working in Canada.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Stage 1 – Basic Proficiency 
                                      First published in 1996 as a working document, the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)                                                                                                                                                                                               -         speaking for CLB Levels 1-4 
                                      document was later revised and published in its current version,                                                                                                                                                                                                                    -         listening for CLB Levels 1-4 
                                      Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000 (CLB 2000)1.  This document provides rich                                                                                                                                                                                                         -         reading for CLB Levels 1-4 
                                      and detailed descriptions of adult ESL learner skills and strategies. Since 2000, users                                                                                                                                                                                             -         writing for CLB Levels 1-4 
                                      of the CLB have worked with the document to support instruction and evaluation of                                                                                                                                                                                          Stage 2 – Intermediate Proficiency 
                                      language learning using Canada’s national standard.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 -         speaking for CLB Levels 5-8 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          -         listening for CLB Levels 5-8 
                                      The CLB 2000 is laid out in three sections, so all information that relates to a particular stage is                                                                                                                                                                                -         reading for CLB Levels 5-8 
                                      grouped together.  Each stage is further sub-divided into information about each language                                                                                                                                                                                           -         writing for CLB Levels 5-8 
                                      skill – speaking, listening, reading, writing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Stage 3 – Advanced Proficiency 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          -         speaking for CLB Levels 9-12 
                                      This format has served instructional users of the benchmarks well, but increasingly as new,                                                                                                                                                                                         -         listening for CLB Levels 9-12 
                                      broader applications of the national standard are needed, alternative formats may be more                                                                                                                                                                                           -         reading for CLB Levels 9-12 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          iti        f       CLB L                   l   9 12
                                      useful.  Curriculum developers, researchers and assessment tool developers for example, need  
                                      to look across benchmarks to identify and compare learner characteristics, text features, or                                                                                                                                                                                        The CLB 2000 Companion 
                                      general competencies.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Tables provide an overview 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          across all 12 levels  
                                      The CLB 2000 Companion Tables were developed with funding from the Governments                                                                                                                                                                                                      -         Reading for CLB 1-2 
                                      of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.                                                                                                                                                                                                       -         Listening for CLB 1-12 
                                      They were designed to serve the needs of those who may benefit most from a document that                                                                                                                                                                                            -         Speaking for CLB 1-12 
                                      presents many of the relevant competencies and indicators                                                                                                                                                                                                                           -         Writing for CLB 1-12 
                                                                                       
                                      1
                                         The Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000:  English as a second language for adults can be ordered from the Centre for Canadian 
                                      Language Benchmarks.  Contact us at 
                                                                                                                                         info@language.ca .  An electronic copy can also be downloaded from the CCLB website at 
                                      www.language.ca. 
          
        in a new format that can be viewed across levels. The new tables allow users to get a broad overview of the CLB to 
        facilitate use of the CLB 2000 for task selection, task development, evaluation procedures, assessment and test instrument 
        alignment activities. 
         
        Following the launch of the tables at the TESL Canada Conference in 2005, a small validation project was carried out by the Centre 
        for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) over the summer of 2005. Participants from across Canada used the reformatted tables 
        for three months in a variety of benchmarks-related projects in universities, colleges, school boards and other institutions. Their 
        qualitative feedback revealed that the tables provided a valuable resource that did facilitate their activities. Since that time, the 
        Companion Tables to the CLB 2000 have been posted on the CCLB website to encourage as wide a range of users as possible. The 
        tables continue to be a work in progress. 
         
        A full validation procedure will be important to determine the utility of the tables for specific purposes and to elicit the 
        feedback required so that the tables can be further tailored to suit the requirements of specific groups and institutions.  In 
        the meantime, the CCLB supports using Companion Tables to the CLB 2000 to facilitate the many activities related to use 
        of the national standard. Your feedback on the use of the Companion Tables is most welcome.   
         
        To find out more about the development and to read the Report from the Field about the Companion Tables to the CLB 
        2000 please visit this webpage http://www.language.ca/display_page.asp?page_id=436
         
        For more information contact Pat Meek, Test Development Coordinator at pmeek@language.ca or call (613) 230-7729 ext. 175 
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
                    
                  Acknowledgements 
                   
                   
                  The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks would like to express appreciation to the:  
                   
                    •    Researchers: Gail Stewart and Phil Nagy 
                   
                    •    Reviewers: Jody Gilbert, Cindy Hanks, Kathleen Troy, Sue Ewans, Lyn Lennig, Andrea Strachan, Bruce Russell, Elizabeth West, Sue 
                        McKay, Beverley Payne, Lillian Ostrowski, Veronica Faulkner, Sandy Gunsar, Janet Wilson, Shirley Hill, Terry Webb, Clare Jeng, Marlene 
                        Toews-Jenzen 
                   
                    •    Funders: Governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Citizenship and Immigration Canada 
                   
                    •    Test Development Coordinator: Pat Meek