Strand Specific Competencies

The descriptive indicators within each strand are organized around four communicative competence areas. Each of these strands has an additional communicative focus: auditory discrimination, pronunciation, fluency and editing as shown in the chart below.

Listening Strand-specific Competency: Auditory Discrimination
Auditory discrimination is the ability to hear specific sounds and words, and to recognize changes in tone and other nuances of spoken English.

Speaking Strand-specific competency: Pronunciation
Pronunciation involves the ability to produce the sounds and intonations of English effectively so that the speaker is understood. Accents are expected and accepted.

Reading Strand-specific Competency: Fluency
Fluency relates to the rate, ease and accuracy with which a student decodes and comprehends a text in English.

Writing Strand-specific Competency: Editing
Editing is the process of reviewing, revising and refining a text for the purpose of improving it based on English language conventions (spelling, punctuation and grammar), word choice, the form of the text, and its intended audience and purpose.