English Language Competencies for Primary Students

Posted on May 27, 2025 in English

Productive Language Skills

Speaking Skills

1st and 2nd Year Primary

  • Can produce simple, mainly isolated phrases about themselves and places.
  • Can read aloud some words and specific phrases using visual aids.
  • Can reproduce the sounds and rhythms of English in the form of a chant, song, etc.

3rd and 4th Year Primary

  • Can produce simple, mainly isolated phrases about themselves and places.
  • Can read aloud some specific phrases without visual aids.
  • Can act out a previously rehearsed dialogue.
  • Can reproduce the sounds and rhythms of English in the form of a chant, song, etc.

5th and 6th Year Primary

  • Can produce simple, mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
  • Can speak about themselves using a series of short phrases.
  • Can act out a previously rehearsed dialogue.
  • Can reproduce the sounds and rhythms of English in the form of a tongue twister, song, etc.
  • Can read aloud a short, rehearsed basic presentation on a familiar subject.

Writing Skills

1st and 2nd Year Primary

  • Can trace words.
  • Can write words using visual aids.
  • Can write a very simple phrase about themselves following a given model.

3rd and 4th Year Primary

  • Can write words (crosswords, fill-in-the-gaps, etc.).
  • Can unjumble phrases.
  • Can write phrases about themselves following a given model.
  • Can write phrases using visual aids.

5th and 6th Year Primary

  • Can write words (crosswords, fill-in-the-gaps, etc.).
  • Can unjumble phrases.
  • Can write phrases about themselves and other people following a model (e.g., free time activities, future plans, daily routines).
  • Can write a paragraph under the teacher’s guidance and following a given model.
  • Can link phrases with simple connectors like ‘and’ and ‘but’.

Production Strategies

Planning

  • Can rehearse what is going to be said.
  • Can plan silently what is going to be written.

Compensating

  • Can identify what he/she means by pointing.
  • Can use gestures to clarify what he/she wants to say.
  • Can use an inadequate word (hyperonym) and then explain its meaning by means of gestures.
  • Can paraphrase.

Interactive Language Skills

Spoken Interaction

1st and 2nd Year Primary

  • Can interact in a very simple way with previously studied linguistic structures with the teacher or language assistant (in micro-dialogues).

Teacher: What are you wearing?
Pupil: [I’m wearing] a black hat.

  • Can understand very simple questions and instructions addressed carefully and slowly to them.
  • Can say hello and goodbye.
  • Can answer questions to give basic information about themselves using very short phrases.

3rd and 4th Year Primary

  • Can interact in a simple way with previously studied linguistic structures with the teacher, language assistant, or another pupil.
  • Can understand simple questions and instructions addressed carefully and slowly to them and follow short, simple directions. Can also ask simple questions.
  • Can use English phrases practiced beforehand in controlled communicative situations (pair work).
  • Can interact in a game.
  • Can give basic information about themselves.
  • Can ask people for things and give people things.

5th and 6th Year Primary

  • Can interact in a simple way with previously studied linguistic structures with the teacher, language assistant, or another pupil.
  • Can use English phrases practiced beforehand in controlled communicative situations (pair work).
  • Can interact in a game.
  • Can ask and answer simple questions, initiate, and respond to simple statements.
  • Can give basic information about themselves and others.
  • Can use simple, everyday polite forms of greeting.
  • Can say what they like and dislike; can order a meal; can give and receive information.

Written Interaction

Second Cycle Primary

  • Can write a short, simple postcard.
  • Can complete a very simple registration form.

Third Cycle Primary

  • Can write a postcard and a simple letter.
  • Can write numbers and dates, nationality, address, age, etc., on a registration form.

First Cycle ESO

  • Can write personal letters.
  • Can write short, simple notes and messages.
  • Can take a short, simple message, provided they can ask for repetition.

Interaction Strategies

Taking the Floor

  • Can ask for attention.

Cooperating

  • Can indicate when they are following.

Asking for Clarification

  • Can say ‘Repeat, please’.
  • Can say ‘Sorry, I don’t understand’.
  • Can ask for clarification about key words or phrases.

Interpersonal Intelligence

The ability to recognize, perceive, and understand others, fostering better interaction and empathy.

Indicators

  • No problems working in groups.
  • To enjoy group games.
  • To show empathy.

Activity

Pupils develop this intelligence through group work.