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CEFR= A1A2B1B2C
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TopicAbilitiesACTFL = BeginnerIntermediateAdvancedAdvanced PlusYouSheila-ji - Version 1aNOTE: First, I am not a teacher. This is meant as a guideline . It is based on my experience gained in hosting SW reading sessions at HU. It uses the categories used by ACTFL and CEFR ( more info via links below) . This guideline is a 'guess' not anything 'official'
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lowmidhighlowhigh SuperiorDistinguishedV1: Date: 2025_09_06
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ScriptRecognizes  Devanagari script v other South Asian scripts.✓V1a - note added, colouring
Date: 2025_12_18
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ScriptReads simple Devanagari characters in non-elaborate fonts✓V1b - links added
Date: 2025_12_23
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ScriptReads a few simple conjunct consonants eg क्य , झ ✓V1c - CEFR levels added
Date: 2026_01_01		ACTFL
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FormatsReads and comprehends familiar, simple, short words, phrases, short sentances ✓CEFR
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Reading MaterialsStoryweaver Emergent Readers
- familiar words, repetitions, short		✓
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ComprehensionUses contextual and pictorial cues for meaning✓
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ComprehensionRereading required✓
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MisunderstandingsDue to inconsistent reading of vowels, र ,ृ ✓
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ScriptIncreased confidence with printed and carefully handwritten texts✓
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FormatsReads short sentances in SOV order on topics of personal interest or knowledge using frequently used words and non-complex grammatical structures eg personal letters, emails, notes, invitations, public posters.✓
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Reading MaterialsStart Storyweaver Level 1
- easy words, repetiton, less than 250 words		✓
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Reading MaterialsBooks such as Bedtime Stories in Hindi Vol 1-3✓
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ComprehensionGets main facts from simple connected texts
dealing with personal and social needs. 		✓
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ComprehensionFamiliar with Simple Present ,Future and Progressive /Continuous Tenses, मुझको constructions✓
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Vocabulary good coverage of daily nouns, verbs , adjectives, simple prepositions, adverbs of time✓
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MisunderstandingsDue to inconsistent reading of vowels, र ,ृ , conjuncts and half letters combos eg द्ध , स्व् ,द्व , ✓
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MisunderstandingsFinds reading newly encountered conjuncts quite dificult✓
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MisunderstandingsNeeds to reread longer sentences✓
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FormatsReads and comprehends sentances in SOV word order. Straightforward informative texts, requiring minimal supposition about format and content
eg weather forecasts, descriptions of people, places and objects, personal letters etc		✓
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Reading MaterialsComplete Storyweaver Level 1✓
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ComprehensionGets facts and some detail✓
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ComprehensionMaterial is read slowly, rereading required✓
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ComprehensionComfortable with Simple Past Tense, Modal verbs✓
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VocabularyVocabulary range increased, compound postpositions, comparatives and superlatives, Adverbs of frequency, degree, and manner✓
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MisunderstandingsDue to unfamiliar vocabulary ✓
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MisunderstandingsDue to structural complexity✓
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ScriptsRecognizes an increased range of conjunct consonants -
क्य, झ, क्त, त्र, क्ष, क्र, क्य, ज्ञ, श्र, प्र, ब्र, क्र, द्र, ग्र, ग्न, न्ध, न्त, न्थ, न्द, ट्र. 		✓
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ScriptsIncreased confidence with vowels and र , ृ ✓
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FormatsAdditional fonts, neat handwriting readable✓
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Reading MaterialsStart Storyweaver Level 2
– longer, more complex, simple concepts, increased use of synonyms		✓
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ComprehensionReads simple short stories for children, simple reports on festivals, concerts, elections etc ✓
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ComprehensionAble to determine who is doing what to whom, where, when and why.✓
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ComprehensionFamiliar with Perfective Tenses. ✓
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ComprehensionFamiliar with but rereading required with Simple Relative –Correlatives eg जब – तब , जो – वह,
Present and Past Participles,
Conjunct & Compound & Causative verbs,
Adverbs of probability, emphasis,
Passive voice,
Simple If clauses अगर – तो		✓
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Vocabulary Vocabulary range increased, increased synonyms, abstract nouns, simple idioms✓
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Vocabulary Recognition of Urdu/Sanskrit synonyms✓
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MisunderstandingsNon-standard sentence structures, non-SOV sentences eg poetic forms✓
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MisunderstandingsFinds reading newly encountered conjuncts quite difficult✓
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MisunderstandingsRereading required when encoutering Participial constructions, Passive Voice, Compound verbs , multiple clause sentences�and complex grammatical constructions✓
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FormatsVariety of prints and handwriting.✓
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FormatsConsistent prose reading of several paragraphs in length.✓
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FormatsPassages from simple short stories, news items, general interest passages from popular magazines eg फिल्मफेयर , सरिता and newspapers नभारत टाइम्स , हिंदुस्तान, BBC Hindi and similar.✓
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Reading MaterialsStoryweaver Level 2 continued ✓
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Reading MaterialsBegin books such as
Gopi Diaries 4 book series by Sudha Murty ,
Famous Five Series, Secret Seven Series by Enid Blyton,
Ruskin Bond Ki Lokpriya Kahaniyan,
Tintin by Hergé,
Asterik by Rene Gosinny, About 9-10 year old upward
Try searching amazon.in - hindi books for kids-12-15 ; harpercollins India for-10-12 yrs 		✓
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ComprehensionMuch reduced rereading in pieces of general interest.✓
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ComprehensionDeveloping ability to infer meaning from context.✓
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VocabularyIncreasing control of language
Eg Complex structures and discourse features ,eg concessives , additional relative – correlatives – eg जैसे – वैसे, हलोनकी – फिर भी, इसलिए, ताकि, भले ही ,
Increased confidence with Conditionals, Passive voice, Subjunctive		✓
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VocabularyVocab – extending further in breadth and depth✓
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MisunderstandingsFrom unusual multiple embeddings, vague discourse referents, use of low frequency vocabulary and idiomatic expressions✓
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FormatsPolitical editorials, critical reviews, cultural commentaries, academic/professional writings. ✓
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Reading MaterialsStoryweaver 3 & 4 – increased length and complexity.✓
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Reading MaterialsBooks such as
Superhit Kahaniyan Series (stories by HG Wells, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Mark Twain as well as Indian authors such as Satyajeet Ray, RK Narayan , Mehrunnisa Parvez etc)
Lokpriya Kahaniyan series ( stories by Shubhadra Kumari Chauchan , Malti Joshi, Mannu Bhandar , Sudha Murty , Kamleshar etc )
Passages in Sheela Verma’s Intermediate Level Hindi
Naresh Sharma’s Routledge Intermediate Hindi Reader		✓
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ComprehensionGets main information from Superior level non technical, abstract and linguistically complex texts ✓
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ComprehensionWith greater understanding in areas of specific interest✓
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ComprehensionEmerging ability to understand author’s intent and general tone of the text.✓
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VocabularyHighly Sanskritic or Perso-Arabic words and phrases do not hinder general comprehension✓
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MisunderstandingsDue to insufficient knowledge of subject or style or presence of rare structures and expressions✓
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MisunderstandingsMay not understand inferential meaning or arguments.✓
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FormatsA wide variety of literary texts, even on unfamiliar subjects.✓
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Reading MaterialsReads for pleasure
Reads the great Indian novels, story collections , plays, poets - eg Phanishwar Nath Mandal 'Renu’ s मैला आँचल/ The Soiled Border , Premchand‘s Godan , Mohan Rakesh , Bhisham Sahni, Nirmal Verma, and the “Nayi Kahani” Movement and magazines for the educated reader eg धर्मयुग , इंडिया , टुडे , दिनमान.		✓
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ComprehensionReads hypotheses, argumentation, supported opinions etc.✓
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MisunderstandingsFew - very occasionally due to presuppositions and complicated style✓
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FormatsFluent and accurate reading of most styles and genre pertinent to academic and professional needs.✓
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Reading MaterialsReads a wide range of literary texts including novels and poetry. literary criticism, sophisticated editorials, and scholarly writings. ✓
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ComprehensionDistinguishes relevant from irrelevant information✓
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ComprehensionFollows unpredictable turns of thought ✓
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ComprehensionUnderstands
literal and intended meanings,
linguistic and cultural nuances.
neologisms - newly coined words or expressions
creative word formations
use of dialect
uncommon idioms and expressions.
cultural humour, irony & sarcasm
literary devices – metaphor, simile, hyperbole,		✓
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