CEFR Guide

Level 1

Touchstone 1
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Contents
Part 1

The Level of Touchstone 1 2

Part 2

Selection of Scales from the CEFR

Part 3
How the Goals of the CEFR Are Realized
in Touchstone 1 4
Part 4

How Each Unit of Touchstone 1 Relates to the CEFR

Touchstone CEFR Guide Level 1 Cambridge University Press 2013

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Part 1

The Level of Touchstone 1

Touchstone 1 covers level A1 of the CEFR. This table describes the general
degree of skill achieved by learners at this level.
Skill

The learner will be able to:

Speaking

use simple phrases and sentences to describe where he/she lives and people he/she knows.
interact in a simple way, provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at
a slower rate of speech and help him/her formulate what he/she is trying to say.
ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.

Writing

write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

write a short, simple postcard, for example, sending holiday greetings.
fill in forms with personal details, for example, entering his/her name, nationality, and address
on a hotel registration form.

Listening and
Reading

recognize familiar words and very basic phrases concerning him/herself, his/her family, and
immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.
understand familiar names, words, and very simple sentences, for example, on notices and
posters or in catalogs.

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Part 2

Selection of Scales from the CEFR

Touchstone 1 aims to enable learners to achieve goals from the following

scales of the CEFR:
Speaking
Describing experience
Conversing
transactions to obtain goods and services
information exchange
Interviewing and being interviewed
Writing
Overall written production
Creative writing
Overall written interaction
Correspondence
Notes, messages, and forms
Listening and Reading
Overall listening comprehension
Overall reading comprehension
Reading for orientation
Reading for information and argument

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CEFR Guide

CEFR Guide

Level 1

Part 3

Level 1

How the Goals of the CEFR Are Realized in Touchstone 1

Speaking
The learner will be able to:

Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9 Unit 10 Unit 11 Unit 12

describe him/herself, what he/

she does, and where he/she lives.
(Describing experience A1)

4A
4B
4C
4D

make an introduction and use

basic greeting and leave-taking
expressions. (Conversation A1)

1A
1D

ask how people are and react to

news. (Conversation A1)

1A
1D

5A
5B
5C

6A

7A
7B
7C

8A

9A
9B

7C

ask people for things and give

people things (Cooperation /
Transactions A1)

10A
10B

11A
11B
11C
11D

10C
8B
8C

handle numbers, quantities, cost,

and time. (Transactions A1)

1C

ask and answer simple questions

and initiate and respond to simple
statements in areas of immediate
need or on very familiar topics.
(Information exchange A1)

1B

2B
2C
2D

3A

ask and answer questions about

him/herself and other people:
where they live, people they know
and things they have. (Information
exchange A1)

1B
1C
1D

2A
2B

3B
3C
3D

3C

6B
5B
5C

4B
4C

indicate time by such phrases as

next week, last Friday, in
November, three oclock.
(Information exchange A1)
reply in an interview to simple,
1B
direct questions - spoken very slowly
and clearly in direct, non-idiomatic
speech - about personal details.
(Interviews A1)

12B

8B

6A
6B
6C

5A
5B
5C

12A
12C

9A
9C
9D

7B
7C

8A
8D

9B
9C

10B
10C

11A
11B
11C

12A
12C
12D

6B

3D

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CEFR Guide

CEFR Guide

Level 1

Level 1

Writing
The learners will be able to:

Unit 4

Unit 5

Unit 6

Unit 7

Unit 8

Unit 9

Unit 10

Unit 11

Unit 12

write simple, isolated phrases and

sentences. (Overall production A1)

4D

5D

6D

7D

8D

9D

10D

11D

12D

write simple phrases and sentences

about him/herself and imaginary
people, where they live, and what
they do. (Creative writing A1)

4D

5D

10D

11D

12D

4D

5D

ask for or pass on personal details in

written form. (Overall interaction

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

8D

1C

A1)
write a short, simple email. *
(Correspondence A1)
write numbers and dates, own name,
nationality, address, age, date of birth
or arrival in the country, etc. (such as
on a hotel registration form). (Notes,

1C

messages and forms A1)

* This is an update of the original goal wording, which refers to postcards.

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CEFR Guide

CEFR Guide

Level 1

Level 1

Listening and Reading

The learner will be able to:

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Unit 5

Unit 6

Unit 7

Unit 8

Unit 9

Unit 10

Unit 11

Unit 12

follow speech that is very slow and

carefully articulated, with long pauses
for him/her to assimilate meaning.

1C

2A

3D

4C
4D

5C
5D

6B
6C

7C
7D

8C

8D

9B
9C

10C
10D

11C
11D

12C
12D

4D

5D

6D

7D

8D

9D

10D

11D

12D

(Overall listening comprehension

A1)
understand very short, simple texts
a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic
phrases and re-reading as required.
(Overall reading comprehension
A1)
recognize familiar names, words,
and very basic phrases on simple
notices in the most common
everyday situations. (Reading for
orientation A1)
get an idea of the content of simpler
informational material and short,
simple descriptions, especially if
there is visual support. (Reading for
information and argument A1)

Touchstone CEFR Guide Level 1 Cambridge University Press 2013

6D

4D

5D

12D

7D

8D

9D

10D

11D

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Part 4

How Each Unit of 1 Relates to the CEFR

Unit 1
Skills Area

Goal

Speaking

Make an introduction and use basic greeting and leave-taking expressions A, D

(Conversation A1)

Writing

Ask how people are and react to news (Conversation A1)

A, D

Handle numbers, quantities, cost, and time (Transactions A1)

Ask and answer simple questions and initiate and respond to simple
statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics
(Information exchange A1)

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

B, C, D

Reply in an interview to simple, direct questions - spoken very slowly and

clearly in direct, non-idiomatic speech - about personal details (Interviews
A1)

Ask for or pass on personal details in written form (Overall interaction A1) C
Write numbers and dates, own name, nationality, address, age, date of
birth or arrival in the country, etc. (such as on a hotel registration form)
(Notes, messages, and forms A1)

Listening and
Reading

Lesson

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses C
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 2
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Ask and answer simple questions and initiate and respond to simple
statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics
(Information exchange A1)

B, C, D

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

A, B

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses A
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 3
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Handle numbers, quantities, cost, and time (Transactions A1)

Ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple

statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics
(Information exchange A1)

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

B, C, D

Reply in an interview to simple, direct questions - spoken very slowly and

clearly in direct, non-idiomatic speech - about personal details (Interviews
A1)

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses D
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 4
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives

(Describing experience A1)

A, B, C, D

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

B, C

Write simple, isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Write simple phrases and sentences about him/herself and imaginary

people, where they live, and what they do (Creative writing A1)

Write a short, simple email (Correspondence A1)

Writing

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses C, D
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)
Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short

simple descriptions, especially if there is visual support (Reading for
information and argument A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 5
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives

(Describing experience A1)

A, B, C

Ask and answer simple questions and initiate and respond to simple
statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics
(Information exchange A1)

B, C

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

A, B, C

Write simple, isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Write simple phrases and sentences about him/herself and imaginary

people, where they live, and what they do (Creative writing A1)

Write a short, simple email (Correspondence A1)

Writing

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses C, D
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)
Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short

simple descriptions, especially if there is visual support (Reading for
information and argument A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 6
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives

(Describing experience A1)

Handle numbers, quantities, cost, and time (Transactions A1)

Ask and answer simple questions and initiate and respond to simple
statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics
(Information exchange A1)

A, B, C

Indicate time by such phrases as next week, last Friday, in

November, three oclock (Information exchange A1)

Writing

Write simple, isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses B, C
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)
Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Recognize familiar names, words, and very basic phrases on simple notices D
in the most common everyday situations (Reading for orientation A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 7
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives

(Describing experience A1)

A, B, C

Ask how people are and react to news (Conversation A1)

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

B, C

Writing

Write simple, isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses C, D
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)
Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short

simple descriptions, especially if there is visual support (Reading for
information and argument A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 8
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives

(Describing experience A1)

Ask people for things and give people things (Cooperation Transactions
A1)

B, C

Handle numbers, quantities, cost, and time (Transactions A1)

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

A, D

Write simple, isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Write simple phrases and sentences about him/herself and imaginary

people, where they live, and what they do (Creative writing A1)

Writing

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses C, D
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)
Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short

simple descriptions, especially if there is visual support (Reading for
information and argument A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 9
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives

(Describing experience A1)

A, B

Ask and answer simple questions, and initiate and respond to simple
statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics
(Information exchange A1)

A, C, D

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

B, C

Writing

Write simple, isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses B, C
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)
Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short

simple descriptions, especially if there is visual support (Reading for
information and argument A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 10
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives (Describing
experience A1)

A, B

Ask how people are and react to news (Conversation A1)

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where they
live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange A1)

B, C

Write simple, isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Write simple phrases and sentences about him/herself and imaginary

people, where they live, and what they do (Creative writing A1)

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)

C, D

Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking

up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short

simple descriptions, especially if there is visual support (Reading for
information and argument A1)

Writing

Listening and
Reading

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 11
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives

(Describing experience A1)

A, B, C, D

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

A, B, C

Write simple isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Write simple phrases and sentences about him/herself and imaginary

people, where they live, and what they do (Creative writing A1)

Writing

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses C, D
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)
Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short

simple descriptions, especially if there is visual support (Reading for
information and argument A1)

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CEFR Guide
Level 1

Unit 12
Skills Area

Goal

Lesson

Speaking

Describe him/herself, what he/she does, and where he/she lives

(Describing experience A1)

A, C

Ask people for things and give people things (Cooperation / Transactions
A1)

Ask and answer questions about him/herself and other people: where
they live, people they know, and things they have (Information exchange
A1)

A, C, D

Write simple, isolated phrases and sentences (Overall production A1)

Write simple phrases and sentences about him/herself and imaginary

people, where they live, and what they do (Creative writing A1)

Writing

Listening and
Reading

Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses C, D
for him/her to assimilate meaning (Overall listening comprehension A1)
Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking
up familiar names, words, and basic phrases and re-reading as required
(Overall reading comprehension A1)

Recognize familiar names, words, and very basic phrases on simple notices D
in the most common everyday situations (Reading for orientation A1)

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