1. Pre-production: This is the silent period. Students have some words in their "receptive" vocabulary (words they understand when they hear) but they are not yet speaking.

2. Early Production: In a total immersion setting (living in a foreign country), this stage can last up to six months and the students will develop receptive and active vocabulary. They can use short sentences that have been memorized, but have difficulty trying to vary the sentences. This stage can be prolonged if the immersion is considerably shorter.

3. Speech Emergence: In this stage, students have developed a much larger vocabulary and can communicate with simple phrases and sentences.

4. Intermediate fluency: During this stage students are beginning to use more complex sentences when speaking and writing and are willing to express opinions and share thoughts. They will still have many errors and will still translate from the native language.

5. Advanced fluency: It takes students 4-10 years in a total immersion setting to achieve cognitive academic language proficiency in a second language. Students in this stage will be near native in their ability to perform in content area learning. They will still need support in writing.

Pre-Production
Students can show they understand what's been said by:
• Pointing to an item, picture or person
• Performing an act (such as standing or opening the door)
• Gesturing or nodding (to show agreement or disagreement)
• Saying "yes" or "no"

Early Production
Students show that they understand and are learning to respond by:
• Answering "yes" or "no"
• Answering questions with one word.
• Putting two or more words together
• Using repetitive language patterns (memorized)

Speech Emergence
Students show that they can use the language to communicate by:
• Using three or more words and short phrases
• Using beginning dialog
• Using full simple sentences

Intermediate Fluency
Students show that they can use the language to communicate by:
• Using complex statements
• Stating opinions
• Speaking at length
• Asking for clarification
• Share original thoughts