Completing a Level 3 Language Session

This guide will help you learn how to complete a Level 3 language session with your language helper.

Level 3 is where your language skills deepen significantly. You’ll learn to:

• Use past, present, and future tenses
• Combine sentences into paragraphs
• Describe, compare, and explain situations — especially ones that have twists, complications, or solutions
• Talk about your own and others’ life experiences

Overview of Level 3 Structure

For Level 3 sessions, you’ll spend time listening to community members share personal stories. The level is broken into four stages:

1. Stage 1 – Hear experiences of locals
2. Stage 2 – Retell their stories
3. Stage 3 – Tell your own stories
4. Stage 4 – Tell stories of public figures or events

Stories are categorized using four language functions:

• Life Stories (LS)
• Future Plans (FP)
• Situations with Complications (SC)
• Comparisons & Contrasts (CC)

Use the steps below as a guide for your daily sessions.

Stage 1 (Lessons 1–30): Language Helper Tells Stories

• Aim: Work with 30 local friends, covering each of the 4 language functions.
• For full-time learners: Spend 2 hours with 2 helpers per day, totaling 4 hours/day.

Session Structure:

• Begin with small talk. Let your helper know which type of story (LO, FP, SC, or CC) you’re focusing on.
• Spend 30–40 minutes in deeper conversation. Ask follow-up questions, clarify vocabulary, and take notes (including a bullet-point summary of key events or themes).
• Use the final 10–15 minutes to review the story with your helper and record a brief 15-minute summary based on what was shared.

Stage 2 (Lessons 31–60): Language Learner Retells Stories

• Begin with a few minutes of light conversation. Remind your helper of the story they previously told you and let them know you’ll be retelling it today.
• Ask them to take note of any errors in pronunciation, grammar, or detail.

Session Structure:

• Retell the story (15–30 minutes), using natural phrasing and full paragraphs. You may choose to record yourself.
• Spend another 15–30 minutes reviewing feedback. Ask your helper to explain what could be improved.
• If time allows, retell the story again with improvements.

Stage 3 (Lessons 61–80): Language Learner Tells Their Own Stories

• Prepare personal stories related to Life Overview, Future Plans, and Comparisons and Contrasts.
• Each story should fill about 30 minutes of focused conversation.

Session Structure:

• Begin with small talk and inform your helper of the language function you're working on.
• Tell your story, staying focused on the function.
• Be attentive to corrections and take notes.
• Discuss what your helper should include or clarify when they retell it.
• Have them practice their version and record it.
• Encourage pronoun switching: use “I,” “you,” and “he/she” for different perspectives.

Stage 4 (Lessons 81–100): Language Learner Tells Stories of Figures or Events

• As in Stage 3, prepare stories that fit into the Life Overview, Future Plans, and Comparisons and Contrasts categories.

Session Structure:

• Start with small talk and state the focus of the session.
• Share the prepared story, remaining open to feedback.
• Take notes, ask clarifying questions, and revise as needed.
• Discuss key points for retelling, then have your helper retell and record the story.
• Practice pronoun switching for deeper understanding and fluency.