Ilocano Writing Examples

The following shows writing examples at various proficiency levels. These were produced by real language learners and may contain errors. See Writing Section Tips at the bottom of this page.

Ilocano Proficiency Tests and Resources

Writing Examples

Level 1: | Novice-Low

At this level, I am able to create individual words that have no extended meaning.

I can share some simple vocabulary, which deals with the prompt/task/situation, but I tend to struggle to connect those words to create meaning.

No example for this level.

Level 2: | Novice-Mid

At this level, I am beginning to develop the ability to create meaning by grammatically connecting words.

Specifically, I can connect some basic subjects and verbs or verbs and objects, but I may be inconsistent at doing this.

I am often limited in my vocabulary to Novice level topics that I experience in my every-day life or that I have recently learned.

No example for this level.

Level 3: | Novice-High

At this level, I can create simple sentences with very basic grammatical control and accuracy.

There are often errors in my responses, while at the same time I might have good control with some very simple structures and functions of the language that I have just learned or studied.

At the Novice levels, errors are expected as I try to create simple sentences. Generally, the sentences that I am able to create are very basic and simple with few, if any, added details.

No example for this level.

Level 4: | Intermediate-Low

At this level, I can create simple sentences with some added detail; such sentences help create VARIETY.

At the Intermediate Low level, simple sentences are enhanced by use of prepositional phrases, helping verb usage, as well as some adverbs and a variety of adjectives.

I generally create independent sentences (ideas) that can be moved around without affecting the overall meaning of the response. There are still a number of errors in my response, but I have fairly good control of more basic sentences. I am feeling more confident in using different structures and expanding vocabulary and taking more risks with my responses.

Ti kamayatan a naexperienceko – agayayam ti soccer. Agayayam ak ti soccer inaldaw kaduak ti gayyemko. Adda kami ti team idiay eskuela amin a gayyemko. Idi championship nagayayamak amin a ay-ayam ken nag-goal-ak pay. Nagragsakak kaduak iti pamilyak ken gayyemko. Napankami nangan ti pizza kalpasan ti ay-ayam. Kayatko ti soccer.

Level 5: | Intermediate-Mid

At this level, I can now create enough language to show groupings of ideas.

My thoughts are loosely connected and cannot be moved around without affecting meaning.

I can also create a few sentences with complexity and am able to use some transition words.  I am also able to use more than just simple present tense, but often make mistakes when I try to use other tenses.

My vocabulary use is expanding and I am able to use more than the usual, high frequency or most common vocabulary. I feel that I am able to create new language on my own and communicate my everyday needs without too much difficulty.

Adu dagiti napasamak a nasayaat iti biagko. Nakaadadu iti nasayaat a malagipko. Ti maysa a kamayatan ket idi agayayamak iti golf. Ayayamek ti golf manipud idi lima ti tawenko. Ni nanang ken tatangko ket kayat da iti agayayam iti gold idi pay ubingda. Sinuruandak iti golf. Idi high-school, iti umuna, nagayayamak iti maysa a school team. Nalaingkami. Sinuruanak ni coach-ko iti adu. Adu ti naadalko nga importante para kaniak. Ammok a saanak nga agpungtot. No dadduma diak kayat ken masuronak no adda maysa a bola a diak na-hit a mayat. Diak nga agay-ayam a nasayaat no malpas daydiay. Mayat ti coach-ko.

Level 6: | Intermediate-High

At this level, I have good control of the language and feel quite confident about an increasing range of topics.

There are still some occasional errors in my language production, but that does not hinder my ability to communicate what I need to share.

I can use circumlocution to explain or describe things for which I do not know specific vocabulary or structures. I can understand and use different time frames and am just beginning to develop the ability to switch most time frames with accuracy. I can use transition words and concepts with some ease. My language has a more natural flow, but I still may have some unnatural pauses or hesitations.

Ti kamayatan a napadasak iti biagko itan ket idi nagbakasionak idiay France a kas estudiante. Malagipko a nalaing idi nakitak dagiti dadduma nga estudiante a sabali a panagbiagda no ikomparam kadagiti Amerikano. Idi bakasionko, binisitami dagiti madumaduma nga historical sites ken museo ken restawran ken pagsiapingan. Iti kasayaatan a parte ket idi kaduak iti maysa nga exchange student idiay balayda ken inadalko no kasano iti panagbiagda. Dagiti makmakan ket dakkel a parte iti bakasionko idiay France, ngem ad-adu pay iti napasamak. Panpanunotek pay lang nga iti bukodtayo a nasion ket isu laeng iti makitkitatayo nga agmaymaysa laeng a nasion. Ngem, idi napanak iti maysa a nasion iti Europe nga adu iti sabsabali a padas, ammok nga adu pay ti sabali. Ammok nga datoy experience ket isunto ti pakalaglagipak iti agnanayon.

Level 7: | Advanced-Low

At this level my response contains a number of complexities with higher degree of accuracy.

Such language allows me to address each aspect of the prompt more completely and with more depth of meaning.

I am able to use Advanced vocabulary or Advanced terms, conjugations etc. with confidence. I feel that I can create natural flow using as much detail and descriptive language as possible to create a clear picture. Errors with more complex structures may still occur. My ability to switch time frames begins to increase in accuracy.

Iti maysa a kamadian ken kasayaat a napasamak kaniak ken daydiay concussion-ko. January 4, 2016 ti fechana. Iti umuna nga aldaw a panagbabasa kalpasan iti winter break ken diak kayat ti bumangon iti katrek. Naulimekak a bimmaba ken nagaramidak iti peanut butter toast iti nasipnget, nasadutak a nagna idiay sabali a dulo ti kuarto tapno malukatak daydiay silaw. Kasapulak nga alaen iti asaynment-ko nga adda iti katrek tapno maikabilko iti bookbagko. Nagin-inayadak a simmang-at iti agdan ken simrek ti kuartok. Innalak dagiti bambanag para iti eskuelak ken bimmabaak nga nakaad-adu iti iggemko. Nagnaak iti nasipnget a hallway, panpanunotek dagiti asaynmentko nga kasapulak a palpasen. Diak pay lang a linukatan iti silaw ken daydiay iti kamadian a mistake-ko kadaydiay a bigat. Naiteklebak iti buyboy ken naipadatarak iti datar. Diak nausar dagiti imak ta adu dagiti iggemko nga schoolwork. Naidugmamak. Nariknak iti datar iti mugingko ken iti ulok ken adda sakitna a naut-ot. Diak malagip unay dagiti napasamak kalpasan daydiay ngem napanak idiay doctor’s office. Daytoy concussionko ket isu ti rason iti nakaro a depression ken leddaangko. Diak makausar ti teknolohia. Nasakit ti aggaraw. Kasla kanayon iti panagsaksakit ti ulok. Adu iti panagturogko, dandani a 22 nga oras kada aldaw. Ngem iti udina, naka-recover-ak, ingkarigatak. Ngem, itan ket permanente a naperdi iti pardas iti panagpanunotko, isu nga nakapkapsutak iti math ken lengguahe ngem idi. Uray pay idi nalpas iti concussion-ko, adda pay lang iti nadagsen unay a depression. Ngem itan ket agyamanak ta napadasak dagitoy a pasamak. No panunotek, madi talaga a banak, ken isu ti nangperdi kaniak a banag. Ngem itan ket mapanunotko a nalag-an, ammok nga napigsaak ta uray no nabayag unay a nakaidda iti katrek a nalidaay unay, makatakderak latta manen.

Level 8: | Advanced-Mid

At this level my response demonstrates my ease with the language.

I am able to create a response which not only addresses each aspect of the prompt, but delves into each point with clarity and concise language.

I am able to incorporate a number of more complex structures as well as Advanced vocabulary and Advanced phrases with a higher degree of accuracy throughout the majority of the response.

The language I create has a natural flow due to the way I incorporate a variety of patterns and complexities into my response. My response shows my ability to create language that has sophistication of language skills and syntactical density. My ability to switch time frames accurately is evident, if called for in the prompt.

Iti kasayaatan a padas iti biagko ket napasamak idi 18 ti tawenko. Isu idi a nangrugiak a nagtrabaho a kas cleaning lady idiay conference center para iti trabahok iti kalgaw. Ti kalgaw kalpasan ti freshman a tawenko iti college, agbirbirukak iti maysa a trabaho ken diak ammo no makabirukak ti maysa. Imbaga ni adingko kaniak iti naudi a napanna nagtrabahuan ken imbagana nga agbirbirukda iti agtrabaho para iti kalgaw. Nagapply-ak ken nagnamnamaak iti kasayaatan. Idi kuan ket kinontakdak dagiti employer ken adda met trabahokon. Ngem diak met naala daydiay posision nga inaplayak nga umuna. Imbes a daydiay a trabaho, naalak met iti trabaho a kas cleaning lady. Nagbalinak a housekeeper iti conference center para iti kalgaw. Adu iti makapabannog nga events iti kalgaw. Nagsimpaak dagiti katre, nagdalusak dagiti banio, dinalusak dagiti tawa, nagvacuum-ak ken inaramidko pay dagiti nakaad-adu a madumaduma a trabaho. Kadaytoy a tiempo, naamirosko nga adu kabaelak. Kadauyan a nagtrabahoak iti innem nga aldaw imbes nga lima kada lawas, wenno adda extra shift iti rugi wenno gibus iti aldaw. Kinanayonak a nagtrabho ngem nag-enjoy-ak. Impannekkelko iti trabahok, a kas tao nga agdaldalus. Linalaingko iti haan laeng a panagdalus a nasaysayaat ngem iti panagdalus a napaspaspas. Idi kuan ket madalusak dagiti banag iti kagudua lang nga oras a kas maikompara kadgiti sabali a tao. Uray man no kastoy, nasiddawak a naalak iti ‘employee of the moth’ idi maikaduak lang a bulan iti daytoy a trabaho. Naamirisko a adu iti makaapresiar kaniak ken iti trabahok, kas imbagak tattay, ammok nga ad-adu gayam iti kabaelak ngem iti napanunotko. Isu nga, uray no haan daytoy iti kasayaatan a pasamak, isu met it kaaduan iti gunggunana. Naadalko iti pateg iti gaget ken naamirisko nga adu ti kabaelak. Amin-amin, daytoy a padas iti nanglukat iti lubong a posibilidad kaniak ken para dayta a rason, isu ti kasayaatan a napadasak.