For example, at work:

• Follow a very short direction when a gesture is used to support it. (The bathroom is over there. Take it upstairs.)

• Recognize a request for attention. (Excuse me.)

• Follow a simple command or instruction. (Please sit down.)

For example, at work:

• Recognize a short request. (How do you spell your name?)

• Understand a short simple safety warning. (Do not use the stairs.)

• Follow simple spoken instructions. (Put the date here. Sign on this line.)

For example, at work:

• Understand a co-worker’s request to switch a shift.

• Get the gist of a short simple announcement about a company event.

• Follow spoken directions to a department or floor of a building.

For example, at work:

• Follow a short conversation about who will do a routine task.

• Listen and respond to simple, casual small talk at work.

• Follow instructions for a simple task, such as making a photocopy.

• Follow a brief overview of topics to be covered in a training session, when accompanied by an aid (e.g., an agenda).

For example, at work:

• Tell a co-worker your name.

• Give a very simple short command or instruction. (Open the door.)

• Ask for assistance by saying, "Please help me."

For example, at work:

• Introduce yourself to a new co-worker and respond to their introduction.

• Place a simple order. (Coffee with milk, please.)

• Request to borrow an item from a co-worker.

• Give a simple command or instruction. (Please don't answer the phone.)

For example, at work:

• Greet a customer and exchange pleasantries.

• Ask a supervisor for permission to leave early.

• Ask simple questions to learn about a new co-worker.

• Give simple directions to a new co-worker to help them find the lunchroom.

For example, at work:

• Initiate and maintain a brief small-talk conversation with a co-worker.

• Leave a simple voicemail message for a supervisor to let them know you will be late.

• Give a short set of instructions for a basic task such as how to clean a piece of equipment.

• Provide an update to the supervisor on which routine tasks have been completed.

For example, at work:

• Listen to co-workers discuss their preferences for a meeting time and reasons for their preferences.

• Listen to a voicemail message from a co-worker who is asking to switch shifts.

• Follow instructions on how to use a piece of machinery.

• Listen to an announcement with straightforward instructions for evacuating a building.

For example, at work:

• Understand a short awareness video about basic safety procedures at work.

• Understand routine questions from a customer about a product in order to provide information.

• Listen to a supervisor give instructions over the phone.

For example, at work:

• Listen to a discussion amongst co-workers about a new policy, and understand the attitudes of the speakers.

• Understand a safety expert describe how to handle a new dangerous material at work to determine appropriate actions.

• Listen to a supplier’s response to a question about a product’s uses and availability.

• Listen to a work status update from a co-worker during a shift change.

For example, at work:

• Listen to a customer describe their needs to identify a suitable service to offer.

• Follow instructions from a help line or a video tutorial to fix a problem with equipment.

• Participate in a performance review to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

• Listen to a voicemail message from a dissatisfied client to understand concerns and identify a way to address them.

For example, at work:

• Respond to a routine request from a customer on the phone.

• Make a simple suggestion for how to improve sales on days of the week when business tends to be slower.

• Place an order for goods with a supplier.

For example, at work:

• Apologize for arriving late to a team meeting and provide an explanation.

• Decline an invitation to a team-building social activity and provide a reason you cannot attend.

• Talk to co-workers to coordinate the use of equipment.

For example, at work:

• Speak to a supervisor about dissatisfaction with a work schedule.

• Give instructions to a new co-worker on options available if a customer wants to return a product.

• Give a detailed suggestion for how to solve a problem or make an improvement.

• Participate in a union meeting to discuss working conditions.

For example, at work:

• Clarify the terms of a job offer.

• Mentor a junior team member by offering encouragement and constructive criticism supported by positive body language.

• Respond to a customer complaint with empathy and assurance their needs will be addressed.

• Lead a brief weekly staff meeting to provide information about goals and priorities.

For example, at work:

• Watch a recording from a web-based meeting to prepare meeting minutes.

• Listen to a panel discussion to identify ways of modifying the work environment to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.

• Listen to co-workers discuss how to address job vacancies during a meeting to identify opinions, strengths and limitations.

• Listen to detailed instructions and requests for information from police, fire department and medical staff during a workplace incident.

For example, at work:

• Listen to a candidate’s responses to interview questions to evaluate suitability for the job.

• Listen to detailed descriptions of multiple equipment failures over time to identify the root cause and possible solutions.

• Listen to and evaluate a presentation delivered by a potential consultant outlining how they propose to solve a procedural issue.

For example, at work:

• Listen to a co-worker recount a conflict with a manager and identify the attitudes and behaviours that contributed to the conflict.

• Listen to a lecture presenting research findings at a professional conference.

• Listen to focus group participants’ responses to understand and analyze views on a complex social issue and identify ways to probe for additional insights.

• Listen to a variety of professionals giving assessments of a proposed large-scale equipment purchase, including a cost-benefit analysis and projected impacts on the workforce, to decide whether to proceed.

For example, at work:

• Listen to and critically evaluate the organization and delivery of a workplace training program to make suggestions for improvement.

• Attend a public consultation to understand citizens’ views on a contentious matter.

• Actively listen to an employee describe a serious workplace conflict, recognizing verbal and non-verbal signs of anxiety, anger and other emotions to validate their feelings and determine next steps.

• Listen to a workplace mediator and the testimony of two parties to help them come to a mutually acceptable agreement.

For example, at work:

• Provide detailed instructions to a client over the phone to resolve a technical issue.

• Co-facilitate a staff meeting, clarifying information as needed and ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to contribute.

• Discuss a new project with a recently established team to identify activities, timelines and task assignments.

• Make a presentation to co-workers to share the results of a survey and provide evidence to support a set of recommendations.

For example, at work:

• Respond appropriately to sarcastic or patronizing remarks from others in a meeting.

• Present skills, abilities and experience in an interview, fielding questions with detailed responses to convince the panel of your suitability for the job.

• Deliver training to co-workers on a new practice or procedure.

For example, at work:

• Negotiate a long-term, large-scale agreement with a vendor.

• Make an extended, formal presentation to a board of directors to propose a major change in an organization’s direction.

• Lead a problem-solving session with an interdisciplinary team of professionals who bring diverse perspectives.

For example, at work:

• Mediate a dispute between management and a bargaining unit.

• Answer questions posed by the media during a live television interview in a situation where responses must be carefully worded to avoid controversy.

• Present and defend research findings at a professional conference where attendees are likely to offer critiques.