What is Language Proficiency?
Language proficiency refers to a person’s ability to use a language for a variety of purposes, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Proficiency is commonly measured using guidelines developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines measure proficiency on a scale of ten levels: Novice Low, Mid, and High; Intermediate Low, Mid, and High; Advanced Low, Mid, and High; and Superior. Review the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 for descriptions and multimedia exemplars of each proficiency level. Why Assess Language Proficiency? A student’s ability to engage in conversation, understand written or spoken text, and present information orally or in writing is developed over a number of years of learning a language. Each person is unique, and even in immersion programs, not all students attain the same level of proficiency in the same period of time. However, all students should be able to increase their proficiency each year if they are in a high-quality language program taught by a fluent and capable teacher. So, assessing language proficiency is a critical component of program evaluation. An even more important reason to assess language proficiency is to provide students with accurate feedback on their developing abilities in the language. While grades may be based on many non-linguistic factors, such as attendance, mastery of specific grammar points, or completion of homework, language proficiency focuses only on what a student is actually able to do with the language. |
How to assess language proficiency?
Avant STAMP 4S Proficiency AssessmentsThe Avant STAMP (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency) 4S assessment measures proficiency in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking in nine languages with content appropriate for middle school through university students.
Avant STAMP 4S assessments are web-based and computer-adaptive, with real-world questions that test level-appropriate topics and content that engages students. Avant STAMP 4S scores are reported by learner, class, school and district/institution, at proficiency benchmarks aligned to ACTFL levels Novice through Advanced. Reading and Listening scores are available immediately, and Writing and Speaking are scored externally by certified raters and typically made available within 3-7 business days. |
ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), OPIc (computer-based) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)Speaking Tests: Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
TESTS FOR: Speaking proficiency of a selected language DELIVERED BY: Telephone TEST DURATION: 20-30 minutes NOTE: The ACTFL OPI is an internationally recognized assessment of speaking proficiency and replicates a natural conversation between two people. The ACTFL OPI is appropriate for a variety of purposes:
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The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL)The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) is unlike any other assessment. AAPPL Measure addresses the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages and uses today’s communication media in which test takers perform tasks such as participating in a virtual video chat, creating wikis, e-mailing, and using apps to demonstrate language ability.
The AAPPL Measure assesses the following modes of communication:
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