ACTFL Assessments Southwest Conference on Language Teaching April 26th, 2014 Brett Laquercia Director of Assessment Initiatives
LTI: The ACTFL Testing Office Language Testing International (LTI) and (ACTFL) American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages • Exclusive partnership to provide ACTFL Assessments • +20 years serving academia, industry, government • Over 250,000 ACTFL assessments in 2013 • HQ in White Plains, NY with offices in • Alexandria, VA • Dallas, TX
LTI: The ACTFL Testing Office ACTFL Assessments • • • • • • • • •
Highest levels validity and reliability All tests are proctored to assure validity & reliability ACTFL, ILR and CEFR ratings available for all tests Proficiency testing - Real-world language Performance testing – Learned in classroom Reading – Writing – Listening - Speaking Official ACTFL Certificates provided for all Tests Client Site - order/administer & access results Student/school orders & accesses results online
National Standards for Language Learning ACTFL established the US National Standards for measuring functional language ability
LTI: The ACTFL Testing Office
Summary of ACTFL Assessments
Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) Oral Proficiency Interview-computer (OPIc) ProFluentPlus (OPIc with remote Web-cam Proctoring) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) Listening Proficiency Test (LPT) Reading Proficiency Test (RPT) Listening/Reading Computer Adaptive Test (L&R-CAT) ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA)
ACE College Credit Recommendations The American Council on Education recommends ACTFL Assessments for granting college-credit
LTI Confidential Information
Speaking Proficiency Tests Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) – The Gold Standard –
A direct measure of functional speaking ability
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20-30 min telephone interview with ACTFL certified tester
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Standardized interview structure and protocol - Adaptive
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Rated on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines – Speaking
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100+ languages www.languagetesting.com/find-a-test
Uses Include •
Graduating Seniors
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Earn college credit – ACE
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Advanced placement
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Final course-grade
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ELLs – Credit for (English and) native languages District employees Teacher certification
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Speaking Proficiency Tests (cont.) Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc) • • • • •
Computer Adaptive – Available worldwide 24/7/365 Survey & Self-Assessment create customized experience Avatar speaks recorded prompts to elicit sample of speech Recording assessed by ACTFL Raters Arabic, English, French, German, Korean, Mandarin, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Russian, Spanish
Uses Include • • • • • • •
Graduating Seniors Earn college credit – ACE College advanced placement Final course-grade ELLs – Credit for (English and) native languages District employees Teacher certification
Webcam Proctored OPIc ProFluentPlus Securely test • Online students • Home school students
Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) • • •
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Direct measure of functional writing ability All instructions and prompts are written in English Survey & Self-Assessment create customized experience Booklet or Computer-based Assessed by ACTFL Raters +20 languages www.languagetesting.com/find-a-test
Uses Include •
Graduating Seniors Earn college credit – ACE
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Advanced placement
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Final course-grade
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ELLs – Credit for (English and) native languages District employees Teacher certification
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Reading Proficiency Test (RPT) • • • • • •
Standardized online test of reading ability in a language Proficiency range customized from Novice Low to Superior 50 min to 120 min On-demand, anytime testing Online test – Instant Results English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Listening Proficiency Test (LPT) • • • • • •
Standardized online test of listening proficiency in languages Proficiency range customized from Novice Low to Superior 50 min to 120 min On-demand, anytime testing Online test - Instant Results English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish
Listening and Reading Computer Adaptive Test (L&R CAT) Direct test of Academic Listening and Reading • Novice Low to Superior levels • Online test - Instant results • 50-75 min total • Candidate receives most prompts at his/her level • English Only – August adding Spanish, French, German Uses Include: • Entrance/Exit • Placement • Certification •
ACTFL Online Assessment Demos OPIc Demo: http://opicdemo.actfltesting.org WPT Demo: http://wptdemo.actfltesting.org RPT Demo: http://rptdemo.actfltesting.org LPT Demo: http://lptdemo.actfltesting.org
Find a Test - by Language
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rMEz8hhH9x0&feature=player_embedde d
AAPPL Overview Performance – Interpersonal, Presentational Interpretive • Current methodologies • Current content – Replaced annually • www.aappl.org Uses Include •
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Baseline setting Progress measurement Program review Professional development Awarding Seal of Biliteracy
ACTFL Performance Assessment
AAPPL Measure – ACTFL Assessment of Performance Toward Proficiency in Languages – Interpersonal Listening & Speaking (ILS) – 30 min – Presentational Writing (PW) – 30 min – Interpretive Reading (IL) – 30 min – Interpretive Listening (IR) – 30 min – English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Russian, Spanish
Technology Requirements
PC or Mac Headset and microphone Computer lab
LTI Confidential Information
Video introduction & student feedback ď Ź
Paul Sandrock, ACTFL Director of Education, students from Glastonbury, CT Public Schools - Video
AAPPL’s Supports ACTFL’s Mission
Positive wash back on instruction Results that measure growth and inform instruction Message – you can do a lot of real-world work with your language - whatever your level
Access to tests and data
Client Site - Online 24/7 access to: –
Order Tests
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View Scheduled Tests
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Check on Ratings Pending
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View and export test results
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Print Certificates
Client Site
Live Demonstration
www.aappl.org
LTI, the ACTFL Testing Office www.languagetesting.com Brett Laquercia Director, Assessment Initiatives 800-486-8444 469-941-6232 blaquercia@languagetesting.com