ACTFL® CERTIFIED PROFICIENCY TESTING PROGRAM:
ORAL AND WRITING PROFICIENCY TESTING
FOR STATE OF NEW JERSEY WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHER CERTIFICATION

As part of the World Language teacher certification process, the State of New Jersey Department of Education requires applicants to take an ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview in a target language.

THE ACTFL ORAL PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW (OPI)®

The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, or ACTFL OPI is:

• A standardized procedure for the global assessment of functional speaking ability,
• A telephonic interview between a Certified ACTFL Tester and a test taker,
• A criterion-referenced test that compares an individual's performance of specific oral communication tasks with the criteria for each of ten proficiency levels, as described in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines-Speaking (Revised 1999).

The ACTFL OPI takes the form of a carefully structured conversation between a trained and certified tester (the person conducting the interview) and the person whose speaking proficiency is being assessed. The interview is interactive and continuously adapts to the speaking ability of the test taker. There is no script or prescribed set of questions; the topics discussed during the interview are based on the interests and experiences of the speaker.

In order to establish a clear "floor" and "ceiling" of consistent functional ability, the interviewer, through a series of personalized questions, elicits from the test candidate examples of his or her ability to handle the communication tasks specified for each level of proficiency. Candidates are also asked to take part in a role-play to prove linguistic functions not easily elicited through a conversational format.

Since the ACTFL OPI is an assessment of functional speaking ability independent of any specific curriculum, it is irrelevant when, where, why and under what conditions the candidate acquired his/her speaking ability in the language.

The interview approximately will last thirty minutes. Each interview is digitally recorded and assigned an initial rating by the tester. The interview is then blindly rated by a second Certified ACTFL Tester. Under the supervision of Language Testing International, the ACTFL Testing Office, a final rating is assigned and an Official ACTFL OPI Certificate is issued.

THE ACTFL CERTIFIED TESTERS

ACTFL OPIs are conducted and rated by Certified ACTFL Proficiency Testers. Testers are highly specialized language professionals who have completed a rigorous training process that concludes with each tester demonstrating the ability to consistently elicit ratable samples and to rate them with a high degree of reliability. ACTFL strictly monitors all testing.

ACTFL ASSESSMENTS IN 60+ LANGUAGES

ACTFL provides oral proficiency testing in 60+ languages, both commonly taught and less commonly taught. For a current list of languages, please visit www.languagetesting.com.

FEES FOR ACTFL ASSESSMENTS AND SERVICES

Payment may be made by credit card (Master Card, Visa or Discover Card), money order, or personal check. Payment must accompany application forms.

*For tests that at proctored at New Jersey City University, LTI, or Richard Stockton College there is an additional $30 OPI test proctor fee to be paid directly to the test site that you are testing at (either NJCU, LTI or Richard Stockton) on the date of the test.  NJCU only accept money orders and Richard Stockton College only accepts money orders made out to RSENJ-LANG SCHOLARSHIP FUND.  Richard Stockton College LANG Program students are not required to pay fees. 

SCHEDULING AN ACTFL OPI

Step 1. Complete an OPI Application Form for Prospective New Jersey Teachers Click here for OPI Application

Step 2. Establish a Telephonic OPI Test Site and an Approved Proctor

You may request an OPI to be taken telephonically at New Jersey City University, LTI, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, or at a K-12 school or college, if you have an appropriate, approved proctor as identified below.

Option 1. At New Jersey City University -

NJCU proctors ACTFL OPIs on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am - 11:00am from November to December. For OPIs, Saturday testing is on 11/12 and 12/10 of 2011 and 1/28, 2/25, 3/24 and 4/28 of 2012. NJCU requires a $30.00 per OPI proctor fee to be paid to NJCU at the time of the test. NJCU proctors ACTFL WPTs on Mondays and Wednesdays at 1pm from June to December. For WPTs, Saturday testing is only on 11/12 and 12/10 of 2011 and 1/28, 2/25, 3/24 and 4/28 of 2012 at 1pm. NJCU is located at 2039 John F Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07305. At the above stated date/time, please report to Student Advisement Center, Vodra Hall Room ##101. Your proctor is Eleanor Anderson, she can be reached at 201-200-3305. NJCU requires $40.00 per WPT as a proctor fee to be paid to NJCU at the time of the test. Please Note: NJCU only accepts money orders for payment for OPIs and WPTs. If you select to take a test at NJCU, you do NOT need to submit a Proctor Responsibilities and Agreement form with your application.

Option 2. At Richard Stockton College

Richard Stockton proctors ACTFL OPIs on the following dates in 2012: 1/24, 2/21, 3/6, 4/17, 5/1, and 7/30 between 9 am and 3pm.  Richard Stockton College proctors ACTFL WPTs on the following dates in 2012: 1/24, 2/21, 3/6, 4/17, 5/1, and 7/30 between 9 am and 3 pm. The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is located at Jim Leeds Road, Pomona, New Jersey 08240-0195.  Please report to Room E-219, the Language Multimedia Language Center (LAB), on the Second Floor of the library. Proctor Information. Proctor Information: 609-626-3577;  maria.castillo@stockton.edu .  If you select to take a test at Richard Stockton you do NOT need to submit a Proctor Responsibilities and Agreement form with your application. The proctor fee for the OPI is $30.00 and the proctor fee for the WPT is $40.00 to be paid at the time of the test.  Proctor fees for OPIs or WPTs can be paid by money order.  Money orders must be payable to RSENJ- LANG SCHOLARSHIP FUND.  Richard Stockton College LANG Program students are not required to pay fees.

Option 3. At LTI Headquarters in White Plains, NY

For tests that are proctored at LTI in NY, there are additional proctor fees: $30.00 for an OPI (and $40.00 for a WPT). If you select to take the test at LTI, you do NOT need to submit a Proctor Responsibilities and Agreement form with your application.  LTI offers testing availability on the third Saturday of every month between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (OPIs between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and if you are taking a WPT as well it can be conducted afterwards.).  LTI is located at 3 Barker Avenue, Suite 300, White Plains, NY 10601. Call 914-963-7110 with any questions.  If you select to take the test at LTI, you do NOT need to submit a Proctor Responsibilities and Agreement form with your application. 

Option 4. At a K-12 School or University

A telephonic OPI requires the presence of a designated Proctor* who:

• Completes and signs a Proctor Responsibilities and Agreement form,Click here for OPI Proctor Agreement (required)
• Places the call to the OPI Tester at the scheduled time of the test,
• Introduces the test candidate to the OPI Tester,
• Confirms the name and identity of the candidate, and
• Is free to leave after the introduction, but may remain in the room as long as they do not distract, disturb, or speak to the candidate while they are taking the test.

*K-12 Schools and School District Proctors:

A proctor at a K-12 school or school district may only be a Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean, Administrative Assistant to the Principal or Dean, School District HR personnel, or Academic Chair. No other administrators or staff  may act as proctors.

*University or College Proctors:

A proctor at a college may be a Professor, Department Chair, Department Administrative Assistant or Department Coordinator, or Registrar and University Assessment Personnel.  No other administrators or staff may act as proctors.

* If a long distance call cannot be placed from the proctor's office telephone, the test candidate should bring a phone card to use in order to place and charge the phone call.

Step 3. Submit Application Package

For your test request to be processed, you must submit ALL of the below:

• A completed OPI application including a check, money order, or credit card authorization,
• The OPI Proctor Responsibilities and Agreement form signed by your proctor, if you are requesting an OPI to take place at your school,
• A completed Test-Taker Agreement form.

  Incomplete application packages will NOT be processed.

Step 4. Wait for Notification by Email of OPI Appointment

Once your application has been processed you will be sent an e-mail with your confirmed test date, time and other test instructions. This e-mail will provide you with a unique ID and PASSWORD to access your test information and status on the LTI Test Candidate Website (www.languagetesting.com/individual).  Please retain this important e-mail and website information for your records as you will use this website and secure password to verify the date and time of your OPI and check the status of your test result. You will also be able print your Official ACTFL OPI Certificate from the website.  The proctor will be notified of the OPI date, time and other test instructions by e-mail.

Step 5. Confirm Appointment

Finalize the appointment arrangement with your proctor. All appointments are considered confirmed, unless we receive notification from the candidate or proctor.

Rescheduled or Missed OPI Appointments

• In the event that an appointment needs to be rescheduled, contact the LTI Test Coordinator immediately (processing@languagetesting.com).  There is no charge for appointments that are rescheduled prior to one day before the scheduled appointment.

• For missed appointments or for appointments that a notice for rescheduling is not delivered to LTI with at least 24 hours advance notice, there is a $55 rescheduling fee.  In the event you miss your scheduled test appointment, please contact processing@languagetesting.com to reschedule your appointment.

Cancelled Applications

• For a test that is cancelled and not rescheduled, there is a $55 cancellation fee that will be deducted from your refund.  To cancel an application and receive your refund or to check the status of your refund, please e-mail your request to processing@languagetesting.com.

NOTIFICATION OF OPI RESULTS

Once the rating of your test is completed, you will be able to view the test result and print an Official ACTFL Oral Proficiency Certificate on the LTI Test Candidate Website (www.languagetesting.com/individual) using your unique ID and password.  The New Jersey Department of Education will receive the candidate’s test results via an electronic report.  Please include your ACTFL Proficiency Certificate(s) when submitting your credentials to the New Jersey Department of Education. Each test becomes a record in the ACTFL Test Archive.

ACE COLLEGE CREDIT RECOMMENDATION FOR ACTFL ASSESSMENTS

The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and recommended college credit for ACTFL OPI®, OPIc®, and WPT.  The American Council on Education, the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and to influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives.  For more than 30 years, colleges and universities have trusted ACE CREDIT to provide reliable course equivalency information to facilitate their decisions to award academic credit. For more information, visit the ACE CREDIT website at: http://www.acenet.edu/acecredit.

PREPARING FOR AN OPI

To prepare for an OPI, practice speaking in the target language, making sure to tell stories (in as much detail as possible) about personal and professional experiences that have happened, are happening and will happen.

TEST TAKING TIPS FOR AN OPI

When taking the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), listen carefully to the questions asked by the interviewer before answering. When answering, give as detailed a response as possible. Saying little to avoid making mistakes will not improve your rating. If you do not know a specific term in the test language, describe it in the test language and do not resort to your native language or to making up words.  If you do use an Anglicism or slang term do not be surprised if the interviewer asks you to describe what this word means. Demonstrating how well you can explain terms that you do not know in the test language is a communication task looked for at the Intermediate High level and above.

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