As language educators, we all want our students to develop real-world communication skills. But how do we ensure that our instruction aligns with the outcomes we desire? The key is setting clear proficiency goals and then selecting assessments that measure those goals effectively. Without intentional goal setting and appropriate testing, we risk misaligning instruction and assessment, ultimately leaving students unprepared for real-world language use.
Understanding ACTFL Proficiency and the Three Modes of Communication
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines – 2024 define language proficiency in terms of what learners can do with the language in real-life situations. This framework is built around three modes of communication:
Interpersonal Mode – Interactive and spontaneous communication, such as conversations, discussions, and real-time exchanges.
Presentational Mode – Prepared communication intended for an audience, such as speeches, essays, or recorded presentations.
Interpretive Mode – Understanding and analyzing language, such as reading articles, watching videos, or listening to spoken language.
A proficiency-based instructional approach should develop all three modes of communication. Equally important, the assessment you choose should evaluate all three to ensure a complete picture of your students’ abilities.
The Importance of Testing to Your Proficiency Goals
One of the biggest pitfalls in language assessment is using a test that does not align with your instructional goals. For example, if your primary goal is to develop interpersonal speaking skills, are you assessing them correctly? If you are testing interpersonal speaking with a presentational speaking task, you are not actually measuring the targeted communicative task.
To accurately assess your learners’ language abilities, you need a test that aligns with your goals and the mode of communication you are targeting, such as interpersonal speaking. This is where the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) stands out. AAPPL is the only test that assesses interpersonal speaking, ensuring that students are evaluated on their ability to engage in spontaneous conversations rather than just rehearsed presentations.
Why AAPPL is the Best Choice for Proficiency-Based Assessment
AAPPL is unique in that it measures all three modes of communication:
- Interpersonal Listening & Speaking (ILS): Evaluates students’ ability to engage in real-time, two-way communication.
- Presentational Writing (PW): Assesses students’ ability to write effectively for a specific audience.
- Interpretive Reading & Interpretive Listening (IR & IL): Measure students’ ability to understand written and spoken language.
By aligning assessment with instructional goals, AAPPL provides a clear picture of students’ performance toward proficiency. It helps educators ensure that what they teach and how they assess are fully integrated, leading to more meaningful language development.
Ensuring Student Success with Proficiency-Based Instruction
To maximize student success, educators should:
- Clearly define proficiency goals based on ACTFL’s proficiency levels (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced).
- Use instructional strategies that develop all three modes of communication. This ensures that students are well-rounded in their language abilities.
- Select an assessment that matches instructional goals. If interpersonal communication is the target, the test must assess interpersonal skills, not just presentational.
- Regularly check progress and adjust instruction accordingly to help students reach the next proficiency level.
When proficiency goals and assessments are aligned, students gain skills that truly prepare them for real-world language use. By choosing the AAPPL, educators can ensure that their students’ proficiency growth is accurately measured and meaningfully supported.
Not using the AAPPL yet? Contact us to bring the ACTFL assessment for learners in grades 3-12 to your program.
