Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

CERTIFICATION TESTS

Enhanced Basic Skills Test

This test includes activities in reading, writing, and mathematics. You may take this exam at any of a number of sites on dates and at times specified by the Illinois State Board of Education Testing System. Information and practice tests are available at the Illinois Certification Testing System website. In general, it is a good idea to take this exam early (by 1st semester of sophomore year) in order to allow yourself opportunities to retake the test should this be necessary. If English is not your first language, you may request extra time by registering for alternative testing arrangements; you must do this at the time you register for the Basic Skills Test. You may also want to check with the Julia N. Visor Academic Center in 12 Vrooman Hall (basement of Hewitt Hall) because they sometimes offer a session to review the math part of the test.

Content Test

This test includes material from your major area of study. You should take this test as early as possible the semester prior to student teaching (e.g., September or January) to allow for opportunities to retake the test, if necessary. Information about dates and sites of the examination, as well as study guides, are available on the Illinois Certification Testing System website. Plan to complete the required civilization and culture course(s) BEFORE you take the Content Test.

Helpful websites

Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT K-12) Test

This test is not currently a graduation requirement but it is required by the state for teacher certification. We recommend you take this test prior to student teaching. It is based on the material covered in the C&I and other professional education courses. The two courses required for the Middle School endorsement are also helpful. For more specific information visit the Illinois Certification Testing System website.

Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

The OPI is a phone interview administered by certified interviewers of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Beginning in fall 2008 students are required to score Advanced-Low (or higher) on the OPI in order to student teach. During the change to this higher required rating, you may register for LAN 319.11, the methods course offered each fall semester, with an Intermediate-High OPI rating. However, unless the Advanced-Low rating is achieved during the initial interview, you must continue to improve your speaking proficiency and pass an OPI level check to obtain the Advanced-Low rating required for student teaching. There is a 90-day waiting period between tests.

Please look at this pdf document: ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines — Speaking and carefully readthe descriptions of the Advanced-Low and Intermediate-High speaker. You must reach the Advanced-Low rating before you are allowed to student teach. Here is a summary of the Advanced-Low level for speaking for French, German and Spanish candidates:

  1. They participate actively in most informal and some formal conversations dealing with topics related to school, home, leisure activities and, to a lesser degree, topics related to events of work, current affairs, public and personal interest.
  2. They narrate and describe in present, past, and future time frames, but control of aspect may be lacking at times.
  3. They combine and link sentences into connected discourse of paragraph length.
  4. They handle appropriately a routine situation or familiar communicative task that presents a complication or unexpected turn of events
  5. They are understood by native speakers unaccustomed to dealing with non-natives, even though this may be achieved only through repetition and restatement.

Notes

  • Plan to take the OPI very soon after returning from a study abroad program
  • Students who have received the vast majority of their schooling in a French, German, or Spanish-speaking country are exempt from taking the OPI.

Signing Up

To sign up to take the OPI, please contact:

Krista Nave
Language, Literatures, and Cultures Department
Office: STV 114
Phone: (309) 438-3604
Email: klnave@ilstu.edu

Helpful Information

Necessary Forms

There are two forms to turn in when registering to take the OPI. Please print out both of the following: