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Latin

The ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA)

ALIRA was created through a collaborative effort between The American Classical League and ACTFL. It is a first-of-its kind assessment that is based on both the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning and the Standards for Classical Language Learning.  It is a four-option, multiple choice, computer-adaptive assessment that can be delivered in a single class period.  For more information, consult the FAQs at the end of this page.

To register your students for ALIRA, click here.

A Performance Assessment of Interpretive Reading

The goal of ALIRA is to assess Interpretive Reading in Latin. ALIRA uses a wide variety of texts including shorter and longer texts from ancient Rome, authentic historical documents, and modern texts from today’s classical studies community.

ALIRA provides a performance rating within the Novice and Intermediate ranges.  There are four gradations of Novice performance and five gradations of Intermediate performance.  They are designated N1 to N4 and I1 to I5.  The score reports provide an explanation of each score. 

Latin is alive and around us

The message of ALIRA is simple: Latin is alive and all around us.  ALIRA reflects this sentiment through the wide variety of texts that it uses—from antiquity to 21st Century social media.  Below is a description of some of the texts, topics, and items at each level.

Novice:
Supporting pictures:  Test takers read excerpts from stories typical of those that appear in Latin textbooks and select the image from Ancient Rome that supports the excerpt.
Lists:  Lists of tasks, chores, rules or other items text from today’s Latin classroom as well as those from Ancient Rome.  Test takers identify a main idea.

Intermediate:
Video game texts:  Test takers read dialogues from video games set in ancient Rome.
Short classical texts:  These are short texts that appeared in ancient Rome.
Short modern texts:  These are texts that come from today’s online Latin sources such as youtube comments made in Latin or Wikipedia.
Dialogues:  These are written dialogues excerpted from a play.

Advanced:
Longer ancient texts:  These are longer, more complex texts that were written by the great authors and poets of ancient Rome.
Longer modern texts:  These are longer, more complex texts that appear in today’s online sources.

View Some Sample Items

Click here to view some some sample tasks. Read the texts and scroll down to see the question associated with each text. The actual test may or may not present Advanced items and is longer.

Professional Development

In addition to ALIRA, ACTFL and ACL are offering an online, self-study course called Classics in the 21st Century Classroom.  Upon completion teachers may claim continuing education credit by notifying ACL.  The course is divided into five parts and takes an in-depth look at Standards, Communication Modes, Proficiency and Performance, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and text-task alignment.  Contact ACTFL for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ALIRA?

ALIRA is the ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment, the first-of-its-kind Standards-based assessment of Interpretive Reading in Latin.  It is computer-adaptive.

What is assessed in the ALIRA?

ALIRA assesses the ability to read for understanding a variety of texts that are written in Latin.  Comprehension is demonstrated by correctly answering multiple choice questions of main and supporting ideas, point of view, and inference. 

How long is the ALIRA?

ALIRA is computer-adaptive to take maximum advantage of testing time. ALIRA can be completed in one class period.

What grade levels are appropriate for the ALIRA?

ALIRA is designed for students in middle school and beyond.

What kinds of texts does ALIRA use?

ALIRA uses a wide variety of texts including shorter and longer texts from ancient Rome, modern texts, original authentic texts, texts from today’s Latin-users community that include Wikipedia, social network comments, and online newspapers and publications.

How is ALIRA rated?

ALIRA provides an ACTFL Performance Score.  There are four gradations at the Novice level and five gradations at the Intermediate level. ALIRA Scores are N1, N2, N3, N4, I1, I2, I3, I4, and I5.

What information do test takers receive?

Test takers receive an individual score for the Interpretive Reading Communication Mode and an explanation of that score.

What reports are available for instructors and/or Districts?

LTI, the ACTFL Testing Office can provide raw data at any level and can discuss customized options on a per-client basis.

What technology is required to administer ALIRA?

The ALIRA is designed to be administered in a proctored setting such as a school’s language- or computer lab.  There is a systems compatibility check at: http://landr.actfltesting.org/

What is the average delivery time for ratings?

Within one week teachers will be able to download their results from the test delivery site.

When can the test be administered?

ALIRA is offered three times per year:  September/October, January/February, and April/May.