Assessment Workshops

The OPI and Modified OPI (MOPI) Assessment Workshops introduce the ACTFL rating scale, the structure of the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and techniques of administering and rating the OPI, including its applications in the language classroom. Participants observe and conduct practice interviews across a range of proficiency levels. These workshops are similar to the in-person 2-day MOPI and 4-day OPI workshops and include additional content.

With this virtual format, participants will work asynchronously on the modules at their own pace, participate in two videoconferencing sessions for facilitator-led discussion and respond to prompts for reflection and application via a discussion board. The last portion of the course includes practice interviews with feedback and discussion from the facilitator. Each participant who wants to pursue certification needs to conduct a practice interview with guidance from the facilitator. The workshops are intensive and require a significant time commitment both on-demand and in live synchronous videoconferencing sessions.

ACTFL holds virtual assessment workshops multiple times per year that are open for individual registration. These workshops include the OPI Familiarization, OPI Assessment, and Modified OPI Assessment – descriptions can be found below.

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Which Workshop is Right for Me?

The OPI and MOPI workshops are very similar. Consider these factors when choosing the right workshop for you:

1. What is my personal proficiency level in the language of the workshop?
   All asynchronous workshop modules are in English. Please know that the content is very dense and technical. Translations in other languages are not available. To get the greatest benefit out of the live discussion and practice interview sessions, ACTFL recommends that participants have at least Advanced Mid proficiency in the workshop language of focus.
2. What are the proficiency level targets of my learners?
   If your learners are targeting the Novice and Intermediate levels of proficiency, ACTFL recommends participating in a MOPI Workshop. The MOPI Workshop emphasizes these levels and the practice interviews target Novice Low through Intermediate High.

   If your learners are able to reach the Advanced and Superior levels of proficiency (typically within the postsecondary context or a very well-articulated K-12 immersion program), then ACTFL recommends participating in an OPI Workshop. The OPI Workshop covers all proficiency levels used to rate the OPI and practice interviews target Novice Low through Superior.

3. How do I want to use the knowledge gained from this workshop?
   If your focus is using this workshop to inform your instructional strategies, then you may not need the full coverage that the OPI Workshop provides in practice interviews and the MOPI Workshop may be perfectly sufficient for your needs.
4. Do I want to pursue OPI Tester Certification?
   Completing an OPI or MOPI workshop is the first step in eligibility for pursuing OPI Tester Certification.

   If you want to be authorized to conduct advisory (unofficial) OPIs within your academic institution or have the opportunity to be hired as a tester or rater for Language Testing International (LTI), you must become an ACTFL OPI Certified Tester within the appropriate language(s).

   In order to be certified to conduct advisory OPIs from Novice Low through Superior, you must pursue Full Certification, which means you must both have a Superior personal OPI rating within the target language and complete an OPI Workshop.

   If you do not need or wish to conduct advisory OPIs across the full range of proficiency levels, you can pursue Limited Certification. This certification allows you to conduct advisory OPIs from Novice Low through Intermediate High. In this case, you can complete a MOPI Workshop instead of an OPI Workshop but must have a personal OPI rating of at least Advanced Mid within the target language.

Requirements to Participate

As prerequisite to qualify to attend an OPI or MOPI workshop as well as apply for ACTFL OPI Tester Certification, registrants must be affiliated with (currently or previously) an academic institution as defined by ACTFL, have an undergraduate degree in a related field, and have a minimal proficiency level of Advanced Mid in the language of the workshop.

An academic institution is an accredited school, college, or university where foreign languages are taught. The term "affiliation with an academic institution" is defined as a current or previous faculty and/or staff member involved in the instruction or evaluation of language students. Private language companies that offer translation services or language testing do not qualify under ACTFL's definition of an academic institution. Private for-profit companies do not qualify.

Virtual OPI Assessment Workshop

The Virtual OPI Assessment Workshop introduces the ACTFL rating scale, the structure of the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), and techniques for administering and rating the OPI, including its applications in the language classroom. With this online format, participants will work asynchronously on six modules at their own pace and will receive feedback from facilitators during two 1.5-hour discussion sessions and with responses on a discussion board.

The last portion of the course includes the practice interviews with feedback and discussion from the facilitator and other participants. Each participant will observe an exemplar interview conducted by the facilitator and practice interviews conducted by their fellow participants and will also conduct one practice interview with guidance from the facilitator. Participants observe and conduct live practice interviews across all proficiency levels (Novice through Superior).

Upon completion of the six on-demand online modules and attendance at the two facilitator-led discussion sessions and all 11 practice interviews, participants will receive a certificate verifying 30 hours of professional development. Participation in an OPI Assessment Workshop is the first step towards becoming an ACTFL Certified OPI Tester with Full Certification (Novice through Superior).

Participants will receive a certificate verifying 30 hours of professional development

• Workshop Dates: Friday, January 13, 2023 - Friday, February 17, 2023
• Registration: Open now! Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2023
• Language Sections: English/Mixed Languages, French, Italian, Korean, and Portuguese
• Registration Fee: Member $600/Non-member $650
• To submit a P.O., please fill out this form, and your registration will be processed.
  
  

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Virtual Modified OPI Assessment Workshop

The Virtual Modified OPI Assessment Workshop covers the same information as the OPI Assessment Workshop, but is designed to focus more on the Novice and Intermediate proficiency levels. Participants will work asynchronously on six modules at their own pace and will receive feedback from facilitators during two 1.5-hour discussion sessions and with responses on a discussion board.

The last portion of the course, like the Virtual OPI Assessment Workshop, includes the practice interviews with feedback and discussion from the facilitator and other participants. Each participant will observe an exemplar interview conducted by the facilitator and practice interviews conducted by their fellow participants and will also conduct one practice interview with guidance from the facilitator. Participants observe and conduct live practice interviews across proficiency levels Novice Low – Advanced Low.

Upon completion of the six on-demand online modules and attendance at the two facilitator-led discussion sessions and all 8 practice interviews, participants will receive a certificate verifying 25 hours of professional development. Participation in an OPI Assessment Workshop is the first step towards becoming an ACTFL Certified OPI Tester with Limited Certification (Novice Low through Intermediate High).

Participants will receive a certificate verifying 25 hours of professional development.

Workshop Dates: Summer 2023, details TBA

OPI Tester Certification

After completing an OPI or MOPI workshop, participants will be eligible to pursue ACTFL OPI Tester Certification, if desired. Participants may apply for certification in any language regardless of the language of training.

Registrants intending to apply for Full OPI Tester Certification must participate in an OPI Assessment Workshop. Registrants intending to apply for Limited OPI Tester Certification may participate in either an OPI Assessment or MOPI Assessment Workshop.

Registration Fees

The cost for registration is determined by ACTFL membership status. ACTFL members may register at discounted rates and will need to provide the ACTFL Membership ID to qualify for discounted rates. To retrieve membership information or for issues with your registration, contact ACTFL's Membership Department at: membership@actfl.org or (703) 894-2900. Sign up for ACTFL membership, or renew your membership. For additional information, please contact workshops@actfl.org.

Workshop Cancellation Policy

All cancellation requests must be made in writing to workshops@actfl.org. Should you need to cancel, you will be charged a 20% cancellation fee. Refunds will be processed in the same manner in which payment was received. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing. We are unable to offer refunds after the program start date.