Meeting the needs of educators working with language learners in Grades K–8
SOPA Online Training
Student Oral Proficiency Assessment
CAL now offers three online training courses that teach participants how to administer and rate students’ oral language using the Student Oral Proficiency Assessment (SOPA).
Introduction to SOPA is a self-paced course that provides a basic orientation to the SOPA and introduces the SOPA rating scale. The Moderated Introduction to SOPA provides all of the content of the self-paced introductory course and includes interactive discussions, advice, and feedback by an experienced SOPA trainer. Rating the SOPA is a moderated course that provides teachers with language-specific rating practice. CAL can also work collaboratively with you to customize a course to best meet your needs. A SOPA Rater Certification course is in development.
Introduction to SOPA
A basic, self-paced introduction to the SOPA
This self-paced online course provides an orientation to the SOPA, offering basic content based on CAL’s live two-day workshops. The four-module course provides information about the purpose, background, and format of the SOPA; immersion and FLES SOPA tasks; tips for effective SOPA interviewing and rating; practice administering and rating the SOPA with a pair of students; and self-assessment tools. Introduction to SOPA provides a general introduction for teachers, teacher educators, and administrators interested in learning more about the SOPA or in evaluating it for use in the classroom.
Course must be completed within one year of receiving login information.
Click here to enroll through our online store.
Moderated Introduction to SOPA
Learn about the SOPA through interactive lessons led by an experienced SOPA trainer.
The Moderated Introduction to SOPA online course offers all the content available in the self-paced Introduction to SOPA course with additional moderated discussions and assignments led by an experienced SOPA trainer. The moderated introductory course also includes online discussions of key issues related to the SOPA, feedback on assignments and quizzes from an experienced SOPA trainer, and online access to the CAL Oral Proficiency Assessment Administrator’s Manual and to model immersion and FLES SOPA scripts. CAL recommends this course for teachers who would like direct guidance in preparing to administer the SOPA.
Course duration (usually 6-8 weeks) is set at the time login information is received.
Learn more about this course at the CAL Store.
Rating the SOPA
Improve your SOPA rating skills using language-specific SOPA interviews at different proficiency levels.
This moderated online course provides teachers with language-specific practice and includes video clips of interviews in English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Rating the SOPA is designed for teachers who have completed the Moderated Introduction to SOPA course or participated in CAL’s live SOPA training workshops.
Course duration (usually 6-8 weeks) is set at the time login information is received.
Learn more about this course at the CAL Store.
Course dates for the Moderated Introduction to SOPA and Rating the SOPA courses are set when a minimum number of teachers (usually 12-15) have enrolled. Contact Lynn Thompson if you are interested in enrolling.
