Professional development on testing and assessment
Foreign Language Programs
Increasingly, K–8 foreign language programs are assessing students'
language proficiency. Since the 1980s, CAL has been helping elementary
and middle school foreign language programs evaluate students'
second language proficiency. We have developed the following
performance-based assessment instruments and provide training
on their implementation. Please contact us for more information.
ELLOPA (Early Language Listening and Oral Proficiency Assessment) and SOPA (Student Oral Proficiency Assessment)
The ELLOPA and SOPA interviews are
language proficiency assessment instruments designed to allow
young students to demonstrate their highest level of performance
in oral fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and listening comprehension.
CAL offers workshops and trainings on using these instruments,
usually in conjunction with regional or national conferences.
SOPA Online Training is now available. Learn
more about the SOPA and ELLOPA .
SOPA Online Training now available
CAL has developed online training courses that teach participants how to administer and rate students' oral language using the Student Oral Proficiency Assessment (SOPA). SOPA Online Training is now available with the self-paced course Introduction to SOPA and the moderated Rating the SOPA course.
Learn more.
COPE (CAL Oral Proficiency Exam)
Using an oral interview/role play technique with two students
at a time, the COPE measures a student's ability to understand,
speak, and be understood by others in a second language. The
test measures primarily cognitive-academic language skills (the
ability to discuss subject matter effectively, (e.g., social studies,
geography, and science) as well as social language (the ability
to discuss family, recreational activities, and so on). The
rater evaluates each student's proficiency in terms of comprehension,
fluency, vocabulary, and grammar using a simplified holistic
scale based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Role play/discussion
topics include greetings, program of studies, the cafeteria,
timelines, using the library, fire drills, social studies trips,
school buses, the movies, social life, a party, a science project,
future careers, an accident, a fight, unfair rules, and science
equipment.
SOPI Live Rater Training
The Simulated Oral Proficiency Interviews (SOPIs) are semi-direct tests of oral proficiency that rely upon a test booklet and tape to elicit language from students. Designed for foreign language students at university and secondary levels, the SOPI is available in Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. CAL offers workshops and trainings on using these instruments, usually in conjunction with regional or national conferences. For more information about live rater training workshops, contact CAL at info@cal.org.
We invite you to review our services outlined
within this section and contact us to discuss your interests.
As a nonprofit organization, CAL makes every effort to provide
cost-effective and high-quality services and materials that can
be tailored
to meet your unique requirements.
Contact CAL Services
services@cal.org
202-362-0700
