Testing / Assessment

SOPA, ELLOPA, and COPE

SOPA: Student Oral Proficiency Assessment
(for Grades 2–8)

ELLOPA: Early Language Listening and Oral Proficiency Assessment (for Grades PreK–2)

COPE: CAL Oral Proficiency Exam
(for Grades 5 – 8)

SOPA (Student Oral Proficiency Assessment) and ELLOPA (Early Language Listening and Oral Proficiency Assessment)
The SOPA or ELLOPA interviews are innovative language proficiency assessment instruments designed to allow students to demonstrate their highest level of performance in oral fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and listening comprehension.

These interactive listening and speaking assessments are designed for children who are learning a foreign language in a school setting. They include hands-on activities and are conducted entirely in the foreign language. Students are assessed in pairs by two trained test administrators and, during the activities or tasks, are encouraged to interact with each other as well as with the interviewers. The focus of the interview is to determine what the students can do with the language.

SOPA Online Training now available
CAL offers a variety of online training courses that teach participants how to administer and rate students’ oral language using the Student Oral Proficiency Assessment (SOPA). CAL now offers Introduction to SOPA, the Moderated Introduction to SOPA, and Rating the SOPA. 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 rating rubric 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. This assessment is appropriate for Grades 5 – 8 students enrolled in immersion programs.

Professional Development

SOPA, ELLOPA, and COPE Workshops
CAL offers training in the effective use of SOPA, ELLOPA, and COPE, designed to allow young students to demonstrate their highest level of performance in oral fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and listening comprehension. Trainings are offered each year in conjunction with regional and national conferences. Trainings are also provided directly to schools or school districts upon request. A typical SOPA, ELLOPA, or COPE training is a 2-day workshop that familiarizes participants with the assessment instrument and includes practice interviewing and rating students.

For more information about the SOPA, ELLOPA, and COPE or training workshops for these assessments, contact Lynn Thompson at lthompson@cal.org.