ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview

Basic Introduction

Novice

• memorized material and structures• no control of structures• limited functional ability• individual words and phrases• immediate survival needs

• create with the language• ask and answer simple questions• simple short conversations• daily routine, survival situation• simple daily needs• frequent errors in basic structures• discrete sentences • interacts with speakers used to dealing with

foreigners

Intermediate

Advanced • narrates in past, present, or future times• detailed description in past, present, or future times• detailed description comparing and contrasting• provides directions/instructions• handles a situation with a complication• can discuss current/community events• cohesive, connected discourse paragraphs• interacts with and understood by speakers not used

to dealing with foreigners

Superior

• converses extensively; extended discourse• casual and professional topics• supports opinion• hypothesize• unfamiliar topics and situations• abstract concepts• structured argument• cohesive discourse• elaborate structures• inaccuracies rarely cause misunderstanding• sporadic errors in highly complex structures• cultural references