Washington World Language Assessment Days
The OSPI World Languages Program, the Washington Association for Language
Teaching (WAFLT), and the State Board of Education (SBE) began collaborating on
a series of “Washington World Language Assessment Days” in spring 2011. Our goal
is to support middle school, high school, and higher education students who want
to take nationally recognized world language proficiency assessments. We also
support districts to Host a
Washington World Language Assessment Day.
Middle and high school students who sign up for “Washington World Language Assessment Days” and complete the assessment receive a
certificate of recognition signed by OSPI and SBE, with a cover letter indicating proficiency levels attained in the tested language and high school credit equivalencies based on the recommendations in the state’s
Model Procedure for competency-based credits. (Whether the students’ districts are able to award high school world language credits would depend on the district-adopted policy and procedure regarding
competency-based credits.) Students also receive a copy of the assessment report provided by the testing company. If students request it, a copy of the letter and report can also be sent to the students' school counselor or district office.
Who may register
Students in grades 7–12, as well as college and university students
Assessments offered
| |
STAMP Assessment |
ACTFL Assessments |
Name of the Assessment(s) |
Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP) |
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)
Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
OPIc (computer-based)
|
| Cost |
$30 per language assessed (paid by credit card, check, or cash to WAFLT) |
WPT – $70
OPI – $140
OPIc (computer-based) – $60
(paid by credit card, check, or cash to WAFLT) |
Languages Assessed |
Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin (Simplified or Traditional Characters), and Arabic. |
A large number of languages have OPIs; a smaller number have WPTs.
Check the current list of
OPI languages and
WPT languages. |
Language Skills Measured |
Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking |
WPT – Writing
OPI – Oral skills (Speaking and Listening in an interactive interview via telephone)
OPIc – Oral skills (in a simulated interview with an Avatar via the Web) |
Length of assessment |
The STAMP assessment is computer-adaptive and untimed, so the length of time required to complete it depends on the individual student. Many beginning students can complete all four sections in less than 90 minutes, but it would be wise to allow at least 2 hours. Some native speakers have taken over 3 hours. |
The WPT is a timed test lasting 1–1/2 hours with four writing prompts.
The OPI and OPIc typically take about 30–35 minutes. |
Dates and Locations
World Language Assessment days are currently scheduled on a variety of days and in a number of locations. Please see the complete list of current dates and locations listed on the
registration form. Check back regularly as more dates and locations are added.
If your district would like to host a Washington World Language Assessment Day for your students, please visit:
Host a Washington World Language Assessment Day.
How to Register
Interested students go online to Register for Washington World Language Assessment Days.
They will have an opportunity to select one language for assessment. Then, based on the language (and the assessment options available for that language), they can select a date and location. WAFLT (Washington Association for Language Teaching) manages the registration process and sends students an email confirmation with more information about the test date and location after they register. Payment information is available on the registration form.
About the Assessment Instruments
Currently, the main assessment available through “Washington World Language Assessment Days” is the Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP). Developed at the Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) at the University of Oregon, it is offered through the testing company Avant Assessment. STAMP is one of a few online proficiency assessments available nationally. STAMP is delivered with written instructions in English, so students taking the test should have at least 7th grade level reading skills in English. Results are reported in a range related to the
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines from “Novice Low” (very beginning) to “Advanced.” Learn more at
Avant Assessment > STAMP.
In addition to STAMP, WAFLT and OSPI are now offering other assessments that serve additional languages, including the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and OPI computer-based (OPIc), offered through
Language Testing International. Some languages have an OPI but do not yet have an ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test. For those languages, OSPI can provide a Proctored Writing Test with three writing samples that districts can administer and then submit to OSPI for an external evaluation for competency-based credits. For more information, contact
michele.aoki@k12.wa.us.
For languages that do not currently have STAMP or ACTFL tests, OSPI can work with schools or districts to offer opportunities for students to create a LinguaFolio Online Collection of Evidence. The students will also need to complete a Proctored Writing Test and Proctored Oral Language Test. For more information about setting up LinguaFolio Online accounts and organizing LinguaFolio Online Workshops, contact
michele.aoki@k12.wa.us.
For American Sign Language, students may register to take the SLPI assessment offered through
North Carolina American Sign Language Teachers Association. Students interested in completing the SLPI should contact
michele.aoki@k12.wa.us.
Updates and Summary Results
World Languages Credits Update - Seattle, January 2012 (PDF)
Questions? Email michele.aoki@k12.wa.us.
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