Study Guide

Field 311: Target Language Proficiency—Ewe 
Oral Proficiency

Recommendation for individuals using a screenreader: please set your punctuation settings to "most."

Directions for Oral Proficiency Assignment

For this portion of the test, you will record a spoken response to an assignment presented in English on-screen. You must respond to the assignment in the target language.

At the conclusion of these directions, the test will automatically advance and the speaking assignment will be presented on the next screen. Listen to the directions carefully and review the assignment. You will have two minutes to review the assignment and prepare your response. When your preparation time is over, you will be notified that your preparation time is complete and you should be ready to begin speaking. Watch the screen as the test advances and the recording box is presented. You will have two minutes to record your response. Do NOT begin speaking until the screen advances and you see a Recorded Answer box presented on-screen. A sample of the Recorded Answer box appears below.

Screenshot of Recorded Answer window showing: Current Status: 112 seconds remaining. Status indicator has 2 bars.

Monitor your recording time by referring to the Recorded Answer box. The time in the Recorded Answer box will count down from 120 seconds (2 minutes) and the status bar will fill as your recording time progresses.

When your recording time is over, the current status on the Recorded Answer box will change to "completed," indicating the conclusion of the speaking assignment. You will automatically be advanced to the next screen. Do not click the Next button unless you have finished recording your response with time remaining and wish to move to the next screen. If you advance to the next screen with recording time remaining, you will not be able to go back.

In the assignment, a list of suggestions is provided to help direct your response. It is not necessary that you address every point in the list, nor are you limited to the points mentioned. However, what you say must be relevant to the situation with which you are presented, and part of your score will be based on the degree to which you elaborate on the topic by addressing either the suggested points or other points of your choosing.

Your response will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

A response will be considered unscorable if it is unrelated to the assigned topic, inaudible or incomprehensible, not spoken in the required language, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.

You may use the erasable notebooklet provided to make notes; however, you will be scored only on the response that is recorded in the exam. You will have only ONE opportunity to record your response. Be sure that your microphone is in a downward position near your mouth before you begin speaking.

The screen will now advance and the speaking assignment will be presented.

Sample Oral Proficiency Assignment

Objective 0005
In response to written instructions, communicate an oral message effectively in the target language that demonstrates a command of vocabulary and grammar appropriate to an educational setting.

[The examinee will hear and read on-screen:]

Read the instructions below. You will have 2 minutes to study these instructions. Then, when you are told to do so, begin to respond in the target language. You may take up to 2 minutes to complete your response. You will be told when the 2 minutes are up. You may begin studying the instructions now. You will be told when to begin speaking.

[The examinee will read on-screen:]

Imagine that you are talking with several friends about your educational experiences. Speaking in the target language, describe a memorable educational experience and explain why it had a lasting influence on you. You may wish to include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

[The examinee will have 2 minutes to study the instructions above. Then the examinee will hear:

"Your preparation time is now over. At the conclusion of these directions, the screen will automatically advance and recording will begin. Begin speaking when you see the Recorded Answer box presented on the next screen. Prepare to begin speaking now."]

Screenshot of Recorded Answer window showing: Current Status: 112 seconds remaining. Status indicator has 2 bars.

DO NOT click the Next button unless you have finished recording your response.

[After 2 minutes of recording, the Current Status on the Recorded Answer box will change to "Completed" and the examinee is automatically advanced to the next screen.]

Description of Strong Response to the Oral Proficiency Assignment

An excellent response to the assignment would address the assigned topic and develop the topic by extensive elaboration of specific points. The response would be delivered in a consistently clear manner. The speaker would speak fluently, using a variety of sentences. The speaker's vocabulary would show mastery of a broad vocabulary including appropriate idiomatic expressions. The speaker would handle simple and complex linguistic constructions, avoiding errors that interfere with communication. The speaker would exhibit good to excellent pronunciation and intonation.

Performance Characteristics for Oral Proficiency Assignment

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the Oral Proficiency assignment.

Purpose the fulfillment of the objective of the assignment in reference to the intended audience, purpose, and occasion
Fluency the fluent and developed communication of the message
Pronunciation the articulation and pronunciation of words and phrases
Vocabulary the selected vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
Grammar the constructed grammatical forms and syntactic constructions

Score Scale for Oral Proficiency Assignment

A score will be assigned to the response to the Oral Proficiency assignment according to the following score scale.

Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough application and a strong command of the performance characteristics for the oral proficiency assignment.
  • The response thoroughly achieves the objective of the assignment and is completely appropriate for the intended audience, purpose, and occasion.
  • The response is well developed and shows an elaboration of ideas, demonstrating a consistent flow of speech with few, if any, hesitations or pauses.
  • The response demonstrates easily intelligible pronunciation with few, if any, errors.
  • The response demonstrates an extensive command of appropriate vocabulary and idiomatic expressions with few, if any, errors.
  • The response demonstrates a comprehensive command of grammar and syntax, with only minor errors.
3 The "3" response reflects an adequate application and a satisfactory command of the performance characteristics for the oral proficiency assignment.
  • The response adequately achieves the objective of the assignment and is generally appropriate for the intended audience, purpose, and occasion.
  • The response demonstrates adequately developed ideas, which show some elaboration, and maintains a steady flow of speech with occasional hesitations and pauses.
  • The response demonstrates generally intelligible pronunciation, with occasional errors.
  • The response demonstrates a good command of generally appropriate vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.
  • The response demonstrates a good command of grammar and syntax, though some errors interrupt comprehension.
2 The "2" response reflects a partial application and a limited command of the performance characteristics for the oral proficiency assignment.
  • The response partially achieves the objective of the assignment and may not be entirely appropriate for the intended audience, purpose, and occasion.
  • The response shows limited development of ideas, which are sometimes unclear, and is occasionally difficult to understand because of an inconsistent flow of speech with frequent hesitations and pauses.
  • The response demonstrates frequent errors in pronunciation.
  • The response demonstrates a limited range of expression, using a very simple vocabulary that lacks key words and phrases.
  • The response shows a limited command of grammar and syntax, as evidenced by frequent errors that partially impede comprehension.
1 The "1" response reflects an inadequate application and a lack of command of the performance characteristics for the oral proficiency assignment.
  • The response fails to achieve the objective of the assignment and may be inappropriate for the intended audience, purpose, and occasion.
  • The response presents few, if any, comprehensible ideas and does so with minimal development; the response fails to maintain any flow of speech, as evidenced by frequent hesitations and pauses that interrupt comprehensibility.
  • The response demonstrates inadequate pronunciation that contains numerous errors and is at times unintelligible.
  • The response demonstrates little knowledge of vocabulary beyond the most common words and may include numerous misused and ill-formed words and expressions.
  • The response has little command of basic elements of grammar or syntax, as evidenced by numerous and frequent errors that significantly impede comprehension.
U The response is unscorable because it is unrelated to the assigned topic, inaudible/incomprehensible, not spoken in the required language, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.
B There is no response to the assignment.