ACTFL Immersion

Who uses this?

US Department of Defense

Missionary training schools

They produce results in just a few months. How?

-Spend up to 8 hours a day in the training programs.

-Hours of work after classes.

-Complete immersion.

What do they have that is different?

Highly motivated

Aptitude

How is high school a different experience?

Only 4-5 hours a week Aptitude Distractions English outside of class English in class

Novice

The Parrot

Novice-Low

Understanding is limited to:

occasional isolated words, such as cognates, borrowed words, and high-frequency social conventions.

Essentially no ability to comprehend even short utterances.

Novice-Mid Able to understand some short, learned utterances,

particularly where context strongly supports understanding and speech is clearly audible.

Comprehends some words and phrases from simple questions, statements, high-frequency commands and courtesy formulae about topics that refer to basic personal information or the immediate physical setting.

The listener requires long pauses for assimilation and periodically requests repetition and/or a slower rate of speech.

NM Summary

LISTS

MEMORIZED PHRASES

‘CHUNKS OF LANGUAGE’

Novice-High Able to understand short, learned utterances and some

sentence-length utterances, particularly where context strongly supports understanding and speech is clearly audible.

Comprehends words and phrases from simple questions, statements, high-frequency commands, and courtesy formulae. May require repetition, rephrasing, and/or a slowed rate of speech for comprehension.

NH Summary

ALMOST ABLE TO TALK IN COMPLETE SENTENCES MOST OF THE TIME

BEGINNING TO CREATE WITH THE LANGUAGE

Intermediate

The Survivor

Intermediate Can create with the language

Can ask and answer simple questions on familiar topics

Can handle a simple situation or transaction

Sentences

Intermediate-Low Able to understand sentence-length utterances which consist

of recombinations of learned elements in a limited number of content areas, particularly if strongly supported by the situational context.

Content refers to basic personal background and needs, social conventions and routine tasks, such as getting meals and receiving simple instructions and directions.

Listening tasks pertain primarily to spontaneous face-to-face conversations. Understanding is often uneven; repetition and rewording may be necessary. Misunderstandings in both main ideas and details arise frequently.

IL Summary

ABLE TO TALK IN COMPLETE SENTENCES

CREATES WITH THE LANGUAGE

Intermediate-Mid Able to understand sentence-length utterances which consist

of recombinations of learned utterances on a variety of topics. Content continues to refer primarily to basic personal background and needs, social conventions and somewhat more complex tasks, such as lodging, transportation, and shopping.

Additional content areas include some personal interests and activities, and a greater diversity of instructions and directions.

Listening tasks not only pertain to spontaneous face-to-face conversations but also to short routine telephone conversations and some deliberate speech, such as simple announcements and reports over the media.

Understanding continues to be uneven.

IM Summary

E X T E N D E D S E N T E N C E SRICHER VOCABULARYMORE DETAILSMORE FLUENCY SOUNDS BETTER

Advanced

Advanced

Can narrate and describe in past, present and future time/aspect

Can handle a complicated situation or transaction

Paragraph length discourse

Superior

The Thinker

Superior

Can support opinion, hypothesize, discuss abstract topics

Can handle a linguistically unfamiliar situation

Highly educated speaker

Spanish 1

Spanish 2

Spanish 3

Spanish 4

So, what’s in it for me???

Why should I take advanced Spanish?

Oral Proficiency Exam & Southern Oregon Foreign Language Assessment What is the OPI? What is the SOFLA? When are the exams? How do I get credits and how many?

NH – 8 credits IL – 12 credits IM – 20 credits

How much does it cost and is that a good deal?

Cost Breakdown If you received 8 credits, you scored at least a 3 on both

portions (oral and written) of the test and "completed" Spanish 101 and Spanish 102.  You also only paid a measly $58 per credit as compared to $226 / credit at an average Oregon State University. 

If you received 12 credits, you scored at least a 4 on both portions (oral and written) of the test and "completed" Spanish 101, Spanish 102, and Spanish 103.  You also only paid a measly $38.75 per credit as compared to $226 / credit at an average Oregon State University. 

If you received 20 credits, you scored at least a 5 on both portions (oral and written) of the test and "completed" Spanish 101, Spanish 102, Spanish 103, Spanish 201 and Spanish 202.  You also only paid a measly $23.25 per credit as compared to $226 / credit at an average Oregon State University.