How do you fill your cup YOUR LANGUAGE

How do you fill your cup? YOUR LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

ACTFL uses the image of an inverted pyramid.

I prefer to think of it as a water cup that you use at a water fountain.

So you do you fill your cup? High Speed? Or a drip at a time?

ACTFL Proficiency There are 4 levels of proficiency http: //www. cal. org/aop/images/ACTFL%20 Guidelines. jpg

Subdivisions Each level is divided into Low, Mid and High. For example you might be Novice High in Speaking and Intermediate Low in Reading. https: //larcsummer 11. wikispaces. com/file/view/language_a ctfl__pyramid_chart. gif/237928215/560 x 770/language_act fl__pyramid_chart. gif

Every cup starts out empty… Until you begin to fill it up.

Novice Low It doesn’t take much to fill up that little point. And everyone has to start with the first drop in the bottom of the cone. http: //www. actfl. org/sites/default/files/guidelines/ACTFL%20 Inverted%20 Pyramid%202013_0. jpg

Each Level Takes much more to fill it up! You can’t skip levels, and you can’t leave empty spaces. You have to pour each drop of skill in your cup for yourself. Nobody else can fill it up for you, and nobody else’s cup can be handed to you already full. http: //t 1. gstatic. com/images? q=tbn: ANd 9 Gc. QRuqrzs. Sh. VB 11 k. GE 3 J 03 QSr. Mywci. NGIU_c. XYFW 5 PI _km. CCX 2 E 4 Kw: www. languagetesting. com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/RATING-SCALE 3. jpg

How does it compare to school? Well, students who actively fill their cup can find this chart helpful. Those who let their efforts drip slowly will not find that this reflects their efforts. Those who work harder will fill it up faster. http: //www. mrsperry. com/sitebuilder/images/ACTFL_gu ide_to_student_proficiency-445 x 608. jpg

What do the levels mean? This is what you can do with language at each level. http: //image 1. slideserve. com/2735414/a ctfl-proficiency-levels-n. jpg

So, how do I fill up my cup? Anything you do with your language will fill it up. Explore Spanish web sites, practice your Spanish with any native speaker you meet, listen to Spanish music, write in a journal, even if it is simple, text your friends who are learning Spanish, the list is only limited by your efforts. The more time and effort you invest, the faster you will fill it up.

How do I prove what I can do? There are several different testing options. AAPPL, STAMP, AP, CLEP, University placement exams and OPI testing. They will assess the 4 skill areas in the 3 modes of language. Interpretive: Listening and Reading. Presentational: Speaking and Writing. Some test will also include an Interpersonal section where you interact with another person.

Who cares what level I’m at? Universities: There is movement to have students prove proficiency not just suffer seat time. Possible employers: As more companies go global, they need employees who can do their jobs, AND do them in another language. Your community: New groups are becoming a part of the American Melting Pot, our communities need help reaching out and helping them to become an active, productive part.

The Universities There has been a traditional Core of 4. 2 beginning courses and 2 progressing courses. After that students moved into a major or minor in the language. Your high school courses were a part of deciding which course you registered for when you went to orientation. There is now a focus on proving to the university, and them proving to your future employers, that you can use the language.

How much language do I need to get a job? Notice that jobs don’t start to show up until you get to the Intermediate level. http: //larcsummer 11. wikispaces. com/file/view/ language_actfl__pyramid_chart. gif/23792821 5/language_actfl__pyramid_chart. gif

So, let’s talk about what you need to do for your future.