Admission to Professional Studies
Applying for a Teaching Certificate
1. Enhanced Basic Skills Test in reading, writing and mathematics: You may take this exam at any of a number of sites on dates and at times specified by the Illinois State Board of Education Testing System. Information and practice tests are available at the following website: www.icts.nesinc.com In general, it is a good idea to take this exam early (by 1st semester of sophomore year) in order to allow yourself opportunities to retake the test should this be necessary. If English is not your first language, you may request extra time by registering for alternative testing arrangements; you must do this at the time you register for the Basic Skills Test. You may also want to check with the University Center for Learning Assistance (UCLA) office in Stevenson 133 because they sometimes offer a session to review the math part of the test.
Web link to Basic Skills Study Guide:
2. Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI): The OPI is a phone interview administered by certified interviewers of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Beginning in the Fall semester of 2008, students are required to score Advanced-Low (or higher) on the OPI in order to student teach. During the change to this higher required rating, you may register for LAN 319.11, the methods course offered each fall semester, with an Intermediate-High OPI rating. However, unless the Advanced-Low rating is achieved during the initial interview, you must continue to improve your speaking proficiency and pass an OPI level check to obtain the Advanced-Low rating required for student teaching. There is a 90-day waiting period between tests. Plan to take the OPI very soon after returning from a Study Abroad program during the junior year. Students who have received the vast majority of their schooling in a French, German or Spanish-speaking country are exempt from taking the OPI.
To sign up to take the OPI interview, please contact Krista Nave in the Languages, Literatures and Cultures department office, STV 114 (phone: 309-438-3604).
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines—Speaking:
Please read carefully the descriptions of the Advanced-Low and Intermediate-High speaker. You must reach the Advanced-Low rating before you are allowed to student teach. Here is a summary of the Advanced-Low level for speaking for French, German and Spanish candidates: 1) they participate actively in most informal and some formal conversations dealing with topics related to school, home, leisure activities and, to a lesser degree, topics related to events of work, current affairs, public and personal interest; 2) they narrate and describe in present, past, and future time frames, but control of aspect may be lacking at times; 3) they combine and link sentences into connected discourse of paragraph length; 4) they handle appropriately a routine situation or familiar communicative task that presents a complication or unexpected turn of events; 5) they are understood by native speakers unaccustomed to dealing with non-natives, even though this may be achieved only through repetition and restatement.
Here is an interesting link for a self-assessment checklist of your skills at the different levels:
3. Content Test in your major (French/German/Spanish): You should take this test as early as possible the semester prior to student teaching (e.g., September or January) to allow for opportunities to retake the test, if necessary. Information about dates and sites of the examination, as well as study guides, are available at the following website: www.icts.nesinc.com. Plan to complete the required civilization and culture course(s) BEFORE you take the Content Test.
Helpful web sites:
Content Tests Frameworks
Content Tests Study Guides
4. Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT K-12) Test: This test is not currently a graduation requirement but it is required by the state for teacher certification. We recommend you take this test prior to student teaching. It is based on the material covered in the C&I and other professional education courses. The two courses required for the Middle School endorsement are also helpful. For more specific information go to this web site:
