Assessment for Chinese FLES Program Susan Y. Rui Naomi J. Zhang Roosevelt School District, L.I.

National Standards of LOTE Communication Communities Cultures Comparisons Connections

Assess Student Progress Assess language skills separately Project-based assessment Address specific curriculum goals

What is SOPA and ELLOPA? SOPA : Student Oral Proficiency Assessment ELLOPA: Early Language Listening and Oral Proficiency Assessment SOPA and ELLOPA are interviews which are innovative language proficiency assessment instruments designed to allow students to demonstrate their highest level of performance in oral fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and listening comprehension.

Target Population of SOPA/ELLOPA Immersion Program Non-Immersion FLES, FLEX Program SOPA: Grade 2-8 ELLOPA: K-2

The Purpose and Background of SOPA & ELLOPA The purpose of these instruments is to determine the highest proficiency levels in speaking and listening comprehension that students can sustain at a particular point of time. SOPA:1991, Spanish partial-immersion program grade 1-4 ELLOPA:2001, FLES program, grade K-2

The Format of SOPA & ELLOPA Interview format Two administrators assess pairs of students Friendly, non-threatening environment Focus on what they can do rather than what they can not do Students receive in two or four skill areas: Oral fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and listening comprehension.

Immersion ELLOPA Warm-Up Game 1: the Magic Bag Game 2: Talking with Mr. Cow Game 3: How Plants Grow Game 4: Story Retelling Game 5: Accidental Mix-Up (Optional) Wind-Down: Simon Says or easy questions

Non- Immersion (FLES) ELLOPA Warm up Game 1: The Magic Bag Game 2: Come to my house Game 3: Let’s Sing! (Optional) Game 4: Talking with Mrs. Cow Game 5: Accidental Mix-up (Optional) Wind-Down: Simon says

Immersion SOPA Warm-Up Task 1: Fruits and Other Foods Task 2: All About You Task 3: The Life of a Plant Task 4: Story Retelling Task 5: School Rules Wind-Down: TPR or Easy Questions

Non-Immersion (FLES) SOPA Warm-Up Task 1: Fruits & other foods Task 2: All about you Task 3: The classroom Wind-Down; Simon Says

SOPA/ELLOPA Rubrics The rubrics for the assessments are based on the documents developed by the ACTFL, which has been modified for the developmental level of young learners. Each contains five skills areas： Oral fluency Language control (grammar） Vocabulary (speaking) Listening comprehension Communication strategies.

Effective SOPA interviewing Quiet and closed room Well-prepared test instrument Friendly, non-threatening atmosphere

Chinese SOPA Interview Sample Warm up: Greeting Task 1: Classroom TPR Task 2: About myself Task 3: Item identification Task 4: Reading Wind-down: praise and encouragement

Use Assessment to Guide Instruction What knowledge and skills students retained What different learning styles student may have and how to address their needs Clarify teaching goals, modify teaching techniques Strengthen team work

Is ELLOPA/SOPA a proper instrument for your program? If you are interested, you may contact: www.cal.org Thank you!