Learn about Filipino proficiency tests
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Intro |
|---|
| Alisha: What are some common Filipino proficiency tests? |
| Danilo: And how do I choose the right one for me? |
| Alisha: At FilipinoPod101.com, we hear these questions often. |
| Consider the following situation: Emma is talking to Jack about her attempts to motivate herself to study Filipino harder. She says, "I want to take a Filipino proficiency test. " |
| Emma Estrada: Gusto kong kumuha ng pagsusulit sa wikang Pilipino. |
| Dialogue |
| Emma Estrada: Gusto kong kumuha ng pagsusulit sa wikang Pilipino. |
| Jack Jones: Meron ba? |
| Alisha: Once more with the English translation. |
| Emma Estrada: Gusto kong kumuha ng pagsusulit sa wikang Pilipino. |
| Alisha: "I want to take a Filipino proficiency test. " |
| Jack Jones: Meron ba? |
| Alisha: "Are there any?" |
Lesson focus |
| Alisha: For many Filipino learners, one of the goals when they finally master the language is to spend some time in, or even relocate to, the Philippines. If it is also on your bucket list, then you should know that, if you plan to apply to a university or find a job in the Philippines, obtaining proof of your Filipino knowledge will come in handy. |
| Even though English is widely spoken in the Philippines, it will be very useful to show that you are also fluent in one of the major local languages. Filipino language proficiency tests can serve as evidence of this. You should bear in mind that, next to Filipino, the other major native language spoken is Tagalog, and some language tests might only be offered in Tagalog. |
| In this lesson, we will talk about what your options are. |
| [Recall 1] |
| Alisha: Let us take a closer look at the dialogue. Do you remember how Emma says, "I want to take a Filipino proficiency test?" |
| [PAUSE 3 SEC] |
| Emma Estrada: Gusto kong kumuha ng pagsusulit sa wikang Pilipino. |
| Alisha: And now let us take a look at our second sentence. Do you remember how Jack asks, "Are there any? " |
| [PAUSE 3 SEC] |
| Jack Jones: Meron ba? |
| Alisha: There are actually no official exams for Filipino, but if someone wants to motivate themselves, there are three tests to choose from. We are going to look at each one to help you decide which is best for you. |
| The first one is the Avant WorldSpeak test. WorldSpeak is a web-based test that assesses two domains: Writing and Speaking. Your test results will indicate your level of proficiency for each section of the test. |
| You will have to take the test with a proctor present. A proctor is a person who is authorized to administer the test. They will give you all the login details you need before starting. You will also fill in a student profile page and do a self-evaluation before you begin. Let us look at the two sections individually - Writing, or |
| Danilo: [NORMAL] pagsusulat [SLOWLY] pagsusulat |
| [PAUSE 3 SEC] |
| Alisha: followed by Speaking, or |
| Danilo: [NORMAL] pagsasalita [SLOWLY] pagsasalita |
| [PAUSE 3 SEC] |
| Alisha: In both the writing and speaking sections, you need to provide your answers in Filipino. The first section is writing and it consists of four test questions. The test autosaves your writing every 10 seconds, so no answer will be lost! When you are done with a test question, you simply click ‘next' to save the response and move to the next one. |
| Alisha: After that is the speaking section. This section also consists of four test questions. It works like this: you will record yourself giving spoken responses to the questions. It is a good idea to first organize your thoughts before you start so that your mind will be clear and you can speak at your highest possible level. The nice thing is that you can re-record until you are happy with each answer, before going on to the next question. |
| Alisha: It is also possible to do the test in more than one session if you have to—as long as it is within 14 days of starting the test. When you have completely finished the test, you will see a screen that says ‘test complete', or |
| Danilo: [NORMAL] kumpleto na ang pagsusulit [SLOWLY] kumpleto na ang pagsusulit |
| [PAUSE 4 SEC] |
| Alisha: The next Filipino language test is the ACTFL OPI. Their language test, OPI, stands for the Oral Proficiency Interview. |
| This test is considered a valid and reliable way to assess how well a person speaks Filipino. |
| Alisha: There are two ways you can take this test. The first is a 20 to 30-minute one-on-one interview between you and a certified ACTFL tester. Your performance will be compared to the criteria outlined in their proficiency guidelines. |
| When you have finished the interview, you will get an official ACTFL Oral Proficiency Certificate stating your proficiency level. |
| Alisha: The alternative way of taking this test is called the OPIc, which is the same test, except that the delivery of questions is through a computer program, and via a virtual avatar. This computer-delivered assessment emulates the ‘live' interview. You can take this test at any time you want, as long as it is convenient for both you and your proctor. |
| Alisha: The ratings start from Novice |
| Danilo: [NORMAL] Baguhan [SLOWLY] Baguhan |
| [PAUSE 3 SEC] |
| Alisha: to Superior |
| Danilo: [NORMAL] Superyor [SLOWLY] Superyor |
| [PAUSE 3 SEC] |
| Alisha: for the most proficient speakers. |
| Alisha: And now let us look at the third option for testing your Filipino language proficiency. Brigham Young University in Utah offers Language Credit Exams. Tagalog is taught on campus through one of the language departments and, if you wish to obtain credit for this exam, you will have to enroll in a Tagalog language class at BYU. You will then take the exam during the course of the class that semester and get your graded credits. If you are a visiting student, you can do this during summer term, or through evening classes, and earn 14 graded credits this way. |
| Alisha: This exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions in Listening |
| Danilo: [NORMAL] pakikinig [SLOWLY] pakikinig |
| [PAUSE 3 SEC] |
| Alisha: and Reading Comprehension |
| Danilo: [NORMAL] Pag-unawa sa Binabasa [SLOWLY] Pag-unawa sa Binabasa |
| [PAUSE 3 SEC] |
| Alisha: It lasts 90 minutes. There is no specific textbook you should learn from, but the test is designed for people who have a strong background in Tagalog and are not interested in taking additional coursework. |
Outro |
| Alisha: Do you have any more questions? We're here to answer them! |
| Danilo: Paalam. |
| Alisha: See you soon! |
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