ADMISSION/SELECTION PROCESS

The minimal requirements for admission into the World Language Education Program are:

• 2.6 GPA (overall)
• A minimum score of intermediate-high in the OPIc exam
• Passing score on GACE Basic Skills Assessment or exemption based on SAT, ACT, or GRE scores
  • SAT: 1000 (verbal and mathematics combined)
  • ACT: 43 (English and mathematics combined)
  • GRE: 1030 (verbal and quantitative combined)
  • Completion of Core Areas I-V

OPIc Exam

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) is a standardized procedure for the global assessment of functional speaking ability. This means that an OPI is a testing method which measures how well a person speaks a language by comparing their performance of specific language tasks, not with some other person’s, but with the criteria for each of ten proficiency levels described in the ACTFL Revised Proficiency Guidelines-Speaking, revised by ACTFL in 1999.

The ACTFL OPI takes the form of a carefully structured conversation between a trained and certified interviewer and the person whose speaking proficiency is being assessed. A ratable speech sample is elicited from the interviewee by an individually determined series of questions or comments, which follow the established ACTFL protocol of “probes” and “level-checks.” The OPIc is the computer-based version of the OPI.

For ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines – Speaking, see www.languagetesting.com/scale.htm.

Applicants to the World Language Education Program who have chosen French, German, or Spanish as their language are required to take the OPIc and earn a minimum score of intermediate-high prior to applying. Applicants who have chosen Latin as their language are exempt from this requirement. There will be one group exam every year in November. The cost is $55.

To register for the exam, complete and submit this form to Language Testing International (LTI). Adobe Reader 8.0 or later is required to view and electronically sign this form. Page 1 is the Test Taker Agreement Form. Pages 2-4 are the Application Form. The Proctor Responsibilities and Agreement Form has already been submitted for the group exam. Enter all required information and click “Submit Form” at the bottom of the last page to send to LTI via email.

Group exams take place the first Friday in November (time and location to be announced). Registration forms must be received by LTI a month in advance.

When to Apply

Intended World Language Education students should complete and submit the application form by the 3rd Friday in January of their junior year. Students must submit a separate application to UGA if not already enrolled.

From the students who meet the minimal requirements given above, 15 will be chosen for admission to the senior year World Language Teacher Education courses. These courses include LLED 4530, 4531, and 5540, which will be offered each fall semester, and LLED 5560 and 5550, which will be offered each spring semester and which constitute the student teaching sequence.

The students who will comprise this cohort group will be selected conditionally according to the following four criteria:

1. A GPA of 3.00 for all target language courses in Area VI.
2. Three letters of reference: At least one letter must be from a current or former college professor of one of the applicant’s upper-division language courses. The remaining letters may be from adults who can vouch for the applicant’s ability to interact positively with young people.
3. A statement of purpose that tells why the applicant wishes to become a world language teacher and what he or she hopes to accomplish as a world language teacher. (Three to five pages are expected.)
4. Submission of a resume that lists the following: a) Student’s previous experiences working with young people (e.g., tutoring, coaching, teaching); b) Other work experiences that are relevant to preparing for a career in teaching (e.g., jobs which require teamwork, working with people, the development of communication skills); c) Other experiences that relate to world language study and teaching (e.g., participation in an honors program, study abroad experiences, travel abroad, interactions with culturally diverse populations, membership in world language clubs); and d) Special skills and abilities drawing on talents that are relevant for a career in teaching world languages (e.g., music, drama, and art).

These four criteria will be weighted as follows: GPA and letters of reference, 20% each; resume and statement of purpose, 30% each. Each criterion will be given an arithmetic value of 0-100 points and then multiplied by its weight. These four products will then be added up to obtain the applicant’s composite score. The scores will be rank ordered, and the top 15 students will be chosen for the cohort group for that year.

Admission is Conditional

Once admitted to the major, candidates must maintain a 2.6 overall GPA and in teaching field course work, and complete Area VI and 6 (of 8) required teaching field courses prior to Fall semester of the senior year.

Appeal Process

Please see COE Academic Appeals at http://www.coe.uga.edu/student-services/student-resources/academic-resources/academic-appeals

Prospective students:

Upon admittance to the major, you will be invited for a one-on-one interview with the program coordinator in February. At this time, you will learn more about the senior year courses and field experience/student teaching. Additionally, there will be a mandatory cohort meeting in April. You will receive more information about this meeting when you meet with the program coordinator in February.

You can familiarize yourself with the Quality Assurance Contract (QAC). Click  here to view contract.  Teacher candidates in the World Language Education Program will be asked to sign it on the first day of classes in the fall.

Current students:

During the Foliotek orientation (provided in one of your LLED certification courses) you will read and sign the Quality Assurance Contract (QAC), which you will access by logging into your Foliotek account (to be received during the Foliotek orientation) .