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 attempt the OPIc prior to applying and earn a minimum score of intermediate-high prior to student teaching, which takes place spring of the senior year. 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.

Group exams take place the first Friday in November (time and location to be announced). Registration forms must be received by LTI  no later than 10 days before the test date.

Fall 2013: Due to the timing of Fall Break, the group exam will take place on the second Friday, November 8. The exam will be at 4:00 p.m. in 118 Gilbert Hall.

Follow these directions to register for the exam:

1. Go to www.languagetesting.com.
2. Click on the link in red at the upper right hand corner where it asks “Are you a client, test candidate, or proctor?”
3. Under Test Candidates, click on the link that says “Click here to apply for a test,” and follow the prompts to create a new user account.
4. Your log in information will be sent to the email address you provided.  Follow the link in the email you receive to log in to your account.
5. Under ACTFL TEST APPLICATION, click on “Apply for an ACTFL Test.”
6. Under Search by Program or School Name, type in “University of Georgia.”  A new link titled “University of Georgia” will appear at the bottom in a gray box; click the link.
7. Review the test agreement and click “Accept and Continue.”  Select “Official OPIc to Advanced.”
8. Under Candidate Information, in answer to the question, “Are you taking this test for initial teacher certification or licensure,” select No.
9. Under OPIc Test, select the K12 School or University button, and enter the following information in the required fields: Lou | Tolosa | Professor | University of Georgia | (706) 542-5221 | ugast1@uga.edu.
10. Under Test Delivery Method: Computer, as your 1^st Choice, enter the date and times provided to you by your advisor.  Enter any alternative dates and times as your 2^nd and 3^rd Choices.
11. Click Continue.  Verify the information is correct, and click Continue again.
12. Enter your check or credit card payment information, and click Submit to LTI.

If you have any questions or need assistance while you are completing the application, please contact Jamie Edwards of LTI’s Test Processing Department at (914) 963-7110, ext. 135.

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) .