Oral Language Assessment: International Teaching Assistants/Instructors
As stated in Missouri Law and University policy, all non-native speakers of English must have sufficient oral-English proficiency before taking on a teaching position. It is recommended that departments schedule assessments for candidates as soon as possible so appointment decisions can be made in a timely fashion.
Reassessment
In general, if candidates do not receive the assessment results they need to accept their teaching appointment, they must wait an academic year before being reassessed.
Because language skills improve faster when students are enrolled in language courses, students who enroll in a language-development course, develop an individual plan or take a course off-campus can be reassessed at the end of the semester in which they complete the language-improvement work.
The Tests
The International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP) uses two main oral-language assessments: the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) test and the Oral Presentation Test (OPT). In general, the SPEAK is used for initial assessment, and the OPT is used for reassessment. Upcoming test dates can be found on our calendar.
| Which Test? | Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) | Oral Presentation Test (OPT) |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes which test? | The SPEAK test is used for initial language assessment of prospective ITAs as well as reassessment of candidates who scored a level 1 or lower on the most recent screening. | The OPT is used to reassess a candidate who received a level 2 or higher on her/his previous language assessment and for the initial assessment of postdoctoral candidates. |
| When are tests offered? | SPEAK tests are offered approximately once a month during the regular semesters and once over the summer semester. Please see the ITAP calendar for specific dates. | OPTs are offered at the middle and the end of each semester. Please see the ITAP calendar for specific dates. In addition, academic programs/departments can schedule individual OPTs as needed. Pre-Arrival Video Assessments can also be arranged through the Academic Support Center. |
| What is the test format? | The SPEAK is an audio-taped, 20-minute language test designed by the Educational Testing Service to assess spontaneous oral-English-language production. | Candidates explain an elementary topic from their teaching discipline in a 5–7-minute time block. This is followed by a 1–2-minute question-and-answer period. For additional information, see “Departmental Oral Presentation Test Responsibilities” on the Academic Program Responsibilities page. |
| How are the tests scored? | The responses are recorded and rated by at least two trained evaluators. | Two undergraduate students, a faculty representative from the department and two representative of the ITAP program rate the presentation. |
| When are the results available? | Results from the SPEAK test are available approximately 14 working days after the test is taken. | Results of OPTs are available approximately five working days after the test. |
For information on how to prepare, please refer to our Preparing for Oral English Language Assessment.
Note: On rare occasions, problems occur with the taping process, and the candidate may be asked to retake the test, participate in an oral interview or do an oral presentation test.