The approach to oral proficiency assessment in the United States is based on The
Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) interview. The ACTFL grew out of the ILR
government-based criterion-referenced scale and emerged with a modified rating scale
which "involved a refinement of the distinctions at the lower end of the scale in
recognition of the need to test individuals with lower levels of proficiency" (O'Connell
and Norwood, 2007). It coincides with what is called 'the proficiency movement': "...the
OPI (especially the ILR interview) generates so many suggestions for teaching
methodology and classroom practices that it has provided the impetus for a clutch of
pedagogical recommendations with enough identifiable unity to be called 'the proficiency
movement.'" (van Lier 1989, p. 490, 491). In historical terms, the influence the OPI has
had on course and curricular design, most notably in the United States, is significant.
Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) interview. The ACTFL grew out of the ILR
government-based criterion-referenced scale and emerged with a modified rating scale
which "involved a refinement of the distinctions at the lower end of the scale in
recognition of the need to test individuals with lower levels of proficiency" (O'Connell
and Norwood, 2007). It coincides with what is called 'the proficiency movement': "...the
OPI (especially the ILR interview) generates so many suggestions for teaching
methodology and classroom practices that it has provided the impetus for a clutch of
pedagogical recommendations with enough identifiable unity to be called 'the proficiency
movement.'" (van Lier 1989, p. 490, 491). In historical terms, the influence the OPI has
had on course and curricular design, most notably in the United States, is significant.