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Student & Professional Services Collge of Education & Human Development Student Services

Language proficiency requirements

Additional licensure in world languages and cultures

All applicants must meet language proficiency requirements. Native and nonnative speakers of the English language must meet two separate sets of criteria, as described below:

Nonnative English speakers

Nonnative speakers of English seeking ESL or world language licensure must take the OPI and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). A minimum TOEFL score of 600 is required. Minimum OPI score requirements are described below. Those seeking world language licensure in their native language (e.g., Spanish, Japanese) are not required to demonstrate proficiency in that language through tests or other measures.

Native English speakers

Native speakers of English who are seeking English as a Second Language (ESL) licensure must have studied a foreign language for at least two years in college, four years in high school, or have acquired an equivalent language experience through work or study abroad.

Native speakers of English who are seeking world languages and cultures licensure must demonstrate proficiency in the language for which they seek licensure. The following licensure options are available: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Norwegian, Ojibwe, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and English as a second language (ESL). Candidates must have advanced proficiency in the language and an understanding of the formal aspects of the language, such as grammar and writing. They also must have familiarity with the cultures of speakers of the language. Candidates demonstrate this knowledge through a combination of advanced coursework in the language and by taking tests.

Requirements include:

Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

Nonnative speakers of Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, or Swedish who are seeking a K-12 license in any of these languages must obtain a score of at least "advanced low" on the Oral Proficiency Interview. Nonnative speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in English at the "superior" level.

Registration

Applicants seeking licensure in Spanish, French or English may take the OPI tests locally with the following official OPI raters:

A check or money order for $50.00 should be made payable to the interviewer and the applicant is required to provide a blank 30-minute cassette tape at the time of the interview.

Applicants seeking licensure in languages other than Spanish, French or English must register for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) test on their Web site.

Because this test is taken via telephone, it must be proctored. The ACTFL Web site details the ways an applicant can arrange for an exam proctor. One option is to coordinate proctoring services with the University of Minnesota University Counseling and Consulting Services (UCCS) Testing Center for a $30.00 fee. Contact the testing center at 612-624-3510.

Praxis II: Subject Assessments

Praxis II: Subject Assessments are available for French, German, and Spanish. Session/test codes are listed below:

Each standardized test consists of 120 multiple-choice questions. Test sections cover interpretive listening and reading, structure of the language (grammatical accuracy), and cultural perspectives. Each two-hour test costs $75.

Registration

For more information on test content and registration, visit the ETS Web site.

Note: Candidates for French, German, and Spanish licensure must take this test in addition to the separate Praxis II: Subject Assessments, which are required for Minnesota licensure completion. More information about Praxis requirements can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education's Web site.

Revised December 2006