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Sample Questions for OPIC

Oral Proficiency InterviewComputer

DESCRIPTION OF ORAL PROFICIENCY LEVELS


BEGINNER Able to recognize and use some basic words. Some expressions are used but they are limited to those that are learned by heart (recycling). DE BASE (Basic) Able to satisfy minimum courtesy requirements and routine travel needs. Can ask and answer questions on topics very familiar to him/her. Within the scope of his/her very limited language experience, can understand simple questions and statements. Errors in pronunciation and grammar are frequent. INTERMEDIATE Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements. Can handle with confidence, but not with facility, most social situations, casual conversations about current events, as well as work. Can handle limited work requirements. Can get the gist of most conversations and nontechnical subjects. Speaking vocabulary sufficient. Accent, thought often quite faulty, is intelligible. Can usually handle elementary constructions quite accurately but does not have thorough or confident control of grammar. ADVANCED Able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social and professional topics. Can discuss particular interests and special fields of competence with reasonable ease. Comprehension is quite complete. Vocabulary is broad enough. Control of grammar is good. SUPERIOR Able to speak the language with great structural accuracy. Can participate in all formal and informal conversations on practical, social and professional topics. The speech has a natural flow and the vocabulary is broad enough to be used in all circumstances. Comprehension is accurate and complete in most situations. The speaker may still not comprehend all colloquial expressions and regionalisms.

SKILLS TO PREPARE:
Maintain a face-to-face conversation over a range of familiar topics such as: family and friends home, school and leisure time activities school, classes, sports town, neighborhood and services employment travel and survival situations Can create with the language using learned and memorized material. Can describe and compare. Can explain and provide detail. Ask and answer simple questions. Speak in sentences and errors not interfere with comprehension. Can use an appropriate strategy in order to communicate. Does not use English as a substitute for an unknown word.

How does one prepare for the oral proficiency interview?


The responses or questions of the interviewee reflect: individual background life experiences interests opinions Student motivation to be active during class time is extremely important. Orally repeat and practice all classroom grammar patterns, vocabulary and sentences. Outside of class orally review vocabulary and verb reference sheets. Practice conversations and conversation materials whenever possible. Become reacquainted with correct grammar patterns and expressions.

It is normal to feel nervous. Be prepared for a conversation and demonstrate what you can do with the language.

BEGINNER
Language Tasks
understand simple questions respond with simple, memorized words and phrases. SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
What is your name? How is the weather today? How are you today?

BASIC
Language Tasks
ask and answer simple questions give directions or simple instructions deal with simple work related situations

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
For which company do work you? What is your phone number at the school/ office? How do you spend your free time? How I go from your location to your office?

SAMPLE ROLE PLAY


Make an appointment with your hairdresser for Monday, November 3. Take a message from a client (phone number, address, with whom

INTERMEDIATE
Language Tasks give simple explanations describe people, places and things in simple terms narrate events in the past, present and future deal with somewhat complex work related situations Sample Questions Describe your typical day. Tell about a good experience you had lately. Compare two things: cities VS countryside, peace VS war When are your next holidays and which you will make during these holidays? Sample Role Play Cancel an important meeting with a supervisor Explain basic office procedures to a new co-worker (work hours, breaks, location and use of photocopy machine, how to apply for vacation leave...)

ADVANCED:
Language Tasks
give detailed explanations with precision deal with hypothetical issues defend an opinion, convey a point of view or justify an action give advice and counsel deal with complex work related situations

Sample Questions

Tell something about your career until now. Which are personal qualities necessary to do your work? What is your best personality that youd like continue in the future, that is to say for work or your personal development? Which is your opinion on the problem of obesity in our young people?

Sample Role Play

Convince your supervisor to let you take training that requires a two month replacement for your job. The training is not outlined in current Performance Development plan but you feel it is important for your career advancement. You are a good friend. I confide in you that I am feeling stressed at work and very tired. You know me very well, so give me some advice on what might help me through this situation.

SUPERIOR
Language Tasks Persuade and negotiate tailor language to fit audience (adopt different registers) deal diplomatically with sensitive work related issues represent different points of view convey a specific tone or attitude Sample Questions Which is your greater achievement with work or in your personal life? Why? If you could change something with the public office or with your work, what that would be and which would be the consequences? Which councils would you give to a new employee about the maintenance of balance between work and the personal life? Describe your ideal holidays, the ideal retirement, or your ideal employment. Sample Role Play You are not satisfied with this years performance appraisal because your

Tips for the Oral Proficiency Exam


2.Try to warm up in the learned language before you arrive for your interview. Talk to yourself or to someone else. Think what you might say in response to questions about yourself. 3.Arrive a bit early so you have time to compose yourself. If you have to wait because the previous interview is running late, take the time to think about the things you can say about yourself in the learned language. 5.Be sure to greet the interviewer back when you are greeted. 6.If you start out poorly or make some stupid mistakes, don't get shaken. In the first part of the interview you will be getting used to the interviewer's speaking style. Interviewers know you may be nervous and will try to make you feel at ease so you can do your best. 7.Choose your own speaking speed which is comfortable for you. If you know you make more mistakes when you speak too fast, slow down. If you're a slow speaker by nature, that's okay, but make an effort not to speak more slowly than you usually do. 8.Don't be embarrassed by pauses. The interviewer knows you have to pause sometimes to formulate your answer and will let you do so unless it seems you really can't go on. But do try to answer as directly and spontaneously as possible. Don't stop to think about every answer. Try to keep your end of the conversation going as naturally as possible. 9.Keep talking. Don't stop the conversation by saying simply "yes" or "no". Be generous. Give details. Explain your point. Develop your thoughts. Make comparisons. Ask questions. Any device that demonstrates that you can carry a topic through will help your performance. Silence is your enemy. If you are not a talkative person by nature, you must make an extra effort for the test. 10.Don't get hung up on a word. Avoid words you are uncertain of. All too often candidates will rack their brains for a particular word they feel they must use and paralyze the sentence. If you do get stuck, find a simple substitute or paraphrase and go on with the conversation. 11.Avoid English at all costs. The premise of the interview is that the interviewer speaks and understands only French. If you ask the interviewer for a translation of an English word, you won't get a response. Try to work around the word you don't know by describing the concept. 12.Don't avoid grammar points. If you are asked what you would do if you were the University's president, the tester is probably trying to make you use a specific grammatical structure. If you can handle it, comply. This may help raise your level. 13.Don't get rattled because of the mistakes you know you've made. Isolated mistakes do not affect your rating. 14.Show what you can do with what you know, mistakes and all. When you are engaged in a free conversation, a lot of the grammar and vocabulary that you know will break down. The interviewer knows this and is more interested in finding out how well you can function despite your mistakes.

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