Ted,

Could you explain what the federal oral proficiency interview system is? 
When was this established?  And by whom and for whom?

Nancy

*********************************************************
Nancy R. Faux
ESOL Specialist
Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center
Virginia Commonwealth University
3600 W. Broad Street, Suite 669
Richmond, VA 23230-4930
nfaux at vcu.edu
http://www.valrc.org
1-800-237-0178



Mary Jane Jerde <mjjerdems at yahoo.com> 
Sent by: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov
05/19/2008 08:42 PM
Please respond to
The Assessment Discussion List <assessment at nifl.gov>


To
The Assessment Discussion List <assessment at nifl.gov>
cc

Subject
[Assessment 1324] Re: CASAS vs. BEST






Thanks,

Mary Jane

Ted Klein <taklein at austin.rr.com> wrote:
Mary Jane,
 
I developed the following oral interview for initial placement. The scores 
below for each question are based on part of the federal Oral Proficiency 
Interview (OPI) system. It's quick and it works.
 
Ted
www.tedklein-ESL.com
 
 
ORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE
 
                                                      Block 2    Ted Klein
 
Questions marked with an asterisk * are mandatory. Of the remaining 
questions, ten should be selected at random. Speech of the interviewer 
will be at normal speed and clarity, with NO exaggeration.
 
1. What is your name please?* 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
2. Where are you from?* -------
 
3. What part of XXXXXXX are you from?-------
 
4. What is your native language? -------
 
5. How long have you been in America? -------
 
6. Do you read English?* -------
 
7. Did you study English in your country? -------
 
8. How long did you study English? -------
 
9. Are you enjoying the U.S.A? -------
 
10. What do you like here? -------
 
11. Is there anything that you don't like? -------
 
12. Have you studied any other languages besides English? -------
 
13. Why do you want to learn English? -------
 
14. How many years of education have you had? -------
 
15. Do you have any hobbies? What are they? -------
 
16. Do you have any American friends to practice English with? -------
 
17. Do you work?  Where? -------
 
18. What are your plans for the future? -------
 
19. Why did you come to America? -------
 
20. Do you have any questions for me? -------
 
 
Mark responses: 0 no answer.   0+ telegraphic/very simple response. 
1 simple, but complete response.  1+ functional and clear response.
2   somewhat elaborate, fairly clear and mostly grammatical response.
 
Interviewees with ten or more answers in the 1+ to 2 range should be ready 
to take a written
proficiency test of listening and reading skills. Non-readers are 
excluded. (ref: Ques. 6)
 
 
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mary Jane Jerde 
To: The Assessment Discussion List 
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 6:47 PM
Subject: [Assessment 1322] Re: CASAS vs. BEST

Hello All,

Since with BEST Plus the ESL students are scored on comprehension, 
complexity (grammar), and communication (how easily their responses can be 
understood), I think that either BEST or BEST Plus would make the leap to 
another English speaking country fairly easily. Certainly much better than 
most other test instruments like CASAS. 

The questions are for adults on common topics, shopping, neighborhood 
preferences, exercise, daily activities, etc. The occasional pictures are 
fairly generic. 

I think it would be worth a good look. 

It is too bad that the paper BEST is not available. It was great for quick 
placement in ongoing programs with rolling enrollment. 

Mary Jane Jerde
Howard Community College






Bryan Woerner <bwoerner at cal.org> wrote: 
Hello Maria,
 
BEST Plus and BEST Literacy were developed for use with adult English 
language learners who need to use English to function in day-to-day life 
in an English-speaking context in the 50 United States. This means that 
all test items and graphics were developed and included in the tests based 
on cultural assumptions about life in the US. Therefore, the results from 
either test really wouldn't be valid. They also wouldn't suitable test for 
non-American English speakers who first language is English, if I 
understand you correctly. The tests were designed for non-native speakers. 
If, however, a non-native speaker who learned British English came to the 
US and took ESL classes, then he or she could be tested with BEST Plus or 
BEST Literacy.
 
What was known as the "BEST test" or the Basic English Skills Test, is no 
longer published. It was developed in the 1980's and hadn't been updated 
since then. The oral interview was replaced by BEST Plus in 2003 and the 
literacy skills section was updated and became BEST Literacy in 2006. 
Since the BEST test was around for so long, the nomenclature sometimes get 
mixed up. But, like its descendents, it too was only valid within the US 
for the same reasons.
 
And I would suggest to Anthony that he contact the TESOL organization. 
They published a book called ESOL Tests and Testing which is a compilation 
of many different ESL, EFL and ESP assessments.
http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=856&DID=3460
 
Bryan
 
 

From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov] On 
Behalf Of Marie Cora
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 5:11 PM
To: 'The Assessment Discussion List'
Subject: [Assessment 1318] Re: CASAS vs. BEST

Hi Bryan and Anthony,
A question to you Bryan ? is the BEST then available for folks outside the 
US?  Also, do you believe it?s suitable for English speakers from 
countries other than the US?
Thanks!
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->
Marie Cora
Assessment Discussion List Moderator
-----Original Message-----
From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov] On 
Behalf Of Bryan Woerner
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 2:35 PM
To: The Assessment Discussion List
Subject: [Assessment 1317] Re: CASAS vs. BEST
Hello Anthony,
BEST Plus was designed for use with adult English language learners in the 
United States.
Bryan
Adult ESL Assessments
Center for Applied Linguistics

From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov] On 
Behalf Of Anthony Berry
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 8:34 AM
To: The Assessment Discussion List
Subject: [Assessment 1315] Re: CASAS vs. BEST
Could someone please tell me how I an have sight of BEST. I have been 
looking for an adaptive, normative, diagnostic test for ages and this 
seems as though it might fit the bill.
 
What flavour of English is it? Yes, you can see that I am of the Queen's 
English brigade!
 
Thanks for any help - btw this would be for research purposes not 
productive use.
 
Anthony Berry
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->

Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 04:34:28 -0700
From: mjjerdems at yahoo.com
To: assessment at nifl.gov
Subject: [Assessment 1314] Re: CASAS vs. BEST

The BEST is great for assessing the learner's production of English. Its 
additional pluses are that there are not test forms that learners can 
learn it identify and recall easily; the test questions become harder or 
easier depending on how the learner's responses are scored, which 
mitigates differences between assessors; and it would be better able to 
identify small progress than CASAS forms. 

The one major downside is that it takes time and more time as the learners 
progress. A large program simply cannot afford to put the hours into 
testing that BEST Plus requires.

I've used both CASAS and BEST Plus in smaller programs because one 
instrument cannot give a full picture on a learner (Assessment 101), and 
it maximizes the chance to show improvement at post-test. 

Good luck,

Mary Jane Jerde
Howard Community College

"Rodrick Beiler, Ingrid" <Ingrid.RodrickBeiler at montgomerycountymd.gov> 
wrote: 
Hi everyone 
I serve as the coordinator for an adult ESOL program in Montgomery County, 
MD. We offer classes mostly at the beginner level, with some classes at 
literacy and intermediate levels as well. I am fairly new to this field 
and am trying to determine the comparative usefulness of CASAS and BEST 
for assessment of our program. Can anyone comment on how/why their 
organizations might have chosen one over the other?
In case it is helpful for understanding my organization's needs, here is 
some more background information: 
- We serve about 275-300 learners per semester. 
- Many of our learners have a very low educational level. 
- Pre- and post-tests are administered by our instructors during the first 
and last classes of the semester. 
- Placement tests are administered by coordinators at each of our sites in 
one-on-one interviews. 
- We provide 36-48 instructional hours per semester. (I wonder if this 
precludes our using the BEST.) 
- Most of our funding comes from two sources (government and a private 
funder). 
- The cost of standardized assessments is an important factor to us. 
Your advice is much appreciated. 
Thanks, 
Ingrid Rodrick Beiler 
Ingrid Rodrick Beiler 
ESOL Coordinator 
Linkages to Learning 
51 Monroe Street, Suite 1700 
Rockville, MD 20850 
Phone: (240) 777-1110 
Fax: (240) 777-1111 
ingrid.rodrickbeiler at montgomerycountymd.gov 
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