Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
The OPI is a nationally recognized assessment from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). At BYU, it is administered in the Language Sciences Laboratory.
For more general information and preparation materials, see ACTFL’s website and Language Testing International (LTI).
Who Takes the OPI?
OPIs at BYU are administered for:
- Capstone testing for all language majors and minors
- Research projects involving oral proficiency measurement
If you are:
- Enrolled in a capstone course, you will need to request an OPI.
- On an Arabic study abroad program, the OPI is at the end of the experience
Scheduling and Payment
- Capstone courses: you will need to request the OPI, and once granted, you will need to accept the test time offered.
- Study abroad programs (for professors/instructors): Contact the program manager at the Kennedy Center when setting program costs so OPI fees can be built in. The Kennedy Center will cover the cost from program funds for the OPIc.
- Research purposes: Submit a funding request at humfunding.byu.edu. Once approved, the cost will be covered by research funds.
Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPI):
The OPI is proficiency-based assessing your ability to use language effectively and appropriately in real-life situations. It also assesses spontaneous, unrehearsed language.
Official ACTFL OPI ratings can be used for a variety of purposes in academic, commercial, and government communities. In academia, speaking proficiency ratings can be used for admissions, placement into language programs, general assessments, or exit/ graduation requirements. In business and government communities, OPI ratings can be used for certification, hiring, and promotion in multilingual positions. Upon completion of an official ACTFL OPI, digital badges, indicating proficiency range achieved, are sent automatically through Credly.
What to Do:
- Request two separate dates during your testing window, with a time block of at least three hours, Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm.
- Do not request dates on state, federal, or university holidays, on Saturdays or Sundays, or during the devotional (Tuesdays 10:30-12:15).
- Please select your capstone class as the reason you are taking the test.
- You will receive an email from the Center for Language Studies once your OPI has been scheduled. You will have one test at a specific time chosen from your submitted availability.
- Please confirm the appointment; otherwise, your appointment will be cancelled.
- You will take the test in the Language Sciences Lab B163 JFSB.
Please make sure to check your BYU email, after requesting the OPI, scheduling is coordinated via email.
In addition to ACTFL’s guidance on preparation, BYU adds these requirements:
- Arrive appropriately dressed in accordance with BYU’s dress and grooming standards.
- Get a good night’s sleep before your test.
- You will be charged a $60 fee if you do not show up for your scheduled appointment (paid directly to the testing company, not BYU).
You can find ACTFL’s full preparation tips in the Examinee Handbook on the LTI website.
When your scores are ready (up to 2 weeks post test), students will receive*:
- A level certificate
- A diagnostic grid via email
*You may need to request these documents from lslab@byu.edu or cls@byu.edu.
Video Part 1: Understanding the Diagnostic Grid
Video Part 2: Understanding the Diagnostic Grid
These videos also include tips on using results to create a lifelong language-learning plan.