The English Language Institute offers the SPEAK test, a measurement of oral proficiency, for Oregon State University students. This test is required for all International Graduate Teaching Assistants (IGTAs).

General Description of the SPEAK Test
Parts of the Test
Suggestions for SPEAK Test Takers
Testing and Training Policy for International GTAs
Guidelines for the Assignment of International GTAs

The SPEAK is designed to see how comprehensible International Graduate Teaching Assistants will be in front of a classroom of American undergraduates. Test-takers are scored on how comprehensible they are--and this usually revolves around how "natural" they sound. "Natural" does not mean perfect and it does not mean speaking just like a native speaker, but it does mean that the test-taker should be easy to understand, even for someone with little or no experience with non-native speakers. After all, most American undergraduates have little or no experience with non-native speakers!

Test-takers read a test book, listen to a tape, and, when prompted, speak into a microphone. Their speech is recorded for later evaluation by test raters. The SPEAK is a timed test, and the test-taker will have no control over the pace of the questions. No pencil or paper is needed.

Pre-registration for the test is required and you must show photo identification, such as a student ID card or a passport, when you enter the testing room.

There are several different forms of the SPEAK, but all have similar types of questions:

1. A warm-up with general questions; the tape announces that this section will not be scored. It is important, however, that the test-taker reply to the questions to make sure that the tape is working properly.
   
2. A map-reading section, where the test-taker describes how to get from one place to another.
   
3. General questions about a hypothetical town, based on the map.
   
4. A story-telling section, where the test-taker looks at a series of pictures and tells the story from the pictures.
   
5. Follow-up questions based on the story.
   
6. General opinion questions, often related to the test-taker's field of study.
   
7. A chart or graph-reading section, where the test- taker explains the information given on a chart or graph.
   
8. Follow-up questions based on the chart or graph.
   
9. A schedule with modifications, where the test-taker explains the schedule and the changes.

• Relax and get plenty of sleep the night before the test. Nervousness does not help!
• Focus on being as natural-sounding as possible. Avoid speaking either too quickly or too slowly. People who speak quickly are often difficult to understand. But also it is better to speak smoothly and clearly, even if you make a few pronunciation mistakes, than to speak very slowly and haltingly with no pronunciation errors.
• Practice speaking English as much as possible. Talking to people in informal speaking practice will help you feel more relaxed and sound more natural.
• Practice giving directions from a map, telling stories from pictures, and describing a chart or graph.
• Practice with a timer so that you have a feeling for how long 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 90 seconds are.
• Pay attention to the time allotted for each question. Bring a watch with a second hand so that you can see how much time you have left.
• Listen to native speakers and think about what they're doing.
• Give your email address when you register so that you can receive your score as soon as it is available, usually within a few days after the test. Your score will also be sent to your department.

English Language Institute
301 Snell Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-1632
Phone: 541-737-2464
Email: eliadmi@orst.edu