Taking the SPEAK Test:  Procedures and Pointers

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

WHO TAKES THE SPEAK, and HOW?

1. The SPEAK is required by campus policy for teaching assistants who are non-native speakers of English in order to fulfill Illinois State Law (SB1516).
2. The SPEAK is administered by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), 249 Armory, 333-3370. The Division of English as an International Language (DEIL) is not involved in the test administration.
3. In order to sign up for the test, a department representative (not individual students) must call CTE to register potential ITAs (international teaching assistants).

WHAT IS THE SPEAK TEST?

The SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) is a standardized test of oral English proficiency.

1. The test takes place in a language lab. You listen to a master tape, and follow along in a test booklet. You respond to things you read and hear and your responses are recorded on a separate tape.
2. You are rated on Overall Communicative Ability. You can meet the eligibility requirement with a score of 50 or more (out of a possible 60).
3. The test is given in G-17 Foreign Languages Building (FLB). Be there on time! The test itself takes about 25 minutes. (Confirm your test time with your department representative.)
4. For more information about the test, a sample test tape or CD and booklet are available at the computer lab in G-8 FLB and in the Undergraduate Library Media Center. At the Media Center, the sample test is listed under ESL. The tape cannot be checked out or copied, but you can listen to it in the Center.

ON THE DAY OF THE SPEAK...

1. Arrive at G-17 FLB before your assigned test time.
2. Bring a picture ID with you (student ID or driver's license), and your University Identification Number (UIN printed on your student I-Card). Bring no other equipment; no paper, pencils, tapes, cell phones, etc.
3. Smile and relax!

DURING THE SPEAK...

1. Try to sound as natural as possible.
2. Focus only on your response, not on the voices of others taking the test.
3. Do not use memorized answers.
4. Try to say as much as you can in the time allotted for each answer. Minimized or incomplete answers will be graded accordingly.
5. Students are expected to adhere to the UIUC Code of Policies & Regulations, especially section 33 covering Academic Integrity.

AFTER THE SPEAK...

Results of the test will be sent to your department in approximately four to five weeks. If you do not receive the results within this time, please contact your department directly. CTE is not permitted to release results to individual students--only to department faculty/staff.

If you pass...

• Congratulations! You are now ready to complete the next phase of requirements for ITAs; the Orientation for International Teaching Assistants.

If you do not pass...

• If you feel that your score does not adequately reflect your typical oral language ability, contact your department to find out how to register for the SPEAK Appeals test. The Appeals test consists of a short interview and a teaching simulation.
• Campus policy requires you to do an English improvement activity before retaking the SPEAK. To fulfill this requirement, you must take either ESL 504, ESL 506 or ESL 510 in a semester after the SPEAK test was taken. Ten hours of approved tutoring also qualifies. A tutor list is available from the Division of English as an International Language (DEIL) located at 3070 Foreign Languages Building. A letter from the tutor indicating completion of ten hours of tutoring must be brought to the SPEAK test.

Your department has information regarding test dates and registration procedures.

Speak/Document/Test Procedures
Revised 8/04

For further details see the SPEAK schedule and  registration links at this website.

August 2004