English Language Improvement Program:
SPEAK Test Policy and Procedure

SPEAK Test Policy

According to Ohio University policy and state law, all students who have been offered a graduate teaching assistantship must be certified as proficient in oral Englsh. This includes graduate students who have responsibility for laboratory in addition to classroom instruction. Updated Information (July 14, 2010): Either the SPEAK test or the Speaking section of the internet-based TOEFL (iBT) test can now clear potential ITAs.

Option 1: Speaking iBT score clears potential ITA to teach
Following are the iBT Speaking section scores that will either clear a non-native English speaking graduate student to teach at OU or clear the student to teach at OU but only with a concurrent ITA course. The scores are only valid for one year prior to when teaching would begin:
iBT Speaking 24-30 = cleared to teach
iBT Speaking 21-23 = teach with a required ITA course
 
Note that these scores are not regarding the student’s admission to a program at Ohio University. Students would still need to meet the university and program’s English proficiency requirements before they would be eligible to be a teaching assistant.

Option 2: SPEAK score clears potential ITA to teach
The on-campus SPEAK test will be an option for three groups of students:
a.     Students without an iBT score. The SPEAK test will continue to be offered each quarter.
b.     Students who received a score of 20 or less on the Speaking section of the iBT will be able to take the SPEAK test on campus if the department desires this option. In this case, the student’s SPEAK test score would be used to determine eligibility for teaching.
c.     Students who have an iBT Speaking section score that clears them to teach, but the department still would like their speaking proficiency evaluated upon arrival on campus. In this case, the student’s SPEAK test score would be used to determine eligibility for teaching.

Students who have not been cleared for instructional assignments may still be allowed to assume those assignments on a probationary basis if all of the following conditions are met:

1. They have a SPEAK test score no lower than 190,
2. They enroll in an international ITA pronunciation or classroom communication course,
3. They are deemed by their Graduate Chairs and Department Chairs as having English skills that are adequate and appropriate for their teaching/instructional assignments, and
4. Their speaking skills are evauated again before the beginning of the subsequent quarter. (If they receive a SPEAK score of 230 or higher they are no longer required to take ITA coursework unless required by department.)

The table below outlines the test scores and outcomes:

SPEAK Test Procedure:

1. Departments are notified of SPEAK test times and locations every quarter.
2. Departments notify students about the SPEAK test time/location. Only students who have been offered a teaching position or who have a strong possibility to be offered a teaching position are eligible to take the test.
3. Departments notify Linguistics by contacting Dawn Bikowski (593-0201 or bikowski@ohio.edu) with names of students who will be taking the SPEAK test. Students cannot register themselves for the test, and students cannot take the test without being registered.
4. Students record the test on a computer in a lab, usually in a group (takes approximately 30 minutes).
5. Departments are notified of the results and students who need to take an ITA course in order to teach are notified of class times.
6. Students' scores are reported to Graduate Studies and entered into the SIS system on the OENG screen.
7. After students have taken the test, they are not eligible to re-take it until they have participated actively in pre-approved pronunciation/speaking training (e.g., a course or with a tutor) for at least 20 hours.

Note: Additional information useful for students taking the SPEAK test here.

Questions

• Questions about SPEAK test times/location/procedure should be addressed to Dr. Dawn Bikowski at bikowski@ohio.edu or 593-0201.
• Questions about compliance with these standards should be addressed to Dr. Katherine Tadlock at tadlockk@ohio.edu or 597-2860.