The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 are a description of what individuals can do with language in terms of speaking, writing, listening, and reading in real-world situations in a spontaneous and non-rehearsed context.
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012
Explore real-world spontaneous situations by skill or level
Guidelines
Examine the most current version of the Guidelines by skill or level, listen to and read samples that represent abilities at each of the major proficiency levels.
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Document (PDF)
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012
Download the complete text of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 document in a PDF format.
Poster
Oral Proficiency Levels in the Workplace
Purchase the Oral Proficiency Levels in the Workplace 24 x 36 poster or download it for printing.
The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 may be used for non-profit, educational purposes only, provided that they are reproduced in their entirety, with no alterations, and with credit to ACTFL. Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the examples in any form is prohibited other than for non-profit, educational purposes. You may not, except with ACTFL's express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit any media content
Preface
The direct application of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines is for the evaluation of functional language ability. The Guidelines are intended to be used for global assessment in academic and workplace settings. However, the Guidelines do have instructional implications. The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines underlie the development of the ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K-12 Learners (1998) and are used in conjunction with the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning (1996, 1998, 2006) to describe how well students meet content standards. For the past 25 years, the ACTFL Guidelines have had an increasingly profound impact on foreign language teaching and learning in the United States.
Document (PDF)
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2001
A previous version of the guidelines available for download.
Document (PDF)
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 1999
A previous version of the guidelines available for download.
Document (PDF)
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 1986
A previous version of the guidelines available for download.
Oral Proficiency Levels in the Workplace
Promoting Proficiency in your classroom
This colorful 24 x 36 poster shows professions corresponding to various proficiency levels.
Acknowledgements
ACTFL is deeply indebted to the many individuals who contributed to the previous editions of the Proficiency Guidelines.
In addition, ACTFL wishes to acknowledge the principal authors and editors of this 3rd Edition of the Proficiency Guidelines: Elvira Swender, Daniel J. Conrad, and Robert Vicars; and the invaluable contributions of the project consultants: Mahdi Alosh, Karen Breiner-Sanders, Ray T. Clifford, Helen Hamlyn, David Hiple, Judith Liskin-Gasparro, Pardee Lowe, Jr., Cynthia Martin, Karl F. Otto, Jr., Benjamin Rifkin, Mildred Rivera-Martinez, and Erwin Tschirner.
Finally, ACTFL is most appreciative of the comments and feedback from the many members of the profession who contributed generously of their time and expertise in reviewing earlier drafts of this document.