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Incorporation of ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and OPI into a Chinese Heritage Language Curriculum

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Title: Incorporation of ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and OPI into a Chinese Heritage Language Curriculum
Language: English
Authors: Lini Ge Polin (ORCID 0000-0002-2795-925X), Li Yang (ORCID 0000-0002-4608-2705)
Source: Foreign Language Annals. 2026 59(1):256-277.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Chinese, Native Language, College Students, Language Proficiency, Oral Language, Second Language Learning, Curriculum, Receptive Language, Auditory Perception, Pronunciation
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview
DOI: 10.1111/flan.70030
ISSN: 0015-718X
1944-9720
Abstract: Traditional college heritage language (HL) classes often place more emphasis on literacy development than speaking improvement. However, the native-like abilities of some heritage language learners (HLLs) in certain areas, such as acoustic perception and pronunciation, do not guarantee their oral competency. To address the issue, this study integrated the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines--Speaking and mock Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPIs) conducted by certified ACTFL OPI testers into a Chinese HL curriculum over one semester. Forty-one participants completed pre- and post-surveys and mock OPIs at the beginning and end of the semester, respectively. The pre-post-survey comparison indicated participants' enhanced speaking awareness and stronger speaking initiatives inside and outside of class. The pre-post-mock-OPI comparison indicated improved oral proficiency of 15 participants, and some minor qualitative improvements in one or two of the criteria of "Functions and Tasks," "Accuracy, Context and Content," and "Text Type" in 16 of the other 26 participants. Implications regarding the improvement of Chinese HLLs' speaking development are discussed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500423
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Incorporation of ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and OPI into a Chinese Heritage Language Curriculum
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lini+Ge+Polin%22">Lini Ge Polin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2795-925X">0000-0002-2795-925X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li+Yang%22">Li Yang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4608-2705">0000-0002-4608-2705</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Foreign+Language+Annals%22"><i>Foreign Language Annals</i></searchLink>. 2026 59(1):256-277.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
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  Data: 22
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chinese%22">Chinese</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Language%22">Native Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oral+Language%22">Oral Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum%22">Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Receptive+Language%22">Receptive Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Auditory+Perception%22">Auditory Perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pronunciation%22">Pronunciation</searchLink>
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  Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22ACTFL+Oral+Proficiency+Interview%22">ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/flan.70030
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0015-718X<br />1944-9720
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Traditional college heritage language (HL) classes often place more emphasis on literacy development than speaking improvement. However, the native-like abilities of some heritage language learners (HLLs) in certain areas, such as acoustic perception and pronunciation, do not guarantee their oral competency. To address the issue, this study integrated the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines--Speaking and mock Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPIs) conducted by certified ACTFL OPI testers into a Chinese HL curriculum over one semester. Forty-one participants completed pre- and post-surveys and mock OPIs at the beginning and end of the semester, respectively. The pre-post-survey comparison indicated participants' enhanced speaking awareness and stronger speaking initiatives inside and outside of class. The pre-post-mock-OPI comparison indicated improved oral proficiency of 15 participants, and some minor qualitative improvements in one or two of the criteria of "Functions and Tasks," "Accuracy, Context and Content," and "Text Type" in 16 of the other 26 participants. Implications regarding the improvement of Chinese HLLs' speaking development are discussed.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1500423
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        Value: 10.1111/flan.70030
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 256
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Chinese
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Native Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Oral Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Curriculum
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Receptive Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Auditory Perception
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pronunciation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview
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      – TitleFull: Incorporation of ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and OPI into a Chinese Heritage Language Curriculum
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            NameFull: Li Yang
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              Y: 2026
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