ACTFL’s New 2024 Proficiency Guidelines - What’s New?

ACTFL released new proficiency guidelines in 2024, what does this mean for world language teachers?

When I first heard this news, I was shocked! This will be the fourth edition of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for world language educators. The last revision was released in 2012. Fast forward 12 years later, and we have a new set!

Thankfully, this does not mean that we have to completely redo every unit and lesson plan we’ve ever created over the last 12 years. (Thankfully!)

But…what should we do?

ACTFL’s 2024 Proficiency Guidelines: An Overview

This big news was released on April 2nd. At the time this blog is being released, it will be April 3rd. Have I had time to completely and thoroughly review a 56 page document? No :)

But, I have done some skimming and scanning and began to read this important beast of a document!

What have I found? What stands out to me? (Note: What stands out to me does not necessarily mean it is new-never-before-heard-of-information. These are just things that stand out and I feel are important to note while I begin diving deep into this new document).

Proficiency Domains

ACTFL’s Proficiency Guidelines describe proficiency. (SHOCKING! I know). What is proficiency? ACTFL states it is “the ability to use language to accomplish communication objectives.” Proficiency is divided into four domains, listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Students may have a different proficiency in each domain. They may be intermediate low in one and advanced low in another. What defines and determines proficiency in each domain, is revealed by the acronym FACT. FACT stands for: Functions and tasks, Accuracy, Context and content, Text type.

How is Proficiency Assessed?

Proficiency assessments are important. They measure what learners can do in unrehearsed and spontaneous situations. Proficiency assessments should measure FACT criteria. This could involve a completely new situation that the learner has never rehearsed or encountered before.

Proficiency vs Performance

Unlike proficiency, performance measures what a learner can do in familiar and rehearsed situations. Think of the traditional food unit. After spending 2+ weeks instructing the food unit, students should be able to “describe their favorite meal”. They should be able to do this as they have acquired specific vocabulary and have performed describing foods and meals throughout the unit. At the end of the unit, when you assess them on their ability to “describe their favorite meal” you will measure their performance. Their ability to perform a task that is NOT new or unfamiliar. They have done this before!

One (in my opinion) is not necessarily better than the other. Proficiency is not ultimately better than performance (in my opinion). They both work together to support each other. They both measure what students can do with the target language. Both proficiency and performance are communicative in nature. Both are included in world language classrooms.

What are the Levels of Proficiency?

There are levels and sublevels to proficiency.

The five levels include: novice, intermediate, advanced, superior, and distinguished.

The three sub levels include: low, mid, and high.

A learner can be novice low, intermediate mid, advanced high. etc.

Do Teachers Need to Use ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines in their Instructional Planning?

To my suprise, not really! Are they good to know about? Absolutely! The intended users for ACTFL’s 2024 Proficiency Guidelines are “certified testers/raters using a formal protocol. May be used by educators to set expectations for teaching and learning.”

So if you don’t have the time to dive deep into the 56 page document, I think you’ll be okay. If you’re interested in learning more and improving your own pedagogical understanding and assessments, this is a great resource.

My Takeaway

I appreciate how these new guidelines seem so easy to follow and understand. There are several charts that summarize key points and organize information. Even with a previous understanding of ACTFL’s 2012 Proficiency Guidelines, I already feel that I am adding to that. I feel that this document offers both a refresher of these important points while building on my previous knowledge of what I already understood.

More blog posts will be coming as I dive into this document more deeply. If you’ve enjoyed, feel free to sign up for my blog posts to keep up to date!

-From one Spanish teacher to another, con mucho amor 🧡