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Section 4: Sample Presentational Speaking Assignment
TX PACT: LOTE French: Early Childhood–Grade 12 (710)

Recommendation for individuals using a screenreader: please set your punctuation settings to "most."

Sample Directions for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

For this section of the exam you will record a spoken response to the assignment that will be presented on the screen. You will have two minutes to read the assignment presented on the screen and consider your response. You will then have two minutes to record your response by speaking into the headset provided. Your response must be in the target language. Once recording has begun, it cannot be stopped, nor can you re-record your response.

What you say must be relevant to the situation presented in the assignment. Your response will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Purpose: The extent to which the response fulfills the assignment and is appropriate for the intended audience
  • Organization and Coherence: The extent to which ideas are effectively sequenced and logically connected
  • Syntax and Grammar: The extent to which the response exhibits a command of syntax and grammar
  • Vocabulary: The extent to which the response demonstrates a command and range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
  • Fluency: The extent to which the response demonstrates the ability to maintain a steady rate and appropriate pace of speech without unnecessary hesitations or pauses
  • Pronunciation: The extent to which the response demonstrates intelligibility and accuracy of pronunciation

Select the Next button to continue.

The speaking assignment and a Recorded Answer box will appear on the next screen. A sample of the Recorded Answer box appears below.

Screenshot of Recorded Answer window showing: Current Status: 112 seconds remaining. Status indicator has 2 bars.

When you are ready, click Next and begin reading the assignment. The Recorded Answer box will count down the time until recording begins. You will have 2 minutes to review the assignment and prepare your response. Be sure not to begin speaking until the status on the Recorded Answer box changes to read the number of seconds remaining.

You will then have 2 minutes to complete your response in the target language. You can monitor your time remaining by referring to the Recorded Answer box. The time will count down from 120 seconds (2 minutes) and the status bar will fill as time progresses.

When your time is up, the current status on the Recorded Answer box will change to "completed" indicating the conclusion of the speaking section of the exam. Once the status in the Recorded Answer box changes to "completed," select the Next button to continue with the remainder of the exam. Do not click Next until you have finished recording your response.

You will have only ONE opportunity to record your response. Select the Next button when you have finished reading these directions and are ready to begin the speaking section of the exam. Be sure you have your headset on before proceeding. Once you select the Next button, the timed speaking assignment will begin and you WILL NOT be able to return to these directions.

Select the Next button to continue.

Sample Presentational Speaking Assignment

Domain VI—Presentational Speaking 

Competency 010—In response to a prompt, demonstrate the ability to deliver coherent, well-developed discourse in the target language that effectively communicates a message.

Read the assignment below. You will have 2 minutes to review the assignment and prepare your response. Begin speaking in French when the current status on the Recorded Answer box changes to "time remaining." Monitor your time by referring to the Recorded Answer box. Begin reviewing the assignment now.

Imagine that you have been asked to give a presentation in French to a group of educators about a past experience you have had in which you attended a cultural event such as a concert or art exhibit. Speaking in French, discuss your experience. In your presentation, you must include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • a narrative of an experience in which you attended a cultural event; and
  • an explanation of how this experience affected you.

Description of a Strong Response to the Presentational Speaking Assignment

A strong response to the presentational speaking assignment would develop the topic by elaboration of specific points. The response would be delivered in a consistently clear manner. The speaker would speak fluently, demonstrating control of syntax and grammar. The speaker's vocabulary would show mastery of a broad vocabulary including appropriate idiomatic expressions. The speaker would handle simple and complex linguistic constructions, avoiding errors that interfere with communication. The speaker would exhibit good to excellent pronunciation and intonation.

Performance Characteristics for Presentational Speaking Assignment

Responses are scored holistically based on the following performance characteristics:

Purpose The extent to which the response fulfills the assignment and is appropriate for the intended audience
Organization and Coherence The extent to which ideas are effectively sequenced and logically connected
Syntax and Grammar The extent to which the response exhibits a command of syntax and grammar
Vocabulary The extent to which the response demonstrates a command and range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
Fluency The extent to which the response demonstrates the ability to maintain a steady rate and appropriate pace of speech without unnecessary hesitations or pauses
Pronunciation The extent to which the response demonstrates intelligibility and accuracy of pronunciation

Score Scale for Presentational Speaking Assignment

The four points of the scoring scale correspond to varying degrees of performance.

Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response is completely appropriate and thoroughly fulfills the assignment by providing well-developed ideas and supporting details.
  • The ideas are effectively organized and logically connected.
  • The response exhibits comprehensive command of syntax and grammar, containing only minor errors that do not interrupt communication.
  • The response demonstrates a strong command and broad range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • A steady rate and appropriate pace of speech is consistently maintained, with few unnecessary hesitations or pauses.
  • Pronunciation is easily intelligible and accurate, with few, if any, errors.
3 The "3" response reflects a general understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response is appropriate and generally fulfills the assignment by providing adequately developed ideas with some supporting details.
  • The ideas are generally organized and connected.
  • The response exhibits an adequate command of syntax and grammar, although some errors may cause minor interruptions in communication.
  • The response demonstrates a general command and adequate range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • A steady rate and appropriate pace of speech is generally maintained, although some unnecessary hesitations or pauses occur.
  • Pronunciation is generally intelligible; minor errors occur but do not interfere with communication.
2 The "2" response reflects a limited understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response may not be appropriate; it fulfills the assignment in a limited way by providing ideas that are partially developed, repetitive, and/or partially irrelevant.
  • The ideas are partially organized; connections among ideas may be lacking.
  • The response exhibits a limited command of syntax and grammar; errors sometimes interfere with communication.
  • The response demonstrates a limited command and narrow range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • The uneven rate and/or slow pace of speech may be distracting; there are frequent unnecessary hesitations or pauses.
  • Pronunciation contains several errors and is sometimes difficult to understand.
1 The "1" response reflects little understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response is inappropriate and fulfills little of the assignment; ideas are not developed, and there are few, if any, relevant supporting details.
  • The ideas presented are unorganized and disjointed.
  • The response exhibits little or no command of syntax and grammar; significant and frequent errors impede communication.
  • The response demonstrates a weak command of vocabulary with little to no range. Idiomatic expressions, if used, may be inappropriate.
  • A rate of speech is not maintained; frequent hesitations and pauses impede communication.
  • Pronunciation is poor: the response includes numerous and conspicuous errors that impede communication.
U The response is unrelated to the assignment, is inaudible/incomprehensible, is not spoken in the target language, or does not contain a sufficient amount of original work to score.
B There is no response to the assignment.