Common OPI traps: 3 things to avoid so you can do your best on test day

Intro

OPIs (Oral Proficiency Interviews) are an exciting and possibly nerve-wracking part of learning a language in a school or university. Many students aren’t sure what to expect and especially what they can do to prepare (or if it’s possible).

If you’re asking these questions, know that thousands of other students have wondered the same thing. This article will help answer these questions and give you a step-by-step, 3-day process to help nail your OPI and prepare for what the testers want to see.

After taking 7–8 OPIs myself, here are three things you need to know, and three things you can do to make sure you’re at your best on OPI day.

This article talks about the three things you need to know, and the article linked at the bottom will tell you more about three things you can do to be ready. Be sure to check them both out.

Three traps to avoid

Thinking the tester has all the control over the topics you’ll discuss

You’re more in charge of the conversation than you might think!

Think back to a recent first date you had with someone or the first time you met a friend. In those situations, you probably knew fairly little about the person, and you simply had to ask questions, respond to theirs, and listen. And when it comes to your OPI…

Remember that you and the tester are in the same boat!

They know nothing about you, and they have to ask you about yourself before they can decide what questions to ask.

So, here’s where you can take the reigns of the interview somewhat.

When they ask you in the beginning, “So… tell me about yourself.” Make sure you feed them the topics that you’re best at talking about!

If you are great at Alpine skiing, that’s awesome, but you probably don’t know how to talk about the diamond ranking system, the word for a ski-lift, or for fixed-heel bindings. Get the idea?

So instead of bringing up Alpine skiing, mention something that you’re confident you can talk well about.

Be selective, and remember, when you’re asked

So, tell me about yourself….

That’s your chance to take the reigns!

Holding back or giving short answers

If two students with identical proficiency take an OPI, and one is more talkative, the talkative students will almost always get a better score.

An OPI score is all about having evidence of what a student can do. A tester can’t look inside your head. He can only rate what he hears you say, so say as much as you can!

For me, after being stuck at a certain level for almost two years, I had to make a decision. I could continue to be reserved in Arabic OPIs like I am in English, my native language, or just let ’em have it. I decided to leave my comfort zone, and when I was asked a question, I fired away and gave as full an answer as possible. And you know what? It was fine.

And when it was time to go to the next question, the tester simply said, “Okay, thanks. That’s enough. Let’s move on”

So don’t hold back. Talk about many different issues related to a question you’re asked. If you’re asked to talk about Spain, talk about tourists, talk about the different languages spoken there, talk about the houses, talk about the Islamic conquest, talk about Catholicism, talk about the theta. Don’t hold back!

Remember, an OPI tester is looking for evidence that you can fulfill a communicative task (e.x. Describe Madrid) and you want to give them all the evidence you can!

Worrying about saying “carro roja” by accident

Making “errors”, like “carro roja”, when we speak is a part of using language.

We repeat ourselves, rephrase, ask for clarification, use the wrong word. People even mix up their kids’ names and lose their train of thought.

So when it comes to an OPI, remember that you’re just having a conversation, and in conversations, we all make mistakes.

“Mistakes” in language are a feature of speaking, not a bug.

And this is in any language! Even our first language! The tester will likely repeat/rephrase, and when you say something that doesn’t come out right, or when your verb conjugation is off, don’t worry! If you want, you can go back and fix it, or, if you’re really in the zone, just keep going!

The testers expect occasional errors, and unless you’re hoping for a score at the very highest levels, some grammar errors won’t get in the way of you getting a good score.

In Summary:

There’s a lot to keep in mind when taking an OPI that goes beyond just the language. But if you remember these tips about the test and what the testers are looking for (and not looking for), you can make sure you jump through the right hoops rather than worrying about things that don’t matter.

1. Take the reigns by bringing up topics you’re sure you can nail! In other words, don’t talk about Alpine skiing unless you’re sure you can handle follow-up questions.
2. Let ’em have it! You don’t need to rush or be abrasive, but give them everything you’ve got on a topic, and when it’s time to move on, they’ll let you know.
3. The real mistake is getting caught up on your mistakes and flustered or distracted. Everyone who uses any language ever will make mistakes. The OPI is about successfully performing functions (narration, description, giving directions, etc). Not about perfect execution.

Good luck on your OPI!

If you found this article helpful, consider leaving a comment on what you learned. For more information, check out this-three day study plan to prepare for your test.