Study Guide

Field 123: Latin 
Sample Presentational Speaking Assignment

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The following materials contain:

General Test Directions

This test consists of four sections. Directions for each section appear immediately before the section.

Test Directions for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

[ start bold Note to examinee: end bold  These test directions are provided here to familiarize you with the directions you will see on the actual test. They may refer to features whose functionality is not enabled in this study guide. You will hear and see on the screen:]

For this section of the test, you will record an oral reading of a Latin passage presented on-screen.

At the conclusion of these directions, the test will automatically advance and the assignment will be presented on the next screen. Listen to the directions carefully and review the passage.  start bold You may take up to 10 minutes to practice reading the passage. end bold  Please note that you are not required to take the entire 10 minutes; however,  start bold if you choose to advance to the next screen to start your final response before the preparation time is over, you will not be able to go back. end bold 

When your preparation time is over, you will be notified that your preparation time is complete and you should be ready to begin recording your final response. Watch the screen as the test advances and a Recorded Answer box is presented.  start bold You may take up to 4 minutes to record your final response. end bold  Do  start uppercase NOT end uppercase  begin your final response until the screen advances and you see the Recorded Answer box presented on-screen. A sample of the Recorded Answer box appears below.

recorded answer box

Monitor your recording time by referring to the Recorded Answer box. The time in the Recorded Answer box will count down from 240 seconds (4 minutes) and the status bar will fill as your recording time progresses.

When your recording time is over, the current status on the Recorded Answer box will change to "Completed," indicating the conclusion of the assignment. You will automatically be advanced to the next screen. Do not click the  start bold Next end bold  button unless you have finished recording your oral reading with time remaining and wish to move to the next screen. If you advance to the next screen with recording time remaining, you will not be able to go back.

You may use the erasable notebooklet provided to make notes; however,  start bold you will be scored only on the response that is recorded in the test. end bold 

Your response to the assignment will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

 start bold APPROPRIATENESS: end bold   the extent to which the response is an oral reading of the Latin passage that demonstrates understanding of the passage

 start bold FLUENCY: end bold   the extent to which the response is delivered with coherence and ease of expression, and with attention to Latin pronunciation conventions, syllabic stress, elisions, and where applicable, meter

 start bold EXPRESSIVENESS: end bold   the extent to which the response expresses the meaning of the Latin passage using vocal tone and phrasing appropriate to the mood, sense, and where applicable, meter

 start bold PHRASING: end bold   the extent to which the response uses logical placement and duration of pauses to group and phrase words that are syntactically and semantically linked

Your response must be recorded in  start bold Latin end bold . You may use either classical or ecclesiastical pronunciation, but whichever you choose, you should use it consistently. You may not use any reference materials during the test.

You will have only  start bold and uppercase ONE end bold and uppercase  opportunity to record your oral reading. Once the recording has begun, it cannot be stopped, nor can you re-record your response. Be sure that your microphone is in a downward position near your mouth before you begin speaking.

The screen will now advance and the assignment will be presented.

[You will hear and see on the screen:]

 start bold  You will have 10 minutes to practice reading the passage below. Then, the screen will automatically advance and recording will begin. When you see the Recorded Answer box appear on-screen, begin reading the passage aloud at normal speed with appropriate emphasis and expression, and with attention to pronunciation, syllabic stress, elisions, and meter. You may use either classical or ecclesiastical pronunciation, but whichever you choose, you should use it consistently. You may take up to 4 minutes to complete your reading. You will be told when the preparation time is over and the recording is about to begin. Begin practicing your reading of the passage now.  end bold 

[You will see the assignment on the screen, with 10 minutes of dead air recorded. Then you will hear:]

Your preparation time is now over. At the conclusion of these directions, the screen will automatically advance and recording will begin. Begin your oral reading when you see the Recorded Answer box presented on the next screen. Prepare to begin reading aloud now.

[You will see on the screen:]

 start bold Begin to respond in Latin now. You may take up to 4 minutes to complete your response. end bold 

[You will see on the screen for 4 minutes: the assignment, the Recorded Answer box counting down, and the line of text below.]

 start bold  start uppercase DO NOT end uppercase  click the Next button unless you have finished recording your response. end bold 

Sample Presentational Speaking Assignment

subarea roman numeral 5 
Presentational Speaking

[ start bold Note to examinee: end bold  During the test, you will hear and see on-screen the directions below (for complete test directions to this assignment, see above):]

 start bold Begin your oral reading of the passage now. You may take up to 4 minutes to complete your reading. end bold 

[In this passage from Ovid's Metamorphoses written in dactylic hexameter, Ceyx tells the story of Daedalion, a man who became a bird.]

Et flēbat: moveat tantōs quae causa dolōrēs,
Pēleusque comitēsque rogant; quibus ille profātur:
"Forsitan hanc volucrem, raptō quae vīvit et omnēs
terret avēs, semper pennās habuisse putētis:
vir fuit (et—tanta est animī cōnstantia—iam tum
ācer erat bellōque ferox ad vimque parātus)
nōmine Daedaliōn. Illō genitōre creātis,
quī vocat Aurōram caelōque novissimus exit,
culta mihī pāx est, pācis mihi cūra tenendae
coniugiīque fuit, frātrī fera bella placēbant:
illīus virtūs rēgēs gentēsque subēgit,
quae nunc Thisbaeās agitat mūtāta columbās."

 start bold  start uppercase DO NOT end uppercase  click the Next button unless you have finished recording your response. end bold 

Strong Response Characteristics for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

A strong response to this assignment would present an effective oral reading of the Latin passage that demonstrates a strong understanding of the passage.

A strong response would be delivered with coherence and ease of expression, and with careful attention to Latin pronunciation conventions, syllabic stress, elisions, and, where applicable, meter (poetry). Pronunciation used would be either consistently classical or consistently ecclesiastical.

A strong response would effectively express the meaning of the Latin passage using vocal tone and phrasing appropriate to the mood, sense, and, where applicable, meter (poetry). A strong response would effectively use logical placement and duration of pauses to group and phrase words that are syntactically and semantically linked. Minor errors and occasional nonproductive pauses, if present, would not interfere with the overall comprehensibility.

Performance Characteristics for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the presentational speaking assignment.

characteristics that guide the scoring of responses
Appropriateness the extent to which the response is an oral reading of the Latin passage that demonstrates understanding of the passage
Fluency the extent to which the response is delivered with coherence and ease of expression, and with attention to Latin pronunciation conventions, syllabic stress, elisions, and where applicable, meter
Expressiveness the extent to which the response expresses the meaning of the Latin passage using vocal tone and phrasing appropriate to the mood, sense, and where applicable, meter
Phrasing the extent to which the response uses logical placement and duration of pauses to group and phrase words that are syntactically and semantically linked

Scoring Scale for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

Scores will be assigned to each response to the presentational speaking assignment according to the following scoring scale.

score scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4  start bold The "4" response reflects an effective oral reading of the Latin passage. end bold 
  • The response is an effective oral reading of the Latin passage that demonstrates a strong understanding of the passage. Minor errors do not interfere with overall comprehensibility.
  • The response is effectively delivered with coherence; with ease of expression; and with careful attention to Latin pronunciation conventions, syllabic stress, elisions, and where applicable, meter. Minor errors and a few nonproductive pauses do not interfere with overall comprehensibility.
  • The response effectively expresses the meaning of the Latin passage using vocal tone and phrasing appropriate to the mood, sense, and where applicable, meter. Minor errors do not interfere with overall comprehensibility.
  • The response effectively uses logical placement and duration of pauses to group and phrase words that are syntactically and semantically linked. Minor errors and a few nonproductive pauses do not interfere with overall comprehensibility.
3  start bold The "3" response reflects a generally effective oral reading of the Latin passage. end bold 
  • The response is a generally effective oral reading of the Latin passage that demonstrates general understanding of the passage. Some errors may interfere with comprehensibility.
  • The response is generally delivered with coherence; with ease of expression; and with general attention to Latin pronunciation conventions, syllabic stress, elisions, and where applicable, meter. Some errors, occasional stumbling, and nonproductive pauses may interfere with comprehensibility.
  • The response generally expresses the meaning of the Latin passage using vocal tone and phrasing generally appropriate to the mood, sense, and where applicable, meter. Some errors may interfere with comprehensibility.
  • The response generally uses logical placement and duration of pauses to group and phrase words that are syntactically and semantically linked. Some errors and nonproductive pauses may interfere with comprehensibility.
2  start bold The "2" response reflects a partially effective oral reading of the Latin passage. end bold 
  • The response is a partially effective oral reading of the Latin passage that demonstrates limited understanding of the passage. Frequent errors interfere with comprehensibility.
  • The response is only partially coherent and is delivered unevenly, with limited attention to Latin pronunciation conventions, syllabic stress, elisions, and where applicable, meter. Frequent errors, stumbling, and/or nonproductive pauses interfere with comprehensibility.
  • The response only partially expresses the meaning of the Latin passage and only partially uses vocal tone and phrasing appropriate to the mood, sense, and where applicable, meter. Frequent errors interfere with comprehensibility.
  • The response uses limited placement and duration of pauses to group and phrase words that are syntactically and semantically linked. Frequent errors and nonproductive pauses interfere with comprehensibility.
1  startbold The "1" response reflects an ineffective oral reading of the Latin passage. end bold 
  • The response is an ineffective oral reading of the Latin passage that demonstrates little to no understanding of the passage.
  • The response shows little to no coherence and is delivered unevenly, with little to no attention to Latin pronunciation conventions, syllabic stress, elisions, and where applicable, meter. Nonproductive pauses, stumbling, and/or largely unintelligible pronunciation significantly interfere with comprehensibility.
  • The response expresses little to none of the meaning of the Latin passage and uses little to none of the vocal tone and phrasing appropriate to the mood, sense, and where applicable, meter.
  • The response uses little to no placement and duration of pauses to group and phrase words that are syntactically and semantically linked.
U  start bold The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, inaudible/incomprehensible, not spoken in the required language, or not of sufficient length to score. end bold 
B  start bold There is no response to the assignment. end bold