Language Tests

One of the first assignments we had to complete was the Oral Proficiency Exam. This exam was designed to test our Spanish language skills to ensure we would be able to complete our projects successfully. To pass the exam, one had to demonstrate at least an intermediate level of proficiency.

The intermediate level required the following:

Create sentences with learned language elements
React, initiate, sustain, and close simple basic communicative tasks
Ask questions
Respond to questions

We had to show that we were able to:

handle successfully most uncomplicated communicative tasks and social situations
initiate, sustain, and close a general conversation with a numbe ro strategies to address the topic
exhibit connected discourse, particularly for simple narration and description
be understood by others

The test consisted of two parts:

Part One: speaker is asked questions

Part Two: Speaker will be given a situation and discuss it.

Some examples were: making arrangements for travel including cities to visit, museums, cultural activities, etc. OR describe your preparations for the trip (what you need to buy, what arrangements you need to do, how your family will keep in touch, etc).

Fortunately, since I am native Spanish speaker, the tests were relatively easy. I achieved the required intermediate-high level. For anyone taking the test, I recommend reviewing a few weeks prior and practicing possible questions with another person (a native speaker if possible).

Argentine Spanish

As the other countries in Latin America, Argentinian Spanish has its own distinct tone, words, and expressions. To prepare for our trip, we conducted some research into Argentine Spanish.

Our trip co-lead, Maria Redmon, gave us an assignment to help familiarize us with Argentine expressions. The assignment is below.

Argentine Spanish Assignment

Por favor, preparen un listado de vocabulario que haya aprendido o que les llamara la atención por su uso en un contexto nuevo durante su estadía en la Argentina.

Deben añadir la palabra en castellano y su uso en contexto en una oración. Además deben explicar su significado en el contexto que se persenta en su listado.

Por ejemplo:

Obvio es una palabra que se usa repetidas veces dentro de la vida a diario en la Argentina.

Mira el uso y el ejemplo que se incluye en el siguiente enlace.

https://concepto.de/obvio/ (Links to an external site.)

Hagan referencia de su investigación sobre el término y su uso. O sea incluya bibliografía o referencia si fuera necesario.

Aquí les paso las categorías y el número de palabras con sus usos en el castellano de la Argentina.

Expresiones o muletillas de uso común: 5

“O sea….” is often used to fill the space when someone wants to explain something.
“y que querés que te diga” is used when they don’t have the words to explain a feeling or a situation.
“Este” is used at the beginning of a sentence, to introduce a thought or sometimes just using the word, means that they are not sure of something.
“viste?” is used to ask if you understand something or to depict amazement. For example, when someone sees a very rude person they might say “viste?”
“Nada” is used to signify that it is not important: “Y nada, despues no fuimos”

Expresiones o palabras del campo de la medicina. (piensen en COVID y palabras relacionadas a este tema):

Rinitis (stuffy nose)
Cefalea (migraine or serious headache)
Barbijo (face mask)
Prepagas: private health insurance
Analgesico; anti-inflammatory medication.

Expresiones o palabras del campo de género o de la mujer

Vieja – mom or someone you have affection for
Negra – also someone you have affection for and is not necessarily black, just a form of endearment
Mina – a woman that is considered attractive by a man
Nena – a small girl or sometimes a young woman
Flaca – literally it means “skinny girl” but it is often used as a term of endearment for a woman.