The 2013 National Portuguese Examination window closed on March 31, 2013.
Click here to view the 2013 NPE Winners

Dr. Ismênia Sales de Souza, Director, National Portuguese Exam

US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

National Portuguese Exam Committee

Robert Moser – The University of Georgia

Luis Gonçalves – Princeton University

Patricia Sales de Souza – Spelman College

Ernesto Pinho – Fast Forward Language Institute (Portugal)

Johnny Presbitero – ABA Global School - Brazil

The National Portuguese Examination (NPE) is a communicative proficiency-based test that engages the students in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It is intended for high school students of Portuguese. However, we are working toward implementing it to the college level for the Spring of 2014.

The NPE is intended as a motivational, extra-curricular activity and contest for students of members of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese and its chapters. The NPE is not designed for any other purpose and should not be used for assessment, placement, or proficiency testing.

The exam testing window for 2013 is: MARCH 1 - MARCH 31, 2013

2012-2015 NPE CONTACT INFORMATION:

Dr. Ismênia Sales de Souza, Director, National Portuguese Exam

E-mail: desou001@yahoo.com

Office # 719-333-1787 and cell # 334-524-0780

Sponsors

Test sponsors must be members in good standing of the national AATSP (chapter membership is automatic upon joining the National organization). Student and Emeritus members are not eligible to sponsor the NPE.

Sponsors assume the following responsibilities:

• Provide appropriate examination proctors.
• Assist in monitoring exams of other members’ students, if requested to do so by the Chapter NPE Coordinator.
• Provide copies of official class lists of students taking the test and collect student fees, which are to be submitted to the NPE Director by the deadline established annually. Chapters may wish to appoint a local coordinator who will work directly with the NPE director.
• It is the responsibility of the sponsor to certify the eligibility of students. Students who are native speakers of Portuguese are allowed to participate IF they identify themselves. The students who are native speakers of Spanish should also identify themselves.

Setting the Date

CHAPTER COORDINATORS (where appointed by chapters) will set the exact date within the testing window for the exams in their chapter and notify the National NPE office of this date to permit sufficient time for test scheduling.

LOCAL CHAPTERS (within a city) must give the exam on the same day.

TEACHERS who wish to participate in the NPE may do so through a chapter coordinator or by contacting the National NPE office directly.

Equipment Needed

In 2013 students may record the speaking portion of their exams on cassette tapes, memory stick, or on computers using Audacity and saving the files as MP3 files. Test sponsors may submit those speaking portions on individual cassette tapes, individual CDs, or separately labeled MP3 files loaded onto a single pin drive. Pin drives will be returned providing a self-addressed, pre-stamped, padded envelope is included. CDs will not be returned.

PROCTORS

• A proctor must be present in the testing room while students complete the test.

• Proctors serve two functions: (1) maintain test security and (2) supervise the time allotments for the various sections of the test.

• School/district administrators or counselors are the preferred proctors for the NPE.

• If a testing site cannot use an administrator or counselor, language teachers may be used provided they do not proctor any of their own students.

TESTING TIME

The NPE will take a maximum of 60 minutes to administer: 10 minutes for directions and completion of individual information; 10 minutes for each of the four parts and 10 minutes for general review.

RETURN OF COMPLETED EXAMS

• Each testing site must return all completed text booklets and audio recordings to the NPE Director for scoring.

• All exam booklets and audio recordings must be in the hands of the NPE Director by April 10, 2013.

• Please make certain to ask for a return receipt from the post office in case questions arise about the time or delivery of tests.

National Prizes

The NPE office will mail awards to the teachers of all students who qualify on the national level for first, second or third place in each category. Each student receives a Certificate of Participation.

Chapter Prizes

Local chapters may choose to add additional prizes to the participants.

Dates to Remember

FEBRUARY 15, 2013: All orders for the Exams should be received by the NPE Director.

MARCH 1-31, 2013: Testing window for NPE contest

APRIL 10, 2013: All Test materials must be received by NPE Director.

MAY 10, 2013: Results & Verification of national winners will be sent.

Each teacher wishing to participate must:

1. Submit a check for the entire amount (in US dollars) payable to AATSP-NPE

2. Complete and submit the Test Order Form (PDF).

3. Submit a List of Participating Students to the NPE Exam Director (information listed below)

4. Collect the testing fee from students ($5.00/test, you may want to collect this fee prior to ordering tests)

The NPE Director will send test instructions to the respective chapter coordinator or to the school as indicated on the form.

National Portuguese Exam Director

Dr. Ismênia Sales de Souza

E-mail: desou001@yahoo.com

Please, contact Dr. De Souza if you are interested in:

• Writing and Grading the 2013 Exam
• Serving on a Writing Team Committee for the 2014 computer-based NPE
• Supporting the NPE Program with inputs, ideas, etc.