SDSU Portuguese Language Alternative Subject Matter Competency Assessment

The SDSU Portuguese Program has been recognized by the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing (CTC) as an Alternative Subject Matter assessment agency for the Portuguese language.

Candidates seeking to be credentialed teachers of Portuguese in California can prove they possess the required language proficiency in Portuguese by taking the exam at SDSU.

The exam proves exclusively that candidates have the required proficiency for the credentialing process (a minimum of Intermediate-High level). This exam cannot be used to prove proficiency in Portuguese for any other purpose.

Neither the SDSU Portuguese Program, nor any other unit at SDSU, is part of, or responsible for, any other component of this specific credentialing process. Our program will solely report to the candidate and to the California CTC that the candidate has passed this exam.

Currently, in order to better assist individuals seeking to obtain a teaching credential in Portuguese, the SDSU Portuguese Program will offer the exam by request and free of charge. Please email Professor Ricardo Vasconcelos ([email protected]) to schedule your exam.

We encourage all already-credentialed teachers who may be fluent in Portuguese to consider taking this opportunity to get their language proficiency certified towards this goal, with our exam, and so as to become credentialed Portuguese teachers.

Test format

Speakers of all variants of the Portuguese Language are encouraged to take the exam. The test itself reflects different variants in its oral and written texts (namely Brazilian and European).

Part 1 (90 minutes)

• Area I: Reading Comprehension Component
• Area II: Writing Component                                       

Break (20 minutes)

Part 2 (70 minutes)

• Area III: Language Structure Component                  
• Area IV: Listening Comprehension Component        
• Area V: Speaking Component (oral proficiency interview)                                       

Total exam time + break: 180 minutes