*NEW* The required American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASL PI) is conducted off-site.

Minimum scores on the ASL PI are required for initial admission to the graduate progam in Deaf Education at McDaniel College. Contact Dorita Dorm at ddorm@mcdaniel.edu or V/TTY/VP: 410-857-2506 to request further information on how to complete the ASL PI.
PLEASE SCHEDULE YOUR ASL PI TESTING WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE FOLLOWING DEADLINES.

Score Submission Deadlines
Summer -- May 1
Fall -- July 1
Spring -- December 15

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The American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASL PI) has been adopted by the McDaniel College Deaf Education program for three purposes:

To evaluate the linguistic readiness of students entering the program.

• To determine linguistic and communication readiness for student teaching.
• As a demonstration of ASL competence for students receiving a Master's degree.

The ASL PI is a structured conversation of about 20 minutes, which is carried out between a candidate and a trained interviewer. Adopting the Educational Testing Service model (LPI), the ASL PI gives the candidate an opportunity to demonstrate ASL proficiency in a realistic conversational situation. Following the interview, the candidate's performance is evaluated on accent, grammatical accuracy, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. It is then is given an overall numerical rating ranging from 0-5.

Candidates are expected to respond to several broad-based areas of conversation. Examples of areas covered are size and composition of family, current and past areas of residence, personal interests and hobbies, work related topics, educational experiences, current events and contemporary issues. Topics depend on the process of the interview and the background and interest of the candidate. The interview does NOT require detailed knowledge of facts about or close familiarity with any particular area or topic. Throughout the interview, the intent is not to "quiz" the candidate but to provide an opportunity for the individual to demonstrate the highest level of signing performance of which s/he is capable. This is NOT a diagnostic evaluation where any weakness or strength is noted. Scores are not released outside McDaniel College without the consent of the student.

A student has the right to appeal an ASL PI result. A written appeal should be submitted to the coordinator within 10 days to request review of the ASL PI score. An additional rater will independently evaluate the tape and submit the results to the Deaf Education department. The student will then be notified as to whether any changes in the rating are deemed appropriate.

Required (Minimum) ASL PI Scores

Program Requirement for Elem Elem/ ASL Sec Sec/ ASL 2.5 4.0 2.5 4.0 Entrance score (pre-matriculation) 3.0 3.0 Exit score (for student teaching and graduation) Note: Elem = Elementary; Elem/ASL = Elementary / ASL Specialist; Sec = Secondary; Sec/ASL = Secondary / ASL Specialist.