Rex Tippetts

Preparing for the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) can be challenging, but these key tips from Rex Tippett’s will help you succeed.

Put In the Effort
Rex says the real secret to success is putting in the time and effort. To perform well on the OPI and in language learning overall, it’s essential to commit to these practices. Find someone you can regularly speak to in your target language, and commit to only speaking that language with them. It’s especially beneficial if this person is a native speaker.

Watch, Read, Listen
Digital media can be a valuable resource in your learning journey. Rex suggests watching YouTube videos, TikToks, Instagram reels, and listening to podcasts in the language you're studying. "That’s something I did that really helps to learn a lot of normal vocabulary,” he says. Additionally, listening to music and reading in your target language are excellent strategies. Rex notes that music can be particularly effective in helping you remember words and phrases since melodies tend to stick in your mind. It can also broaden your vocabulary and reinforce proper syntax and grammar. Furthermore, he recommends associating words with images rather than words with English words, as this can enhance your learning.

Have a Purpose
“The whole point of learning a language is to communicate with people”, Rex says. Having a purpose for learning a language can help to inspire and motivate you to continue putting in the time and effort.

By following these tips from Rex Tippett’s, you can enhance your language skills and perform confidently on the OPI. The OPI is an opportunity to see where you are at in your language journey, and how you can improve. To learn more about the OPI, click here.