Boers-Visker, E., Poor, G.S., van den Bogaerde, B. (2015). The sign language proficiencey interview: description and use with sign language of the Netherlands Proccedings of the 22nd International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED 2015). Greece, 6 to 9 July 2016, Athens. 1 THE SIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW: DESCRIPTION AND USE WITH SIGN LANGUAGE OF THE NETHERLANDS EVELINE BOERS-VISKER, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands GEOFFREY S. POOR, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, USA BEPPIE VAN DEN BOGAERDE, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands ABSTRACT The Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) is a tool for assessing functional sign language skill. Based on the Language Aptitude Test, it uses a recorded 20 minute conversation between a skilled interviewer and the candidate. The interview uses an ad hoc series of probing and challenging questions to elicit the candidate’s best use of the targeted sign language, in topics relating to the candidate’s work, family/background, and leisure activities. This video language sample is then analyzed to determine the candidate’s rating on the SLPI Rating Scale. The rating process documents vocabulary, grammar and comprehension, and follows a protocol that includes specific examples from the interview. The SLPI is used widely in the US and Canada with American Sign Language, and one of the presenters has adapted it for use with South African Sign Language. The presenters have recently adapted the SLPI for use with Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT). While the interview process is the same regardless of the sign language, two aspects of the adaptation for NGT required attention: 1) modifying the grammar analysis to match NGT grammar; and 2) modifying the Rating Scale to align with that of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). This ICED presentation will include: 1) a description of SLPI goals, processes and implementation; 2) modifications to align with the CEFR; and 3) modifications for NGT grammar. INTRODUCTION The Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) (http://www.rit.edu/ntid/slpi) is a tool for assessing a person’s functional communication skills in a natural sign language. Developed at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, New York (USA), it is in use at approximately 30 schools, colleges, and social service sites in the US and Canada as the SLPI:American Sign Language (SLPI:ASL). It has been adapted for South African Sign Language as the SLPI:SASL, and is used for staff SASL skill assessment at the National Institute for the Deaf in Worcester, South Africa. It has also been adapted for use at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and is used there to assess the Sign Language of the Netherlands (Nederlandse Gebarentaal, or NGT) skills of interpreting and teacher-students as the NGT Functional Assessment (NFA). A change in name was required because the rating scale was adjusted to align with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for language assessment, and because of variations in the rating process that are not consistent with the SLPI.