Language Requirements

The Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

Every applicant to the Lauder Institute – whether to the MBA/MA or the JD/MA program – is required to submit an OPI, with the option to submit more than one. The OPI is a live 20-30 minute conversation that takes place over the phone between a trained, certified ACTFL tester and the candidate. The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for the OPI range from Novice to Distinguished.

Language Requirements for Admission to Lauder

If you are applying to a Regional Program:

For those applying to one of the regional Programs of Concentration (Europe; East and Southeast Asia; Latin America; SAMENA; or the Africa-French Track), applicants must test at the Advanced-Low level or above on the OPI in their target language. If applicants score lower than an Advanced Low, they are welcome and encouraged to retake the OPI to achieve the minimum rating. Please note: there is no admission advantage given to a student who tests above an Advanced-Low level.

Students will be required to take courses in their target language at Lauder until they reach the Superior level. Students who reach the Superior level anytime after their summer immersion have the option of taking School of Arts and Sciences electives relevant to their Program of Concentration in lieu of language. These students are also welcome to continue study in their target language as credit toward the degree.

Special Cases:

• Portuguese Track (Latin America Program):
  • Educated native speakers* of Romance languages (e.g., French, Italian, Spanish) may apply without prior knowledge of Portuguese.
  • They must submit a Superior-level OPI in their native language.
  • If they have any knowledge of Portuguese, they should also take an OPI in Portuguese (any level acceptable)

• Italian Track (Europe Program):
  • Educated native speakers* of Romance languages (e.g., French, Portuguese, Spanish) may apply without prior knowledge of Italian.
  • They must submit a Superior-level OPI in their native language.
  • If they have any knowledge of Italian, they should also take an OPI in Italian (any level acceptable).

*An “educated native speaker” is someone who both speaks the language as their first language and received formal education in that language through high school.

If you are applying to the Africa-General Track: 

Candidates applying to the Africa Program’s General Track must demonstrate Superior-level proficiency on the OPI in any language other than English. Applicants may test in their native language provided it is not English.

If you are applying to the Global Program:

Candidates applying to the Global Program must demonstrate Superior-level proficiency on the OPI in any language. Applicants may test in their native language provided it is not English.

Scheduling an OPI

To schedule an OPI, follow these instructions to complete and submit LTI’s online application. When scheduling with LTI, please be sure to register as a “Lauder applicant only”.  If you have any questions about scheduling the OPI, please contact LTI by phone at +1-914-963-7110, option 1, or by email at customercare@languagetesting.com. Click through to the Important Dates & Deadlines page of this website for Admissions deadlines.

Important information regarding the OPI:

• You must submit the OPI score by the related OPI deadline for the round you are applying in.
• Applicants who want to retake the OPI or obtain an test date earlier than what can be scheduled online should contact LTI directly via phone at 1-800-486-8444.
• You do not need to obtain a certificate indicating your proficiency from LTI. You only need to have an online score reported which the Lauder admissions office can access directly. (The online reporting score is less expensive.)

Sample Recordings of the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

Sample OPI clips at the Advanced level:

Sample OPI clips at the Superior level:

Language Instruction and Testing

Supported Languages

Lauder currently supports instruction in the languages listed below, but applicants with proficiency in other languages are welcome to apply. Applicants applying to a regional Program of Concentration must indicate a target language at the time of application and must reach Superior-level proficiency in that language to graduate. The languages of instruction column below indicates the in-language focus of the summer immersion.

Programs of Concentration	Languages of Instruction
Africa	French
	English
Latin America	Portuguese
	Spanish
East Asia and Southeast Asia	Mandarin
	Korean
	Japanese
Europe	French
	German
	Italian
	Russian
	Spanish
Global	English
South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa	Arabic
	Hindi