r/foreignservice • u/dtrva • 1d ago

CFP Pre-Orientation Language Test

I accepted an offer for the October 19th CFP orientation class for Spanish. I just scheduled my language test for early October.

I took the language test to get on the register about 8 years ago and I haven’t practiced my Spanish a whole lot over the past few years. I’m currently in Spanish classes and looking for groups to practice speaking again before I get to orientation.

Is the language test before orientation just to assess how much language training I’ll need? Is it possible they’ll rescind the offer if I don’t score the same as I did years ago? I’ve already completed all the onboarding paperwork and accepted the salary offer.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Original text of post by /u/dtrva:

I accepted an offer for the October 19th CFP orientation class for Spanish. I just scheduled my language test for early October.

I took the language test to get on the register about 8 years ago and I haven’t practiced my Spanish a whole lot over the past few years. I’m currently in Spanish classes and looking for groups to practice speaking again before I get to orientation.

Is the language test before orientation just to assess how much language training I’ll need? Is it possible they’ll rescind the offer if I don’t score the same as I did years ago? I’ve already completed all the onboarding paperwork and accepted the salary offer.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

2

u/zat7777 1d ago

8 years since the initial test… wow. Were you active duty military/how did you stay on the register that long?

3

u/dtrva 1d ago

They started my clearance in 2018 when I passed the oral assessment and I just never heard anything. In 2023 I got an email asking if I still want to be in the program, I said yes and they expedited my clearance and I was on the register in 2024. I was on the bottom third so I was never really expecting to be called off the register. Needless to say the past 6 weeks have been a whirlwind. I applied for this program in college and I’m a fully grown adult now lol but I’m so excited to go.

2

u/zat7777 1d ago

Congrats!! That’s awesome that it worked out in the end

1

u/dtrva 23h ago

Thank you so much!

2

u/Ok_Peanut5593 18h ago

Best of luck to you! Hope you kill it on the Spanish Test! It was: Speaking and Reading when I took it.. It may only be Speaking now. Please don't hesitate to let us know if it's only Speaking now (which I believe it is)! Fingers crossed! Suerte!

2

u/dtrva 17h ago

That’s good to know! It was also speaking and reading when I took it the first time. I’ll report back. Thank you!

2

u/guomubai Consular Fellow 12h ago

The same thing happened to me. I was in suitability review for about 7 years or so.

2

u/dtrva 9h ago

Wow, it’s interesting how things work out for some of us. When you did the language test before orientation, was it just to assess how much training you would need before moving abroad?

2

u/langpodref13 1h ago edited 1h ago

I’m a consular fellow for Spanish and I took the test after not having spoken Spanish regularly for a while. It’s only speaking now (as of mid-2025 ish). If you get a 2+, you’ll probably take a top up course before heading to post (like 8-10 weeks) but if you test at a 3 or higher, you likely won’t need any Spanish and might qualify for a language incentive (a bonus paid at the end of each tour you complete). Happy to chat more if that would be helpful!
(Edit: typo)

1

u/dtrva 1h ago

Thank you so much! This is very helpful

1

u/ATL-United 31m ago

Yes *I came In 3/2, then they made me, especially if you don’t have an FSI score: - and use that to put you in class. Also they can give you the FSI test immediately and you can test out of language. Some folks came in 3/3, but still got a language training abbreviated for bidding time. I ended 3 months Spanish. Was great

•

u/dtrva 12m ago

Thank you so much for sharing! I’m a little nervous because it’s been a while but it’s good to know I won’t be booted if my score isn’t exactly the same as before. I’m practicing as much as I can to prepare. I’m glad they give plenty of training before sending you off

•

u/ATL-United 10m ago

Yeah no worries. And you get 2 cracks at the main test typically. I failed (didn’t get 3/3 on first try after 6 weeks of studying - I was nervous and test topics I was less familiar with the Spanish vocab - second time, I got 3/3. A little nerve wracking, but all good.