In an increasingly globalized world, multilingualism has become a highly valuable skill. The Seal of Biliteracy has become a prestigious benchmark in the American education system, serving as recognition of multilingual excellence among youth across the country. Given its widespread recognition and distinguished nature, it is imperative that educators understand the specific requirements and pathways the certification entails.
As adoption of the initiative continues to grow, the requirements have developed. The emphasis is more on real and measurable proficiency, rather than just time spent in a class. Because of this, educators play a notable role in helping students transition from language learners to proficient language users who can communicate spontaneously.
What Is the Seal of Biliteracy?
The Seal of Biliteracy is an internationally-recognized certification provided by a school or state to officially acknowledge students who have become proficient in at least two languages, one of which must be English. It often appears as a physical gold seal affixed to a student’s diploma and as a formal acknowledgement on their transcript.
Formed in 2011, with California the first state to pass it, the objective has always been to encourage the study of world, classical and native languages while providing a framework for schools to identify and certify these skills. The Seal is an institution providing validated proof that a student has achieved a certain level of competence in speaking, writing, listening and reading.
Whether or not the student has learned the language within the school, the Seal recognizes what an individual can actually do with the language at a given time in a real-world setting.
Why Is the Seal of Biliteracy Beneficial for Students and Institutions?
For students, the Seal provides tangible academic and professional advantages after they graduate from high school. Many tertiary education institutions offer privileges to students with the Seal, such as advanced placements or college credit, allowing them to enter higher-level language courses immediately and saving tuition costs. Furthermore, it serves as a verifiable credential for future employers, which is valuable considering how proficiency claims can often be vague.
From the institutional perspective, the Seal of Biliteracy highlights the efficacy of a school’s world language curriculum. It creates multicultural appreciation while incentivising students to remain in language tracks through their senior year.
What Assessments Are Used to Measure Language Proficiency for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Understanding the metrics for obtaining the Seal is an essential step for educators. The following ACTFL assessments are standard tests for understanding a student’s eligibility for the Seal:
- Oral Proficiency Interview® (OPI)
- Writing Proficiency Test® (WPT)
- ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages® (AAPL)
- ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment® (ALIRA)
These can be obtained via Language Testing International® (LTI®), the exclusive licensee of ACTFL. These assessments are designed to accurately measure students’ proficiency level and provide a recognized credential that institutions can trust.
In the K-12 environment, the most common assessment is the AAPPL, which is available in 11 languages and designed for students in grades three through twelve. For Latin students, the ALIRA serves as the standard for measuring interpretive reading proficiency.
How Is the ACTFL Proficiency Scale Used to Rate Proficiency?
The ACTFL Proficiency Scale is a tool for educators to understand a student’s progress in learning the language. There are 4 main categories on the scale—which are Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. All the main categories, except Superior, have incremental sublevels, such as “Novice Low” or “Intermediate High”, making the total number of levels 10.
It is important to note that these assessments are relative, as, rather than assess a speaker’s writing or speaking levels in a vacuum, the scale determines a speaker’s maximum sustained functional ability in a language.
What Is the Timeline and Process for Awarding the Seal?
More often than not, the process for awarding the Seal of Biliteracy starts months before the graduation ceremony, providing ample time for assessments to be evaluated by ACTFL-certified Raters, underscoring the importance of ample time before students step into their graduation gowns.
Once the student has reached the required level on the ACTFL Scale and meets the institution’s English requirements, data is then sent back to the school, and the seal is placed on their scroll.
Encouraging a Multilingual Tomorrow
In many ways, educators serve as guides for students entering a globalized workforce where multilingualism is becoming an increasing advantage. By fostering the aptitude for language learning that people often have in their formative years, educators can effectively equip today’s youth with both relevant skills and an appreciation for the breadth of cultures and communication styles around the world.
