Across secondary and postsecondary education, world language programs are grappling with a familiar challenge: helping students understand what they can actually do with the language they are learning, and why it matters. Student feedback across a range of standardized assessments has surfaced recurring themes. Learners have signaled uncertainty about expectations, uneven confidence in their skills, […]
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Healthcare organizations across the United States are facing an urgent challenge: delivering safe, high-quality care to an increasingly linguistically diverse patient population. Today, more than 67 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home, and over 25 million are considered limited English proficient (LEP). For hospitals and healthcare systems, this […]
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When it comes to language proficiency, misconceptions are everywhere. From how proficiency is defined and developed to how it’s assessed, common myths can lead to inaccurate assumptions, flawed decisions, and missed opportunities. In a crowded landscape of tests, tools, and claims, not all approaches to measuring and understanding proficiency are created equal. Let’s separate myth […]
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In public safety, communication is not optional—it is operational. Every 911 call, traffic stop, fire response, or medical emergency depends on clear, accurate, and timely communication. Yet across the United States, agencies increasingly serve communities where English is not the primary language.
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Among many things that make AAPPL the Gold Standard for measuring performance toward proficiency is how it’s scored: student spoken and written submissions are evaluated by ACTFL-certified raters using rigorous protocols, so educators can trust the results and use them with confidence. Below, an AAPPL rater shares what it’s like to earn certification, stay calibrated, and score with a “what students can do” mindset. Read more: Are You Truly Assessing […]
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