FACT Check: Are You Truly Assessing Proficiency?

ACTFL has announced the release of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024, representing a significant milestone in language assessment standards. Aligned with key language learning standards and resources, such as World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages, the ACTFL Performance Descriptors for Language Learners, and the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements, the Guidelines enhance clarity and accessibility, empowering educators and learners alike. Read ACTFL’s […]

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The Power of Multilingualism: Elevating Employability in Career and Technical Education

In today’s globalized economy, the ability to communicate in multiple languages is an increasingly valuable asset in the job market. Yet, the importance of multilingualism in Career and Technical Education (CTE) is often overlooked. Thankfully, forward-thinking initiatives like the one led by Executive Director Dr. Michael Herrera at Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS) in […]

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Achieving the Vision of Global California 2030: Leveraging ACTFL Assessments for Success

California is embracing the challenge of preparing its students to thrive in a globalized society through the Global California 2030 initiative. This ambitious mission “is to equip students with world language skills to better appreciate and more fully engage with the rich and diverse mixture of cultures, heritages, and languages found in California and the […]

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Empowering Voices: Advocating for Language Education—Language Advocacy Days 2024

Language Advocacy Days (LAD), organized by JNCL-NCLIS, is an annual virtual event where delegates advocate for language education-related issues with their elected officials. LAD aims to address challenges in language education and promote policies that support language learning. For delegates, attending these events means advocating for legislative changes that can improve language education nationwide. It […]

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Foreign Language Anxiety: What Is It and How to Overcome It?

As a language learner, have you found yourself filled with dread when needing to speak in a new language?  Your heart is racing, palms sweating, and words escaping your mind when trying to speak. If this scenario sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, this heightened feeling of stress has a name: Foreign Language Anxiety […]

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25 Examples of Spoonerisms

A group of four students having a conversation and smiling.

A spoonerism is a mispronunciation of a short phrase. It occurs when a person swaps word sounds while verbalizing two or more words. “Take a shower” becomes “shake a tower” when the brain’s speech center momentarily causes confusion or a person loses focus while speaking. While spoonerisms are common in English, they can occur in […]

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What Is the Longest English Word?

What Is the Longest English Word?

“Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis” is the longest English word in the dictionary, and it is one of the many words that reveal how language works. English and other world languages can combine multiple words or morphemes to create new words, making them fluid communication forms. Long English words often consist of combined scientific words or words of Latin […]

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Celebrating Language Proficiency: Meet the LTI’s Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Scholarship Recipients

Language Testing International, the exclusive licensee of ACTFL, is thrilled to sponsor the Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Scholarship, an award that recognizes the dedication of language learners who attain proficiency in two or more languages. This scholarship serves as a platform to honor their remarkable achievements and celebrate their linguistic accomplishments. This year, we received […]

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One Test, Many Advantages: Proving Your Language Proficiency with ACTFL Assessments

In today’s interconnected and globalized world, language proficiency has become a highly sought-after skill. For students, professionals, or anyone interested in expanding their cultural horizons, having a reliable and recognized method to verify language abilities is crucial. This is where ACTFL assessments come into play, offering a multitude of advantages beyond just being a language […]

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