Author: Jen Carson

Advocacy in Virginia: The Seal of Biliteracy as an Industry-Recognized Credential

The value of an industry-recognized credential Industry-recognized credentials can include certifications, licenses, and micro-credentials and are a quick way to signal to prospective employers that you have certified skills that are valuable in the workplace. Students in high school seek these credentials for many reasons: to gain full-time employment after graduation, to gain part-time employment […]

Assessing for Proficiency

Performance versus Proficiency As world language educators, we often talk about the distinction between performance and proficiency. Most of us can explain that the former is language that focuses on familiar contexts and has been practiced, whereas the latter is overarching, encompassing authentic tasks in a real-world context. A simple way of conceptualizing this distinction […]

AAPPL ACTFL bilingual bilingualism determining proficiency education language assessment language learning language proficiency multilingual multilingualism OPI WPT

Using ACTFL Assessments to Develop Global Business Leaders: A Case Study

Global Business Leaders Law schools, Business Schools, Schools of International Affairs and Diplomacy – they are all united by a mission to develop tomorrow’s global business leaders. In an increasingly global economy, well-prepared leaders are needed now more than ever.

ACTFL bilingual bilingual employee bilingual employees Bilingual Employees & Job Market bilingual professionals bilingualism business leaders business school determining proficiency education global business global economy language assessment language in the workplace language proficiency language skills language testing law school multilingual multilingual employees multilingual professionals multilingualism

What Does It Mean For an Assessment to be Valid & Reliable?

Validity and Reliability are undoubtedly the two pillars of assessment theory. As an adjunct professor of Assessment, I have had to define these concepts and explain their significance to teacher candidates in all content areas. Often, they confuse the two, so I had to develop a few memorable examples that would stick in their minds, […]

AAPPL ACTFL bilingual bilingualism determining proficiency language assessment language proficiency multilingual multilingualism reliability validity

One Size Does Not Fit All

Do you wear the same shoes to the beach that you wear to the office or to go mountain climbing? Do you like the same music as you did when you were five years old? Likewise, would you want to use the same test for learners as they enter 7th grade as you would use […]

ACTFL bilingual bilingual employee bilingual employees Bilingual Employees & Job Market bilingual professionals bilingualism career determining proficiency education employee language assessment employee language skills hiring bilingual employees hiring multilinguals HR Human Resources language assessment language assessment for business language certification language proficiency language testing multilingual multilingual employees multilingual professionals multilingualism program requirements progress monitoring research Seal of Biliteracy student evaluation student placement

The AAPPL in Higher Education 

Did you know that the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), sounds like 🍎, was recently approved by ACTFL for placement testing in higher education? It is true, and it may just be the solution you have been looking for to improve your postsecondary world language program.  

AAPPL ACTFL bilingual bilingualism college determining proficiency education higher education language assessment language learning language placement language proficiency language proficiency assessments language test language testing placement placement test university

Celebrating Multilingualism: A Recap of the First Seal of Biliteracy Summit

On June 24-25, 2024, the US Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) held its first Seal of Biliteracy Summit. In a spirited gathering of great minds and passionate professionals, the summit welcomed nearly 200 participants, including researchers, practitioners, educators, students, and policy makers.

AAPPL bilingual bilingualism department of education determining proficiency education language assessment Language Is Your Superpower language learning language proficiency language skills multilingual multilingual education Seal of Biliteracy