An FAQ for Educators, Administrators, and Assessment Leaders about the Machine Scoring System for the AAPPL Spanish Presentational Writing and Interpersonal Listening and Speaking As AI becomes more visible in education, machine scoring is gaining attention in language assessment. But one fact is often overlooked: not all automated scoring systems are built with the same […]
Continue readingWhen Languages Open Doors: Celebrating Students Who Turn Multilingualism into Impact
Announcing the Recipients of the 2026 LTI Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Scholarship Each year, Language Testing International® (LTI) proudly recognizes outstanding Seal of Biliteracy recipients through the LTI Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Scholarship. The scholarship celebrates students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to language learning and who use their multilingual skills to build connections, serve […]
Continue readingGetting the Whole Picture: How Language Education Fits into the Portrait of a Graduate
My fellow educators and I did an interesting exercise at a workshop entitled “Chairing Your Department” that was both cynically eye-opening and kind of hilarious; they had us all put our schools’ description for what a successful graduate of ________ (insert whatever your school’s name is here) can do, the skills they’ve mastered, and the […]
Continue reading“Trust Us” Isn’t Enough: Why Third-Party COPPA Certification Matters
Schools Need More Than Privacy Claims from EdTech Providers As schools continue expanding their use of digital learning tools and online assessments, one question is becoming impossible to ignore: How do educators know which platforms truly protect student privacy? That question is especially important when younger learners are involved. Schools are increasingly expected to evaluate […]
Continue readingBridging Care and Communication: How a Language Micro-Credential Transforms Nursing Education
Note: This article was written based on a recorded interview with Dr. Lucia Osa-Melero, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Hispanic Studies at Duquesne University. It was more than fifteen years ago when a simple question sparked what would become a transformative partnership at Duquesne University: Could nursing students take an elective in […]
Continue readingWhy Language Is STEM. Redefining Education as Math, Engineering, Language, Technology, and Science (MELTS)
I’ve always been a left-brained math and science guy who loves rules, systems, and geometric proofs, which is why I’ve never quite understood my own proclivity towards the humanities, literature, storytelling, and languages. And yet, since the myth of brain hemispheres has long been debunked, why has no one exorcised the lingering haunts that foreign […]
Continue readingDid You Read the Directions? Five Ways to Lower Test Anxiety.
“So, if I just memorize all the vocabulary, I’ll be fine, right?” “Exactly how many questions will be on the quiz?” “I’m so cooked for this test; I don’t understand anything.” “How many sentences should I write?” I hear manifestations of anxiety like these all the time in the days leading up to an assessment. […]
Continue readingFrom Classroom to Career: Meeting Perkins V Outcomes with Language Proficiency and ACTFL Credentials
What is Perkins V? Perkins V (officially Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act) provides federal funding to states and local school districts to strengthen career and technical education (CTE). The legislation emphasizes raising both academic and technical outcomes for CTE students, improving alignment between secondary and postsecondary education, and increasing accountability. Through Perkins V, states and […]
Continue readingState-by-State Requirements for the Seal of Biliteracy
It is essential for school administrators and educators to provide learners with the best educational opportunities. Understanding your state’s unique guidelines and eligibility criteria ensures students take the right assessments to complete the requirements for the Seal of Biliteracy. For high school students who have achieved proficiency in English and at least one other language upon graduation, […]
Continue readingFrom Uncertainty to Confidence: Building Clearer Pathways in World Language Learning
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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