Five years ago, we became an early adopter of the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy, a prestigious award for our high school students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in at least two languages. We envisioned the Seal as a way to honor our highest performing world language students, as well as to honor and […]
Continue readingThe Benefits of Periodic Language Proficiency Assessment for World Language Teachers
Periodic language proficiency assessments can help you become a better, more confident world language teacher. In fact, certified language proficiency can even earn you a higher salary. A recent paper published in the Empirica journal indicates, “the advanced command of a foreign language yields a wage premium of 11% on average,” with proficiency in Spanish […]
Continue readingLanguage at Work: Performance and Proficiency – Guiding Learners to Success with the AAPPL
Have you found yourself asking any of these common questions pertaining to the AAPPL? How can I prepare my students for the AAPPL? Is the AAPPL a performance test or a proficiency test? How do I prepare my students for the AAPPL if there aren’t set topics to learn? The underlying motivation of these questions […]
Continue readingWhat COPPA Compliance Means for Schools, Teachers, and Learners
As schools begin the new academic year, reviewing contracts and compliance requirements for various services and products is a common practice. This article focuses specifically on the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act or COPPA Rule. Do you know if the tools and assessments you’re using are COPPA compliant and what could happen if they’re not? And what does COPPA compliance even mean? And why does it matter to teachers or learners? You’re not alone if you’ve been asking yourself some of these questions.
Continue readingWhat’s New in 2023-24: AAPPL News
LTI and ACTFL work actively every year to maintain and improve all ACTFL assessments, including the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) and the ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA). We are excited to announce some great AAPPL resources and enhancements. You might have already seen some of our blog posts with […]
Continue readingCelebrating 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 […]
Continue readingEmpowering Agentive Learning with ACTFL OPIc Tests and Diagnostic Grids
Historically, as students were preparing to exit their language program as majors or minors at Brigham Young University, we would assess the students with an ACTFL OPITM with Diagnostic Comments which provides details around the rating/evaluation of their language. It was a tool in their toolbelt, but one that we gave them when they were […]
Continue readingA Case Study: How I Prepare for and Learn from the ALIRA
We have been using the ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA) for a number of years in our school. Currently, we use it exclusively for students who have signed up to pursue achievement of the Seal of Biliteracy.
Continue readingLanguage at Work: Understanding AAPPL Ratings
Getting an AAPPL Score Report can be like getting the gift you didn’t know you needed. Rather than a simple number or grade, reports are filled with detailed information, NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements, and strategies for continued learning and growth. But how does the rating happen, what factors determine the score, and how can learners and […]
Continue readingTips for Success on the AAPPL, Part 3: Interpretive Reading and Interpretive Listening (IR/IL)
This is the last in our three-part series of blog posts focused on tips for success with each component of the AAPPL. This post’s focus is the Interpretive Reading and Listening components. The IR/IL components of the AAPPL test your ability to understand written and spoken language. Here are a few pro tips to help […]
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