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 reading
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 […]
Continue reading
When it comes to measuring language proficiency, not all tests are created equally. Only ACTFL® assessments, delivered exclusively through Language Testing International® (LTI), produce ACTFL scores and certificates, credentials recognized globally by K-12 programs, universities, employers, and government agencies. Any ACTFL rating provided by a non-ACTFL assessment is not recognized by ACTFL. In other words, […]
Continue reading
Many people enjoy language learning as a hobby. They even have a name — someone who knows or studies multiple languages is a polyglot. While it may seem intimidating at first, learning a new language can be an enjoyable, rewarding experience. This hobby also comes with multiple benefits, making it a worthwhile pursuit for any […]
Continue reading
The United States of America is home to a diverse population that communicates in over 350 languages. With so many languages spoken in the U.S., businesses nationwide often require a multilingual workforce to meet customer needs. The demand for individuals with specific language skills changes as new language trends emerge.
Continue reading
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 reading
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 reading
On February 8-10, a few of LTI’s colleagues had the privilege of participating in the JNCL-NCLIS Language Advocacy Days. This annual event, delivered virtually, brings language educators, students, and leaders together to discuss issues surrounding language education and to advocate for multilingualism and quality language education. Participating in this event was an incredibly inspiring experience. […]
Continue reading
The demand for skills in languages other than English among employers in the United States continues to grow. As stated in a 2019 survey commissioned by the ACTFL, about six in ten employers in different fields, including education services, expect the demand for language skills to increase in the next five years. According to the […]
Continue readingI cried real tears the first time I received my students’ AAPPL scores. I had much to celebrate: great accomplishments on the Interpretive components, with several students obtaining scores high enough for our state’s Seal of Biliteracy, and those “surprise kids” performing better than expected. But they weren’t just the happy kind of tears; for […]
Continue reading