Language Proficient – October 2019

Language Proficient

Brought to you by Language Testing International — Your Global Partner in Language Testing, Training, and Learning.

3 MILLION Multilinguals strong and growing!

Companies all around the world depend on multilingual talent in order to grow and scale their business. Employees with the appropriate level of language proficiency eliminate communication barriers and mitigate risk when conducting business. The list of companies that have announced hiring initiatives to fill the gap in their multilingual talent pool is growing—from call centers in Honduras to corporations in the United States such as Progressive, Nielsen, and Disney. CEO and Founder of Monese, Norris Koppel, spoke on his purpose, “We operate in 8 languages with more to roll out, so having the insight of those who are bilingual or multilingual not only helps us to achieve our goals but also to understand the nuances and cultures of each country and our customers.” (Gentle)

The impact of having a multilingual proficient workplace in the corporate sector bolsters both economic and social psychological effects. A one language fits all approach to business “could impoverish innovation and creativity, leading to business monoculture and standardized patterns of thinking” while a multilingual approach allows a company the opportunity to look at achieving their goals through multiple lenses (Yanaprasart, 2016, HRPub). Implementing a multilingual approach provides a strong infrastructure for engagement, for suppliers to customers to coworkers, with which otherwise nuances in language would be lost (Kraniotis).

The consequences of continuing on with this one language fits all approach have become indisputable. In the UK, 11% of contracts are lost annually “…because SME’s are unable to conduct business in a language other than English. That’s the equivalent of 945,000 lost contracts”(DCU Language Services, 2013). Overall in the United States, 1 in 6 U.S. businesses are losing out due to a lack of language skills and cultural awareness in their workforce. In Australia, a high profile case, in particular regarding 7-Eleven, the convenience store chain, was ordered to pay $57 million in wages to overseas workers who were unable to communicate workplace issues because of a language barrier (Bushell-Embling). Clearly, language proficiency is a worldwide matter.

As the role of technology evolves, it is important to embrace the highly adaptive means of evaluating language proficiency in the workplace (Kraniotis).

Language Testing International (LTI) administers language assessments to hundreds of thousands of candidates every year and is one of the largest and most respected foreign language proficiency test providers in the world. We offer the highest level of client service as well as convenient online test scheduling and reporting over secure client networks. Not sure what level of language is needed for the task at hand? LTI offers comprehensive assessments to help you every step of the way!

Contact us today to get started!

Go Global, Grow Your Business, and Get Certified!

world globe puzzleGlobalization creates unlimited opportunities for industries worldwide. How can your organization go global and ensure that your efforts are successful? Your company’s potential customer base is virtually endless when barriers are broken down, including, but not limited to, language barriers.

Is your organization prepared to communicate, serve, and delight your customers?

Have you certified the language skills of your employees who are front and center?

An opinion article in the Training Journal indicated that “language learning will become an integral part of a company’s corporate strategy” as a means of improving international negotiations and relationships as well as internal business operations. This article is part of a growing body of evidence that suggests that corporations are in need of global language expansion in order to succeed. This goes hand in hand with recent reports that the demand for bilingual workers has doubled in the past five years (New American Economy, 2017, March).

Successful global companies assess the language proficiency of their employees and unlock the potential of key global markets by using language assessments to certify the skills of their bilingual employees. Studies have shown that customers prefer to communicate in their native language, and “56.2% of consumers said that the ability to obtain information in their own language is more important than price.”

Language assessments allow you to better understand your employees’ actual language skills so that you can assign your team tasks that are the best fit for their level of language ability. Language testing is an essential part of any company’s global strategy.

Contact us and schedule a time with an assessment specialist to learn more about how Language Testing International (LTI) can assist you with your language testing needs.

Go Global, Grow Your Business, and Get Certified!

Why Language Proficiency Assessments Are Good for Employees and Employers

professional woman with headset in front of computerWhy Language Proficiency Assessments Are Good for Employees and Employers

Whether you have multilingual employees, plan to hire those who are, or want to encourage your staff to pursue a second or third language, it’s critical to consider certification of their language abilities. Certifying your employees’ language skills brings credibility to your company’s multilingual talent, and it has a positive effect on your employees’ morale and their ability to confidently do the job. You might be asking, do I also test current employees, or do I just test new candidates?

Here are some reasons why companies test every multilingual employee with a valid and reliable language proficiency assessment.

Employee Retention: Your employees are guaranteed to have the right level of language for the task at hand.

Language testing demonstrates the value you place on your employees’ talents and language ability. Certifying their skills ensures they have the appropriate level of language for the task at hand, giving them confidence and protecting you —the employer— should you ever need proof that skills are certified, qualified, and confirmed by a trusted and reliable source. Language certification is valid for two years.

Foreign Language Incentive Pay: Be fair to your employees and take the guesswork out of your assessment of language ability.

Many organizations offer foreign language incentive pay. How can you as the employer fairly determine who is eligible for additional compensation or a promotion? What happens when you have multiple candidates that self-select their eligibility? How do you make a fair assessment of an employee’s language proficiency and award incentive pay or even a promotion? Well-informed hiring managers and HR professionals use a third-party testing partner who specializes in language testing and rating.

Serve Your Multilingual Customers at Home and Abroad: Go global and grow!

Customers want to be understood, whether they are stateside or abroad. They are even willing to pay more if you can service them in a language they understand. Seventy-two percent of consumers spend time on websites in their own language. Sectors such as education, healthcare, and financial services actually require you to serve clients with limited English proficiency in their native language. Certifying your employees’ language skills will give you the peace of mind that they can indeed communicate in the required language, thus ensuring that your clients and partners are well-served.

Assess with Confidence, Fairness, and Equity, Language Testing International (LTI) administers language assessments to hundreds of thousands of candidates every year and is one of the largest and most respected foreign language proficiency test providers in the world. We offer the highest level of customer service as well as convenient online test scheduling, remote proctoring and secure reporting in customized client portals. Not sure what level of language is needed for the task at hand? LTI offers consultative services as well as validate and reliable research provided by subject matter experts to help you every step of the way!

Contact us today to learn more!

How will I share the AAPPL results with parents?

By Francesco L. Fratto, Director of World Languages, Language Immersion, & English as a New Language, LTI AAPPL Educator Panel

Francesco L Fratto

The Herricks Public Schools (NY) believes that monolingualism can be cured! Our small yet powerful district offers Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish; in addition, we have a K-12 Spanish immersion program. The questions that parents often asked were how well can they speak Spanish and are they making progress? Academically our students do very well based on national, state, and local assessments; as educators we also knew that they were making progress with the Spanish language, but we needed more! AAPPL assisted us in answering the questions parents had! We tested all language immersion students grades three and above with the AAPPL Interpersonal Listening and Speaking. With very little to no preparation, our students responded appropriately to the online questions; the adults were more anxious than students! The friendly student format helped ease tensions. The results came in online and then I asked myself how will I share the results with parents?! Gregg Roberts, the architect of Utah’s Dual Language Immersion Model, shared what Kerrie Neu, Dual Language Specialist for the Granite School District (Utah), does in her district by offering parents a meeting to discuss proficiency and language acquisition. Out of her great idea, I scheduled our first Parent Proficiency Night; I too shared the process of learning a language, but I went above and beyond by including the data from the Interpersonal Listening and Speaking. We used Utah’s benchmarks to assist us in measuring our students’ growth. The AAPPL data was powerful! Parents were able to better understand the AAPPL measures of proficiency reports and left knowing what their children were able to do with the language. We can now speak with confidence about a student’s progress and the levels of proficiency we expect our students to reach at each grade level.

Overall the data has confirmed what we are doing right, but it has also challenged us to do things differently to strengthen the overall program. We are proud of our teachers, students, and parents who ask the right questions. We welcome the updated version of the AAPPL to help us dig deeper with respect to data.

What I Love about ACTFL

Iactft-2018-convention-logot’s always an exciting time right before Thanksgiving…not because of time off, yummy food, and time with family and friends (while those are exciting) but because it means that the Annual ACTFL Convention has arrived! As a district coordinator, my ACTFL week is a bit different from many; my learning starts on Tuesday afternoon. By the time ACTFL arrives, I’m ready to “relax” and take in sessions that I can immediately apply in trainings at home.

What I loved this year…

This year, learning more about the Intercultural Can-Do Statements was a huge theme. From listening to Frank Troyan lead us through how and why genre matters in lesson design to Ruta Couet and Jacque Van Houten sharing with us how the IC can-do’s should be the basis of curriculum. My biggest takeaways from these sessions were questions I could ask when I visit classrooms: what is the can-do? What is the evidence that students mastered the can-do?  How can students use the can-do tomorrow? Very powerful questions when working with teachers.

I am so very excited about the new Language Resource Center at the University of Maryland: Professionals in Education Advancing Research and Language Learning (PEARLL) led by Thomas Sauer. Being a one-person show in my district (i.e. no specialists), I have many ideas but not enough hours. PEARLL is going to be a huge asset to my work in helping teachers to be the best they can possibly be.

I always enjoy hearing Greta Lundgaard. Her session on tips for surviving curriculum revision was just what I needed to get me through the remainder of the school year. Being in the midst of keeping a team motivated while rewriting a framework to be proficiency-based is my daily reality. However, I am challenged by keeping the motivation going long-term and garnering the strength and energy to tackle the revision process once the rewrite is completed. Greta is always inspirational and spot-on with her observations and takeaways.

What I love year after year…

What I love about ACTFL is the generous, sharing spirit that most presenters have. It is such an opportune occasion to attend the sessions from the leaders in the profession. And, if you haven’t had a chance to meet them, it’s easy to go up and introduce yourself or ask a follow-up question. Almost without fail, every presenter is willing to engage in conversation either right then or a bit later. ACTFL is the place to make connections and build your professional learning network. Our work is hard enough; we don’t need to isolate ourselves from others but we need to build bridges so we can work together towards our common goal.

The other marvelous aspect of the ACTFL Convention is the variety of sessions offered. When I have the opportunity to bring teachers from my district, I always advise them to figure out ahead of time what sessions they wish to attend; to choose the sessions that have meaning to them; and, then if they are in a session that doesn’t “speak” to them, move somewhere else. If they leave ACTFL without gaining a lot, it is really their own fault. The sessions are there:  formal sessions, panels, papers, and unconference-type discussions. A variety of input to meet the needs of thousands of educators.

While I am always ready to come home at the end of ACTFL, it’s bittersweet. I have a convention family that I am able to spend time with and learn from for a week out of the year.  That is what I look forward to the most every year.

The Importance of Language in Patient-Centered Care

stock-photo-mother-and-daughter-talking-to-consultant-in-hospital-roomAmerican medical systems face challenges as demographic shifts result in a growing number of patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). The commonality of language and cultural sensitivity are key elements that can facilitate the implementation of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. It is vital that healthcare providers offer translation services in order to respond to patients’ concerns and needs most effectively.

Test Employee Language Proficiency Today

Medical organizations that receive federal funds are required by law to have interpreters and translated documents in place, but there are still gaps in the provision of language-specific treatment and care. For example, within the Latinx community, several dialects of Spanish are used depending on the country of origin. Multilingual staff members give care providers not only a competitive advantage, but also the ability to maximize the quality of care received by patients.

The advantages of same language service provision ultimately focus on the quality of care. This is because patients can explain their symptoms clearly, ask questions, and experience an enhanced comfort level. Health care personnel can better understand patient needs and concerns; additionally, they can clearly explain the course of treatment, the need for additional procedures, dosages of prescriptions, and dietary concerns. Essentially, every aspect of the doctor-patient dynamic is optimized. Patients who may be apprehensive dealing with unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar setting with emotionally-charged potential can be put at ease by means of effective communication and a sense of inclusion.

In response to the growing number of LEP patients at all levels of healthcare across the country, several states now require healthcare interpreters to be certified in the language of their patients. This is an excellent reaction to changing demographics; however, high-quality proficiency testing is critical in meeting these requirements. As one Language Access Specialist recently stated, “My research showed that Language Testing International (LTI) had the best test available.” LTI stands ready to provide the necessary testing and certification to ensure that LEP patients have the most qualified interpreters possible throughout the healthcare industry. A proactive stance on the part of the medical establishment will be beneficial to both the industry and the patients it serves.

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Since 1992, Language Testing International (LTI) a Samsung Company, and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), have been offering valid and reliable reading, writing, speaking, and listening tests in more than 120 languages, in more than 60 countries.

LTI administers language assessments to hundreds of thousands of candidates every year and is one of the largest and most respected foreign language proficiency test providers in the world. We offer the highest level of client service as well as convenient online test scheduling and reporting over secure client networks.

Contact us today to get started!

Mi casa es su casa

stock-photo-hispanic-couple-outside-home-with-sold-sign

The American Dream, a key piece of which is home ownership, is flourishing in Latinx communities all across the nation. By every economic measure, the buying power of Spanish-speaking Americans is skyrocketing to the tune of over $2 trillion. That buying power is most especially manifesting itself in home ownership, evidenced by the statistic that over 6 million new homes will be purchased by Latinx consumers within the next few years. As a prominent executive with the National Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) remarked, “With a growing Hispanic population and the highest rate of workforce participation, Hispanics are expected to drive growth in the housing market for decades”. While this is certainly good news for the real estate business, it also presents a series of unique challenges that will need to be met as this industry adapts to a Spanish-speaking customer base.

NAHREP recommends that the first step would be “to address the incredible shortage of Spanish-language speaking, culturally competent real estate agents (7%) and mortgage professionals (4%)”. The lack of bilingual professionals in this key area is a drag on the market. Many Latinx homebuyers express a preference for agents who can explain complicated transactions in a readily understandable format. Cultural sensitivity is also important, introducing upwardly mobile people into neighborhoods that might not reflect their ethnic identities and helping people select areas where they feel at home. As one homebuyer commented, “The (Spanish-speaking) agent was able to tell us if we would feel comfortable around the neighborhood.”

Given the economic projections for the future, improved language skills and cultural sensibilities will play important roles in the world of real estate for some time to come. There will be an increased need for multilingual professionals in both real estate and financial services, and these will surely create ripple effects in the banking and insurance sectors as well. Local government officials and educators will need to respond as demographic shifts alter the social landscape of communities. The need for certified, proficient Spanish speakers has never been greater and will only continue to grow as America becomes more diverse and prosperous.

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Since 1992, Language Testing International (LTI) a Samsung Company, and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), have been offering valid and reliable reading, writing, speaking, and listening tests in more than 120 languages, in more than 60 countries.

LTI administers language assessments to hundreds of thousands of candidates every year and is one of the largest and most respected foreign language proficiency test providers in the world. We offer the highest level of client service as well as convenient online test scheduling and reporting over secure client networks.

Contact us today to get started!

Minimum Language Requirements Are Not Enough to Keep Our Skies Safe!

stock-photo-two-male-pilots-in-the-cockpit-during-a-commercial-flight

A terrifying mid-air collision in 2017 was caused by two international pilot trainees who both lacked basic English language proficiency. One of the pilots was severely injured, the other pilot died.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released a report on the crash that occurred between two flight school airplanes near St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec. The report clearly states that lack of language proficiency in English and French on the student’s part muddled the complex aeronautical environment that caused the accident.

The investigation states that both pilots “deviated from the altitude restrictions provided by air traffic control before colliding in mid-air.” According to the report, the pilots involved in the crash were international flight students enrolled in training in Canada.

Both of the pilots in the crash were tested and met the minimum English-language proficiency requirements to fly, however, neither pilot’s first language was English or French. According to the TSB report, improper and insufficient language proficiency testing, which allowed these student pilots with low English-language proficiency to pass, is likely a key factor in the cause of the crash.

The investigation found that it’s not possible to ensure the validity, reliability or nation-wide standardization of the aviation language proficiency testing (ALPT) given by Transport Canada, as there is little to no oversight of the examiners. Even though pilots must be at operational or expert level in English or French (or both), “operational,” meaning they met a minimum international proficiency level to be able to communicate with air traffic control, it wasn’t enough.  A Civil Aviation Safety Alert was published, citing the risks created by improper validity, reliability and standardization in language testing.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada concluded with the recommendation that all international student pilots should be tested through private language proficiency testing programs, and be required to meet stringent English-language standards to obtain personal licensing prior to their first solo flight.

Assess with Confidence

Language Testing International (LTI) administers language assessments to hundreds of thousands of candidates every year and is one of the largest and most respected foreign language proficiency test providers in the world. We offer the highest level of client service as well as convenient online test scheduling and reporting over secure client networks.

Contact us today to learn more

You May Have to Remain Silent, If You Don’t Understand the Language of Your Arrest

police-officer-talking-to-a-student

Interactions between police and citizens can either be friendly, community building events, or frightening, emotion-laden, traumatic crises fraught with peril and fear. In either case, communication and process are facilitated when both sides speak the same language. However, given the growing multilingual makeup of U.S. society, there are often differences of language between the police and those they are sworn to protect and serve.

These differences can create environments of distrust, misunderstanding and xenophobia. Value systems, cultural identities and socio-economic class disparities create barriers to communication, respect and confidence towards police in non-English speaking communities. The nuances of behavior, reliable chains of evidence, and comprehension of the law depend on the abilities of officers and citizens to comprehend situations as they occur. Commonality of language can diminish distrust of police, reduce unnecessary arrests and lawsuits, and enhance community policing efforts.

To this end, police departments all over the country are encouraging their members to learn one or more languages to better serve their communities. Monetary and promotion incentives are being offered to support these efforts. The importance of translators fluent in the many languages spoken in large cities, as well as the presence of a “beat cop” who can speak the neighborhood language are increasingly necessary if 21st century policing is to reflect the remarkably diverse melting pot that is our ever-changing society.

With over 25 years of experience providing language assessments to the academic, government and corporate sectors, Language Testing International (LTI) has tested candidates in over 60 countries and in over 120 languages. In partnership with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), we proudly offer our clients valid and reliable reading, writing, speaking, and listening tests.

LTI works closely hiring managers  to identify the appropriate level of language proficiency required for the position you are looking to fill. Once your needs have been identified, we help you qualify the right candidates with the language skills needed to be successful.

Assess with Confidence

LTI administers language assessments to hundreds of thousands of candidates every year and is one of the largest and most respected foreign language proficiency test providers in the world. We offer the highest level of client service as well as convenient online test scheduling and reporting over secure client networks.

Contact us today to learn more

Plan Now for AAPPL

group-of-diverse-high-school-students-studying-in-class-with-female-teacher

The beginning of the school year provides teachers and students alike, a fresh perspective and endless possibilities for changing the way things “have been done.” The AAPPL offers teachers an external measurement as their student move towards proficiency, which can be used for a multitude of different reasons.

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