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 […]
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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.
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Alpine School District, Utah’s largest with over 85,000 students, faced a significant challenge in its Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program: the lack of a reliable assessment to gauge student language proficiency. Teachers relied on informal observations, leading to inconsistent evaluations and difficulty in addressing individual learning needs. Additionally, the district required a solution that was […]
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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, […]
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In a rapidly evolving world, staying ahead of the curve in education and assessment is crucial. As trusted partners in language proficiency testing, ACTFL and Language Testing International® (LTI) have continuously innovated to meet the needs of learners, educators, and employers alike. Our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology, coupled with extensive research, underscores how we […]
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We’re in our most powerful era as language teachers. The development of Seal of Biliteracy credentials in the United States has ushered in opportunities that elevate the power our graduates have. We are not only arming them with valuable 21st century skills but also tangible evidence that enhances their professional potential. For us classroom teachers, […]
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You are standing in a room with a bunch of incoming 9th grade students and their parents and are given one minute to explain to them why they should enroll in language classes in high school. Anyone been there? I’ve been teaching Spanish since 2004, and I’ve noticed that my sales pitch has changed over […]
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As the U.S. Department of Education places increasing importance on College and Career Readiness (CCR), educational programs across the country are looking for ways to ensure that their students are prepared to enter the workforce with the skills necessary to succeed. One area that holds great potential for contributing to this goal is world language […]
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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 […]
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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.
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