Tag: language proficiency assessments

Ultimate Outreach: Bridging K12, Postsecondary, Business, and Community

Have you heard conversations like these? Businessperson: Why does our school teach Spanish when we have a large Vietnamese population in our county? We need more trained workers – can we partner with schools or programs in the area to help us? Community service organization volunteer: We need support from the schools and businesses for […]

The Perfect Match: How the AAPPL Aligns with the Guiding Principles for Dual Language Immersion

Dual language immersion (DLI) programs are built on a foundation of academic achievement, bilingualism and biliteracy, and sociocultural competence. To ensure success, programs must align with research-based best practices, as outlined in the Guiding Principles for DLI Education. The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), the only ACTFL test for learners in […]

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Setting Students Up for Real-World Success

As language educators, we strive to prepare our students for real-world communication and future opportunities. Whether they pursue careers in government, healthcare, business, or education, their ability to use language effectively can open doors. Therefore, providing them with the right assessment tools to showcase their skills is essential. Not all language tests are created equal. […]

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Maximizing the Value of Your Seal of Biliteracy: From Certification to College Credit

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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A Closer Look at Testing Young Learners

A key concept in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the learner as an agent of social change. “Language education should therefore create learning contexts that encourage learners to grow in their role as social agents, as autonomous and responsible language users. Learners as social agents can then take responsibility for […]

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Beyond Grades: How the Seal of Biliteracy Speaks Gen Z’s Language

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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Delivering Safety at Construction Sites with Language Proficiency

Construction sites are bustling environments where danger lurks around every corner, making clear communication essential for safety. Unfortunately, language barriers can significantly jeopardize workers’ well-being, leading to injuries, and in severe cases, fatalities. “From the first day on the job, every worker is entitled to a safe and healthy workplace free of hazards—regardless of where […]

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The AAPPL in Higher Education 

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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Why Did My Learners Score Lower This Year Than Last Year?

Sometimes test scores don’t reveal a steady, predictable upward trajectory in learning. This can be disappointing for learners and can leave teachers wondering what “went wrong.” One teacher in New York commented, “How can I have students who scored lower than last year after having this full year of instruction and practice? It doesn’t make […]

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Let the Data Show You the Way

Dr. Rubio is a nationally recognized world language scholar who has published extensively on the topic of dual language immersion teaching and learning. In 2023, Dr. Rubio joined the faculty of Yale University as the new Director of the Center for Language Study. Prior to that, Dr. Rubio served as a Professor of Spanish Linguistics […]

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