The Seal of Biliteracy praises the students who master proficiently two languages or more than two languages when they graduate from high school. Students can get the seal through the exam. The exam includes four sessions: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
The four sessions comprehensively assess the student’s overall language proficiency in other languages. Students can pass the exam if they earn a rating of intermediate five or higher in all sections. This year’s exam is on March 18 at BBHHS.
It’s not just about getting a seal to make students’ transcriptions look better, having the chance to learn a second language is extremely valuable for students.
“This exam was first offered as an opportunity for heritage speakers of languages other than English to earn recognition for their language abilities. It is now offered as a graduation seal opportunity to all students of world languages,” Peggy Burling, a German teacher from BBHHS mentions.
As a Spanish learner, Walid Almoselli, a junior student from BBHHS, shows his feelings about learning a second language. He says, “ I think knowing a second language is a great thing to have in life because bilingual people have more opportunities, are in demand at many jobs, and are able to interact with more people. I want to take the exam because I think it’s a good way to show colleges and to prove to myself that I am proficient enough in my second language to be able to have casual, natural discussions and interact with people that natively speak the language.”
“I first decided to take a foreign language just to get the credit out of the way, but since then I have realized that it is more than just a class, but it is a family. You bond with the same kids and teachers for multiple years for a certain part of each day of the year. I decided to take the test to really test myself and show off what I know best,” Lexi Toth, a junior student from the BBHHS who is learning German says.
However, learning a language is a long and frustrating process. It can’t be accomplished overnight, and students inevitably encounter numerous setbacks and challenges along the way. To overcome these difficulties, learners must possess the determination and perseverance to keep going.
“When I am struggling with a setback while learning Spanish, I just think about the payoff in the future for being bilingual. Also, it’s like any other subject, you just have to keep trying until you understand it,” Walid shares..
“My motivation to work through difficulties when learning Spanish is thinking about my future. I want to be a pediatrician and knowing a second language will give me the opportunity to help so many more children, which is my passion. I know that at the end of the day any rough patch will blow over, I will get through it, and it will be worth it,” Isabella Yocum, a junior student from BBHHS explains
“This exam measures where they are in their own language learning journey. While they may not score high enough the first time to earn the seal of biliteracy, they have re-testing opportunities. No exam ever defines us as a learner.” Burling encourages
During this language learning journey, people shouldn’t forget to enjoy the fun of learning it while working hard.
