At WJ, students who know more than one language are encouraged to pursue the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy. This award honors students who can read, write, and speak another language fluently in addition to English. It’s a way to celebrate bilingual students’ hard work and the value of knowing more than one language in today’s world.
For many students, earning the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy represents their culture, family, or identity. Whether they learned another language by speaking at home or learned one in class, this award shows their dedication and pride in being bilingual.
“I watched a few shows in Russian leading up to the Seal of Biliteracy as extra practice,” senior Ana Foendador said.
Foendador, who is Croatian, chose to study Russian to develop her skills in multiple languages and felt that being proficient in more than one would make her stand out when applying to colleges and future opportunities.
“I felt motivated to pursue and take the Seal of Biliteracy for Russian even though I haven’t practiced Russian in a few years,” Foendador said. “I wanted to improve my skills, and I felt like I knew enough to be able to take it.”
World language teachers emphasize the importance of the program because they believe it recognizes students’ vernacular abilities while simultaneously providing them with academic credit.
In addition to recognizing the value of language learning in public schools, Spanish teacher Amanda McAndrew emphasizes the academic benefits that come with earning the Seal.
“You sometimes can get credit in universities for having taken the test. It helps prepare students with the critical skills necessary to function in a global society and strengthens cross-cultural communication, affirms the value of diversity, and honors the multiple cultures and languages of our communities.” McAndrew said.
Earning the Seal of Biliteracy takes hard work and preparation. Students must demonstrate fluency through tests with a reading, writing, speaking, and listening portion in the language they are testing in. Many students take on the challenge to prove their skills and stand out for college or future careers.
“I took the seal of Biliteracy in Hebrew to show future employers that I knew another language fluently, and I took it in Spanish to show that I wasn’t just interested in taking it as a class in school, but that it was something that I really enjoyed,” senior Roi Porat-Shliom said.
As more students learn about the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy, interest in the test continues to grow at WJ. Teachers hope that many students will see it as an opportunity to connect more deeply with the languages they study. The Seal of Biliteracy is a reminder of the value of communication and the connections that languages make possible.
