Bilingual / Multilingual Seal Program
PLANNING INFORMATION
Minnesota Bilingual and Multilingual Seal and World Language Proficiency Certificate
“ Language isn’ t a‘ credit for graduation’ to check off, but a skill that‘ checks you in’ to future opportunity.”-ACTFL, Egnatz, 2017
The Minnesota Bilingual Seals program was created by the state of Minnesota to recognize students who demonstrate proficiency in a second language. Taking another language in middle school helps students build a strong foundation to achieve functional proficiency in another language.
To achieve functional language proficiency in more than one language a student must make it a long-term goal. This applies to both heritage speakers of languages other than English as well as students studying a world language. Proficiency is directly related to the number of hours spent studying the language over long-term, therefore, students should plan how they will achieve this goal over time. A student’ s chances of achieving functional proficiency increase the earlier a student starts studying a language.
Benefits:
The Bilingual / Multilingual Seal program gives students in grades 10, 11, and 12 an opportunity to earn college credit from the Minnesota State system, a statewide network of 30 colleges and 7 universities with 54 campuses across Minnesota.
Additional Benefits:
• To encourage students to study languages.
• To certify attainment of biliteracy.
• To provide employers with a method of identifying people with language biliteracy skills.
• To provide universities an additional method to recognize applicants seeking admission.
• To prepare learners with 21st century skills.
• To recognize the value of foreign language and native language instruction in public schools.
• To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.
Eligibility:
• Both heritage speakers and world language students who have worked towards functional proficiency in English and another language are eligible to test and to prove abilities.
• In addition to demonstrating the required proficiency levels in a language other than English on an assessment based on the America Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages( ACTFL), students must demonstrate mastery of Minnesota’ s English language proficiency standards.
• Satisfactorily complete all required English language arts credits.
• Every high school in the AHSD has a system in place to verify and award the MN Bilingual / Multilingual Seal and World Language Proficiency Certificate.
Middle School Registration Guide 7