Introduction
The number of students enrolled in foreign language classes at U.S. higher education institutions has been declining since 2009, particularly since 2013, according to the latest Modern Language Association (MLA) report (Looney & Lusin, 2019). Many heritage languages spoken by students in the U.S. are either never or rarely offered at institutions, making it difficult for students to receive college credit for their linguistic proficiency.
Key Solutions for Language Proficiency Recognition:
- State Seals of Biliteracy
- Global Seal of Biliteracy
- Direct partnerships with language test providers
Language proficiency is typically measured across four skills:
- Receptive Skills: Reading and Listening
- Productive Skills: Writing and Speaking
Where four-skill tests are unavailable, the feasibility of assessing only productive skills is evaluated. Granting foreign language college credit to speakers of less commonly taught languages benefits students, institutions, and society.
Keywords: LCTLs, Seal of Biliteracy, college credit, language assessment, fairness
Declining Enrollment in Language Classes
| Language | 2006 | 2009 | 2013 | 2016 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish | 822,148 | 861,015 | 789,888 | 712,962 | 584,453 |
| French | 206,019 | 215,244 | 197,679 | 175,710 | 135,088 |
| American Sign Language | 79,744 | 92,068 | 109,567 | 107,059 | 107,899 |
| Japanese | 65,410 | 72,357 | 66,771 | 68,810 | 65,661 |
| German | 94,146 | 95,613 | 86,782 | 80,594 | 53,543 |
| Chinese/Mandarin | 51,382 | 61,612 | 61,997 | 54,248 | 46,492 |
| Italian | 78,176 | 80,322 | 70,982 | 56,743 | 45,182 |
| Arabic (All) | 24,010 | 35,228 | 33,526 | 31,554 | 22,918 |
| Latin | 32,164 | 32,446 | 27,209 | 24,810 | 19,472 |
| Korean | 7,146 | 8,449 | 12,256 | 13,936 | 19,270 |
| Russian | 24,784 | 26,740 | 21,979 | 20,353 | 17,598 |
| Greek, Ancient (All) | 22,842 | 21,515 | 16,961 | 13,264 | 11,433 |
| Hebrew, Biblical (All) | 14,137 | 13,764 | 12,596 | 9,570 | 10,442 |
| Portuguese | 10,310 | 11,273 | 12,407 | 9,827 | 7,684 |
| Hebrew, Modern | 9,620 | 8,307 | 6,743 | 5,576 | 4,125 |
| LCTLs | 33,800 | 37,613 | 33,833 | 33,568 | 31,302 |
| Total | 1,575,838 | 1,673,566 | 1,561,176 | 1,418,584 | 1,182,562 |
The MLA report highlights a 9.3% decrease in students enrolled in languages other than English (LOTEs) from 2013 to 2016. The percentage of students enrolled in LOTEs in fall 2016 was 7.5%, the lowest since 1986.
Some students may be learning languages through alternative means, such as:
- Online platforms: Duolingo, Babbel, Italki
- Self-study and immersion programs
Challenges for Heritage and Native Speakers
Many heritage and native speakers lack access to advanced-level language courses, limiting their ability to formally improve their skills at post-secondary institutions.
Recognition of Language Proficiency in Higher Education
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2017) recommends increasing foreign language study opportunities, awarding credit for demonstrated proficiency, and expanding study-abroad programs.
Granting college credit for language proficiency:
✔ Helps students save money
✔ Allows them to graduate sooner
✔ Supports participation in exchange programs
✔ Encourages study of language for specific purposes
However, institutions face challenges in providing credit for languages they do not offer in their curricula.
State Seal of Biliteracy (State SoBL)
Overview
The State SoBL was introduced in California (2011) and has expanded to 49 states + Washington, D.C. It recognizes high school graduates who demonstrate proficiency in English and one or more world languages.
Benefits of the State SoBL
- Provides competency-based high school language credit
- Supports heritage speakers in maintaining their home language
- Some states (Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri) offer college credit
Challenges
- Many states require four-skill tests, limiting access for speakers of less commonly tested languages (LCTLs).
- Some students lack access to approved language assessments.
- Only 21% of public schools awarded the State SoBL in 2018-2019 (Black et al., 2020).
Global Seal of Biliteracy (GSoB)
Expanding Access Beyond Public Schools
Launched in 2018, the Global Seal of Biliteracy (GSoB) provides language credentialing for all language learners, including:
- College students
- Private school students
- Homeschoolers
- International students
The GSoB recognizes three proficiency levels based on ACTFL and CEFR standards:
- Functional Fluency (Intermediate-Mid / B1)
- Working Fluency (Advanced-Low / B2)
- Professional Fluency (Advanced-High / C1)
It accepts validated two-skill assessments (Speaking & Writing) where four-skill tests are unavailable.
Study on Two-Skill Assessments for College Credit
A study analyzed 65,322 test-takers across seven languages to determine if Writing & Speaking scores can reliably predict Reading & Listening proficiency.
Key Findings:
- 93.53% of test-takers had Reading scores at or above their Writing scores.
- 88.51% had Listening scores at or above their Speaking scores.
- 92.58% who scored Intermediate-Mid (STAMP 5) in Writing & Speaking also met that level in Reading & Listening.
These findings suggest that two-skill tests could be a valid alternative where four-skill tests are unavailable.
Conclusion & Recommendations
- Expanding two-skill language assessments could increase equity and fairness in Seal of Biliteracy programs.
- Higher education institutions should accept validated two-skill assessments for LCTLs where no four-skill test exists.
- More language testing organizations should develop assessments for less commonly taught languages.
This shift would help recognize the linguistic assets of bilingual and multilingual students, making language proficiency recognition more inclusive and accessible.
Glossary
- English Learners (ELs) – Students learning English whose primary language is another language.
- Heritage Language – A language learned at home, separate from formal education.
- LCTLs (Less Commonly Taught Languages) – Languages outside the top 15 most commonly taught in U.S. education.
- State Seal of Biliteracy (State SoBL) – A state-recognized credential for bilingual high school graduates.
- Global Seal of Biliteracy (GSoB) – A worldwide language credential available to all learners.