BUCKLAND — Mohawk Trail Regional School will now offer a Seal of Biliteracy program for graduating seniors.
“Students who are driven and highly motivated, and who want to demonstrate proficiency in two languages will be able to do so,” said teacher Barbara Page. “The benefits of earning the seal are significant academically, and also financially, as many colleges and universities offer college credit for the accomplishment.”
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award provided by state-approved districts. The award recognizes high school graduates who have demonstrated high levels of functional and academic proficiency in English and another language. To meet the requirements, students typically need six or more years of instruction in the target language.
The seal is given to students who pass a rigorous test where they are challenged in their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Students can prove their literacy in a variety of different languages, including Spanish and French, which are offered at the school, or students from non-anglophone cultures can prove their proficiency in their native languages to get the seal on their diplomas.
“Native speakers of other languages can take the lead and demonstrate to kids what they can do,” Page said.
Page and Pam Adlersmith, Mohawk Trail’s Spanish teacher, explained only a couple of students are expected to gain this seal annually due to the achievement requiring hours of studying over several years.
They noted the Seal of Biliteracy is different from gaining high scores on an Advanced Placement test to receive college credit because the test is not associated with a specific class offered. The seal also does not necessarily ensure college credit, although they said some colleges will offer credit for Seal of Biliteracy recipients.
“This celebrates language,” Adlersmith said. “This shows if you know other languages you will have more opportunities, and that it is not something to hide away.”
The Seal of Biliteracy announcement comes in tandem with Mohawk Trail’s addition of an American Sign Language (ASL) course.
“Mohawk Trail currently offers two world languages, French and Spanish, and is planning to introduce ASL this coming year,” said Principal Chris Buckland. “Proficiency in world languages empowers students to use languages other than English to tell their own stories, understand the stories of others, and engage with their communities and the world. It is a tremendously valuable tool for life, particularly in the global economy we now live in.”
The teachers said this new program will provide one more incentive for students at Mohawk Trail to learn world languages. They said learning languages also opens people up to new cultures, ways of thinking and opportunities.
“Whether we are talking about academic rigor, or we are talking of inclusion, or learning about the world we live in, or even of different paths to success,” Buckland said, “this is a perfect example of how our students have the opportunity to challenge themselves, and to achieve something that’s rather unique and valuable.”
Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.