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World Languages

The World Languages program helps students communicating enthusiastically about a variety of topics and in multiple contexts while enriching their lives and preparing for a successful future.

Registration for Credit-by-Exam (CBE) is now CLOSEd for the 2024-25 school year. CBE will take place on November 5 which is a non-student facing day at Wakefield High School. Note: Registration closed on September 27, 2024 at 11:59 PM.

World Languages instruction in APS reflects the VDOE State Standards of Learning (SOL), and the goals set out by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL): Communities, Communication, Comparisons, Culture, Connections. World language instruction begins in middle school with high school credit-bearing courses; some students start earlier in our IB program at Randolph or the Dual Language Immersion programs at Key or Claremont. As students continue their studies, high school options expand to multiple languages and progress through AP and IB courses, and Dual Enrollment with NOVA (Community College), which allow students to be challenged and reach advanced levels.

Benefits of Language Learning

 Elementary Level (K-5)

At the elementary level, APS offers Spanish Immersion at two schools. In the Immersion program, students learn Spanish through content and Spanish Language Arts instruction for half of the school day.

Learn About Dual Language Immersion

IB Spanish at Randolph

International Baccalaureate schools, such as Randolph Elementary, are committed to multilingualism as a means of affirming cultural identity and developing international-mindedness. The term “multilingualism” in the Primary Years Program refers to linguistic ability in more than one language, and recognizes that each of a student’s languages may be developed to different levels, and within different contexts, depending on their social and academic experiences.

Randolph, an IB World School

Secondary Level

There are eight languages offered across Arlington Public Schools at the secondary level. In addition, the Spanish Immersion Program continues at the secondary level.

Program Goals and Standards:

  • Goal 1: Communication
    Use knowledge and language skills for functional communication.
  • Goal 2: Cultures
    Gain knowledge of other cultural perspectives and practices.
  • Goal 3: Connections
    Connect foreign language study to experiences in other curricular areas to personal interests.
  • Goal 4: Comparisons
    Compare the target language and culture with their own language and culture.
  • Goal 5: Communities
    Use the language and apply learning to the world beyond the classroom.

For languages and levels offered at each secondary school, view the Course offerings and Diploma Requirements 2022-23

Secondary Curriculum Frameworks

Curriculum Frameworks guide teachers, students, and parents as to expected outcomes, activities, grammar topics and themes.

Proficiency Expectations

Based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Virginia Standards of Learning, the APS World Languages Office has created language expectations by level. These are used as a guide for what students should be able to do with the language at the completion of a year of study.

Descriptors of proficiency: ACTFL Levels of Proficiency

Credit-by-Exam

Registration for Credit-by-Exam (CBE) is now CLOSED for the 2024-25 school year.

Note: Registration for CBE closed on September 27, 2024 at 11:59 PM.

Students in grades 9-12 who have proficiency in another language have the opportunity to take a proficiency exam and potentially earn up to four world language credits in nearly 100 languages.  It is important to note that credits cannot be duplicated on a transcript, nor can a proficiency test replace a previously earned grade taken in high school.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Credit-by-Exam?
Arlington Public Schools allows students with the ability to comprehend and communicate in languages other than English to earn high school credits through selected world language tests. Credit-by-Exam measures students’ foreign language proficiency in order to award up to four high school foreign language credits. We use nationally-normed tests such as STAMP, AAPPL, OPI, and the WPT for most languages.

How does participating in the credit by exam help students?
If students wish to graduate with an Advanced Studies Diploma (ASD), they will need to earn world language credits. These are earned by taking three years of one language (3 x 1) or two years each of two different languages (2 x 2). The successful participation in the exam will allow students to earn credits that they can use towards the ASD.

How many world language credits can be earned through the exam?
Students can earn between one and four high school world language credits, depending on their performance on the exam.

How will my score on this assessment help me obtain a Seal of Biliteracy?
Since 2015-16 the Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school student in one or more languages in addition to English. The Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded to students who pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English at the proficient or higher level (11th grade SOL Reading and Writing exams) and who score an intermediate-mid level or higher in another language on a nationally-normed exam.

Who is eligible to take the exam?
Students in grades 9-12 who have had substantial experience outside of school listening, speaking, reading and writing in their native language are able to take the exam. Students who have earned credit(s) already in the language of the exam can also take the exam and qualify for additional credits, based on their performance on the exam. Additionally, if a student was placed into level 3, for example, because of a high level of proficiency and did not earn credit for earlier levels, that student may take the exam for retroactive credit.
Students interested in receiving credit by taking a language proficiency test should at least be at the Novice Mid level and be able to:

  • Ask and answer simple questions.
  • Make simple statements in a conversation.
  • Communicate basic information about oneself, people they know, and daily activities.
  • Express likes and dislikes in writing and speaking.
  • Fill out a form with basic information.
  • Read and write a list of daily activities.

Who is not eligible to take the exam?
Students who have already taken a class and did not pass are not able to take the test in order to try to improve their grade in the course.

If my child is not a native speaker of the language but has a high level of proficiency, can my child participate?
Yes, but the student must be able to read and write in the exam language. The exam proctors won’t be proficient in the exam language. The students must be able to complete all work independently.

Will my child receive a grade for passing the exam?
If successful, your student will receive a “pass” grade for the course which will appear as a “P” on his/her transcript and signify that the corresponding levels as demonstrated by performance on the exam have been successfully completed. Your student will not receive any letter grade that will impact the grade point average (GPA). If your child does not pass, nothing to this effect will appear on the transcript.

What are the languages offered?
Most languages are available for credit-by-exam. Arlington Public schools is committed to finding tests for any language other than English, including American Sign Language.  The languages we, unfortunately, cannot accommodate due to the lack of availability of nationally-normed tests are:  Estonian, Fuldude, Kannada, Malagasy, Mam, Mayan, Oromo, Panjabi, and  Xhosa.

How many exams are given each school year? Can my child take it more than once?
The exam will be offered once each school year. If your student does not pass on the first attempt, s/he may take it only one more time in the following school year. There is no cost to Arlington Public School students for the first time. Re-tests are at the expense of the student and the cost per test varies.

When will the exam occur?
Tests will be offered on Election Day in November every year. This is a non-school day for students and is a grade preparation day for teachers.

How is the exam scored?
The exam is scored by either a computer or an assessor who is proficient in the language of the exam. Results are final and cannot be appealed. Credits will be awarded based on the following:

ACTFL Proficiency Level Credits Awarded
Novice High 1.0
Intermediate Low 2.0
Intermediate Mid 3.0
Intermediate High 4.0

What is the timeline for the exam?
The registration period for the exams begins in July every year. An automatic confirmation of the registration will be emailed to the person completing the form. Parents will be notified of results in the spring of that school year. Results will be sent to the student’s home and also to the student’s school counselor.

Brochures:

ENGLISH CBE Brochure

AMHARIC CBE Brochure

ARABIC-CBE Brochure

BENGALI CBE Brochure

SPANISH CBE Brochure

URDU CBE Brochure

How can students prepare for the exam?

Based on the language of the exam, most students can prepare with a demonstration version of the test. Please see the following links:

Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish: Test information

Amharic, Bengali, Greek, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese: Test information

All other languages: Test information | Test information (Test type is language-dependent)

Where can I find more information?

Call the World Languages Office at 703-228-6097, or speak with your child’s school counselor.

Seal of Biliteracy

Since 2015-16, the Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school student in one or more languages in addition to English. The Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded to students who pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English at the proficient or higher level (11th grade  SOL) and who score an intermediate-mid level or higher in another language on a nationally-normed exam. Please visit the Virginia Department of Education’s website for more information.

Virginia Governor’s Foreign Language Academies

This summer, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) will run several language programs for motivated and talented language students. Programs are available in French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Latin. Interested students, who are currently in their sophomore or junior year, should speak to their language teacher to apply. The deadline to apply is November 20th. Please visit the VDOE’s website for more information.

World Languages Resources

World Languages News

Congratulations to Yorktown High School’s Chinese 4 student, Danielle Patdu, who won 3rd place at the CLASS Inaugural National Chinese Talent Contest. We are so proud of Danielle!

thumbnail of CLASS 24 Danielle Patdu

Why take Dual Enrollment (DE) Latin at the Career Center?

Listen to an Interview with Dierdre Magro .

NOVA and APS partner to offer Dual Enrollment courses

NOVA and APS partner to offer Dual Enrollment courses

On Saturday, April 20th, ten Swanson Latin students attended the Virginia Junior Classical League State Finals “certamen”, and one team from each grade level reached the finals in their respective divisions. The Latin I team ended up placing third in the Novice Open division and the Latin II team won first place in Novice Competitive division against Flint Hill and Basis DC.

Swanson Latin students attended the Virginia Junior Classical League State Finals “certamen”    Swanson Latin students attended the Virginia Junior Classical League State Finals “certamen”

Contact

World Languages Office

Syphax Education Center
2110 Washington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22204
703-228-6097

Chloé Duchaj, Supervisor
chloe.duchaj@apsva.us
703-228-6096

Michael Slobodnjak, Specialist
michael.slobodnjak@apsva.us  
703-228-6013

Margo Hope, Administrative Assistant
margo.hope@apsva.us
703-228-6097