On Wednesday, November 15, 113 Watkins Mill High School students tested for The Seal of Biliteracy. A certificate demonstrating proficiency in two or more languages is awarded to those who pass.
“The seal is a beacon to future employers, college, and university admissions offices [demonstrating] the candidate is bilingual, biliterate and brings a certain sense of cultural awareness,” world language resource coordinator Elisha Ruiz said.
Out of the 40+ languages offered, students tested from the following: Spanish, French, Filipino, Mandarin, Amharic, Urdu, Russian, and Portuguese.
“As a Wolverine, as well as an International Baccalaureate kid, [learning languages] means connecting with peers in my school,” junior Lujala Ranjit said. “We have such a great blend of ethnicities and cultures at Watkins Mill, so learning other languages is important to me.”
All juniors and seniors are eligible to test. Seniors test for free, while juniors pay a fee of $21. Students can register for the second round of testing on January 24 by scanning a QR code in the building or going to room D103 for further information. Upon registration, students are sent a mock test to aid in preparation.
“[The certificate will help] a lot because [as a nail technician], I have a bunch of Spanish-speaking clients, [so demonstrating I] know Spanish and English can [open doors for] a lot of [diverse] clients,” senior Bridgette Garza said.
If you decide to take the test and want to be prepared for test day, French teacher Ernest Kamba says the best way to study is to ask your teacher for practice activities. They can correct your mistakes and ensure you are ready for test day.
“I recommend everyone take the exam in 11th grade because if you don’t do well, you can retake it next year and share your score with your teacher. [Doing this] not only [helps if you plan to] retake the exam in your senior year, but also in preparing for [any language] IB exam,” junior Olivia Ormsby said.
The best way to succeed at something is by working hard toward it, practicing, and believing in yourself.
“I would totally take the seal of biliteracy. Dedication to a language shows commitment and it’s just cool to be multilingual anywhere you go,” principal Vilma Najera said.
