With CPAs, the Biliteracy Seal, and just plain old communication with your peers, there are many different challenges that foreign language students have to face during their school years. As seniors are soon closing out their final year of classes in high school, many of them are also reaching their final years of their chosen language. And as they finish up those final projects and tests, many have wisdom and advice to share with their fellow peers.
As some students in high levels of language classes may have heard, there is a test language students can take to be eligible for an award called the “Seal of Biliteracy.” This test is a way to show that your language comprehension in a second language is at the level where you can be technically considered Biliterate. Senior and Dual Enrollment American Sign Language (ASL) student Alyssa Hain shared how she studied for the Seal of Biliteracy, saying, “Review signs and language you might not know with YouTube and websites that might help you with learning.” When she studies for other ASL lessons, she also likes to use “ASL Deafined, because we have an account.” ASL Deafined helps ASL students with vocabulary groups with videos of the signs that fit in those groups. For example, the vocabulary group “Furniture” would have videos of signs of words like Chair, Table, and Shelf.
Studying languages can be confusing. However, seniors who have been taking their language for the past six years have managed to come up with some ways they like to study to really make sure they remember their words. Senior and AP French student Elizabeth Malone shared her preferred study tactics. “I really like using the ‘learn’ feature on Quizlet a lot, because it helps me get the new vocab that I can fill in with the other basic words in French…I also recommend writing out the French word and the English word out together, because writing things down helps you to remember,” she explained.
As many language students know, students take Comprehension Practical Assessments (CPAs) at the end of each quarter. CPAs are where students have to write and speak in their language to show that the students have learned their language that quarter. Senior and AP Spanish student Gretchen Frattarolla shared how she likes to study for her CPAs. She said, “You have to teach it to other people, pretty much English first, then your language. It really helps…I use Quizlet to study vocabulary. It’s so much easier that way.” She also shared how learning her language has affected her and her experiences in the community and how it might affect other people who choose to pursue a language up to a high level. “I can understand people in the community, and it helped me communicate with people at my job…There were a lot of foreign language speakers there,” Frattarolla explained, discussing her former job at Dunkin’ at a location Spanish speakers frequented. Speaking Spanish helped her communicate and bond with her customers. Seniors have certainly gained experience studying languages through their four years at Woodgrove, and to language students currently working on projects and tests, hopefully these tips can be of help.