World languages are an integral part of a well-balanced education. Our students require the tools and skills needed to compete in a global workforce. As West Virginia’s educational system continues to encourage, respect, and promote bilingual or multi-lingual skills, our students enjoy increased opportunities, both locally and beyond. Without the study of foreign languages, our students are at a disadvantage when compared to their peers from other states and countries, lacking the abilities that others enjoy and build upon to create communal economic prosperity and individualized career ladders

World language learning has shifted to a life-long learning and growth focus. In the past, students demonstrated their knowledge by conjugating verbs and giving the translation of words or phrases in a classroom where English remained the vehicle for communication. Without long-term usage, these skills disappeared. Currently, the world language classroom has evolved to embrace the use of real-world situations, storytelling, and practical communication development while speaking the target language during most of the instructional time. This proficiency-based approach creates long-term gains and lifetime skills.

The WVDE continues to move forward, creating opportunities for world language exploration in the Career and Technical Education setting, such as with the study of American Sign Language for immediate employment opportunities in the educational interpretation field. Other possible avenues may include future opportunities to explore languages and culture in career pathways such as culinary arts, business, and entrepreneurship.

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College- and Career- Readiness Standards for World Languages Policy 2520. 7

The West Virginia College and Career Readiness Standards for World Languages has set forth expectations for world language study for all West Virginia students in secondary schools. The offering of world languages at the elementary school level is encouraged but is not required, though it is a requirement for all West Virginia middle schools and high schools.

The West Virginia College and Career Readiness Standards reflect the shift toward a proficiency-based approach to learning languages that articulates growth through life-long language learning. The standards seek to facilitate more functional, communicative, and intercultural goals, rather than those of language structure and cultural facts. The broad standards are designed to be used regardless of age, class level, or content studied and can be contextualized to correspond to the appropriate developmental level of the learner and to provide clear understanding of what learners need to know and do while moving through proficiency levels.

Linguafolio®

Linguafolio® is an easily-accessible online portfolio available to West Virginia students who are studying or speak a second language.  Students are given the opportunity to document their language learning.  In addition, Linguafolio® offers students a guideline for self-assessment and for setting goals for future language learning.  Students can share their Linguafolio® with their instructors, friends, families or employers or they may choose to keep it private.

Can-Do Statements for Students

Can-Do statements are the College and Career Readiness Standards written in the form of Can-Do Statements. The Can-Do statements linked below provide a description of what students should be able to do at each proficiency level. By using self-assessment to determine the tasks that they can complete, students will fully understand the tasks necessary for each proficiency level, verifying at which level they currently perform. They may also set goals for reaching a higher proficiency level in the future.

Based on NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements, proficiency benchmarks are as follows (more information on the benchmarks can be found on the NCSSFL-ACTFL website) :

  • Novice
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced
  • Superior
  • Distinguished

Language Resource Centers

These organizations are funded through Title VI funds by the United States Department of Education. The goal is to promote the learning and teaching of foreign languages in the United States through improving language teacher education, developing improved assessment measures, and conducting research. There are fifteen centers that provide valuable information.

World Language Organizations

Seal of BiliteracyWest Virginia adopted the WV Seal of Biliteracy during the 2020-21 school year. The Seal of Biliteracy is a nationally-recognized award presented to students who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one other language. Proficiency is demonstrated through evidence of assessment in each language. Accepted assessments, as well as necessary scores are outlined on this flyer.

Scores are due by the middle of May of each academic year. For more information or questions, contact Julie Morris, Coordinator, World Languages for the West Virginia Department of Education by phone 304-558-2389 or by email jlmmorri@k12.wv.us

2022-23 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy

Bridgeport High School

Teachers: Dea Garrett and Alicia Kidd

  • Camryn Ielapi, French
  • Caroline Deniker, French
  • Carter Wright, French
  • Colton Clingenpeel, French
  • Connor Nicholson, French
  • Danielle Hart, French
  • Emma Mitchell, French
  • Kaitlyn Archer – Lewis, French
  • Olivia Goldizen, French
  • Sofia Rubi, Spanish
  • Tobias Fleece, Spanish
  • Victoria Baldwin, Spanish

Elkins High School

Teachers: Leah Devine and Samantha Phipps

  • Daria Panova, Russian
  • Caressa Waybright, Spanish
  • Carly Shank, Spanish
  • Celia Ricottilli, Spanish
  • Emily Diaz, Spanish
  • Jessica Ross, Spanish
  • Mollie Lemasters, Spanish
  • Sophia Shoemaker, Spanish

Fairmont Senior High School

Teacher: Daniela Battaglia

  • Salvatore Marino, Italian

George Washington High School

Teacher: Antonio Jimenez

  • Aidan Cottrill, Spanish
  • Ainsley Lewis, Spanish
  • Alexa Bunderson, Spanish
  • Ariana Vigo, Spanish
  • Austin Morris, Spanish
  • Austin Silva, Spanish
  • Ava Dean, Spanish
  • Ayaan Shaik, Spanish
  • Charles Taylor, Spanish
  • Delaney Brasselle, Spanish
  • Jayla Boyd, Spanish
  • Jeeya Patel, Spanish
  • Jenna Raupp, Spanish
  • Kathryn St. Jean, Spanish
  • Kensy Thomas, Spanish
  • Leana Kahwash, Spanish
  • Michael Hill, Spanish
  • Nadia Flores, Spanish
  • Olivia Tharp, Spanish
  • Patrick Ward, Spanish
  • Spandana Mekala, Spanish
  • Varaparatha Prasad, Spanish
  • Vivien Canterbury, Spanish

Grafton High School

Teachers: Blanca Skaggs

  • Alexander Himes, Spanish
  • Austin Casto, Spanish
  • Carrington Jones, Spanish
  • Garrett Hutson, Spanish
  • Jade Hall, Spanish
  • Jordan Niggemyer, Spanish
  • Justin Gainer, Spanish
  • Kaitlyn Novisky, Spanish
  • Kayla Greathouse, Spanish
  • Landen Hulley, Spanish
  • Nathan Castle, Spanish
  • River Sipes, Spanish

Greenbrier East High School

Teacher: Antonio Junceda

  • Alan Nunez, Spanish
  • Indigo Graves, Spanish
  • Maria Prados Medem, Spanish

Hampshire County High School

Teacher: Silvia Luna

  • Erin Blaylock, Spanish

Hedgesville High School

Teacher: Leigh Ann Gay

  • Ashley Abrego, Spanish
  • Avery Abrego, Spanish
  • Ella Waters, Spanish
  • Emily Montgomery, Spanish
  • Hurley Sawyer, Spanish
  • Jolani Santos Leon, Spanish
  • Katrice Kidrick, Spanish

Morgantown High School

Teacher: Lola Contreras

  • Asha Huzurbazar, Spanish
  • Carter Herron, Spanish
  • Layla Virji, Spanish

Musselman High School, Berkeley County Schools

Teacher: Jennifer Lehman

  • Ashley Rodriguez, Spanish
  • Katelyn Combs, Spanish

Parkersburg South High School

Teacher: Andrea Standley

  • Lingjian Zheng, Chinese

Princeton High School:

  • Josiah Richardson, French

Riverside High School

Teacher: Steve Loftis

  • Karolina Trejo-Casanova, Spanish

South Harrison High School

Teacher: Jessica Moats

  • Francine Ugsangc, Filipino

Spring Mills High Schools, Berkeley County Schools

Teacher : Francoise Inman

  • Becky Chen, Chinese
  • Hector Huntsberry, French
  • Horace Huntsberry, French
  • Laurence Kao, French
  • Riley Potter, French
  • Danny Baker, Spanish
  • Emily Golliday, Spanish
  • Jazmin Ambrocio, Spanish
  • Jocelyn Mejia-Gomez, Spanish
  • Yimel Hernandez-Gonzalez, Spanish
  • Riley Potter, Spanish

Wheeling Park High School

Teacher: Eric Bennett

  • Cricket Eler, French
  • Jordan Lockard, French
  • Nayaki Simoyi, French

2021-22 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy

Bridgeport High School

Teachers: Dea Garrett and Renee Matthews

  • Clayton Hammond – Spanish
  • Andie McCall – French
  • Lydia McClung – French
  • Omar Sabbagh – Arabic
  • Sara Skinner – French
  • Josephine Todd – French
  • Kailey Wilfong – Spanish

Elkins High School

Teachers: Leah Devine and Samantha Phipps

  • Sienna Chenoweth – Spanish
  • Luke Miller – Spanish
  • Michael Parlock – Spanish
  • Annmarie Raschella – Spanish
  • Lexus Workman – Spanish

George Washington High School

Teacher: Antonio Jimenez

  • Kaci Brabbin – Spanish
  • Hannah Cantrell – Spanish
  • Emma Carpenter – Spanish
  • Ailea Elkins – Spanish
  • Ellavie Hall – Spanish
  • Lucille Ledesma – Spanish
  • Olivia Moore – Spanish
  • Shannon Rogers – Spanish
  • Madelyn Saul – Spanish
  • Jessica Tenney – Spanish
  • Sara Triplett – Spanish
  • Emma Walker – Spanish
  • Tristan Walker – Spanish
  • Bernardo Pereira – Spanish
  • Elena Kurov – Spanish
  • Celina Liang – Spanish
  • Vaageesha Das – Spanish

Greenbrier West High School

Teacher: Sharon Boggs

  • Abigail Herndon – Spanish

Hedgesville High School

Teacher: Leigh Ann Gay

  • Ruth Bueno – Spanish
  • Alejandra Castillo – Spanish
  • Desiree Rossi – Italian
  • Alaina Fry – Spanish
  • Henry Galvez – Spanish
  • Lauren Kimball – Spanish
  • Joselyne Robles – Spanish
  • Johan Santos-Leon – Spanish

Magnolia High School

Teacher: James Melott

  • Joy Lin – Chinese
  • Fernando Hernandez – Spanish
  • Herberth Hernandez – Spanish

Morgantown High School

Teacher: Lola Contreras

  • Daniel Campa – Italian
  • Eric Martinez-Mapp – Spanish
  • Nada Mikky – Arabic
  • Amelia Summer – Spanish

Parkersburg High School

Teacher: Andrea Standley

  • Sheza Ikhlaq – Italian

Petersburg High School

Teacher: Carmen Pidre Bocardo

  • Christian Rodriguez – Spanish

2020-21 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy

Elkins High School, Randolph County Schools

Teachers: Leah Devine and Samantha Phipps

  • Lee Chua – Spanish
  • Ryan DiBacco – Spanish
  • Fisher Goodwin – Spanish
  • Isabelle Judy – Spanish
  • Alexandra Triplett – Spanish
  • Izaak Whetsell – Spanish

George Washington High School, Kanawha County Schools

Teacher: Antonio Jimenez

  • Ana Catalina Jimenez-Tadlock – Spanish

Moorefield High School, Hardy County Schools

Teacher: Pilar Maté

  • Albert Alemán – Spanish
  • David Carreola-Lopez – Spanish
  • Luis Carreola – Spanish
  • Liliana Cisneros – Spanish
  • Alaissa Martínez-Toro – Spanish
  • Leonardo Rivera-Gonzales – Spanish
  • Suaneysha Soto-Cordero – Spanish
  • Atikilt Tamiru – Amharic

Morgantown High School, Monongalia County Schools

Teacher: Lola Contreras

  • Vaageesha Das – Spanish
  • Elena Kurov – Russian, Spanish
  • Celina Liang – Spanish
  • Bernardo Pacheco Pereira – Spanish
  • Amanda Wang – Spanish
  • Silas Wang – Spanish
  • Sachin Thacker – Spanish

Parkersburg High School, Wood County Schools

Teacher: Andrea Standley

  • Yuan Uy – Filipino

Spring Mills High School, Berkeley County Schools

Teacher: Francoise Inman

  • Luca Azzani – French, Italian
  • Marco Azzani – French, Italian
  • Hector Huntsberry – French
  • Horace Huntsberry – French
  • Edith Kao – French
  • Nina Saluja – French, Spanish

The Chinese Studies Program at WVU, with the cooperation of the West Virginia Department of Education, will host STARTALK, a federal grant program managed by the United States National Security Agency to promote critical language learning among 9th to 11th graders.

Students will learn the Chinese language and culture through activities related to science, technology, engineering, arts and math. NO previous study of Mandarin is required but is accepted.

This free 16-month program consists of virtual classes in the Spring of 2023, Fall of 2023, and Spring of 2024. There is a 16-day residential camp during the Summer of 2023. Enrollment is limited to 40 motivated students who live in West Virginia and surrounding states.

Qualified students may also receive college credits through the WVU Access Program.

For more information contact Julie Morris at jlmmorri@k12.wv.us, or 304-558-2389.

Download the STARTALK Flyer