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.  Without the study of and proficiency in another language, our students lag behind their peers from other states and countries.

World Language learning has changed in the past several years.  In the past, students were asked to demonstrate what they know by conjugating verbs and giving the translation of words or phrases in a classroom where English was the main language of communication.

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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 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 as it is for all West Virginia middle school and high school.

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 be able to do to move through proficiency levels.

Linguafolio®

The West Virginia online version of 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.

Students must have a webtop account in order to use the Linguafolio® tool.

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 are able to complete, students can fully understand the tasks necessary for each proficiency level, as well as determine at which level they currently perform.  They may also set goals for reaching a higher proficiency level in the future.

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 a myriad of 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 Deb Nicholson, Coordinator, World Languages for the West Virginia Department of Education by phone 304-558-8098 or by email dlnichol@k12.wv.us.

The 2021-22 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy are

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

The 2020-21 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy are

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 Chinee 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 will be 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.

Priority application for the camp is October 15.

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

For more information contact Deb Nicholson dlnichol@k12.wv.us or 304-558-8098.

Download the STARTALK Flyer