Blake Students Receive Recognition for Seal of Biliteracy

Juniors and seniors in high schools across Maryland are eligible for the Seal of Biliteracy test. This test recognizes students who have high proficiency in languages other than English. Being able to listen, speak, read, and write is required. The test is free for seniors, but juniors must pay $21. The next testing day is in January at Blake’s media center.

Many students have already taken the test, including Lilly Do, a senior who is fluent in Vietnamese. She picked up Vietnamese at a young age after hearing it repeatedly from her family. Lilly shared her experience and tips for taking the test during an interview. “It’s challenging, but it’s really beneficial,” she noted. “You should definitely study a lot. I feel like this test should not be taken lightly. I feel like people should actually know the language very well in order to pass it.” She also added that some vocabulary is not used in everyday conversation, but she felt prepared because of her fluency. 

Another senior, Jessica Kabik, shared her experience from her Spanish biliteracy test. She started learning Spanish in seventh grade and has continued throughout high school. She believed the speaking portion was the most challenging on top of the stress and time. “It’s very nerve-wracking to speak from the top of your head and sometimes it’s hard to recall all the conjugations,” she said. “For the Seal of Biliteracy, it’s based off of proficiency, so if you do choose to take the test, don’t stress too much about any little mistakes that you make.” She also encouraged students to put this on their resumes.

Mrs. O’Toole, who teaches Spanish 1 and AP Spanish Language and Culture, encourages students who know a non-English language to take the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy test. “Being multilingual is such an asset, and the importance of it will only continue to grow. When students earn the Seal, it is included on their diploma when they graduate. If you are proficient enough to earn the Seal, it is a good sign that you can use those languages in a formal, professional manner.” She also noted the importance of including it “on applications and resumes, as future employers and schools are reviewing a candidate.”

If you are a junior or senior proficient in another language other than English, you should take the Seal of Biliteracy test because it can open up many opportunities for the future.