The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), has created reliable tests delivered by Language Testing International (LTI), that measure a subject’s ability to achieve various measures of proficiency when reading in a second language. Second language acquisition usually entails much more than simply studying another language for a few years on one’s own or in a classroom. To attain high levels of native-like competence in reading can sometimes require years of complete immersion in both the culture and the language itself. This allows an individual to not only understand standard versions of the language, but also to understand the more colloquial aspects of language that native speakers use in their vernacular. To live, study, or work in a target culture successfully, it is imperative to be literate in that target language.
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Real World Perspective on Language Proficiency
With the number of non-English speaking households in the United States continuing to grow exponentially, schools throughout the nation have witnessed a commensurate increase in the number of students attending English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Many school districts nationwide have struggled to accommodate the needs of children who often enter the educational system with limited or non-existent English.
While we have existing means to measure progress in school, primarily grades, there is ample evidence that exists to support the notion that grades alone do not necessarily indicate proficiency (or lack thereof) in a subject, and language learning is no exception. Standardized testing is yet another existing method to evaluate student learning and readiness for subsequent grade levels, but this to has been widely criticized as inadequate and inaccurate as a true measure of ability. In both cases, grades and standardized testing only provide a very small glimpse into what students can do, and they are not an effective means of getting a comprehensive view of overall proficiency.
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Proficiency Assessments
Language Testing International is proud to be the only company licensed to offer proficiency assessments that meet the rigorous standards of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). No matter what your motivation for wanting a proficiency assessment, you naturally want to be certain that you are getting the most accurate, comprehensive and reliable test available. Since we know that business owners don’t have the time to create such tests, we have created them for you.
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The Growing Demand for a Multilingual Workforce
With the growing demand for multilingual in today’s increasingly globalizing world, listing “fluency” in several languages on one’s resume has become a significant advantage for job seekers. What does it actually mean when someone says that they are fluent, though? How can companies be sure that the people they are hiring actually have the requisite language skills to fulfill their job functions successfully?
Being able to speak multiple languages, and, more importantly, being able to function in multiple languages in a professional setting, is a highly specialized skill set. As such, it is surprising and disappointing that many companies do not exercise due diligence to ascertain whether the language skills proclaimed on a candidate’s resume actually match up to his or her real world abilities.
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