World Languages-ELL
About the Division
Justin Fisk, Director of World Languages and ELL
847-415-4701 / jusfisk@d125.org
Room 2434
Sylvia Lima, Assistant to the Director
847-415-4700 / slima@d125.org
Room 2434
World Languages/ELL Faculty and Staff Directory
Division of World Languages and ELL Mission Statement
We believe that language is fundamental to the human experience. In an increasingly global and diverse society, learning other languages is an imperative part of every young person's development academically, socially and civically.
The mission of our division, then, is to facilitate students' acquisition of another language. We strive to develop their mastery of the four essential skills of communication --reading, writing, speaking and listening--while providing them the opportunity to explore and appreciate another culture's music, art, literature and history.
Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
We will strive to provide students with a positive language learning experience with our commitment to the various facets of curriculum, instruction and assessment. We will continually incorporate the essential components of language acquisition- listening, reading, speaking, and writing-in a manner that both builds upon and strengthens the students’ skills throughout their language experience.
We will infuse a variety of learning opportunities that are aligned to specific and measurable learning targets and demonstrate best practices. Technology will complement our instruction both for its academic relevance and its crucial role in our ever-evolving digital world.
We will continue to develop and implement authentic communicative and cultural experiences and create an atmosphere that promotes social-emotional learning.
Equity and Access
We believe in providing all students the opportunity to experience a world language in an environment that nurtures and respects all learners as individuals.
As a division, we will hold students to high expectations and commit to providing the tools for all students to be successful regardless of individual learning needs, interests, and cultural differences.
Working within a Professional Learning Community (PLC)
As members of a professional learning community, we will constantly strive to collaborate and learn from one another while respecting the strengths and contributions of each team member.
Trust, respect, and open dialogue will be essential components of our collaborative environment as means to improve the quality of teaching and learning for all students.
Culture for Learning
We are passionate, invested, and accountable. We believe that a professional learning community should provide the opportunity for life-long learning through the creation of a safe and supportive environment in which all members are challenged with high but realistic expectations.
As teacher leaders at the forefront of our field, we will exemplify commitment to life-long learning and professional development.
Course Descriptions
For course descriptions from all academic divisions, visit our Course Book page.
Click on the course description to see course goals and learning targets:
| Course Name | Course Description | |
| French 1 | FRE101/102 | |
| French 2 Accelerated | FRE211/212 | |
| French 3 Accelerated | FRE311/312 | |
| AP French | FRE601/602 | |
| Course Name | Course Descriptions |
| German 1 | GRE101/102 |
| German 2 Accelerated | GRE211/212 |
| German 3 Accelerated | GRE311/312 |
| AP German | GRE601/602 |
| Course Name | Course Descriptions |
| Hebrew 1 | HBR101/102 |
| Hebrew 2 Accelerated | HBR211/212 |
| Hebrew 4 Accelerated | HBR411/412 |
| Course Name | Course Description |
| Latin 1 | LAT101/102 |
| Latin 2 | LAT211/212 |
| Latin 3/4 | LAT311/312 |
| Course Name | Course Description |
| Chinese 1 | CHI101/102 |
| Chinese 2 Accelerated | CHI211/212 |
| Chinese 3 Accelerated | CHI311/312 |
| Chinese 4 Accelerated | CHI411/412 |
| AP Chinese | CH601/602 |
| Course Name | Course Description |
| Spanish 1 | SPA101/102 |
| Spanish 2 | SPA201/202 |
| Spanish 2 Accelerated | SPA211/212 |
| Spanish 3 | SPA301/302 |
| Spanish 3-4 Accelerated | SPA311/312 |
| Spanish 4 | SPA401/402 |
| Spanish 5 Honors: AP Spanish Language and Culture | SPA601/602 |
| Advanced Spanish Conversation and Culture | SPA511/512 |
| Spanish 6 Honors: AP Spanish Literature and Culture | SPA611/612 |
| Course Descriptions | |
| Beginning Language Arts | ELL161/162 |
| Intermediate Language Arts | ELL261/262 |
| Advanced Language Arts | ELL361/362 |
| American Literature | ELL461/462 |
| Current Events | ELL561/562 |
| ELL World History | ELL761/762 |
| ELL U.S. History | ELL861/862 |
Seal of Biliteracy
Students interested in taking the Spring 2021 Biliteracy exam will have the opportunity to take the exam in a remote setting with parents/guardians as proctors OR come on campus where a couple of rooms will be set up with laptops and headsets with microphones essential for the Speaking portion.
2020 - 2021 Spring Biliteracy Exam Dates
- Remote testing window: Feb. 16 - Feb. 26 with a parent/guardian proctor.
- On-Campus Exam Dates: Saturday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 27, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the West building. Check-in via Point entrance begins at 8:15 a.m. Students that arrive after 9:00 a.m. will be turned away. The standard health check-in protocol requiring completing the Health Screener App, temperature check, and student ID will be followed.
Languages Available to Test In:
- AAPPL exam: Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and ESL.
- ALIRA exam: Latin
- Avant STAMP 4S exam: Hebrew or Polish
Remote or On-Campus Testing:
- AAPPL and ALIRA exams are available to take in a remote setting or on campus.
- Avant STAMP 4S exam for Hebrew and Polish must be taken on campus on Saturday, Feb. 20, and/or Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Avant, the third-party vendor that offers the Hebrew and Polish exam does not allow remote proctoring with a parent or guardian. They do however offer an AI option that requires two devices and is significantly more expensive. As such, we’re offering the exam on campus.
Registration and Payment:
All students interested in testing for the Biliteracy exam must register via the Stevenson School Store. AAPPL and ALIRA participants can pay for the exam via RevTrak. Students testing in Hebrew or Polish via Avant STAMP 4S must register via the School Store and then visit the Avant website for payment. Please make sure the student’s name is entered and not the parent/guardian name. Please forward Avant’s email receipt to Sylvia Lima (slima@d125.org) once received.
Cost:
- AAPPL: Complete exam including Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening = $20.00
- ALIRA:: Reading and Listening = $10.00
- Avant STAMP 4S: Complete exam including Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening = $24.90.
AAPPL Retake(s): Speaking $10, Writing $5, Listening and Reading (bundled) $5
Avant STAMP 4S Retake(s): $5.00 per portion
Remote Testing - Proctor Agreement:
All students interested in taking the AAPPL or ALIRA exam remotely must submit a Parent/Guardian Proctor Agreement once they’ve registered and made payment via the School Store. If a Proctor Agreement is not received, the student will not receive access codes and instructions. Agreements must be submitted no later than Friday, Feb. 26.
Deadlines:
- Students taking the exam in a remote setting must complete the exam no later than Friday, Feb. 26, 10:00 p.m.
- Students taking the exam on campus can break up the exam and test on both Saturdays, or just one. Note: The exam is long and students often require more than one sitting to complete the exam.
Questions should be directed to Sylvia Lima at slima@d125.org or 847-415-4700.
For more information about Stevenson’s Seal of Biliteracy program, contact Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction Mark Onuscheck at monuscheck@d125.org or 847-415-4124.
For more information, visit the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy program website.
Click here for Seal of Biliteracy FAQs
What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
Illinois public universities and community colleges accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent to two years of foreign language coursework taken during high school if a student's high school transcript indicates that he or she received the State Seal of Biliteracy.
As a result, current Stevenson students have the opportunity to be recognized by the State of Illinois for earning proficiency in English and one or more additional language(s). The Illinois State Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy program will place an official seal on diplomas and confer official recognition on transcripts of those students who qualify.
Stevenson is proud to offer the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy, which aims to promote mastery in multiple languages. In addition to demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English, a student also must demonstrate proficiency in English in order to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy.
How can students earn the Seal of Biliteracy?
Stevenson offers current students the opportunity to test in 15 languages. As a result, we use three language proficiency assessments to qualify for the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy designation depending on the language. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) via the Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) exam is used for students testing in Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai and ESL. For Latin, students will take ACTFL’s Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA). Finally, Avant’s STAMP 4S Assessment is offered to students wishing to test in Hebrew or Polish.
Earning the Seal of Biliteracy is a two-step process. Students must establish proficiency in English and another language(s).
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To establish English proficiency, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Earn a minimum composite score of 21 on an official administration of the ACT
- Effective April 2, 2020, a minimum score of 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portfion of an official administration of the SAT.
- Earn a minimum overall composite score of 4.8 on the ACCESS for ELLs exam
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To establish proficiency in a language other than English, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Have earned a 4 or 5 in the Advanced Placement language exam they took prior to their senior year.
- Earn a minimum score of I5 on all components of the AAPPL and ALIRA exam. Earn a minimum of Intermediate High on all components of AVANT's STAMP 4S exam.
To qualify for the Commendation Toward Biliteracy, students must establish English proficiency as outlined above for the Seal of Biliteracy and one of the following:
- Earn a score of 3 on the Advanced Placement language exam they took prior to their senior year.
- Earn a minimum score of I1, I2, I3 or I4 on the AAPPL or ALIRA exam, or a minimum score of Intermediate Low or Intermediate Mid on all components of AVANT's STAMP 4S exam.
The purposes of the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy are:
- To encourage pupils to study languages.
- To certify attainment of biliteracy.
- To provide employers with a method of identifying people with language biliteracy skills.
- To provide universities an additional method to recognize applicants seeking admission.
- To prepare pupils with 21st Century skills.
- To recognize the value of foreign language and native language instruction in public schools.
- To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.
Why is the Seal of Biliteracy Important?
Stevenson hopes it will inspire students to pursue biliteracy, recognize students who excel in language skills and provide evidence of these achievements to future employers and college admissions offices. It is a statement of accomplishment that helps to signal evidence of a student’s readiness for career and college, and for engagement as a global citizen. In addition, by law, Illinois public universities must grant college credit for students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy.
2019 Full Report: Making Languages Our Business
“Language skills are increasingly valuable in today’s global economy. The seal will help promote and acknowledge the great value and many benefits that come with being multilingual and multicultural.” – Former State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch.
“We hope the opportunity to earn this credential will be another tool to encourage schools to offer foreign language earlier in students’ education, ideally before high school.” - Former Illinois State Board of Education Chairman Gery J. Chico.
“The Seal of Biliteracy capitalizes and validates the linguistic assets that many students already bring to Illinois classrooms and will motivate all students to add an important skill set for college and career readiness.” - Josie Yanguas, chair of the Illinois Advisory Council for Bilingual Education and director of the Illinois Resource Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible?
Applications for the Seal and Commendation are open to all Stevenson High School students.
Can I be assessed for the Seal before my senior year?
Yes, you can take the assessments to earn the Seal any time during your high school career. However, priority is given to seniors. Students who earn the Seal prior to senior year will have the designation applied to their transcript upon receipt. Students will receive the award at the time of their high school graduation when it will be acknowledged on their diploma. Recognition on transcripts is noted as soon as students receive qualifying scores. Testing is limited to 27 students at a time and priority is given to seniors.
What are the costs associated with the exam currently?
The AAPPL exam cost is $20. The ALIRA exam cost is $10. The Hebrew and Polish STAMP 4S exam cost is $24.90.
What are the benefits of the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy?
According to HB 4330, Illinois public universities will accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent to two years of foreign language coursework taken during high school if a student’s high school transcript indicates that a State Seal of Biliteracy award was achieved. Many universities waive any foreign language requirements and/or grant course credit for students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy. View University of Illinois Champaign - Urbana for reference.
Which domains are the students tested in?
Students taking the AAPPL and STAMP 4S exams are assessed in four domains including interpersonal listening/speaking, presentational writing, interpretive reading, and interpretive listening. Tests typically take 35-40 minutes per section, however, the writing and speaking portions tend to take longer.
For the Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation in Latin, may a district accept the results of the ALIRA, the ACTFL language test in one domain (reading)?
Latin is not used as a written or spoken language today, the ALIRA exam may be used to demonstrate proficiency in Latin for the purposes of awarding the Seal of Biliteracy or the Commendation toward Biliteracy.
May a State Seal of Biliteracy be awarded to high school students who meet the assessment criteria but do not enroll in World Language courses in high school?
Enrollment in a Stevenson World Language course is not a prerequisite for attaining the State Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation toward Biliteracy. Students must meet the language proficiency criteria in BOTH ENGLISH and the SECOND LANGUAGE.
If a student is proficient in English and two or more other languages, how should this be recognized on the diploma and transcript?
Once a student establishes high proficiency in English via the SAT, ACT, or ACCESS for ELL exam and another language, Stevenson will award a Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation.
What is the difference between the Seal of Biliteracy and Commendation toward Biliteracy?
Illinois provides two awards: Seal of Biliteracy for those with a "high level of proficiency" - for most languages this level is Intermediate High and can be achieved via the AP Exam, AAPPL, ALIRA, and Avant STAMP 4S. A secondary award is the Commendation Toward Biliteracy (Intermediate-Low). Illinois state universities, by state law, are required to provide university credit for Seal recipients. Commendation recipients do not receive university credits.
What if a student takes an AP language exam as a junior or sophomore?
AP exams taken during sophomore or junior year can also serve to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy based on qualifying scores.
Are retakes available if a student doesn’t pass all portions to earn the Seal of Biliteracy?
Stevenson offers the Biliteracy exam twice a year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Students interested in retaking a portion(s) of an exam can register during one of these opportunities. Please contact Sylvia Lima at slima@d125.org in the World Languages Office (Room 2434) for more information. Costs for retaking various portions of the exam are:
- AAPPL - Speaking $10, Writing $5, Listening and Reading (bundled) $5
- STAMP 4S - $5 per domain
- ALIRA - $10
Is there a demo test available to get a better understanding of the format?
AAPPL offers demos of the Biliteracy exam for the following languages:
Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish.
- Tips on taking the AAPPL assessments
- Click here to take a demo test for Arabic, Chinese, English (for ELL students), French, German, Russian, or Spanish. Scroll down - Biliteracy exam uses Form B.
Avant STAMP 4S Assessment for Hebrew and Polish:
- Click here for tips on taking the STAMP 4S assessments.
- Click here to take a demo test.
ALIRA Latin:
- Click here for more information about the ALIRA assessment.
- Click here to take a sample test.
Do Illinois colleges or universities automatically process the Seal of Biliteracy credits?
Credit is not processed automatically upon receipt of a high school transcript. In accordance with Illinois School Code, students enrolled in a public community college or public university who have received a State Seal of Biliteracy must request credit for their seal within 3 academic years after graduating from high school.
For more information, please contact:
Sylvia Lima
slima@d125.org
BPAC
For more information, please visit the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) group page.