How to Implement the Global Seal of Biliteracy
for Colleges and Universities
The Global Seal of Biliteracy™ is excited to offer a valuable language certification to students in colleges and universities. The Global Seal credentials language learners for workplace-ready skills in two or more languages as demonstrated through externally validated testing. The Global Seal of Biliteracy™ is awarded at the Functional Fluency™, Working Fluency™ and Professional Fluency™ levels. Inspired by the high school state Seal of Biliteracy movement and recognizing the need for a way to document and articulate one’s level of language proficiency, the Global Seal includes language users of any age to be credentialed for language skills.
The Global Seal is offered at no charge and can be transcripted for academic or employment purposes. It is a serial-numbered universal micro-credential of bilingualism that can be added to a resume, C.V., or LinkedIn profile. The main goals of the Global Seal are accessibility and opportunity for all language learners by providing meaningful certification of skills. By adopting the Global Seal, colleges and universities can equip students in any career field to compete in a diverse and global marketplace. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is a perfect incentive tool to motivate students to continue their language learning which can boost program enrollment and retention.
Step 1: Apply
Celebrating your language learners with the Global Seal of Biliteracy is a simple process. Go to our website at www.theglobalseal.com to learn about our program. To certify with the Global Seal program, click the APPLY button and fill out the online application. The application will let us know who you are and how we can best help you meet your language credentialing needs. You can fill out the application before or after you have tested students. If your school is new to proficiency testing, it will be helpful to review our qualifying tests and requirements. Our website includes FAQs as well as a contact form for questions. The Global Seal of Biliteracy application, a personalized serial numbered certificate suitable for framing, and fluency level-specific seal are free!
Students may also apply directly to the Global Seal as an individual.
Step 2: Test
To award a Global Seal of Biliteracy, we require validation of language skills in two languages. After completing the online application you’ll receive information on how to submit documentation to prove your candidates’ first or native language proficiency as well as how to provide us with your candidates’ test score(s) for the second language that you wish to credential. Applications in the United States must include English as either their first or second language for their first Global Seal certification. Multilingual candidates are encouraged to earn Global Seal credentials for each language in which they have proficiency. The Global Seal of BIliteracy has approved tests in over 100 languages. Our qualifying tests and requirements can be found at theglobalseal.com/qualified-tests. You can submit results from approved proctored language proficiency tests that have been taken within the last 12 months.
The Global Seal of Biliteracy offers three levels of certification: Functional Fluency™, Working Fluency™ and Professional Fluency™ on both the ACTFL and CEFR proficiency scales. Award testing can be done at any time of the year at any level. Global Seal does not cover the cost of tests. We encourage candidates to take our free language proficiency self-assessment to determine their likely current language level.
Step 3: Receive
Once we have received your school’s application, qualifying test scores, and supporting documentation, eligible candidates will receive a Global Seal! We mail the signed Global Seal of Biliteracy award certificates for each candidate together with embossed seals to your school for free! Then plan your Celebration! Fluency-level medals can be ordered for a small fee if desired. Because the Global Seal pathway to proficiency gamifies language learning through incremental credentials, many colleges and universities have seen an increase in retention and language program enrollment as a result of implementation.
The Global Seal of Biliteracy™ organization, founded and sponsored by Avant Assessment, has an independent Board of Advisors who advise and guide the program’s mission.
The Global Seal provides schools with resources to promote and support your program, including our "We Credential With" badge.
