How to Implement the Global Seal of Biliteracy
for Companies and Employers
The Global Seal of Biliteracy™ is excited to offer this credential to companies and employers who wish to identify and certify current bilingual employees and/or to use the Global Seal of Biliteracy process as a resource to verify the level of language skills of an applicant or potential hire.
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) commissioned Ipsos Public Affairs in 2018 to conduct a national survey among 1,200 U.S. upper-level managers and human resources professionals with knowledge of their organization’s foreign language needs. 90% of employers surveyed said there was a high demand for those with language skills and projected that their need for bilinguals will continue to grow. One-third ( (34%) of these U.S. employers reported a foreign language skills gap when asked if their employees are able to meet their foreign language needs. The Global Seal of Biliteracy recognizes that employers need to not only identify those with language skills, but to also quantify the level of skills held by a potential candidate. Because various positions require differing levels of language fluency than others, the Global Skill offers three different levels of certification, each designed to meet specific workplace needs.
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 offers credentials at the Functional Fluency™, Working Fluency™ and Professional Fluency™ levels.
The Global Seal is offered for no charge and provides an inclusive opportunity for language users of any age to be credentialed for their language skills. A serial-numbered Global Seal of Biliteracy certification can be added to an employee’s business card, email signature or LinkedIn profile to officially document and share their proven level of language ability with potential clients. You can leverage your candidates’ language credentials to expand your current company opportunities, explore new markets, and provide better customer service.
Step 1: Apply
Global Seal of Biliteracy certification is a simple process. Learn about our program on our website at www.theglobalseal.com. To credential 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 candidates. If you are 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!
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 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 for free! We hope you’ll plan to celebrate and recognize your Global Seal recipients. Fluency-level medals and lapel pins can be ordered for a small fee if desired.
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 organizations with resources to promote and support your program, including our "We Credential With" badge.
