Learning different foreign languages left and right, EHS students will now be acknowledged for their dedication to fluently speaking a second language.
As of Sep. 5, District 7 sent an email to all students and parents announcing that the school will now be participating in a program that will allow eligible students to receive an Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy on their high school diploma.
According to the message, this award will be marked on a student’s transcript and diploma and will recognize high “proficiency” in English and at least one other language.
“The Seal of Biliteracy honors bilingualism, encourages maintaining home languages, and motivates English-speaking students in world language studies,” Coordinator of Professional Learning/Assessment Beth Jacobs said. “It’s available to students of all backgrounds and can be assessed anytime during high school.”
Any bilingual student interested in obtaining this award must register for testing no later than Sep. 19.
Despite an email being sent to students and guardians informing of this news, many students were unaware of what a State Seal of Biliteracy was when asked about it.
Senior Sophia Carruthers, who speaks both English and Spanish, and junior Ariana Muratov, who speaks English and Russian, both stated that they had never heard of the award before. After hearing about it, they said that they would be interested in testing for it.
“I think it could come in handy as a bonus to what I already offer colleges and it shows on paper that I have a wider knowledge base,” Muratov said.
Having proof of biliteracy on an official document such as a high school diploma can lead to greater job opportunities and college experiences. It’s a huge advantage for eligible students. Muratov believes this award to be a good opportunity for those at the high school.
“I think it will help [bilingual students] stand out when applying for jobs since they have more to bring to the table for a wider customer base,” she said. “When applying for colleges, most universities want diversity, so they will see you as a better option if you have genuine proof of being bilingual.”
Carruthers agrees with Muratov and believes that the award will help her in the future, especially in terms of her communication skills.
More students are learning about what the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy is and are planning to follow through with the test so that they can be recognized for their accomplishment.
According to senior Roaa Faitouri, who speaks English and Arabic, being bilingual is a large part of her identity, and her high school diploma should reflect that.
“Being bilingual means a lot to me as it is an important part of who I am,” Faitouri said. “It enriches my personal identity … this award helps acknowledge the hard work it takes to learn and be fluent in a second language.”