World Language

Our mission is to nurture language proficiency and cultural appreciation to build our students' ability to communicate across the globe. 

• Provide equal access to language learners

• Provide daily opportunities for students to read, write, speak, and listen in the target language

• Explore a variety of world cultures to develop an appreciation, empathy, and respect for all people

• Teach critical thinking and analysis skills through the power of language

• Provide students with authentic resources for language learning

• Improve student achievement and language proficiency through acquisition driven instruction

 

Students should consult with their parents and their school counselors to determine when they should begin their foreign language study. The choice of which language to study can be based on personal interests and goals.

• French, Spanish, German, Latin, and American Sign Language are offered in our high schools. The Advanced Diploma requires two years each of two different languages or a minimum of a three-year sequence in one language.

• World language study may begin in 8th grade and students are granted high school credit.

• Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate World Language courses are available in high schools where the demand is of sufficient numbers.

Stafford County Public Schools is committed to providing opportunities for students to earn both a Virginia and Global Seal of Biliteracy certifying their language proficiency in two languages. 

Virginia Seal of Biliteracy

Since 2015-16, the Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school student in one or more languages in addition to English. The Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded to students who pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English at the proficient or higher level (11th grade  SOL) and who score an intermediate-mid level or higher in another language on a nationally-normed exam.

All students enrolled in a German, French, or Spanish course will take the STAMP assessment at the end of the course. Students must achieve a score of 5 or higher in writing and speaking to qualify for a Virginia Diploma Seal of Biliteracy. 

Visit the Virginia Department of Education's website for more information on Virginia's Seal of Biliteracy.

Global Seal of Biliteracy

 

"The Global Seal of Biliteracy™ is a credential that celebrates language skills and expands future opportunities for its recipients. A uniform standard is used to empower our awardees to be valuable assets in multilingual environments. The Global Seal of Biliteracy enables recipients to showcase their language skills to any school or employer across state lines and national borders, with a unique serial-numbered document. " 

There are two levels of Global Seals: 

• Functional Fluency: 5 or higher on all sections (Intermediate-Mid)
• Working Fluency: 7 or higher on all sections (Advanced-Low)

Stafford County Public Schools will submit names and scores of any qualifying students to Global Seal after completion of the end-of-course STAMP test. Students will receive a certificate and an additional Seal to add to their high school diploma.