Global Seal of Biliteracy in English & Bulgarian

The Global Seal of Biliteracy is proof of your language proficiency in two languages of the Proficiency Guidelines by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

Qualifying Proficiency Test: ALTA Written Assignment & Speaking and Listening

ABSA awards students the Global Seal in addition to the State Seal of Biliteracy, based on productive ALTA Test results. The Global Seal is recognized and accepted as language credits by most universities across the United States. Language credentials provide increased opportunities to multiple careers. Scroll down for test type description.

Skills Tested

The test is based on language proficiency: “What individuals can do with Language in terms of SPEAKING, WRITING & LISTENING in real-world situations in a spontaneous and non-rehearsed context”.

Spoken Production

I can use a series of phrases and sentences to provide basic information about familiar topics.

Writing

I can write simple descriptions and short messages and request or provide information on familiar topics.

ALTA Writing Proficiency

The written test includes various tasks, such as writing a letter, giving an opinion, describing a rule of procedure, as well as grammatical structures, spelling/character selection. The evaluator (aka ALTA Testing Services) scores the writing based on expression, understanding of the given topics, grammar, vocabulary and spelling, and an overall score is assigned. 

ALTA Speaking and Listening Proficiency

ALTA delivers this assessment via an automated, interactive voice response (IVR) system. One question is selected at random from a pool of similar questions, focusing on a particular linguistic task (e.g. narrating in the past tense), and the recorded question is played for the candidate. The candidate is given a specific period of time to respond to the question posed, and the response is digitally recorded.  

How does the Global Seal of Biliteracy different from the U.S. State Seals of Biliteracy?

The Association of Bulgarian Schools in America (ABSA) works closely with the administration authorities of the State Seals and Global Seal programs. We are proud to be the only organization that can provide both seals to our heritage language students, following the American standards of language proficiency.

It is important to note that the Global Seal of Biliteracy is a universal program that can be issued in any country, while the U.S. State Seals are generally available to students graduating from public schools in states and districts that have adopted the program, with some exceptions.

The Global Seal of Biliteracy credentials all qualifying language learners, including those who have already graduated from high school but would like to certify their language skills for academic or work purposes. It can be used in partnership with state Seals to provide earlier benchmark awards or an alternative award to language learners above or below state Seal criteria.