October 23rd was the first date for seniors and early graduating juniors to partake in the Avant STAMP test, a world language test that allows them to earn the Seal of Biliteracy or the Commendation Towards Biliteracy. According to the Avant Assessment website, “Its purpose is to improve language-learning outcomes, support excellence in language programs, and enable language credentialing.”
Mr. Coates, the Division Chair for Arts, Social Studies, and World Languages, said that, “The Seal of Biliteracy is administered by the state of Illinois and said that the student is proficient in two languages: English and any other language tested.”
The STAMP test is administered through the contracted company, AVANT, to verify students’ proficiency in a specified language. German teacher Mrs. Wiede said, “When you take it, it determines how competent you are in that language. Maybe not fluent–but it highlights that the student knows enough about the language that they can apply it usefully.”
The STAMP test, starting from eight AM on Wednesday, takes up around three and a half hours. Mrs. Wiede notes that, “The test takes about maybe 40 to 50 minutes per section, and is self-paced.”
“We do it on Wednesday to minimize the class time students miss, so most students will get halfway through the test before school starts. We try to have everyone done around the end of 4A lunch, “ Mr. Coates notes.
French teacher Mrs. Schmuck said, “If something’s easier for you and you get through it faster, that just means you have more time to spend on the other parts.”
The test involves 4 parts, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Mrs. Wiede said, “The reading is straightforward; you read and answer the questions. The listening part is similar to the reading, you’re gonna get something to hear instead, and you have to answer the questions about it. The writing has 3 questions it’s gonna ask you about; you answer what the
The speaking will have you listen to a situation that does include questions and will have you answer those questions in a recording of up to 3 minutes. You have a little bit of time beforehand to think or compile your thoughts, and then you speak into the microphone.”
Mrs. VanderWoude, Spanish teacher, noted, “The level of difficulty is based on how well you score. How you score on reading and listening tends to determine your writing and speaking topics.”
To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, you have to earn a cumulative average of intermediate high or a cumulative score of 24, while the Commendation of Biliteracy is awarded for a cumulative average of intermediate low. According to Avant’s STAMP Benchmark Scale, “Test takers receive a score (Benchmark Level) for each section of the test. Benchmark Levels are grouped by major levels (Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced). Within each major level are three sub-levels (low, mid, and high) that are aligned to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.”
The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, in its “Levels and Sublevels” category, says that the intermediate level can do the following: “The individual can participate in short conversations on predictable topics, ask and answer simple questions, and handle simple transactions using sentence-level communication.”
Mrs. VanderWoude noted, “It can be tested in any available language, even outside of the languages we offer at Sandburg. They have to earn a cumulative score of 24 on the STAMP test. Sometimes we have students who get a 7-8 on reading or listening but they only got a 5, an intermediate mid, on writing and speaking; they can still earn that seal because they are in that cumulative score of 24.”
However, Avant changes their retake rules yearly, and certain sections can only be retaken once. “Avant changes how students will retake every summer. Before, you could retake the entire thing and if you get one level higher and get the seal you are allowed to take it. They always communicate with schools about any changes when it comes to retaking the test,” Mr. Coates said.
STAMP testing is only eligible for seniors. “We limit it to seniors because it makes it more simple to manage. Juniors who are graduating early are also qualified, “ Mr. Coates said.
Any seniors are qualified to take this exam, and all seniors are emailed with details about the test.
“We have quite a few students who are in a language school for a language that we do not offer outside of Sandburg; they would bring us a certificate because they’ve taken the test and that also qualifies. To show English proficiency we’ve been using the SAT: at least a 480 on the reading and writing portion. If you don’t qualify for the SAT, there are several ways students might get it. Some of our EL students will get it by taking the Access test. You can take a STAMP test in English, as that would also qualify,” Mr. Coates said.
For people who are taking multiple language tests, their testing experiences are a little different.
“There are multiple opportunities for people to take more than one language. Let’s say a student takes a language class here but also speaks another language at home. Mr. Coates will work with them to make sure that they can test in all the languages they need to. Someone had earned the seal in 3 different languages so we’ll work with everyone to do that. We’re trying to encourage our students to take the test in the fall to use it as a benchmark; they will know what they need to work on for the rest of the school year until February when the main test is offered again.”
Mr. Coates also mentioned accessibility for people with accommodations. “We have a room specifically for people with accommodations so that they can also take the test and be accommodated.”
Students in language programs in and out of Sandburg already have practice even from their first day of class. German, Spanish, and French teachers all agree on one thing students need to know–vocabulary.
Mrs. VanderWoude expresses, “There’s a very large menu of options for topic prompts so I try to expose my students to various themes of vocabulary that refresh from maybe what people learned years prior.”
Mrs. Wiede also shared the necessity for vocabulary. “From day one, when we do vocabulary activities or when any of the content is up, you need to try to put as many words in your head. It’s all about the words. Also, take the initiative yourself to make sure ‘can I use the words?’. It won’t do you much good if you can’t use them.”
Mrs. Schmuck said, “If you travel to France on vacation, you’re not going to be talking about the latest book of poetry that you read, but you might be talking about social media. Where students get tripped up is the speaking portion because they don’t know what to say; just make an effort and practice speaking in the language. Have a couple of phrases that you can intuitively use like “however”, or “in my opinion”, so that you can pull out of your pocket for writing and speaking.”
On the Avant website, there are many practice tests for all available languages that mimic the real assessment.
Mrs. Schmuck encourages her students to take the test as they can then come back with questions and ideas for improvement. “I can see what their scores are but I don’t necessarily know how they answer the question. One of my students could say ‘I struggled on this thing’ and we can work on that topic to help build their knowledge for the test again. Where a lot of students struggle is the speaking portion because they don’t know what to say so just make an effort and practice speaking in the language.”
Mrs. Wiede, instead, requires her German students to take the test. “For German, I require them to take the test. I have 26 students taking it this year, and none of them have objected to taking it, especially because the test is quite reasonable and less intense than the AP exam. Because I’ve had them for all 4 years–I am the only German teacher–I say to them, ‘Look, you know, it’s ok if you think you don’t know this; let’s try it and have that experience. You lose twenty dollars if you don’t pass it or get a score that you want, and that’s ok. Every student said, ’Okay, fine, I’ll take it.’”
Mrs. Schmuck also shares the same belief and finds value in taking the test as a benchmark for her students’ learning. “ I wish more people in other languages would try the test. Unlike the AP exam, The STAMP test is not as intense or as expensive, so I wish kids would get out of their comfort zone and try it out because if you don’t do well, fine, we move on. It doesn’t hurt anything, so take it.”
On average, 5% of all Illinois students earn the Seal of Biliteracy, and last year at Sandburg, 16% of the Class of 2024 earned the Seal of Biliteracy: triple the statewide rate.
Mr. Coates said, “The Seal of Biliteracy is already an impressive feat, and on average only ten to eleven thousand people in the state of Illinois get the seal every year. It puts you in a uniquely qualified group of people.”
The STAMP test and the Seal of Biliteracy recognize biliterate students and offer the possibility of new openings for colleges and jobs. By students taking the test and improving their skills in languages, Sandburg enhances its diversity and broadens its knowledge to engage not only with students but also with parents, community members, and the wider world.