Why Take More Than Two Years of a World Language?
Four Year Planning for High School:
Levels of Proficiency
After only two years of a world language, students are barely out of the novice range and into the low intermediate range: Per the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, students in Level II are expected to reach a proficiency level of Novice High to Intermediate Low, as defined in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 and the ACTFL Performance Descriptors for Language Learners.
Oral Proficiency after 2 Years of a Language:
*The levels of proficiency associated with the positions above are minimal levels of oral and writing proficiency, most of which are based on Language Testing International task analyses, where the minimal levels were determined by subject matter experts from companies and agencies who use ACTFL proficiency tests.
ACTFL Level | Language Functions | Corresponding Professions/Positions* |
Intermediate Low | | Customer Service Agent (incidental target language use), Housekeeping Staff |
Novice High | Communicate minimally with formulaic and rote utterances, lists, and phrases. Their communication will include many errors and require a very sympathetic interlocutor for successful communication. | No functional professional working ability |
Novice Mid | ||
Novice Low |
Writing Proficiency after 2 Years of a Language:
*The levels of proficiency associated with the positions above are minimal levels of oral and writing proficiency, most of which are based on Language Testing International task analyses, where the minimal levels were determined by subject matter experts from companies and agencies who use ACTFL proficiency tests.
ACTFL Level | Language Functions | Corresponding Professions/Positions* |
Intermediate Low | | N/A |
Novice High | Produce lists and notes, primarily by writing words and phrases. Transcribe familiar words or phrases, copy letters of the alphabet or syllables of a syllabary, or reproduce basic characters with some accuracy. | No functional professional working ability |
Novice Mid | ||
Novice Low |
Oral Proficiency after 4 years of a language:
ACTFL Level | Language Functions | Corresponding Professions/Positions* |
Advanced Low Advanced Placement International Baccalaureate | Narrate and describe in past, present, and future. Deal effectively with an unanticipated complication with sufficient control of structure and vocabulary to be understood by most anyone. | 911 Dispatcher, Accounting Coordinator, Banker, Banking Manager, Billing Clerk, Call Center Representative, Claims Processor, Consumer Products Customer Services Representative, Credit & Loan Advisor, Customer Service Agent, Customer Service Interpreter, Employee Trainer, Financial Advisor, Flight Attendant, K-12 Language Teacher, Legal Receptionist, Legal Secretary, Maintenance Administrator, Maintenance Technician Supervisors, Nurse, Police Officer, Program Executive, Researcher/Analyst, Retail Services Personnel, Sales & Marketing Representative, Social Service Case Manager, Social Service Receptionist, Social Worker |
Intermediate High Level IV | Create with language, initiate, maintain, and bring simple conversations to a close by asking and responding to simple questions with sentence-length discourse. Their communication will include errors that may, at times, distract from their message but they can usually clarify their message, as needed. | Administrative Assistant, Auto Inspector, Aviation Personnel, Banking Manager, Conductors (Bus/Train), Custodian, Customer Service Agent, Employee Trainer, Facilities Manager, Firefighter, Flight Attendant, Insurance Manager, K-12 Language Teacher, Maintenance Technician, Missionary, Nurse, Police Officer, Receptionist, Sales Support Representative, Social Worker Assistant, Tour Guide, Utilities Installer |
Intermediate Mid Level III | Cashier, Customer Service Agent, Sales clerk (highly predictable contexts), Technicians (equipment maintainers), Truck Driver | |
Intermediate Low Level II | Customer Service Agent (incidental target language use), Housekeeping Staff |
Written Proficiency after 4 years of a language:
ACTFL Level | Language Functions | Corresponding Professions/Positions* |
Advanced Low Advanced Placement International Baccalaureate | Write routine informal and some formal correspondence, as well as narratives, descriptions, and summaries of a factual nature. Elaborate and paraphrase to enhance clarification and narrate and explain in the three main time frames of the past, present, and future with good control of the most frequently used structures and generic vocabulary. | Hospitality Customer Service Agent, Receptionist, Social Services Administrative Assistant |
Intermediate High Level IV | Write simple messages and letters, information requests, and notes—all practical writing tasks. Respond to simple questions or requests, generally in the present time with basic vocabulary and structures in language that is generally comprehensible, potentially with some clarification needed. | Accounting Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Call Center Representative, Consumer Product Customer Service Agent |
Intermediate Mid Level III | Customer Service Agent (incidental target language use) | |
Intermediate Low Level II | |
Level I
Level II
Level III
Level IV
AP/IB
Language Learning is a journey….
�����There is no elevator to proficiency; we have to take the stairs…shortcuts don’t work!��������
There is no elevator to proficiency; we have to take the stairs…shortcuts don’t work!
EVERYONE in the entire State of Texas takes two years of a language…Make sure YOU STAND OUT !
Let’s see what happens when you take up to FOUR years of a language…
Get College Credits and Save $$$$$$ !!!
Getting into the advanced level of a language allows you to:
UT Austin
AP Scores in a World Language awards you the highest number of credits!
Check HERE for more institutions!
Language Exam | Min. Score Required | Number of Credits | Equivalent Course |
Chinese | 3 | 12 | CHI 606,607 |
| 4 | 15 | CHI 606, 607, 312K |
| 5 | 18 | CHI 606, 607, 312K, 312L |
French | 3 | 6 | FR 601C |
| 4 | 12 | FR 601C, 611C |
| 5 | 15 | FR 601C, 611C, 317C |
German | 3 | 6 | GER 506, 507; |
| 4-5 | 12-15 | GER 506, 507, 612; or GER 604, 612 |
Spanish Language | 3 | 6 | SPN 601D |
| 4 | 12 | SPN 601D & 610D |
| 5 | 18 | SPN 601D, 610D, 311 & 314 |
Spanish Literature | 3 | 12 | SPN 601D & 610D |
| 4 | 18 | SPN 601D, 610D, 311, 314 |
| 5 | 21 | SPN 601D, 610D, 311, 314 & 327C |
Language Exam | Min. Score Required | Number of Credits | Equivalent Course |
Chinese | 3 | 8 | CHIN 101, 102 |
| 4 | 14 | CHIN 101, 102, 201, 202 |
French | 3 | 8 | FREN 101, 102 |
| 4 | 14 | FREN 101, 102, 201, 202 |
German | 3 | 8 | GERM 101, 102 |
| 4 | 14 | GERM 101, 102, 201, 202 |
Spanish Language | 3 | 8 | SPAN 101, 102 |
| 4 | 11 | SPAN 101, 102, 201 |
| 5 | 14 | SPAN 101, 102, 201, 202 |
Spanish Literature | 3 | 3 | SPAN 202 |
| 5 | 6 | SPAN 202, 320 |
Texas A & M
AP Scores in a World Language awards you the highest number of credits!
Check HERE for more institutions!
Other Advantages of Taking AP Courses
Undergraduate | In-State | Out-of-State |
Four-year College (Public) | $390 | $1,126 |
Four-year (Private) | For-Profit | Non-profit |
| $623 | $1,492 |
Two-year (Public) | $141 | |
Two-year (Private) | For-Profit | Non-profit |
| $657 | $749 |
RRISD credentials with the Global Seal Of Biliteracy
The Global Seal of Biliteracy is a digitally-shareable certificate that has been issued in over 30 countries by employers, universities, and secondary schools. The Global Seal of Biliteracy by design is inclusive, embracing all languages and learners, with the intent to provide equal access and expanded opportunity to document and highlight language skills.
How to earn the Global Seal of Biliteracy? Take an AP and/or IB language course!
APPROVED TESTS & ASSESSMENTS | FUNCTIONAL FLUENCY AWARD | WORKING FLUENCY AWARD |
College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Language & Culture | Score of 3 or 4 | Score of 5 |
Score of 4 or 5 | Score of 6 or higher |
Global Seal Of Biliteracy
A global credential that celebrates bilingualism and expands future opportunity
Benefits to Recipients :
Don’t know which language to choose?
The best language to learn is the one you’ll continue learning for the longest. Explore some of the languages below to learn the benefits, check out language-specific scholarship opportunities, and find testimonials by fellow learners.
Here are the six languages offered in Round Rock ISD: Middle School Offerings High School Offerings
Want to learn more about the benefits of language learning?
Click HERE for more information.
“The ability to communicate with respect and cultural understanding in more than one language is an essential element of global competence.”
—American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Do you still have questions?
Contact:
Marie Douglass
World Languages/LOTE Coordinator K-12
Secondary ESL Curriculum Coordinator