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Bilingual and Multilingual Seals and Certificates

Eagan High School Spanish teacher Jose Martinez works with a student.

Learning through the exploration of culture and language 

The study of world languages provides students with a comprehensive education and the worldwide perspective necessary to become global citizens. According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, language learning supports academic achievement, provides cognitive benefits and affects attitudes and beliefs about language learning and about other cultures. It is recommended that students take a minimum of three to four years of uninterrupted study of one of the languages offered in order to:

  • Increase proficiency in the language;
  • Ensure they are eligible to apply to the college of their choice and are prepared for college-level language study, and
  • Fulfill college entrance and exit requirements (some colleges).

Bilingual and Multilingual Seals and World Language Certificates

Bilingual and Multilingual Seals and World Language Certificates are provided to high school graduates who demonstrate the required levels of language proficiency in speaking, writing, reading and listening for languages other than English, including American Sign Language (ASL) and American Indian (indigenous) languages, regardless of how the language was learned. (Bilingual and multilingual seals are awarded upon graduation. World language proficiency certificates can be awarded when students meet proficiency requirements.)
 

To achieve a seal, students must satisfactorily complete all required English Language Arts credits and demonstrate proficiency in another language through language proficiency assessments approved by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). To achieve a certificate, students must demonstrate proficiency in another language through language proficiency assessments approved by MDE. The assessments are an online test of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

Eligible World Languages

Amharic Hmong Portuguese
Arabic Italian Russian
ASL Japanese Somali
Czech Karen Spanish 
Dakota Korean Swahili
French Mandarin Tamil
German Ojibwe Ukrainian
Hebrew Oromo Vietnamese
Hindi Polish  


Registration & Important Dates

Registration is open to Grade 12 students until March 16, 2025.
To do so, please complete the online registration survey 2024-25 Bilingual Test Registration. 

The proficiency tests are on April 15, 2025, at the student's high school.
 

Contacts

Please use the following building contacts:

Contact Stephen Bell-Kemp (651-423-7856), District Assessment Coordinator, for further questions.

World languages in District 196

Frequently asked questions