Anonymous wrote:We're French, and weren't aware this was a thing until my oldest took AP French. He also took AP Latin, but I'm not sure that counts for SOB. My second is going to take at least one AP Spanish, so I assume she will also have the SOB.

Ultimately, I don't think it counts for college admissions or anything else, so don't stress about it.

My son came very close to the Spanish "Seal" but did not pass.

His university only accepts their own placement testing. The liberal arts college requires 4th year of high school proficiency to graduate. He was placed into 4th year Spanish in college/Spanish 4. So one class year behind his high school studies. This was not a surprise since there were staffing issues for his middle school years.

I didn't find any evidence that this Seal was valuable for anything in particular so we didn't stress about him retaking it.

I studied French. There is a national French competition that has local and national awards. That might be of interest.

https://www.frenchteachers.org/concours

Anonymous wrote:Our High School offers the tests in December and February. I think they recommend that Seniors take the December exam

By then it's mostly too late for college apps

Our High School offers the tests in December and February. I think they recommend that Seniors take the December exam

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:24 PP - did your son grow up in a French speaking home or Francophone culture? Did he have a tutor or use outside services to help him? Just trying to figure out if it is worth trying to take the exam and spending outside-school resources to get there especially given all else the students at this point in HS need to do.

No French or Francophone culture at home. Just 6 years of French through MCPS. No extra tutoring or studying beyond that. His teacher suggested he take the exam; he's not sure how many classmates took it and who passed.

Yes, good idea to ask DC's teacher. They'll have a good sense of whether it's worth it for your DC to attempt the exam. Btw they can take it a second time if they don't pass the first time.

Anonymous wrote:11:24 PP - did your son grow up in a French speaking home or Francophone culture? Did he have a tutor or use outside services to help him? Just trying to figure out if it is worth trying to take the exam and spending outside-school resources to get there especially given all else the students at this point in HS need to do.

No French or Francophone culture at home. Just 6 years of French through MCPS. No extra tutoring or studying beyond that. His teacher suggested he take the exam; he's not sure how many classmates took it and who passed.

There are many different tests you can take to qualify. The state has a whole chart:

https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DCAA/World-Languages/Biliteracy/MSDE-Approved-World-Language-Assessments-for-Maryland-Seal-of-Biliteracy-A.pdf

Check with your world language dept head to find out which ones are given at your school.

Anonymous wrote:Does having a SOB matter for college applications?

Any accomplishment can't hurt. Often colleges want 2+ yrs so an additional merit should be looked favorably. Ask in Colleges Forum or it has probably been discussed there already.

Does having a SOB matter for college applications?

We're French, and weren't aware this was a thing until my oldest took AP French. He also took AP Latin, but I'm not sure that counts for SOB. My second is going to take at least one AP Spanish, so I assume she will also have the SOB.

Ultimately, I don't think it counts for college admissions or anything else, so don't stress about it.

Anonymous wrote:They can get it either through the specific test or by getting a 4 on the AP test. If your DC takes a language through the first AP year, take both the SOB test when it's offer and then the AP test, and if they are doing well in the class, they likely will get it.

👍

Is this exam and getting the seal something HS promote? It was maybe mentioned by the language teacher once back in MS, but haven't heard much about it in HS.

They can get it either through the specific test or by getting a 4 on the AP test. If your DC takes a language through the first AP year, take both the SOB test when it's offer and then the AP test, and if they are doing well in the class, they likely will get it.

11:24 PP - did your son grow up in a French speaking home or Francophone culture? Did he have a tutor or use outside services to help him? Just trying to figure out if it is worth trying to take the exam and spending outside-school resources to get there especially given all else the students at this point in HS need to do.

My DS earned the SOB in French junior year. He was taking his 6th year of French at that point. He did not think it was an easy exam, but did pass on his first try. Not sure what the general stats are there.

Has your kid tried to earn the Seal of Biliteracy? Was it hard for a non native learner? Did they pass? What is this seal pass rate in MCP HS?