World Language
About
The World Language Department offers French, Spanish, and additional courses for students with Spanish language learning backgrounds.
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The curriculum is developed to help students develop skills in the Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational modes of communication.
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Language specific National Honor Societies, as well as other awards opportunities, provide recognition for top performing students in each language.
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Extra-curricular clubs for each language give students further cultural enrichment opportunities and ability to participate in school-wide events.
When available, World Language Department teachers offer opportunities for students to experience the culture and utilize the target language through internet pen-pals, hosting, and travel abroad opportunities.
Contacts
Seal of Biliteracy
What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy-
The Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy is an award bestowed by the Illinois State Board of Education and given by School District 121 in recognition and celebration of students who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English by high school graduation. The state of Illinois officially adopted the Seal of Biliteracy in 2013 and Warren is proud to continue to offer this amazing opportunity for our Students. Students who earn the Seal qualify for two years of credit in that language at any Illinois post-secondary program.
Students who have earned the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy or the Illinois State Commendation Toward Biliteracy will receive their award at the time of their graduation. Their achievement will be acknowledged on student transcripts and diplomas.
Rationale for the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy
The Illinois State Board of Education and Warren Township High School value the importance of language learning as a foundation for global citizenship. Studying another language not only strengthens students’ cognitive skills but also prepares them to engage meaningfully in today’s interconnected world. As the demand for multilingual professionals continues to grow in Illinois and beyond, the Seal of Biliteracy celebrates our students’ linguistic and cultural strengths while equipping them with valuable skills for college, career, and life success.
Students applying for the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation Award must demonstrate proficiency in English and an additional language.
The ACT is the state academic assessment for high school. Districts may use results from the ISBE-provided ACT School Day administration or an alternate ACT/SAT session to determine whether a student meets the award's English proficiency requirement, which is the English language arts/reading standard set by the state. In 2019, the Illinois State Board of Education approved a new minimum English language arts (ELA) score of 480 to meet standards on the SAT or a 20 on the ELA portion of the ACT.
To qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy, students must demonstrate proficiency in both English and an additional language by meeting the following criteria:
English Proficiency Requirements (Must meet one of the following):
- Earning a minimum score of 20 in the Reading/Writing portion of the ACT or a composite of 21
- Earning a minimum score of 480 in the Evidence Based Reading and Writing portion of the SAT
- Earning a minimum overall score of 4.8 on the ACCESS for ELLs exam taken while in high school.
Additional Language Proficiency Requirements (Must meet one of the following):
- Earning a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Language and Culture Exam taken prior to this school year, OR
- Earn a minimum score of I-5 on all four domains of the ACTFL's Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) exam. The following languages can be assessed with the AAPPL exam: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai.
- Earn a minimum score of INTERMEDIATE HIGH on all four domains of the STAMP 4S Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency. The following languages can be assessed with the STAMP 4S exam: Hebrew and Polish.
Registration will be closed on December 12, 2025 and all components of the test need to be completed before March 13, 2026
Use this link to register for the Seal of Biliteracy exams in 2026. The link will close December 12, 2025.
Utilice este enlace para inscribirse para la prueba del Sello de Alfabetización Bilingüe. La inscripción debe realizarse el viernes 12 de diciembre.
Accomplishments
We are proud to celebrate our students’ incredible linguistic and cultural accomplishments through the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy Program. This statewide recognition honors graduating students who demonstrate proficiency in English and one or more world languages, highlighting the power of multilingualism in today’s global society.
Last year, our school proudly assessed 176 students in Portuguese, Spanish, French, Russian, Tagalog, Malayalam, Serbian, Polish, Ukrainian, and Korean. Each of these students represents a bridge between cultures, and their commitment to maintaining and developing their language skills reflects the diversity and richness of our community. This is only a glimpse into the incredible diversity that we honor everyday.
Additional Resources:
- Warren Township High School Official Seal of Biliteracy Flyer (English/español)
- Language Assessments chart
- College Credit Information
- AAPPL Exam Website
- STAMP Website
- Information from the State- ISBE
- Illinois State Board of Education - Standard Assessment Method for the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy
Clubs & Organizations
Recognition
Special Honors or Recognitions:
French:
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Many students have been awarded the McCormick Scholarship of Excellence through the Alliance Française of Chicago for their scores achieved on the National French Contest Exam. They benefited with a 2-week all-expenses-paid educational trip to study in Paris, France.
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Each year, Warren is proud to announce high-ranking winners in the National French Contest Exam.
Spanish:
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Students in the AVANZA organization have earned top honors and are the current Chicano Bowl Champions (2022)
Each year, the World Language Department is proud to announce recipients of the Biliteracy Seal and Biliteracy Commendation to students in French and Spanish, as well as students with fluency in other languages, such as Polish, Russian, Hindi, and Mandarin. These awards help to celebrate and acknowledge the diversity of languages and backgrounds that pass through the halls of Warren Township High School.