Photo courtesy of the Seaford School District
In just the second year it is being offered as a graduation option, 34 Seaford High School seniors are pursuing the Seal of Biliteracy designation. That would more than double the number of students who received it in June 2022.
World language department lead teacher Patricia Foley said that the seal, affixed to a high school diploma, is awarded to students who show mastery in English and at least one other language. Students in the Class of 2023 are seeking this designation in Greek, Hebrew, Spanish and Turkish.
Kutay Sezer, who lived in Turkey until he was 9, said earning the Seal of Biliteracy would demonstrate his mastery of the two languages he speaks fluently, with English being the second language he learned.
Jamie Young and Andrew Randazzo both have taken Spanish since middle school and want to earn the Seal of Biliteracy to show how far their language skills have come over the past six years. Jamie, who said that international business is a prospective career, knows that knowledge of another language and other cultures will be beneficial.
“It’s something that would be advantageous for college submissions and my future career,” added Andrew.
A few students are pursuing the seal in three languages, including Nicole Nietsch and Katerina Perlegis. Nicole Nietsch took Spanish as her world language in school and also learned Hebrew through an afterschool program.
“It’s important to understand and relate to other people,” said Nicole, who wants to become a teacher.
Katerina also took Spanish in middle school and high school, and learned Greek from her family. Aspiring to work as a speech pathologist, she said the knowledge of multiple languages could help her communicate with children who don’t speak English as their native language.
To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, all students must complete culminating projects in English and their chosen world language. The theme this year is contemporary life. Candidates will present their research in the spring before a panel of teachers.
Ms. Foley said she is thrilled that so many seniors are working to earn the Seal of Biliteracy and noted that knowledge of multiple languages is a beneficial life skill.
“We live in a very multilingual society, even in the United States itself,” she said. “It is definitely a skill they can utilize outside of the academic day and will benefit them in any career they choose.”
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