In the News
Connecting Classrooms, Bridging Cultures
Global Classroom Pair Share is a three-month project enabling classrooms from all over the world to collaborate around monthly themes, completing activities and sharing their work with one another. This innovative initiative connects classrooms around the globe with a shared… Continue Reading
Beyond Marks & Grades: The Popularity of Certificates Among Next-Gen Learners
In 2012, I began a journey that transformed the second language learning curriculum of my school, and now, almost twenty years later, is impacting classrooms around the world… Continue Reading
The Role of Innovative Assessment in Meeting the Needs of Digital Natives 9/15/24
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been significant changes in both publicschools and private lessons. One of the most notable shifts has been the widespread adoption of online learning and teaching… Continue Reading
The Role of Innovative Assessment in Meeting the Needs of Digital Natives 9/15/24
Avant Assessment, US. Robert (Bob) Davis has recently joined the team at Avant Assessment as director of international pathways. Avant Assessment develops and delivers language proficiency solutions that improve language teaching and… Continue Reading
Creating Pathways for Lifelong Learners 12/14/22
In recent years, a number of states have promoted the creation of pathways to make it easier for secondary students to matriculate into postsecondary institutions. Educational leaders see these pathways as a means to provide more access and opportunities to students, as well as mitigate issues associated with declining college enrollments and funding. Continue Reading >
Interpreter program seeks volunteers ahead of World Athletics Championships 5/6/22
EUGENE, OR – A Eugene-based language assessment company is helping launch an interpreter program aimed at international visitors. The Global Seal Experience allows volunteers to become certified language interpreters in only a few simple steps, including an online assessment. Once approved, volunteers will receive a credential that can go on their resumes. Watch the KEZI news story >
Local organizations partner to provide free interpreters for World Athletics Championships 5/4/22
EUGENE, OR – As we count down the days to the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, local organizations are teaming up to provide free interpreters ahead of the event. We spoke to creators of the #GlobalSealExperience Wednesday to learn how it’s going to work. Watch the KVAL news story >
Eugene business sends books to Ukrainian children in Poland 5/3/22
EUGENE, OR – Avant Assessment, an Oregon, USA company that develops online language proficiency tests in more than 40 languages, and Linguacious®, an independent children’s book publisher based in Iowa, USA whose books have been translated into over 20 languages, have partnered to help ensure that Ukrainian refugee children have access to good quality children’s literature in their native language while away from their home country. Watch the KVAL news story >
Solving Language Barriers at World Athletic Championship in Eugene 3/17/22
EUGENE, OR – The World Athletic Championships are coming to Eugene in July. The best athletes across the globe will flock to Tracktown USA for the nine-day competition. This is the first time that the championships have ever been hosted by the US. The event provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase Oregon, but also presents logistical challenges, with one of the biggest being the language barriers between athletes, visitors and Oregonians. Continue Reading >
Interview with Victor Santos, Founder and CEO of Linguacious LLC 3/2/21
WATERLOO, IA – My entire education has been in the field of Linguistics. I got my Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil), during which I had a strong focus on syntax and indigenous languages. Then, I received a scholarship from the European Union to do a binational Master’s degree in Computational Linguistics in Germany (University of Saarland) and in the Netherlands (University of Groningen). Continue Reading >
Guest of the Day: Award Winning Children’s Author Victor Santos 1/26/21
DES MOINES, IA – This weather is perfect for curling up with a good book, especially one that is fun and educational for the kids. Award-winning children’s author Victor Santos shares what inspired him to write the Little Polyglot Adventures series. The third book came out this week. The books have been translated into 19 languages already. Continue Reading >
Language: Challenge & Promise: A Conversation with David Bong 11/13/20
EUGENE, OR – In Episode 9, my guest, David Bong, takes a clear-eyed and optimistic view of the power of language to transform lives for the better. But is insightful to note, conversely, how the lack of linguistic and cultural understanding can divide and hurt the world community. Continue Reading >
School Superintendent Honored for His Support of Biliteracy Education 4/28/20
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Superintendent of Schools Aubrey Johnson has been named New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy Superintendent of the year by the New Jersey Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/New Jersey Bilingual Educators for his support of those who are learning English and his understanding of how they contribute to their schools and communities. Continue Reading >
Woburn students recognized for biliteracy 4/21/20
WOBURN, MA – This year, Woburn Public Schools will celebrate its first graduating class to receive the Seal of Biliteracy, an honor awarded to students who have attained a high level of proficiency in English and at least one additional language. Continue Reading >
Spanish award winners ‘meet’ for class photo 4/22/20
KEWANEE, IL — Area high schools are entering the time when end-of-year awards and honors are announced. Pictures of the recipients pepper the pages of the Star Courier along with names of the honorees and stories about the recognition.This year, the newspaper is still being published each day, but schools are without students and teachers finding new ways to learn from their homes. Continue Reading >
Banks have their hands full as small businesses apply for payroll protection loans 4/20/20
EUGENE, OR – The federal Small Business Administration and banks across the country are spearheading the effort to get almost $350 billion in guaranteed paycheck protection loans to small businesses that have been devastated by the economic fallout from coronavirus. Continue Reading >
Avant Special Offer to Asia Society Confucius Classrooms asiasociety.org 3/26/20
EUGENE, OR – Asia Society is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Avant Assessment to provide Avant’s STAMP™ Chinese language proficiency assessments (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency) and its MORE Learning™ training products for leaders in language education its Center for Global Education Network Schools. Continue Reading >
One Less Hurdle: A new program in Lewisville is helping chin refugees graduate on time 1/06/2020LEWISVILLE, TX – From the hillsides of the Chin State to the urban sprawl of the DFW metroplex, the approximately 1,000 young chin refugees at Lewisville ISD have plenty of challenges. They have escaped religious and political persecution in Myanmar, but once granted asylum in the U.S., they must tackle the challenges of American High School. Continue Reading on Slide 19>
Company aims to help educators help students improve language skills | NBC16 10/30/2019
EUGENE, OR – Dawn Samples just moved from South Carolina with her family. She’s the new Director for Professional Learning of the Avant Assessment team. It’s a company that provides proficiency tests mostly catering to language and communication skills to help students. She may have come at a good time to help. According to the Oregon … Continue Reading >
Nationally Renowned World Educator Joins Eugene Company | The Bottom Line | 10/28/2019
EUGENE, OR– Avant Assessment is excited to bring an acclaimed educator and world language advisor, Dawn Samples, to its Eugene team. Samples assumed the role of Director for Professional Learning in July 2019.
Samples is a champion for advancing public education … Continue Reading >
Eugene Company Hires Tech Expert as its Chief Financial Officer | The Bottom Line 10/11/2019
EUGENE, OR– Avant Assessment hired Michael Woodmansee as its Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations. Woodmansee joins Avant with deep experience in accounting and machine learning.
“I really identify with the educational … Continue Reading >
Eugene Language Assessment Leader Selected for Global Citizen Award | The Bottom Line | 09/30/2019
EUGENE, OR – Avant Assessment co-founder and CEO David Bong received the 2019 Global Citizen Award, which honors innovators in language education. Bong was recognized for his leadership in founding and sponsoring the Global Seal of Biliteracy, a credential that recognizes anyone for their language skills, regardless of how … Continue Reading >
New Program Gives Bilingual UO Students An Edge On Job Applications | KLCC/NPR | 06/10/2019
EUGENE, OR – The University of Oregon awarded 200 students with a Global Seal of Biliteracy, last week. The certification is the first time the university offered the program with the help of a Eugene company. Avant Assessment designs language proficiency tests that examines how well bilingual speakers can speak their native tongue and another language. Continue Reading >
LEWISVILLE, TX — As the year’s last gathering of the Chin Student Club at Lewisville High got underway, kids worked on biology homework, enjoyed a traditional dish of fermented tea leaf salad and talked about things like fast cars and soccer — in their native language of Hakha. The suburban setting was worlds away from … Continue Reading >
DALLAS, TX – As the year’s last gathering of the Chin Student Club at Lewisville High got underway, kids worked on biology homework, enjoyed a traditional dish of fermented tea leaf salad and talked about things like fast cars and soccer — in their native language of Hakha. The suburban setting was worlds away from the life most had known a decade earlier as … Continue Reading >
LEWISVILLE, TX – Lewisville has a large community of Chin refugees. Many of them escaped political and religious persecution as Christians in their home country of Myanmar. But since their language is so rare, there wasn’t a way to give the high school students credit for speaking a second language to meet Texas requirements — until now. Continue Reading >
Alaska’s First and Second | Language Magazine | 05/16/2019
ANCHORAGE, AK – Daniel Ward asks Brandon Locke and Victor Santos to discuss how Anchorage School District is leading the revitalization of the U.S.’ second-most widely spoken native language, Yup’ik, through an innovative dual-language program … Continue Reading >
California must continue to lead in closing the bilingual skills gap | EdSource | 07/19/2018
OAKLAND, CA – Dual language immersion classes in Fresno Unified include English learners and English speakers. The goal of the program is developing bilingual and biliterate students. High school seniors in nearly three dozen states walked across the graduation stage last month to receive a diploma with a unique … Continue Reading >
Alaskans First to Receive Seal of Biliteracy in Native Tongue | Language Magazine | 06/09/2018
ANCHORAGE, AK -The Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) is roughly the size of West Virginia, with 22 schools spread across a remote area of Alaska’s Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. There are no roads, and the most common ways to travel between towns are to fly or snowmobile. Continue Reading >
David Bong: A Chloe Kim skill that translates in state | The Berkshire Eagle | 02/28/2018
BOSTON, MA — Chloe Kim’s gold medal winning snowboarding run and charismatic personality made her the unquestioned star of this year’s Olympics. But it didn’t take any longer than her arrival at the post-victory interview podium for her to demonstrate another reason why global brands are going to be knocking on her door. Continue Reading >
EUGENE, OR (February 18, 2018) – As the number of states and school districts offering “Seal of Biliteracy” programs is increasing rapidly across the country, students studying Polish will for the first time will be able to demonstrate their proficiency in in the language based on a new test established by Avant Assessment, the … Continue Reading >
Avant Helps Teachers Assess | Language Magazine | 10/16/2017
EUGENE, OR – This fall, Avant will launch Avant ADVANCE, an online teacher-training system. ADVANCE helps teachers correctly assess student responses from novice to advanced on the ACTFL proficiency scale more efficiently, more accurately, and with greater confidence than traditional face-to-face training programs. Continue Reading >
Program in Hamden seeks Seal of Biliteracy for high School Students | New Haven Register | 08/03/2017HAMDEN, CT – On the last day of a language enrichment program at Shepherd Glen Elementary School, students performed scenes from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory for their teachers and parents to show off the English language skills they learned through the summer. Continue Reading >