Blog
Ali Moeller: Leadership in Language
In the ever-evolving landscape of language learning and education, few have made as indelible a mark as Dr. Aleidine “Ali” Moeller, a name synonymous with leadership, research, innovation, and an…
The Inspiring Journey of Ann Tollefson: A Lifetime of Language Advocacy
Ann Tollefson’s career in language education is a story of passion, pioneering, and embracing change. Beginning as a junior high French teacher, her journey spans decades including roles as a…
5 Reasons Why Dual Language is Core Education
The world of education is constantly evolving, and one of the most significant advancements in recent times is the recognition of dual language immersion as a core component of education….
A Gift to “Power Up” Your Students and Their Proficiency!
As we gear up for spring, many of us are reviewing class assessment data, preparing for STAMP assessments, and helping students finalize their Seal of Biliteracy applications. This flurry of…
Kathy Durán, Professional Learning Specialist
We are thrilled to announce that Kathy Durán has joined our Avant MORE Learning team as a Professional Learning Specialist. Kathy brings a wealth of experience and a proven track…
Supporting and Connecting With New World Language Teachers – The N.E.W.B.I.E. Project
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of individuals with teaching interest had been on a steady decline since the 1990s. Language teachers are one of the most-impacted groups. A…
A Winning Combination for Equity: Assessment for Competency-Based Credits and Seals of Biliteracy
How can measuring language proficiency be the key to unlocking life-changing opportunities? In the ever-evolving landscape of education, equity has increasingly become a focal point for reform. A recent episode…
Avant STAMP and the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
Updated: September 2023 Standards ensure the consistent measure of one or more skills and guide educators in the best teaching and learning practices and tools. The Avant STAMP language assessment…
Creating International Opportunities with Amala Education
In 2017 Amala Education (formerly known as Sky School) was launched to address the gap in quality education provision for displaced youth ages 16-25, many of whom were living in…
Preserving Our Linguistic Diversity: A Look at Victor D.O. Santos’ “What Makes Us Human”
Throughout history, innovative children’s literature has often emerged from a creative adult’s quest to convey profound lessons to the younger generation. A recent example in this tradition is Avant’s Victor…
Edgar Serrano, Regional Account Manager
Welcome Edgar Serrano, Regional Account Manager We are thrilled to announce Edgar Serrano has joined our team as a Regional Account Manager. Originally from Mexico City and with over 30…
Bob Davis, Director of International Pathways
Welcome Bob Davis, Director of International Pathways We are excited to welcome Bob Davis to the Avant Assessment team. Bob joins Avant as the Director of International Pathways supporting our…
Avant STAMP for ASL and Latin: Expanding Access to State and Global Seals of Biliteracy
Avant is thrilled to announce that two new language assessments, STAMP for ASL and STAMP for Latin, are now eligible for the Global Seal of Biliteracy in addition to State…
Dr. Brandee Mau, Dual Language Specialist with MEDLI
Dr. Brandee Mau, Dual Language Specialist with MEDLI Please join us in celebrating Brandee Mau in her new role as a Dual Language Specialist with the Avant MORE Learning team!…
How Expensive is Dual Language Immersion, Really?
By: Brandee Mau, Director of STAMP WS Rating & DLI Specialist Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs may feel like a recent development in American education, but according to EdWeek, groups…
Welcome Gregg Roberts, Dual Language Innovation Coordinator
We are thrilled to welcome a new member to our team that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Dual Language Immersion field. Please join us in extending…
Is Your Language Assessment Data Accurate and Reliable?
Is Your Language Assessment Data Accurate and Reliable? The value of language skills is increasing. Both learners and educators are discovering that individuals who can demonstrate proficiency in more than…
Welcome Amanda Minnillo, World Language Specialist
Welcome Amanda Minnillo, World Language Specialist Amanda Minnillo is our newest Avant MORE Learning team member at Avant Assessment! She has a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the…
Help Avant Assessment Celebrate Achieving Women in Language for International Women’s Day
#AvantAchiever Each year, on March 8th, International Women’s Day (#IWD2022) is one of the most important days of the year to: celebrate women’s achievements raise awareness about women’s equality lobby…
Four Steps To Achieving Higher Proficiency-Level Language Learners
With this four-step approach, you can turn your school’s, district’s, or institution’s world language program into a cycle of proficiency with measurable, year-over-year outcomes and proven program efficacy. Start…
How One College’s Testing Provides Proof Of Program Efficacy
In the early 2000’s, Cheryl Johnson, Instructional Technologist at Denison University in Ohio, first learned about the Avant STAMP™ assessment. At the time, she didn’t recommend it to her department….
How Language Proficiency Training Transformed My Teaching
How Language Proficiency Training Transformed My Teaching By: Caroline E. Schlegel, M.Ed. I was going through my desk drawer the other day and came across a lesson I had…
How One County Is Turning Seal Of Biliteracy Access And Equity Into Reality
The San Bernardino Superintendent of Schools, Ted Alejandre, and his office are doing something never done before in California: providing access to all high school seniors learning or speaking more…
How I Grew My Language Programs With NADSFL
By: Bonnie Peterson I don’t scare easily. I’ve been skydiving, extensively traveled the world alone, and taught junior high and high school French for 17 years. From a lifetime of…
How can language programs leverage Texas’ Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA)?
In 2019, Texas passed legislation to create the Teacher Incentive Allotment for Texas schools as a realistic pathway for teachers to earn higher salaries and focus funding on traditionally hard-to-staff…
Study Abroad During A Pandemic? Here Is How CIEE Did It Successfully
If you thought COVID was tough on your school or organization, imagine being in the study abroad business. Airplanes grounded. Host families can’t take strangers into their homes. Schools around…
Discover The Potential Of Your Language Programs With Avant STAMP Data
Watch Roger Burt and Bonnie Peterson Share How They Used Avant STAMP Data To Improve The World Language Program At Their School In this video you will learn how Avant’s…
Reimagining Bilingual School Programs
In Albuquerque
In school, Jessica Villalobos could not see herself. People who looked like her, shared her background, who spoke Spanish were nowhere to be seen in the textbooks, novels, and films…
In Albuquerque
Using STAMP to Create a Culture of Learning at the College of DuPage
Sandra Martins was a good Spanish student. But, when she finally visited Spain for the first time, she found much of what she had learned to be useless. Language Learning…
Hebrew At The Center’s Data-Centered Approach To Language Proficiency
A data-driven approach to language proficiency helps Hebrew at the Center turn Hebrew students into Hebrew speakers. How do you get the most out of your language program at your…
Student Avant STAMP Language Proficiency Test Scores Skyrocket
Simply letting students talk more during a class led to dramatic improvements in students’ language proficiency skills at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Listening Is Good, Speaking Is…
Language Placement Testing: Tulane’s Success Story
Tulane University started using online assessment for student placement a few years ago, discovering that student performance data — like duct tape — can solve all sorts of problems. Language…
Using STAMP Data To Improve Your Small Language Program: Carl Robertson’s Story
Carl Robertson is a scientist at heart. This is why he is always experimenting with his Chinese language program at Southwestern University in Texas. How Carl Sets His Objectives “Every…
4 Fun Ways to Help Students Maintain Their Language Skills This Summer
Your kids worked hard all school year learning and improving their world language skills. Don’t let the summer or holiday slide set them back! It’s finally that time of year-…
Why Wait Until High School for Seal Of Biliteracy?
Chicago Public Schools isn’t waiting until high school to give world language students an opportunity to earn a Seal of Biliteracy. When the school year comes to an end and…
5 Expert Language Testing Tips For Teachers & Students
By following these tips from some of Avant’s expert raters, students can feel more confident going into their language proficiency tests this spring. Nobody knows what success looks like on…
Expanding Opportunities For Polish Speakers: As Seal Of Biliteracy Testing Increases, So Should Access
Polish Speakers & The Seal Of Biliteracy The number of states and school districts offering the Seal of Biliteracy continues to increase rapidly across the country. This growth is providing…
ADVANCE: Making Proficiency Real for Preservice Teachers
Tell me and I forget Teach me and I remember Involve me and I learn -Benjamin Franklin The publication of the ACTFL…
As More States Adopt the Seal Of Biliteracy, Language Assessment Company Launches Program To Increase Testing Access For Schools And Students
EUGENE, OR (February 15, 2018) (Updated) – As the number of states and school districts adopting the “Seal of Biliteracy” has increased dramatically across the country, a language assessment company…
Data Literacy: It Doesn’t Take An Einstein
Why Do People Hate Standardized Tests These Days? Here are just a few of their reasons: Only 14% of parents think standardized testing is very important in evaluating schools, making…
Avant ADVANCE: Bringing Language Standards To Life
Art Fry was so frustrated, he almost said a bad word in church. Every time he opened his hymnal, his bookmarks fluttered to the floor. Then he remembered that one…
Training Raters, Transforming Classrooms
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle Teachers As Raters=Success We gets calls from schools around the country every day….
Interview With Marzanna Owinski Of The Polish Mission
Interview with Marzanna Owinski of The Polish Mission Marzanna Owinski spoke with Avant Cofounder Dr. Carl Falsgraf about Polish language education in the United States and the goals of…
Why Language Proficiency Matters
Language Proficiency is the Goal Proficiency is a much-discussed and frequently used word in the language education field. Our company and others deliver “proficiency” assessments. But which proficiency is most important…
How Does Avant Rate Speaking And Writing Responses?
Who Rates The STAMP Tests? The human-rated responses in the Avant STAMP, PLACE, Arabic Proficiency Test(APT), and the Spanish Heritage Language tests are rated by Certified Avant Raters who are…
Why Avant Recommends STAMP 4Se For Grades 2 And Above
Avant STAMP 4Se was developed especially to assess the language proficiency of elementary students. Why The STAMP 4Se For Grade 2 Through 6 Language Learners Is Important In the past…
Why Heritage Language Learning Matters
The United States is a country of immigrants, but historically the second generation of these immigrants(heritage language learners) has lost their parents’ language – making our country poorer for it;…
The Coding is Equivalent to World Language Myth – Should We Look In The Mirror?
Coding ≠ World Language Some state legislatures have proposed that students who learn to code should earn world language credits. Is learning to code equivalent to learning a world language?…
Test Reliability And Validity
Why Test Reliability and Validity are Important “Test reliability” and “validity” are two of the most misunderstood terms in language testing. Both are very important in determining whether a particular…