• AAPPL

    For years, all of the languages in World Language Departments for many schools have a national standardized test called AP.

     

    The Language Testing International has developed another from of test called AAPPL.  So far, 11 languages are using this test for K to 12 students for both World Language and Heritage Language. 

    Here is the link to read more about this form of test.

    ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages® (AAPPL)

     

    Search for Seal of Biliteracy in AAPPL which does count.

     

    For decades, American Sign Language has been the 3rd or 4th most popular taken languages in the nation according to the data collected from Modern Language Association.

     

    Questions people usually have about American Sign Language.

     

    • Does Canada use ASL or BSL?
       
      ASL is the primary sign language used by Deaf people in English-speaking Canada, while LSQ is most commonly used by Deaf people in Quebec and other francophone communities in Canada.
     
    • Where does ASL rank in the US?

               The answer may surprise you — according to the Modern Language Association's 2016 study of US colleges and universities, ASL is the third most-                 studied language, outnumbered only by Spanish and French. Jan 25, 2019

    • Is ASL or BSL more common?
              American Sign Language (ASL) is largely based on LSF, which was brought to North America by Thomas Gallaudet in 1816. ... Due to their historical                  relationship, French and American Sign Language actually have more in common than American and British Sign Language (BSL).Apr 9, 2019
     
    • Is ASL hard to learn?
              ASL is a complete and complex language, with all the nuances and subtleties of a spoken language. Like all languages, it is not mastered easily beyond a              basic level.
     
    • Is Spanish easier than ASL?
               If your first language is say, Italian, you would likely find Spanish to be much easier to learn than ASL. ... If you're an auditory learner, you'll probably             find it easier to learn Spanish than ASL, which is spoken in the visual modality. But if you're a visual learner, you might find ASL to be easier to learn.
     
    • What is considered rude to a deaf person?
              Body Language: Body language is crucially important in deaf culture. Much like how it would be rude to walk out of the room when someone is talking              to you, in deaf culture, it is considered rude to look away when someone is signing to you.
     

    What is American Sign Language?

    American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with grammar that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face. It is the primary language of many North Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing, and is used by many hearing people as well.

    Is sign language the same in other countries?

    There is no universal sign language. Different sign languages are used in different countries or regions. For example, British Sign Language (BSL) is a different language from ASL, and Americans who know ASL may not understand BSL. Some countries adopt features of ASL in their sign languages.  LSF (Language Sign French) and countries all over the world have their own sign languages.

    ACTFL