Georgia Tech School of Modern Languages to Offer Global Seal of Biliteracy

Starting in the fall, the Georgia Tech School of Modern Languages will offer graduating students the opportunity to certify their language skills for free with the Global Seal of Biliteracy.  

Recognized in more than 50 countries, the seal is a verifiable international credential that certifies language proficiency at one of three levels — functional, working, or professional fluency.  

“By offering the Global Seal to all of our graduates, we’re providing them with a globally recognized way to demonstrate these strengths to employers, universities, and other institutions,” said John Lyon, professor and Charles Smithgall Jr. Institute Chair of the School of Modern Languages.  

To qualify, Modern Languages undergraduate and master’s students nearing graduation may take two internationally recognized proficiency exams — one assessing speaking, and the other reading and writing — administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).  

Students who pass both exams and earn their Georgia Tech diploma will be eligible to apply for the Global Seal.  

“The Global Seal of Biliteracy showcases our graduates’ ability to read, write, and speak another language — but it does more than that,” said Lyon. “It also reflects their motivation, persistence, and ability to engage with other cultures. In our global economy, cross-cultural understanding and competency are highly valued.” 

The School will cover the cost of the ACTFL exams for bachelor’s and master’s students in its programs: Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies, Global Media and Cultures, International Affairs and Modern Languages, and Global Economics and Modern Languages. 

The ACTFL exams are proctored remotely, giving students flexibility in scheduling.  

Students minoring in Modern Languages or those outside the major may also take the tests, although they will be responsible for the associated fees. 

The School of Modern Languages is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.