Teachers in Stevenson’s world languages department continue to develop curriculum and best practices to meet the needs of students across all three divisions. In particular, the cross-divisional department has a heightened focus on proficiency-based teaching and learning with the goal of developing real-world language skills and lifelong language learners.
To assess the program the department uses the Avant STAMP™ (Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency) test. This test has been utilized at the Carmel Campus since 2014 and was recently added to the Pebble Beach Campus program.
This year’s upper division level-two language students took the STAMP test in order to gauge their proficiency using the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency guidelines. After students took the test, the School received a report that rated each individual student’s proficiency in four different competencies: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Phillip Koshi, the upper division world languages department chair, explains, “This assessment provides excellent data in order for us to identify areas of strength, as well as, areas in need of improvement. We are proud to announce that 13% of our test-takers qualified for the ‘Global Seal of Biliteracy,’ a universally consistent and inclusive micro-credential, with ‘Functional Fluency.’ This means that each of these students scored in the intermediate-mid level of proficiency in all four competencies. We are very proud of all of our students for their efforts, and take this data as confirmation of the great work our language teachers and students are doing.”
In the coming years, the upper division world languages department plans to continue to assess language students at both the 2 and 4 levels in order to track their proficiency progress.
The lower and middle divisions’ language programs have used the STAMP proficiency test since 2014. During most school years, students in Grades 4-8 Spanish classes take the test. Kathryn Haggquist, middle division Spanish teacher, explains, “In the middle division, we use the STAMP test to evaluate our program overall and to inform instruction—as well as assess individual students’ skills.”
Mr. Koshi adds, “Using the STAMP assessment is just another way in which we are continuing to align ourselves more and more between divisions. The Carmel Campus has been doing this for some time now and we are pleased to continue this work at the high school. It’s been great to think about ways in which we can take advantage of the long runway we have between both campuses.”
