Every year, the Professional Learning and Innovation Center at Broome-Tioga BOCES welcomes in students from all over the Southern Tier to participate in the Seal of Biliteracy event.
The Seal of Biliteracy is a recognition earned by showing proficiency in a language other than English. Students are required to give a 10-minute presentation in a foreign language, and then answer questions from a panel of educators fluent in that same language.
Newark Valley senior Hailie Carter participated this year, going after a Seal of Biliteracy in German. If successful, she would be the first ever Newark Valley student to earn this recognition.
“It was nerve-wracking,” said Hailie. “I was worried about every little thing, overthinking a little too much.”
The senior was nervous heading into her presentation, titled “Die Entwicklung von deutschen Musik”, or “The Development of German Music” in English. But as she started speaking in German, those nerves faded away. Hailie breezed through her presentation and the follow-up questions from the panel, and was able to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, confirming her proficiency in both English and German.
“I’m really happy that I was able to get it,” she said. “It’s super exciting because it opens more doorways for myself. I’m able to go to another country and be comfortable speaking another language.”
Hailie also mentioned that she couldn’t have done this without the support of her German teacher, Mrs. Warren.
“She’s the sweetest teacher ever,” Hailie said. “She supported me through everything and she’s the reason I’m here.”
Now, Hailie is focused on the next step in her academic career. After high school, she plans on attending SUNY Cortland. Her career goal is to be a foreign English language teacher, meaning she’ll teach English to students who do not speak it as their first language. With this special recognition of biliteracy, Hailie is well on her way to making her dream a reality.