Language learning isn’t just a skill—it’s a gateway to opportunity. In the US, where over 350 languages are spoken, multilingualism is increasingly vital in industries like healthcare, construction, and technology. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is a transformative credential that recognizes bilingual proficiency and equips students with a tangible career advantage. For career and technical education (CTE) students, this international certification goes beyond recognition: it validates their skills and positions them to meet the growing demand for multilingual professionals. Often earned before high school graduation, the Global Seal serves as a student’s first working credential, paving the way for success in a diverse, globalized workforce.
What Is the Global Seal of Biliteracy?
The Global Seal of Biliteracy was created to celebrate and certify bilingual proficiency on an international scale. Its mission is to provide a universally recognized credential that demonstrates language skills in real-world contexts, transcending borders and industries. Open to speakers of any language, it is unique in its accessibility: it’s free to obtain, and its testing standards ensure that students are assessed fairly and consistently no matter how they acquired their language abilities.
As an international certification issued in more than 60 countries, the Global Seal verifies bilingual proficiency for employers and academic institutions alike. Whether a student speaks Spanish, Chinese, Swahili, or any other language, the credential signals their ability to navigate multilingual environments effectively. Its portability means that a CTE student in Texas can carry this recognition to employers or universities across the globe. By bridging the gap between education and industry, it has established itself as a critical tool for students aiming to excel in a competitive, multilingual workforce.
CTE Programs Are a Perfect Match for Workplace Language Credentials
Career and technical education programs equip students with practical, career-focused skills, making them ideal candidates for workplace language credentials. Courtney Van Arsdale, the World Language Department Curriculum Coach for Monmouth County Vocational School District in New Jersey, notes that “The Global Seal of Biliteracy has bridged the gap between language learning and career readiness for our CTE students. It provides them with a credible, portable credential that validates their language proficiency and gives them a competitive edge, whether entering the workforce or continuing their education. It’s a game-changer for students looking to stand out in industries that increasingly value bilingual communication.”
In today’s labor market, bilingual professionals are in high demand across a range of technical and vocational fields. For instance:
Healthcare: Medical interpreters, bilingual nurses, and other healthcare professionals require language skills to effectively communicate with diverse patient populations. In a recent Illinois report, the Illinois state government communicated that consistently more bilingual positions have remained unoccupied than occupied, with a spike in unoccupied positions in 2018.1 Given also the 276% growth of people who identify as multiracial or multiethnic from 2010 to 2020 cited in the US Census,2 the demand for bilingual healthcare professionals is likely to increase. For bilinguals interested in nursing, that demand could equate to 5–20% more pay.3
Construction: Bilingual project managers and tradespeople can better coordinate multilingual teams and engage with clients from diverse backgrounds. Bilingual foremen who can effectively communicate safety protocols and procedures are critical to job safety, reducing the risk of injury and damage to equipment and property. Language barriers and cultural differences are often cited as key factors contributing to higher injury and fatality rates among construction workers.4 “It’s almost a necessity to have bilingual people today in the construction industry,” says Seth Sandler, CEO of Florida-based Superior Skilled Trades, adding that communication about a potential jobsite hazard needs to happen in the moment and a language barrier prevents that quick exchange of information.
Veterinary sciences: In 2021, Colorado State University received a PetSmart Charities grant of $354,450 to embark on a multiyear interdisciplinary study to address linguistic and cultural barriers between veterinary professionals and 52 million Spanish-speaking pet owners.5 The language needs analysis demonstrated a critical need for bilingual veterinarians. Shannon Zeller, CSU Spanish instructor and curriculum developer in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, describes the resulting program: “What makes this program unique is the interdisciplinary collaboration between our departments; we have both veterinary professionals and language-teaching professionals working hand in hand to ensure that the content is valid.” CTE programs are uniquely situated to provide a cross-disciplinary curriculum that integrates workplace content with field-specific language education.
Legal and customer services: Multilingualism is an asset in legal support roles, as well as in customer-facing positions, where cultural sensitivity and clear communication are vital. Legal issues impacting the lives of limited-English-proficient (LEP) individuals include access to legal representation, immigration, voting and labor rights, housing, and discrimination. According to American Bar Association 2020 data, Hispanic attorneys make up only 5% of all US lawyers.6 A survey by Robert Half found that the demand for foreign language skills is among the top trends influencing hiring in the legal field, with 42% of respondents saying that there was an increase in law firms requiring new hires to be bilingual.7
For CTE students, the Global Seal of Biliteracy offers a meaningful way to document and showcase their language abilities and enhance their career prospects. This credential serves as a linguistic passport, allowing students to leverage their bilingualism into tangible opportunities—whether it’s landing a competitive apprenticeship, securing a job, or gaining admission to a specialized training program.
Language for Specific Purposes: The Next Frontier
While being bilingual is valuable, industry-specific language training is crucial to empower students to excel in their respective fields, as it bridges the gap between general language skills and the specialized communication demands of the workplace. This is the critical role that CTE programs can play as they seek to provide meaningful curriculum and an opportunity to document and certify language skills.
Unlike general language instruction, language for specific purposes (LSP) focuses on industry-specific language skills, tailoring curricula to meet the unique demands of fields like healthcare, business, and engineering. For example:
Medical Spanish enables future healthcare workers to take patient histories, explain procedures, and provide compassionate care in Spanish-speaking contexts. Isabel Buckner, a Spanish teacher at Southeast Career Technical Academy in Nevada, which has awarded almost 200 Global Seals to students, shared the importance of preparing students for both nursing and medical assisting, explaining why their program includes a unit on cultural competency as well as the value of learning words in the languages that their patients speak.8
Business Chinese or Japanese prepares students for international trade, negotiation, and collaboration in Asian markets. Dr. Dina Yoshimi, the director of the Hawai’i Language Roadmap Initiative, has been actively working to promote multilingualism and language skills in Hawaii’s workforce since the initiative’s launch in September 2013.9 In collaboration with government and business, the program has now certified students in a variety of career fields with a Global Seal of Biliteracy in 17 different languages including Ilocano, Thai, and Vietnamese to meet the linguistic demands of the diverse Hawaiian population.
How the Global Seal Benefits CTE Students
For CTE students, a verifiable certificate of language proficiency provides a distinct advantage in today’s job market. In a Career Builder survey of hiring managers, 56% said they had caught an applicant in a lie.10 In another survey of 2,000 hiring managers by Hloom, a company that provides templates for cover letters and resumes, claiming foreign language fluency was the second-worst lie an applicant put on their resume.11 As a result, Indeed recommends that employers vet candidates to verify skills and credentials rather than relying solely on a candidate’s claim.12 Giving students the opportunity to graduate with a verifiable and digitally shareable document that clearly identifies and describes their language skills is empowering.
Another way to help students leverage their bilingualism is to empower them with facts that can easily be articulated in an interview. The 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook Survey identified the attributes that today’s hiring managers want in new hires.13 Two-thirds of employers responded that they were seeking candidates with a strong work ethic, written and verbal communication skills, analytical and quantitative skills, flexibility, and adaptability, all of which are soft skills that brain science suggests are byproducts of second language acquisition. CTE programs can coach their students to leverage their bilingualism by making this critical connection.14 Students could say…
“As a bilingual, I’ve developed strong communication, problem-solving, and adaptability skills, which research shows are among the many benefits of language learning.”
“Speaking two languages isn’t just about talking—it means my brain has gained superpowers for adapting and thinking differently.”
“Research shows that bilingual brains are like high-performance engines—faster, sharper, and more adaptable.”
Global Recognition for Local Talent
Documenting a student’s home language underscores the importance of sustaining heritage languages and validating one’s identity. For many students, particularly those from immigrant or multilingual households, the Global Seal is not just a professional milestone but a celebration of their cultural heritage. Awarding this recognition fosters pride and motivation, encouraging students to maintain and develop their linguistic abilities.
Because the Global Seal of Biliteracy can be awarded at any time for qualifying students, it can be issued before graduation in order to be added to college, scholarship, and job applications. Dyan Dominguez, a senior studying business at Nevada’s West Career and Technical Academy, says that her Global Seal helped her to gain the attention of different colleges and increased her chance of receiving scholarship offers.15 Brianna Zanabia, a senior in WCTA’s nursing program, wrote that since obtaining her Global Seal, she has included it in the certifications section of her resume.
She adds, “I was advised by a recruitment coordinator that this certification will further prove that I am fluent in Spanish and [I will] be invited to interview for positions that prefer a Spanish speaker. This will help me during my job search.” From internships in multinational corporations to roles in international NGOs, students with the Global Seal are well-positioned to excel.
Numerous success stories highlight how students have leveraged the Global Seal for academic and career advancement. For instance, a bilingual CTE graduate might use their credential to secure a competitive scholarship, while another might gain an edge in a crowded job market by showcasing their language skills.
While over 100 colleges and universities award the Global Seal of Biliteracy to their own language learners, high school students can benefit from Advanced Placement pathways that award up to 16 hours of college credit, further enabling them to earn a higher-level certificate as they continue their language study.16 Recipients can also highlight their language acumen by adding the Global Seal as an “International Honor” to the CommonApp17 or by sharing their credential with a Digital Language Profile.18
Implementation in CTE Programs
Integrating the Global Seal of Biliteracy into CTE programs requires strategic planning and collaboration. Here are some key steps:
Identify eligible students: CTE instructors can work with counselors and language teachers to identify students who might meet the proficiency criteria for the Global Seal.
Partner with organizations: Schools can collaborate with local businesses, community organizations, and international partners to promote the credential and its benefits.
Train instructors: Providing professional development for CTE teachers ensures they can support students in earning the Global Seal. This might include workshops on language assessment, LSP integration, and credential promotion. This is especially true if students speak languages not taught in the current curriculum.
By embedding the Global Seal into the fabric of CTE programs, educators can create pathways that seamlessly blend language learning with career preparation.
Advocacy and Future Directions
Promoting the Global Seal of Biliteracy within CTE programs requires ongoing advocacy and innovation. Educators, policymakers, and industry leaders can work together to:
Raise awareness: Campaigns targeting CTE leadership, local trades, and businesses can highlight the benefits of hiring those with multilingual credentials.19
Expand access: Ensure that underrepresented students have access to support and testing that leads to a workplace language credential.
Develop new pathways: As industries evolve, there is an opportunity to create LSP curricula tailored to emerging fields, from renewable energy to cybersecurity.
By championing these efforts, stakeholders can amplify the impact of the Global Seal and pave the way for a more inclusive, multilingual workforce.
The integration of the Global Seal of Biliteracy into CTE programs is a pivotal step toward preparing students for the demands of a globalized economy. By measuring and validating bilingual proficiency, the credential not only enhances employability but also celebrates linguistic diversity and cultural heritage. For educators, students, and policymakers, the Global Seal offers a powerful tool to unlock career opportunities and elevate the role of multilingualism in technical education.
As we look to the future, the potential of multilingual credentials in CTE programs is boundless. By embracing initiatives like the Global Seal, we can envision a workforce that combines technical excellence with linguistic versatility, driving innovation and inclusivity across industries. The time to act is now—let’s empower the next generation of CTE students to thrive in a multilingual world.
Footnotes and links are available at www.languagemagazine.com/unsealing-career-opportunities-links.
Linda Egnatz, Global Seal of Biliteracy executive director, is a distinguished advocate for multilingualism and language education. A former ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year and Spanish teacher, she has held key leadership roles, including president of JNCL-NCLIS. Her work focuses on advancing bilingualism through digitally shareable international language certification. Learn more about the Global Seal of Biliteracy at www.theglobalseal.com.
