The Leander ISD World Languages Department (LOTE) promotes the study of both modern and ancient languages and cultures, and communication for today’s multilingual, and multicultural world. We provide students with a solid foundation, in concurrence with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages, and the ACTFL standards (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), necessary to help them become effective citizens in today’s and tomorrow’s global society.
Why World Languages (LOTE) are Important
There is a positive correlation between the study of a language and higher SAT scores. College Entrance Examination Board reported that students who averaged 4 or more years of foreign language study scored higher on the verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) than those who had studied 4 or more years in any other subject area. In addition, the average mathematics score for individuals who had taken 4 or more years of foreign language study was identical to the average score of those who had studied 4 years of mathematics. These findings are consistent with College Board profiles for previous years. This holds true for the ACT also.
More information on languages supporting academic achievement
Languages Offered at Leander ISD
- American Sign Language
- French
- Mandarin Chinese
- Spanish
Spanish is also offered at Grandview Elementary and Mason Elementary as part of the IB PYP Program. A Volunteer Spanish Program exists at many of the other elementary campuses.
Credentialing through Exams
AP Exams
- Advanced Placement Exams are available in:
- Mandarin Chinese
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Latin
- Spanish
- Students may register through their counselor for this exam | Registration Directions
- The parent/guardian is responsible for the cost.
- Grade will be “P” (no GPA weight)
AP Scores Conversion for Credit
| Score | Level Awarded |
|---|---|
| 5 | 1, 2, 3 & 4 |
| 4 | 1, 2 & 3 |
| 3 | 1 & 2 |
| 2 | None |
| 1 | None |
| 0 | None |
ACTFL, AAPPL & ALIRA Exams
- LISD offers the AAPPL and ALIRA exam for acceleration during the school year.
- Students may register through their counselor for these exams.
- The exam fee is paid for by the district one time. Retesting is at the family’s expense of $20 for each retest. Retest Payment Information
More information about ACTFL Exams
Credit by Exam / Exams for Acceleration by Universities
- Foreign Language credit by exam is also offered through University of Texas and Texas Tech.
- Exam is available in: French, German, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
- Student must receive a grade of 80 to receive credit through this exam. Student may receive a 70 if taking exam for credit recovery and not original credit.
- If taking UT or Texas Tech exams, the parent/guardian is responsible for setting up exam and is also responsible for the cost.
Note: SAT Subject Tests are not accepted for credit.
Transfer Credits
Automatically accepted credits:
- Transfer credits from any Texas school district, including languages not offered in LISD
- Transfer credits from any accredited school in US
Automatically not accepted:
- Foreign and homeschool language credits must be validated by:
- Taking the AAPPL Exam (ACTFL Assessment of Performance Toward Proficiency in a Language)
- Taking an OPIc or OPI and WPT Exam (See ACTFL Exams)
- Taking an Austin Community College dual-credit class
- Taking a credit by exam through Texas Tech or University of Texas
ACTFL Exam Fees – American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Register through your school counselor
Exams for Elementary, Middle and High School students
| ASSESSMENT | LANGUAGE | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| ALIRA Reading (Comp) (+ Addendum) | Latin | First test no cost, $20 if Retake Link to pay Option 1 |
| AAPPL Assessment of Performance (Comp) | Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish | First test no cost, $20 if Retake Link to pay Option 1 |
Exams for High School students only
| ASSESSMENT | LANGUAGE | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| OPIc Oral Proficiency Interview (Computer) | Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Persian Farsi, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and Spanish | $55 Link to pay Option 2 |
| OPI Oral Proficiency Interview (Live) | Afrikaans, Akan-Twi, Albanian, Arabic (MSA), Armenian, Assyrian, Azerbaijani, Baluchi, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Cambodian, Cebuano, Chavacano, Chechen, Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Danish, Dari, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Ga, Georgian, German, Greek (Modern), Guajarati, Haitian Creole, Hausa, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Hungarian, Ilocano, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Javanese, Kazakh, Kikongo, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Korean, Krio, Kurdish-Kurmanji, Kurdish-Sorani, Lao, Lingala, Malay, Malayalam, Mandingo-Bambara, Mongolian, Nepali, Norwegian, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Polish, (European) Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian/Croatian, Sindhi, Sinhalese, Slovak, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Tajik, Tamil, Tausug, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Turkmen, Uighur, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Wolof, Yoruba, Zulu | $120 Link to pay Option 3 |
| WPT Writing Proficiency Test | Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Albanian, Danish, Greek (Modern), Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Norwegian, Persian Farsi, Polish, Portuguese (European), Russian, Swedish, Turkish | $55 Link to pay Option 2 |
| OPIc & WPT (Oral Computerized interview + Writing) | Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian Farsi, Portuguese(European), Russian, Spanish | $125 Link to pay Option 4 |
| OPI & WPT (Oral Proficiency Live Interview + Writing Proficiency Test) | Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Albanian, Danish, Greek (Modern), Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Norwegian, Persian Farsi, Polish, Portuguese (European), Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Urdu | $200 Link to pay Option 5 |
| OPI & WPT Bundle Only for Seniors & Juniors (Oral Proficiency Live Interview + Writing) | Albanian, Amharic, Bangla, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Croatian, Dari, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Malayalam, Pashto, Polish, Russian, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Yoruba | $35 Link to pay Option 6 |
Testing – Which test should I take?
AAPPL & ALIRA
- AAPPL Tests available: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish
- AAPPL Demo
- ALIRA for Latin Information
- Details: These tests are computer based. Students have up to 3 hours to complete the exam.
- Results: It takes approximately 3 weeks for the results to be returned to the student. The results will inform the students which high school credits have been earned.
- Parents and the school that the student attends or will attend will receive the scores.
- Possible Credit Earned: High School Credit
OPI/OPIc/WPT
- Tests available: See ACTFL Exams section for availability
- Details: Exams are available starting in High School due to the maturity required in a language to be successful on the exam. The tests can also be used for the credentialing of a teacher in a foreign language. The exam consists of a live interview by phone for the OPI, an avatar interviewer by computer for the OPIc, and a written test for the WPT.
- Possible Credit Earned: High school credit and some universities may offer credit for the OPI/OPIc/WPT exams.
- College Credit: Some colleges accept this test for college credit.
- The OPI/OPIc/WPT may be an option in which an AAPPL exam is not available.
AP Exams
- Test available: See the College Board site for more information
- Details: These tests are computer based and are offered in May. Registration is through the Dean of Instruction early spring semester. It is recommended that the student take the corresponding high school course when available to best prepare for the exam.
- Costs: The exam costs is $90. Cost is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
- Results: It takes approximately 6 weeks for the results to be returned to the student.
- Possible Credit Earned: Possible college credit depending on exam score and university the student will be attending.
WPT
- Tests available: See ACTFL Exams section for availability
- Details: These tests are very mature and can be taken in High School. This test, for example, can be used for the credentialing of a teacher in a foreign language. The exam consists of written essays.
- College Credit: The OPI/OPIc/WPT is recommended for languages that don’t have AP exams for college credit. The recommended path for a student to earn college credit is through the Advanced Placement (AP) exam for those languages that offer it. A full list of the courses that offer AP exams can be found online. The OPI/WPT may be an option in which an AP exam is not available.
