When freshmen arrive at Lincoln-Way Central, they are told they need two fine arts credits to graduate. Some will choose to do ceramics, jewelry, or photography but many choose to study a foreign language. While most Central students take their required credits to graduate, some students develop a strong relationship with their chosen language: Spanish, French, German, or Mandarin. By jumping into these diverse cultures and learning about foreign customs, Central students can take their language learning to the next level: the Seal of Biliteracy.  

On April 23rd, Lincoln-Way East hosted “A Celebration of Biliteracy.” This event extended to all three schools (Central, East, and West), as we celebrated this great accomplishment of our students. The ceremony itself was incredible. Students spoke to the audience of friends and family in the language they had been studying for the past four or five years. Obviously, subtitles were included! This allowed students to show off and tell their stories in their chosen language. Many students shared how learning Spanish has helped them connect with their families. The guest speaker, a former Lincoln-Way graduate, spoke about her journey with Spanish and Burmese. Her extended family spoke Burmese and she voiced how the resources of Central’s language department helped her strength her connection with her family. It was a powerful message that is so important in our diverse world, where people should strive to engage and create bonds with people in different languages and cultures.  

One student at the biliteracy ceremony, Kylie Sullivan, described the ceremony as “very inclusive” and that “there was something for everyone.” 

The Seal of Biliteracy is truly an honor and it was incredible to see Lincoln-Way Central represented so well at this event. Being proficient in a foreign language is a hard task, but with the help of Central’s teachers, we make it look easy.