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ACTFL Assessments are recognized as the gold standard. ACTFL proficiency tests are used worldwide by academic institutions, government agencies, and private corporations.

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World Readiness Standards

Roadmap to guide learners to develop competence to communicate effectively.
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ACTFL Performance Descriptors

A roadmap for what learners should be able to do as they learn a language.
Can-Do Statements

Set goals and chart progress towards language and intercultural proficiency.
Guiding Principles for Language Learning

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ACTFL Position Statements
What the Research Shows
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024

Explore real-world spontaneous situations by skill or level.
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Find resources to improve your practice around a variety of important issues.

Professional Learning

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Podcast

ACTFL Voices: a podcast for language educators, global advocates, and classroom innovators
Program Review

Accreditation through ACTFL/CAEP Teacher Preparation Standards
Partner Programs

ACTFL partnerships with colleges and universities offering online courses

Advocacy & Public Education

Resources for a broad range of language champions—from educators and administrators to families and communities—to leverage in support of language education.

Visit the Language Advocacy Resource Center
Tips for Grassroots Language Advocacy
I Am My Language

Sign the Statement of Affirmation today and join the movement to honor, reaffirm, and reclaim both ancestral and acquired languages.

Free Public Education Resources
Multilingual Testimonials
- Educator Spotlight
- Students and Professionals Across Sectors

I Am My Language

Roots, Rhythm & Resistance

On this page:

You’re invited to join 2026 ACTFL President Krishauna Hines-Gaither in a movement to honor, reaffirm, and reclaim both ancestral and acquired languages by showing the world how language contributes to our identities, perspectives, and cultures.

Whether your language has been passed down from generation to generation, inherited from ancestors (spoken or unspoken), or is the result of relationships and community-building, study, travel, or work, it shapes your experience should be celebrated!

"So, if you want to really hurt me, talk badly about my language. Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity. I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself."

– Gloria Anzaldúa, Excerpts from Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza (1987)

Listen to the ACTFL Voices Podcast

In episode 2, hear ACTFL President Krishauna Hines-Gaither introduce the I Am My Language movement, discuss job opportunities in multilingualism, and describe the link between language, culture, and identity.

Listen Now

Ways to Get Involved

There are so many ways to get involved! Throughout the year ahead, ACTFL will be shining a light on creative activation projects posted using the hashtag and/or submitted via our video form. Should you have any questions, email us at advocacy@actfl.org.

Sign the Statement of Affirmation as an individual, school, district, organization, or business.
Choose an activation from the menus below and share by posting to your social media using #IAmMyLanguage.
Submit a video testimonial or oral history following the prompts.
Join an #IAmMyLanguage virtual town hall or event as presented throughout the year.

Sign the Statement of Affirmation

Unite with individuals, schools, districts, organizations, and businesses in recognizing the important role that spoken, unspoken, and signed languages play in shaping our identities and our world.

Read the Statement of Affirmation

I’m joining individuals, schools, districts, organizations, businesses, and other language champions in signing the I Am My Language Statement of Affirmation today!

Choose Your Activation

Complete an activity from the lists below and post to social media using #IAmMyLanguage or submit via the dedicated video form for an opportunity to be featured on ACTFL channels.

Celebrating how our languages make us unique and bring us together boosts esteem and can help recruit new students to expand local programs. Don’t forget to post on social media using #IAmMyLanguage—we can’t wait to see what you create!
- Share photos of language speakers in your life on social media, a bulletin board, or elsewhere.
- Collaborate with other disciplines: Connect with peers around the language of tech, art, music, or another field.
- Host an art contest: posters, postcards, T-shirts!
- Hold a language fair at your school.
- Interview a multilingual community member.
- Examine language biases.
- Promote equity, inclusion, and antiracism.
Your language story can inspire and empower others! Use this form to respond to one (or both) of the below prompts. We’ll be selecting submissions throughout the year to feature on ACTFL channels and a YouTube playlist.
1. #IAmMyLanguage Declaration (15 seconds)
  “My name is ___. I am my language. [Repeat ‘I am my language’ in the language.]”
2. Oral History (2 minutes)
  Tell us your name and share a brief example of how your languages have contributed to your personal, academic, or professional life. What language(s) represent(s) your identity? How has language shaped your life/experiences?
Submit Your Video(s) Now!

Remember when filming:
- Choose a bright, quiet space.
- Use a horizontal/landscape format and tripod when possible (filming on your phone is perfect!)
- No editing or formatting is necessary: We can polish the footage on our end!
- Post your short declaration to social media using the hashtag as well to help spread the word and encourage others to also say #IAmMyLanguage.
- Invite your superintendent or School Board members to view #IAmMyLanguage installations.
- Send creative creations to elected officials, highlighting the importance of language education.
- Hold an in-service training for teachers of all subjects focused on the benefits of language learning across disciplines.
- Complete a project from ACTFL’s Advocacy Activity Bank and share it with your network!
- Attend a state or regional Advocacy Day.
- Research jobs that require language skills or international/cultural competence: Share this information with your network!
- Explore businesses where languages are a necessity. Show others how these 21st Century skills have a major impact.
- Partner with language and culture embassies to spread the word.
- Build partnerships with other local entities who value languages that will yield mutual benefits.
- Share the I Am My Language Statement of Affirmation with individuals, schools, districts, organizations, and businesses: Ask them to sign!

Say it With Us: #IAmMyLanguage

When you sign the Statement of Affirmation, complete an activation, use the hashtag, or submit an #IAmMyLanguage video declaration, you’re joining a movement in celebration of our languages, our identities, and our greater communities!

Check Out This Video Explore the Campaign Playlist

Additional Resources

Stay tuned as new events and materials are added throughout the year ahead!

Virtual President man with glasses smiling with gray sweater

President's Town Hall Series

We invite you to join ACTFL’s president and panelists from across specialties to engage in collaborative discussions surrounding the #IAmMyLanguage theme. Explore topics, dates, and register here!

Explore the ABLE Institute

The 2026 program will feature a strand for current educators in addition to professional development for aspiring teachers.

Summer Seminar

Dr. Krishauna Hines-Gaither and Dr. Ali Miano will discuss “Transformational Leadership Development: Change, Representation, Equity and Access” at UC Santa Barbara in July.

Sing Along!

Celebrate your language by sharing this fun music video with others in the movement and beyond. Then consider making your own song, skit, or video!

Resources by Topic

Free Public Education Resources

Multilingual Testimonials