With bilingual job postings on the rise and diverse communities shaping our workforce, language skills are more in demand than ever. From healthcare and law enforcement to customer service and construction, employers across industries are increasingly seeking individuals who can connect with communities cross-culturally, navigate multicultural settings, and bring an added layer of communication competence to their teams. In this landscape, the ability to speak more than one language is not just an asset; it’s a powerful differentiator.
Recognizing this trend, Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS), under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Michael Herrera, has taken a bold step to ensure its students are ready to thrive in today’s interconnected world and meet its demands. Through a strategic partnership with Language Testing International® (LTI), the exclusive licensee of ACTFL® language assessments, and NOCTI, a leader in technical skill certification, UBCTS is equipping students with both the technical expertise and multilingual credentials that help them stand out in the workforce.
Career-Ready in Two Languages… and More
Career and Technical Education (CTE) has long prepared students with the hands-on skills needed for in-demand careers. At UBCTS, that preparation goes even further. By combining NOCTI certification, which validates students’ technical competencies, with official ACTFL language proficiency assessments (delivered exclusively by LTI), UBCTS ensures graduates don’t just have technical skills—they can communicate them effectively in more than one language.
Multilingualism is a career asset. The World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs Report” lists it among the top 20 essential skills for the future. Multilinguals are great multitaskers, problem solvers, and decision makers. Multiple studies show cognitive advantages of multilingualism. For example, a study by the National Institute of Health shows that multilinguals are much better and faster at switching tasks than their monolingual counterparts. Multilingual employees are a great asset in a workplace where flexibility and the ability to pivot quickly are essential. Another study has found that multilingual speakers process information faster and more efficiently than their monolingual colleagues, making them excellent problem solvers and quick thinkers.
Additionally, research shows that bilingual and multilingual employees earn, on average, 5% to 20% more per hour than monolingual employees. That wage premium reflects the practical value of language skills in the workplace. Finally, the demand for bilingual and multilingual workers in the U.S. has been growing, with a steady rise in job postings seeking candidates with multilingual skills. This underscores the rising value of multilingualism in today’s job market.
For students at UBCTS, that means a real opportunity to increase their employability, earning potential, and adaptability in various workplaces.
The UBCTS Implementation Story
Located in Pennsylvania, UBCTS provides high-quality technical education in twenty-three areas, including advanced manufacturing, transportation, construction, creative design, agriculture, life, and health sciences. It also has a nationally recognized school-to-work program. In recent years, school leaders have recognized the importance of serving increasingly diverse communities.
Dr. Herrera saw an opportunity. “Some of our students come to us already speaking a language other than English,” he explains. “They lack a formal way to demonstrate those language skills to employers or colleges.”
That’s where LTI came in. Through ACTFL assessments like the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), and the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), students can earn official language credentials, regardless of where or how they learned the language. Whether it’s Spanish spoken at home or Chinese Mandarin studied in school, students can now receive tangible credentials for their multilingualism, credentials that employers across many industries trust, recognize, and value.
Why UBCTS Adopted ACTFL Language Certifications
The decision to integrate ACTFL assessments into the UBCTS program stemmed from clearly recognizing the workforce value of multilingualism. In fields like healthcare, construction, and law enforcement, communication is key. Explaining a medical procedure in Spanish to a patient and their family or welcoming a customer in their preferred language can make a significant difference in client experience and satisfaction.
It is also increasingly critical for national security and public safety. From emergency response to military intelligence and border security, professionals operating across languages help protect our communities and advance America’s interests at home and abroad. In fields such as defense, law enforcement, and public safety, multilingual skills are a strategic asset that can save lives, foster trust, and strengthen national resilience.
Dr. Herrera emphasized the importance of real-world validation. “We wanted something objective, standardized, and recognized outside of the classroom—credentials that speak directly to employers.”
ACTFL assessments provided exactly that. Validated through extensive research and aligned to globally recognized standards, these assessments give students and employers transparent, data-driven, and skill-specific insights into linguistic ability.
Combined with NOCTI’s rigorous technical certifications, UBCTS graduates present a portfolio that captures their full range of technical and linguistic talents.
Why the Collaboration Matters
The UBCTS-LTI-NOCTI collaboration is more than just an innovative school initiative; it’s a model for future-ready education.
- It recognizes students’ existing language skills as meaningful workforce assets.
- It empowers students to credential both their technical competencies and language proficiencies.
- It provides employers with a complete, credible picture of graduate readiness.
More importantly, it reflects the real-world demands of today’s economy. In many sectors, having the right technical skills is only half the equation. What sets candidates apart is their ability to communicate across languages and cultures.
“We’re preparing them for lasting careers that strengthen our communities, drive economic growth, and open doors to opportunity.”
Real Impact: A Student’s Journey
The impact of UBCTS’s approach is already visible through its students.
A bilingual student with a passion for helping others discovered UBCTS while exploring career options in high school and immediately saw an opportunity to turn his interests into a future.
A native Spanish speaker, he became fluent in English and excelled academically. Through the guidance of a supportive teacher, he discovered UBCTS and enrolled in a healthcare-focused CTE program.
At UBCTS, he earned a nationally recognized healthcare certification and distinguished himself through his strong work ethic, advanced clinical skills, and academic achievement. He is now preparing to certify his bilingual abilities through an industry-recognized language proficiency credential.
As part of his career preparation, the student participates in a cooperative education experience, gaining real-world skills while building a résumé that reflects his technical expertise as well as his ability and passion to serve diverse communities. With plans to pursue additional postsecondary training in the medical field, he is focused on a future of continued growth, service, and professional success with bilingualism as an essential skill.
Looking Ahead
As schools and districts nationwide seek to make their CTE programs more responsive to workforce needs, the UBCTS model offers a compelling path forward. Educators can give students a distinct advantage by recognizing multilingualism as a workforce skill and validating it through trusted assessments.
Partnerships with organizations like LTI and NOCTI enable schools to offer certifications that clearly signal readiness to employers, postsecondary institutions, and apprenticeship programs.
In a global economy that values technical expertise and soft skills, UBCTS’s dual-certification model equips students for success today and into the future.
Gosia Jaros-White is a bilingual marketer with nearly two decades of experience in educational publishing. Holding a master’s degree in applied linguistics from Montclair State University, she has dedicated her career to supporting English language learners and advocating for language education. Currently working at Language Testing International (LTI), Gosia drives initiatives that promote the value of language proficiency certification for both academic and professional success. She is especially passionate about dual language immersion, CTE programs, and global education initiatives like Level Up Village, where she works to connect students worldwide through project-based learning. A seasoned communicator and strategic thinker, Gosia brings both empathy and expertise to her work, helping schools, educators, and families unlock the power of multilingualism.