The Language Placement for Equitable Learning (LaPEL) project is a pioneering initiative to improve and strengthen instruction in modern heritage languages by investigating sustainable, proficiency-based placement methods for college-level heritage language learners, a historically underserved population. This project will investigate (1) the use of vocabulary knowledge as a proxy for proficiency level, and (2) the use of AI to assign a proficiency rating to a writing sample. Both investigations aim to lower the high cost of proficiency assessments, to help programs with limited financial resources place learners accurately, and, in this way, improve the rate of language development in the classroom.

For this project, ILETC’s Director and Assistant Director, Dr. Alberta Gatti and Dr. Syelle Graves (CUNY Graduate Center), are joined by Dr. Cristina Lozano Argüelles (CUNY John Jay College). The LaPEL project is funded by a U.S. Department of Education IFLE (International and Foreign Language Education) grant, awarded in 2023. 

Announcement 2025

In September 2025, the U.S. DOE cut awarded funding for many IFLE grantees, including the LaPEL project. As a result, some of the project objectives planned for the originally-funded third year (2025–2026) of the current cycle might not be completed as originally planned. 

Announcement 2023

iletc.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2023/09/20/iletc-receives-u-s-department-of-education-grant-for-their-language-placement-for-equitable-learning-lapel-project 

The contents of this project were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.