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Language Learning Resource Center

Proficiency and Placement Examinations in Modern Languages

Standard Course Sequence

The normal way in which CoLA students demonstrate proficiency in a modern language is to take a sequence of four courses—1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020—in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian or Spanish. Students who begin their language study at a level above 1010 may NOT go back and take lower-level courses for credit except in extraordinary cases in which they receive permission from the Chair. Students may begin the sequence at the level of their proficiciency (as determined by a placement test), but once they begin they may NOT skip courses in the sequence. Students who attempt to do so wil not be allowed to enroll.

Guidelines for Placement, Proficiency, and Exemption
from the College of Liberal Arts Language Requirement

Students interested in majoring or minoring in French, German or Spanish, who wish to be placed higher than 1010 (and all students wishing to be placed beyond 1010 in ANY foreign language) should consult the Department of Modern Languages web pages. For information not provided below, please contact the department: 325 Millett Hall; 775-2641.

All students please NOTE the following possibilities and restrictions:

TAKE THE PLACEMENT EXAM AND...
  1. Place into 2010 (for example)
  2. Achieve a 'C' or better and
  3. You can buy back credits for courses below that level at (fee to be updated before September, 2012) $ /credit hour.*
* You need to fill out the Credit by Examination Registration Form, available from the Administrative Specialist in 325 Millett.

Note 1: Achieve a score of 428 (SPN) or 493 (GER) or 403 (FR) and you are placed into 2020; achieve a 'C' or better in that class, and you have fulfilled your CoLA requirement.

Note 2: If you place beyond these scores on the placement exam: see the next two columns.
WANT TO BE EXEMPTED FROM
CoLA LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT BY PLACEMENT EXAM ONLY?

Take the Placement exam. If you score:
-- 510 in Spanish
-- 480 in French
-- 600 in German
You can be placed in SPN FR GER 3110
  • If you take 3110 and achieve a 'C' or better you can buy back credits from 1010-2020.
  • If you Do NOT take 3110, then you canNOT buy back credits, but you are exempted from the CoLA language requirement. In this case, it is required that you must have the ML Chair send a memo to Assistant Dean, Charles Long, with a copy to the Chair of your major department.
FOR NATIVE speakers and ADVANCED students of FRENCH, GERMAN, AND SPANISH who score above 510 (SPN) or 480 (FR) or 600 (GER):
You may take the PROFICIENCY EXAM (an oral and written exam) to receive credit and grades for up to 6 hours from:
one of 3110, 3120 (conversation)
one of 3210, 3220 (composition).

Advanced speakers can receive grades for both courses. Native speakers can also receive up to 6 hours' total credit, but can receive a grade only for the composition course.
Fees & Other Requirements:
  • Pay $25 at bursar's office before the exam.
  • With a grade of 'B' or better on the proficiency exam, you can receive grades and credits for (fee to be updated before September, 2012) _$/credit hour after you have taken one upper level course and achieved a "C" or better in that class.

 

PLEASE NOTE: no matter what your major is, it is Department POLICY that you may buy back credits ONLY at EITHER the 1000-2000 level OR the 3000 level, NOT BOTH.

Time and Place for Placement Exams -
( STUDENTS: Please bring your ID card!)

See left-hand link for placement times. These times include periods when the University is on break. Come to the Department of Modern Languages office (325 Millett) and you will be shown to the lab and registered; do NOT come after the last times listed on the placement times link, as you might not have enough time to complete the test. Remember that placement into any course above 1010 gives you the right to buy back credits at (fee to be updated before September, 2012) $ /credit hour) for courses below which you have been placed. See Tips for Students for more detailed information.

Proficiency in Languages Other than French, German
and Spanish

Students who claim their native language as English but would like to take a proficiency exam in a language other than French, German, or Spanish, may do so by arrangement with the department. Students can take one of these exams to exempt themselves from the CoLA foreign language requirement.

Students who pass the examinations with at least a B will receive grades for these courses upon payment of a fee of (fee to be updated before September, 2012) $ /credit hour at the Bursar's Office.

Students who claim a language other than English as their native language may complete their CoLA foreign language requirement by taking one of several 300-level English courses or by taking a proficiency exam administered by that department. These students should contact the English Deparment at 775-3136.

325 Millett Hall
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.
Dayton, OH 45435-0001
Tel: (937) 775-2641 | Fax: (937) 775-2820
E-mail: modern_lang@wright.edu

Last Updated February 22, 2012