BCAS Language Requirement

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT

It is very strongly recommended that students take the placement test to determine the proper level of French, German, Italian, Latin or Spanish in which to enroll. Students may opt for the following courses without taking a placement examination. Rough placement equivalencies, depending on the nature of previous study and individual performance, are as follows:

Two years or less of foreign

language in high school Register for 101

Three years and a weak (C’s) student Register for 102

Three years and a strong (A-B) student Register for 201

Four years and a strong student Register for 202

For further course work credit (such as starting with a 300-level course), the student must take the placement test.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT TEST SCORES

Placement testing is offered through the Office of Testing and Counseling Services. The placement test consists of two sections: listening and reading, and is administered by the Counseling, Testing and Career Center (304 Simmons Hall, 330-972-7084). After the test, the student should contact the Department of Modern Languages or academic advisor about what course to take. 

	101	102	201	202
French	268-284	285-299	300-334	335-350
German	291-below	292-304	305-318	319-335
Spanish	310-below	311-320	321-330	331-340
Italian	310-below	311-320	321-330	331-340

Latin: The test is administered by the Counseling, Testing and Career Center and evaluated by the Department of Modern Languages.

Third Year

Anyone qualifying for a 300/400 language course must submit to a departmental interview. Refer student to the Department of Modern Languages.

French 351 or above and departmental interview

German 336 or above and departmental interview

Spanish 341 or above and departmental interview

Italian 341 or above and departmental interview

Language Waiver Information

If you believe you are eligible to receive a waiver of your language requirement, please see the following options to determine if you are able to do so:

 1.         Native speakers

            If you are a native speaker, you must provide a high school transcript from your country showing that you were educated in that language. The transcript should be in English, or a translation must be provided if no one in the Department can interpret same. The Modern Languages’ department chair will review the transcript and, if approved, you may receive a waiver of your language requirement. 

 2.         Oral Proficiency Interview

            An oral proficiency interview may be taken through ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).   You may contact ACTFL at their website at: www.languagetesting.com/academic.cfm to arrange a telephone interview.  The fee is $134.00.  The University of Akron does not proctor this test.   Cleveland State University is the nearest proctor location.  Please contact Helda Zana, Cleveland State University Testing Director, via email at h.zana@csuohio.edu for instructions.  ACTFL will provide testing results directly to you.  If you receive a rating of intermediate mid or better, please bring your test score to the Department and we will provide a language requirement waiver.

 Please note that if your language requirement is waived, you must still make up the 14 credits in other classes. Your academic advisor will be able to provide guidance on the appropriate classes to take, preferably classes toward your major or minor.