FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT, PLACEMENT AND COURSE SELCTION

(Acknowledgements: Latest Placement Guidelines by FLLC Major Faculty in spring 2007, and additional material from Professors Nancy Gil and Waltraut Deinert)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

The requirement for graduation from Wells College is two semesters of a single foreign language. Students may continue a language they have begun or they may begin with 101 in a language new to them. The placement system to continue a language is in the chart below -- students may not enroll at a level lower than that indicated in the chart without permission of the instructor.  Students may fulfill the Foreign Language requirement by (1) taking (and passing) two courses in a single foreign language, or (2) taking the placement exam in August, and placing at the 200-level or above, (but they will not receive college credit in the language), or (3) taking (and passing) a 200-level course.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT

For students who have studied FRENCH and SPANISH and want to continue see the chart below for foreign language placement based on number of years/level the student has had in high school. A placement examination (see faculty in those areas to take the exam) is available to entering students in the following cases:

    1. They have different types of experience besides high school study
    2. They want to continue at Wells in a course at a higher level than in the placement guidelines
    3. They want to try to exempt the requirement altogether.

For students who have studied GERMAN, ITALIAN, and JAPANESE and want to continue, use the chart below as a guide. During orientation, or right at the beginning of the semester, students should speak with a faculty member in those areas.

 

LEVEL OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDY ACHIEVED

 

REGISTER FOR

1 (Students may NOT register for the 101 level with more than one year of the language in high school.)

101

 

2 to 4*

 

123

5

 

Any 200-level course

Other types of background

 

Take placement exam in August

*Students with 4 years of high-school study may choose a 200-level course by placement exam.

 

Student must continue their language at the placement level indicated above. However, if in the first week or so it becomes obvious to the student and the instructor that the placement is incorrect, we will be generous with the drop/add procedure to change levels.

 

SOME TIPS FOR COURSE SELECTION

With a 200-level placement-exam placement, a student has fulfilled the requirement. However, language courses are really fun to continue at that level. Unless a specific 200-level course placement is indicated for students taking the placement exam, there are choices at the 200-level, depending on whether the student is interested in improving facility in the language or an introduction to literature in that language.

Choosing a new language at the 100-level may be especially advisable for students who disliked their previous foreign language experience intensely, who feel they did very badly in 4-5 years of foreign language instruction, or who would like to add another foreign language to their expertise. With a large incoming class, FREN 101 and SPAN 101 fill quickly. To avoid potential bunching and closed language classes, advisors can recommend GRMN 101, ITAL 101, and JPN 101 for students who would like to start a new language, who have a family heritage in these languages (which are not always offered in high school), and in whose potential major or future career one of these language is especially useful.

If students have plans for which a foreign language is required or would be helpful (see below), they should continue. Students planning, or even remotely thinking about, the FLLC or the International Studies major should give highest priority to continuing in their language of concentration (along with INTL 151 for INTL majors).

Discussing future use of a foreign language and major-minor and/or career areas can point out which languages may be especially useful. Here are some examples:

Off-campus study plans can also be a factor in choosing a foreign language.

 

This page (Foreign Language Placement) is maintained by Diane Koester, Associate Dean for Academic and Learning Resources and Director of Academic Advising, who is solely responsible for its content.  Please see our Statement of Responsibility. Last updated May 21, 2007.

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