Modern Language Placement
Online placement tests for Spanish, German & French
For Japanese, Chinese and Russian, advanced placement is by consultation with the department. For French, German and Spanish an online placement test is offered to students who have previously studied the language. It serves two purposes:
- to identify the appropriate level course for students wishing to continue studying a language
- to determine if a student's prior language study is sufficient to fulfill DePauw's Group 5 language requirement, which asks students to demonstrate proficiency in a language at the second semester college level.
The online placement test may be taken off campus or at a placement testing session offered during the on-campus information sessions in June or orientation week in August.
Placement tests taken off-campus are valid only for the first purpose described above — identifying the appropriate level for continued language study. You will use the feedback provided by the placement test to make your course requests.
Only tests taken at an on-campus testing session are valid for the second purpose. All students who have studied a language for two or more years will be asked to take an official, on-campus placement examination in that language. Those attending one of the on-campus information sessions in June should take the placement test then; others will take language placement tests during orientation week.
When completing the test, students are provided immediate feedback about their scores and which French, Spanish, or German would be best suited to their level of proficiency. Students may not register for a course lower than the one indicated by their placement scores, but they may attempt a course at a higher level than the level of placement.
Level One
- FREN 101 - Elementary French I
- SPAN 131 - Elementary Spanish I
- GER 111 - Elementary German I
This is the beginning level of language study. Courses at this level are open only to students who have taken no more than two years of classes in the language in grades 9-12. Completing one of these courses partially fulfills Group 5. To satisfy Group 5 entirely, the second semester course — FREN 102, SPAN 132, GER 112 (Elementary French II, Elementary Spanish II, and Elementary German II, respectively) — must also be successfully completed.
Level Two
- FREN 110 - Review of Elementary French
- SPAN 140 - Review of Elementary Spanish
- GER 112 - Elementary German II
These courses are designed for students who have studied the language but need a quick review before moving into the second semester level. Many first-year students with high school language experience test into this level. These courses are offered in both fall and spring semesters, with more sections offered in the fall. Successful completion of one of these courses fulfills Group 5. Merely testing out of a first-semester foreign language course gives no DePauw course credit and cannot be used to partially satisfy Group 5.
Level Three
- FREN 201 - Intermediate French I
- SPAN 231 - Intermediate Spanish I
- GER 211 - Intermediate German I
Students who place into any one of these courses have met the Group 5 graduation requirement by demonstrating the required proficiency through the test. They now have the option to continue their language study, perhaps pursuing a major or a minor in the language. Unlike the courses at the next levels, level three courses do not offer any retroactive credit for lower level courses.
Level Four
- FREN 202 - Intermediate French II
- SPAN 231 - Intermediate Spanish II
- GER 212 - Intermediate German II
Students who test into any one of these courses have met the Group 5 graduation requirement merely by taking the test. Upon completion of these courses with a grade of C or better, the student will receive 1.0 additional (retroactive) course credit.
Level Five
- FREN 305 - French Conversation & Phonetics *
- SPAN 330 - Spanish Conversation & Phonetics *
- GER 300+ - Any 300-level German course
Students who test into any one of these courses have met the Group 5 graduation requirement merely by taking the test. Upon completion of one of these courses with a grade of C or better, the student will receive 2.0 additional (retroactive) course credits.
* Heritage speakers of these languages (students who regularly speak them at home with their families) are NOT eligible to take FREN 305 or SPAN 330. They should consult with Professors Evans or Hershberger before registering. Two additional course credits will be awarded only after successful completion of three 300-level courses with a grade of C or better.
