Frequently-Asked Questions about Second Language Study

What is the CLA second language requirement?

All CLA students pursuing BA, BFA in Art, or BIS degrees must satisfy the second language requirement. To satisfy this requirement, students must either complete a fourth semester college language course of at least 4 semester credits with a grade of at least C- or S or better, or pass the Language Proficiency Exam (LPE), which tests reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills at the fourth semester level.

What language should I study?

CLA students can choose from over 25 different modern and ancient languages from around the world. Generally, the fastest way to complete the second language requirement is to continue studying the language you studied in high school, as you will likely be able to start at the second semester level or higher. Spanish, French, and German are the most popular choices for CLA students. However, there can be advantages to beginning a new language, such as having smaller classes or connecting with your cultural heritage.

How do I know which class to take?

If you are starting a new language, then you will take the first semester course. No placement test is required for first-semester language courses. Special note for Spanish: students can only register for Span 1001 with the approval of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Students who have studied Spanish in high school are not likely to receive departmental approval for this course.

If you have taken two years of Spanish, French, or German in high school and plan to continue at the college level, you may begin in Span, Fren, or Ger 1022 without taking a placement test. This is an alternative second semester course which begins with a review of first semester material. Since this is the second semester level, you can finish the second language requirement in three semesters rather than four.

If you have had more than 2 years of second language study in high school, you should take a placement test (if available for your language) to determine whether you can begin in a more advanced course.

Which placement test should I take?

If you plan to study French, German, or Spanish and think you should begin in the third or fourth semester (1003 or 1004), you need to take the Entrance Proficiency Test (EPT). Special note for Spanish: The registration system will not allow you to register for Span 1003 or Span 1004 unless you have earned the appropriate score on the EPT. For more information about the EPT, visit the Language Testing Program's website at http://langtest.umn.edu/

If you think your language proficiency is already more advanced than the fourth semester level, or if you would like to begin language study at the advanced level, you should take the Language Proficiency Exam (LPE). Passing the LPE satisfies the CLA second language requirement, but it does not earn any degree credit. If you fail the LPE, you must take a fourth semester course before you can take the exam again. The LPE is offered in16 different languages. For more information about the LPE, visit the Language Testing Program's website at http://langtest.umn.edu/

If you want to take Chinese, Japanese, or Korean at the second semester level or higher, then you can arrange to take a placement test through the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures. For Chinese placement information, visit http://www.all.umn.edu/chinese_language/Resource/PlacementTest.html

For Japanese placement information, visit

http://www.all.umn.edu/japanese_language/placement_test_info.html

For Korean placement information, call (612) 626-0378 or email Cho Hangtae at choxx023@umn.edu

If you need placement advice for other languages, ask your CLA adviser.

When can I take language placement tests?

You can take the reading and listening portions of the EPT online through the Language Testing Program's website: http://langtest.umn.edu/

You will need a high-speed internet connection to take the test. (Some AOL users report connection difficulties.) If you pass the reading and listening sections, you will be prompted to schedule the writing section of the EPT on campus.

For information about dates the LPE is offered, visit the Language Testing Program's website: http://langtest.umn.edu/

What is the retro credit policy?

If you begin a language at the third semester level or higher and earn at least a C- in a University-Twin Cities course, you can request "retro credit" for the lower-level courses in the sequence, with the exception of the first semester. So, if you take Fren 1004 in the fall, once a grade is posted you can see your adviser to request retro credit for Fren 1002 and 1003. Retro credits are only awarded based on completed UM course work, not on placement test results.

What if English is not my first language?

If you are a native speaker of a language other than English, be sure to tell your CLA adviser. You may be exempt from the CLA second language requirement.