Language Placement Tests

It is highly recommended that you satisfy your language requirement in your freshman year so that you can continue your study of the language while it is still fresh.

Yes.

No. You will be placed at the appropriate level by the respective language program. You may not change your placement without department approval. If you take a language course lower than the assigned level, it will not count toward the GEP non-native language requirement. Each language program area reserves the right to change a student’s placement if they believe the student is not registered for the appropriate course.

The following languages fulfill the GEP language requirement:

• American Sign Language
• Chinese
• French
• Gaelic 
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Latin
• Spanish

Please see below for each program’s placement policy.

If English is not your native language or if you have native-level skills in multiple languages, please fill out a Language Request Form to request an exemption to the GEP Language requirement. f you have any further questions, please contact the department at MCLanguages@sju.edu.

There is no language placement. Courses offered are at the first-year level only (101 and 102). Please note that, due to high demand as well as a scarcity of seats, enrollment in ASL 101 is restricted to the following majors:

• Autism Behavioral Studies
• Elementary Educ 4th - 8th Gr
• Elementary Educ Pre K -4th Gr
• Exercise Physiology
• Health Science
• Psychology
• Special Education (PK to 8)

Your placement in Chinese will be determined by your prior language experience and a placement test.

• Who should take the Chinese language placement test?: You should take the Chinese placement test if one of the following situations applies:
  • You want to prove that your Chinese language proficiency is above the first-year level at Saint Joseph’s University.
  • You know some Mandarin Chinese/Putonghua.
• Who should NOT take the test?: Students who are true beginners of Chinese should not take the test.
• Which character form is used in the test? The test is offered in both simplified and traditional Chinese versions. You may choose the one you prefer.
• Is there a way that I can prepare for the test? You can review textbooks or materials you have used before; however, we do not think it is necessary since the test is not based on any textbook or materials. You may NOT receive help from anyone during the test. You may NOT consult a dictionary or grammar texts.

Your placement will be determined by your prior experience in French, including the number of years studied and your grades. It will also be determined by your performance on an online, multiple-choice placement exam consisting of vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension questions. There is no oral or listening part to the exam.

To ensure the exam accurately reflects your ability, we ask that you do your best without consulting any resources (such as dictionaries, online translators or grammar books) or asking for help from others. Otherwise, your placement will likely be erroneous. We also urge you to fully complete the questionnaire that precedes the test since that information assists us in placing you correctly.

There is no language placement. Courses offered are at the first-year level only (GAE 101 and GAE 102).

Your placement will be determined by your prior experience in German, including the number of years you studied and your grades. It will also be determined by your performance on an online, multiple-choice placement exam consisting of vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension questions. There is no oral or listening part to the exam.

To ensure the exam accurately reflects your ability, we ask that you do your best without consulting any resources (such as dictionaries, online translators or grammar books) or asking for help from others. Otherwise, your placement will likely be erroneous. Please supply all the required information. You may take the exam only once.

Your placement in Italian will be determined by your prior language experience and a placement questionnaire and test (if necessary). The questionnaire and test are administered through Canvas.

To ensure the test accurately reflects your ability, we ask that you do your best without consulting any resources (such as dictionaries, online translators or grammar books) or asking for help from others. Otherwise, your placement will likely be erroneous. Please supply all the required information. You may take the exam only once.

• Do I need to complete the questionnaire AND the placement test?: Only students who have previously studied Italian or have had prior exposure to the language must complete the online questionnaire. Upon submitting the questionnaire, depending on your prior exposure to the language, you may be prompted to take the placement test.
• What is the placement test?: The Italian placement test consists of four parts: parts 1-3 are multiple-choice questions on grammar, listening and reading comprehension. The final section is a brief writing assignment.
• What can I expect to see on the test?: The entire exam (all 4 parts) should take no longer than one hour. As you complete one part of the test, another part will appear. You should not spend more than 20 minutes on any one part. Your exam MUST represent your own work.
• When should I complete the placement test by?: It is essential that you complete it according to the deadlines on the New Hawks portal or you will not be rostered for classes. 
• What should I do to prepare for the placement exam?: There is nothing to do to prepare for this exam. Remember to do your best and to not use any dictionaries, reference books or other human or online resources. 
• Should I be worried about my language placement?: Your instructor will start the semester with a review to help you remember what you have studied and will also hold regular office hours during which you may seek additional help. Additionally, the Language Resource Center offers free tutoring for students of Italian.
• What if I still don’t think I will be successful at the ITA level in which I am placed?: We recognize that not all high school language classes are the same and that students have different experiences with each of their teachers, but you will be required to complete the ITA course(s) in which you have been placed. Except in the case of a documented learning disability, you will not be allowed to move to a lower-level ITA course to satisfy the GEP. You will only be placed in 101 if your high school transcript shows that you have completed 1 year of Italian or less. If you prefer to choose a different language, you will be placed according to that program’s policies.

Please note: You may NOT register for an Italian course higher or lower than where you are placed by the Italian Language Program without permission from the Italian program director, Dr. Paola Giuli, or the department chair, Dr. Elaine Shenk. If you do so, the Italian course that you take will NOT count toward your GEP language requirement.​​​​​​

Student placements in Latin are based on several criteria:

• An online questionnaire to determine the student’s prior training in Latin.
• The number of years of Latin language study and the Roman authors and texts read.
• Final course grades earned in formal Latin study.

Latin placement levels are made carefully and in full consideration of the student’s prior experience with Latin. Once the level of Latin placement has been determined, only the classics program director, Dr. Maria Marsilio, can approve any change in level.

Your placement will be determined by the number of years you studied Japanese in high school and an interview with your Japanese instructor on the first day of class.

Your placement will be determined by the number of years you studied Spanish in high school and your performance on an online, multiple-choice placement exam consisting of vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension questions. There is no oral or listening part to the exam. Since it is a computer-adaptive test, the length varies from one individual to another, with the average time being about 15-30 minutes. You must take this exam online during the summer prior to coming to Saint Joseph's.

Your exam must represent your own work; it is in your interest to work to the best of your ability and you are expected to work without the help of anyone or any resources. By taking this test, you are bound by the terms of the SJU Academic Honesty Policy. Please familiarize yourself with this policy before taking the exam.

• Where can I take the online placement exam?: Click here to find more details on how and where to take the exam.
• What should I do to prepare for the placement exam?: There is nothing to do to prepare for this exam. Remember to do your best and to not use any dictionaries, reference books or other human or online resources. 
• Should I be worried about my SPA language placement?: The same introductory-level Spanish textbook (Mosaicos) is used in SPA 101 (chapters preliminar-3), SPA 102 (chapters 4-6) SPA 201 (chapters 7-9) and SPA 202 (chapters 11-13). Your instructor will start the semester with a review to help you remember what you have studied and will also hold regular office hours during which you may seek additional help. Additionally, the Language Resource Center offers free tutoring for students of Spanish.
• What if I still don’t think I will be successful at the SPA level in which I am placed?: We recognize that not all high school language classes are the same and that students have different experiences with each of their teachers, but you will be required to complete the SPA course(s) in which you have been placed. Except in the case of a documented learning disability, you will not be allowed to move to a lower-level SPA course to satisfy the GEP. You will only be placed in 101 if your high school transcript shows that you have completed 1 year of Spanish or less. If you completed more than one year of high school Spanish you cannot take 101 — no exceptions. If you prefer to choose a different language, you will be placed according to that program’s policies.

Please note: You may NOT register for a Spanish course higher or lower than where you are placed by the Spanish Language Program without permission from the Spanish program director, Dr. Claudia Páez-Lotero, or the department chair, Dr. Elaine Shenk. If you do so, the Spanish course that you take will NOT count toward your GEP language requirement.

1. Go to Emersion, the program we use for language testing, by clicking on the link for the language you choose to study.

   Chinese Reading/Grammar

   French Reading/Grammar

   German Reading/Grammar

   Spanish Reading/Grammar

2. Create an account and fill in all the required information.
3. When completed, click on the sign-in button. Sign in with the same username and password you just created.

Please complete this test questionnaire.

Only students who studied Italian in high school or who have family members who speak the language are required to complete the questionnaire, as well as the placement test. Please visit this site to access the questionnaire and placement test. Please note that after selecting Italian as your language of study, you will not have access to the Italian placement test for 24 hours.